Dragon Slayer:The King’s Return

The hotpot restaurant was filled with lively atmosphere. The phrase "lively atmosphere" really couldn't have been used more appropriately. As soon as they entered, the speakers on the walls blared Jay Chou's album, looping the most popular lines from Chrysanthemum Terrace: "The chrysanthemum tea scattered on the ground, your smile has already turned yellow." At the entrance, two drunk guys were helping each other stand, unable to keep steady, swaying like they were dancing a close tango, their eyes closed with such deep emotion.

They navigated around the two guys doing their tango dance, and Lin Nian was ushered into the reserved private room by a group of classmates. When he looked down, the fiery red pot in the center of the table, resembling molten lava, made him feel uneasy.

"Don't you have a split pot?" Lin Nian asked hesitantly. Though his body was in great shape, he still considered himself human, and he felt that anyone who dared eat from this hotpot would soon become a frequent visitor to the bathroom.

"A split pot? What nonsense are you talking about? This spicy red pot is our last bit of stubbornness," Xu Yanyan said with conviction as she waved her hotpot chopsticks around.

"The split pot is at the other table. Do you want to become a woman like some people?" Xu Miaomiao teased, making a face at Lin Nian. The red pot side was all guys, with a few girls who either loved spicy food or already had a partner, while the other table was a much more eye-catching group of girls.

Lin Nian couldn't help but glance over at the other table where the split pot was, immediately spotting that brat Lu Mingfei, who was opening a bottle of soy milk and serving it to Chen Wenwen. Thank goodness that when they entered the private room, this guy hadn't invited him over! "I think I'll just go sit at the other table," Lin Nian muttered, considering backing out. Giving up wasn't shameful, but dealing with the aftermath would be.

"Want some alcohol? I brought some beer," Lin Nian started to say, but before he could finish, the door to the private room opened, and the little goddess swaggered in, carrying two cases of beer, receiving an enthusiastic cheer from all the guys. The noise immediately drowned out Lin Nian's words.

The little goddess was truly a woman of valor, striding up to Lin Nian's side and giving a nod to Xu Yanyan, who promptly rolled aside like a ball, making space for her to sit.

The little goddess didn't just drink the most manly drink, she also went for the most badass red pot! This earned her unanimous praise from the guys, and many of them immediately toasted her. She wasn't one to refuse, cracking open a can of beer and drinking it down in one go.

The hotpot was officially served. Tripes, fatty beef, and tender beef—this hotpot was indeed not bad. Many classmates were already feeling the heat after a few minutes, sticking their tongues out and shoving more meat into their mouths. When the spiciness kicked in, they rushed to drink drinks or beer, all the while laughing at each other's comical reactions.

The little goddess, mid-meal, took out a can and placed it in front of Lin Nian. "I'm usually well taken care of by everyone, but Lin Nian, you've looked out for me the most. So, today, I'm raising a glass to you!"

"No need, no need," Lin Nian quickly replied, reaching for his tea, but before he could lift it, Xu Miaomiao pushed his hand down and forcefully handed him an opened can of beer.

"Anyway, I'm toasting you a drink," the little goddess said boldly, drinking it down first as a gesture of respect.

"I still think you've confused a cup with a can," Lin Nian said, looking at the little goddess, and realizing he couldn't avoid it. With a sigh, he accepted the beer and drank it all down.

The table full of animals immediately clapped and cheered. Some even teared up in the excitement. Lin Nian felt like he was drinking a cup of marriage wine.

"The hotpot's ready, let's eat!" The little goddess, a couple of beers in, had red cheeks, showing that her alcohol tolerance wasn't too high. But that was expected—what sixteen- or seventeen-year-old girl could hold her liquor? Even beer would get her drunk after just one or two cans. It was clear that she had come prepared for a good drunk.

When people got drunk, they liked to talk nonsense, and these nonsensical words weren't fabricated, they were the true feelings they couldn't normally express. Hence, the saying "trouble comes from the mouth."

The little goddess, once drunk, loved to talk about everything, but tonight, she didn't mention her family. Instead, she focused on things from school. And in everything she cared about, there were always two words that appeared.

"That basketball team from Class 3 is really annoying. The captain kept saying our class is the weakest, just a bunch of bookworms. Luckily, Lin Nian, you stood up for us. You always play basketball with Brother Chu Zihang, and they didn't believe you, but after that match, they all did. But I've always believed in you."

"Remember that time there was a fight at the school gate? Yeah, when the bullies from another school were chasing Liu Miaomiao? If you ask me, that was the most manly moment for the guys in our class! After school, they all went to fight! I still remember, Lin Nian, you knocked out the guy who was yelling the loudest! Two big slaps, haha."

"Drink less," Lin Nian interjected.

"Oh, right, and the art festival! Where did you learn that swordsmanship? It was really impressive. A lot of the younger girls have asked me for your QQ. But I didn't give it to them, I know you don't like random strangers adding you, right?"

"Yes," Lin Nian replied. "And you should drink less."

"Lin Nian, you know, if it weren't for that time in freshman year, ahem, if it weren't for the time you helped me ahem…"

"Alright, drink less," Lin Nian said, pushing her beer away. The hotpot was already spicy enough, and the more spicy it got, the more she wanted to drink. It was clear that the little goddess had already started to get quite drunk, so he stopped her from drinking any more to avoid any regrettable actions.

"Turns out, you're the one who cares about me the most. Let's toast again!" The little goddess, her eyes hazy with drunkenness, looked at Lin Nian and decisively poured another drink.

The more they tried to push her away, the more the classmates teased them.

The little goddess poured the drink, Lin Nian tried to stop her, and someone jokingly suggested they should just get married. The little goddess said Lin Nian must have ranked first in the entrance exam, and someone else added, "You're not bad either, you two are a perfect match." No matter what the little goddess said when drunk, someone would always tie it back to Lin Nian. It was as if this dinner was fated for them, just like hotpot and tripe.

"I've already said, drink less," Lin Nian finally couldn't hold back anymore. He switched the beer from the little goddess's hand to hot tea.

"Okay, I'll listen to you." The little goddess suddenly stopped protesting and sipped the tea slowly, while Lin Nian sat next to her, watching her drink.

After finishing the tea, the little goddess looked at the empty cup in her hand and then glanced at Lin Nian's profile. A hint of resolve flashed in her eyes.

"I need to announce something," Lin Nian suddenly stood up, holding his tea cup, and looked at the classmates around the table.

The table gradually quieted down. Xu Yanyan and Xu Miaomiao exchanged confused glances, thinking, "Isn't it supposed to be the little goddess who stands up? Why is Lin Nian doing it? Did the script change?" The little goddess was stunned, as she had just reached for a new can of beer, but now Lin Nian had beaten her to it. She hesitated for a moment before deciding to hear what Lin Nian had to say. But as she looked up at his side profile under the warm yellow lights, she felt something wasn't right.

The table went completely silent. Even the people at the adjacent table with the split pot looked over. Countless eyes were fixed on Lin Nian, waiting for him to announce the purpose of the night.

If this hotpot dinner were a play, the title would be "The Little Goddess Conquers Lin Nian with Hotpot". But after Lin Nian spoke, this play would never be performed.

"I'm planning to transfer schools. I'll probably leave this semester, so I won't see everyone next semester." Lin Nian raised his beer and glanced around at everyone before speaking softly.

The private room fell eerily silent. All that could be heard was the bubbling sound from the hotpot pot, the bubbles rising and bursting, the tripe and potatoes swirling in endless circles.

"What?" The little goddess asked.

"I'm planning to study abroad. The school is overseas, and the ticket's already booked. I probably won't be attending school here anymore," Lin Nian explained.

"This is too sudden," Xu Yanyan exclaimed, echoing what Lu Mingfei had said earlier.

"Study abroad? You're leaving in your sophomore yearso early? Which school are you going to?" Someone asked, sounding very curious, wanting to get more details.

"The Cassell Academy, the one mentioned in the group before. It sounds pretty solid, and they even offer scholarships. After thinking it over, the conditions are good, and I won't have to deal with the domestic college entrance exam. So I just agreed to their offer," Lin Nian explained, nodding.

"It's a school affiliated with the University of Chicago. It's really hard to get into," Zhao Menghua, sitting next to Chen Wenwen at the adjacent table, chimed in, smiling and making a toast to Lin Nian.

"A prestigious school! Lin Nian, you're awesome!" Someone exclaimed, and the whole table echoed with congratulations. The girls at the other table also raised their soy milk in celebration, and Lin Nian nodded, finishing his beer in one go.

He placed the empty beer can on the table next to him, and the little goddess, who had been silent, opened her mouth but didn't say anything. She clutched the half-full beer bottle in her hand, staring at it for a moment, then suddenly stood up and said, "I'm going to the bathroom."

Lin Nian watched as the little goddess opened the door and left. He sat back down, but after a short while, stood up and followed, saying, "I'm going to the bathroom too."

The classmates at the table exchanged glances, looking at each other with teasing eyes and a lack of care. The atmosphere in the room quickly heated up again. Only at the table, Lu Mingfei, who was still holding his cup of Yiyi drink, seemed unsure whether to drink or not. In the end, he quietly raised his cup and silently toasted Lin Nian's retreating back, finishing his soy milk with small sips, as if afraid someone would notice his sudden melancholic mood.

(End of Chapter)