First, let's talk about Yu Lian’s childhood Miss, Feifei. Her full name is Fina C. Li, and she met Yu Lian when she was eight years old.
Yu Lian lost his mother when he was three and his father when he was eight. His aunt and uncle then took him to Jin City to live with them.
His aunt and uncle ran a restaurant in Jin City called Rongxia Restaurant, an old establishment claiming over a thousand years of history, passed down from Yu Lian’s mother’s eighty-seventh great-grandfather… Of course, Yu Lian had serious doubts about this.
Feifei’s father, on the other hand, opened a successful dojo across from Rongxia Restaurant, primarily teaching Atomic Fist and other practical martial arts.
As mentioned earlier, this was a flourishing era of martial arts. As long as one had real skill, disciples would naturally follow. It’s understandable that disciples, after working up a sweat from punching, would go across the street for a delicious and affordable meal, right?
This is absolutely not a so-called one-stop industry chain, truly!
However, the two families had a very good relationship, and naturally, the children of the same age from both families would also be very close.
Yu Lian and Feifei met at eight, attending the same primary, middle, and high schools, almost always going to and from school together every day. They knew each other’s birthdays, likes, dislikes, preferences, hobbies, and even their embarrassing black history and mischievous habits from their chuunibyou phase.
Of course, the “Queen of the Moon,” the contemporary “Chang’e,” and the Student Council President of Central Defense University, Miss Fina Li, despite coming from a dojo, had always been a bright, generous, and kind-hearted girl. From childhood to adulthood, her reputation among the neighbors was much better than that of the mischievous Yu Lian. Her decision to attend a military academy indeed surprised many.
Then there was Vice President Ye Zhixia, the girl who picked up Yu Lian and smiled like a little fox. She was indeed a bit too exquisitely beautiful, easily reminding people of the ancient beauties who caused downfall. Thus, in the “Moon City Miss” pageant, the contemporary Commonwealth university student beauty contest, she narrowly lost to Feifei, relinquishing the title of “Chang’e.”
Similarly, she had also served as Vice President for nearly three years, always Feifei’s deputy.
Next was the girl who brewed tea for everyone, as gentle as water, completely embodying the image of a Yamato Nadeshiko. Her name was Eaglet Tsukasa Ruri, and her position was Student Council Secretary-General. She spoke little, was very low-key, but was the pivotal figure who allowed the Student Council, and indeed all clubs in the entire academy, to operate perfectly.
This was probably the most legendary Student Council in the history of Central Defense University, wasn't it? Ever since Feifei took over the Student Council President position from Elinore, she executed a series of fierce maneuvers, single-handedly transforming the Student Council of a military academy, where only 30% were female and full of masculine energy, into an all-female force.
Yes, Yu Lian was not a member of the Student Council; he merely worked part-time as a librarian at the academy.
It was only because of Feifei that he had the opportunity to spend time with the Misses. Over time, everyone became well acquainted.
Furthermore, Yu Lian wasn't really there to hang out with the Misses. He was sticking up for a classmate and had confronted the school authorities, needing everyone's help to collect some information and evidence.
With this shared experience of fighting side-by-side, their relationships naturally grew stronger.
Once everyone had arrived, Daina began loudly calling out, “Bring on the good wine and good food!”
First to arrive were large platters of grilled meat and six large pitchers of fresh beer, which at first glance didn't quite match the aesthetic of these beautiful girls. However, the elderly owner was not surprised at all and even sent over a large handful of lamb skewers.
“I didn’t order this,” Daina said.
“It’s on the house. I’ve been running this place for ten years, and you girls are the only ones who come every month. Consider it a final grand promotion,” the elderly owner said loudly. He paused, then sighed wistfully, “Anyway, once you all graduate, I should be ready to retire.”
“...Retire? You’re still very robust! I think your cooking has reached an unparalleled level; if you don’t keep at it for a few more years, it would simply be a loss for the entire galactic culinary world!” Yu Lian said.
“Only you, kid, would say such nice things,” the owner chuckled, but there was a hint of sadness in his smile: “But, I know my craft; besides you, only those rough guys across the street like my food. But, the factory is already slated for demolition... And, where I live now is also the factory’s family residential area. When the amusement park is built, it will become a public park, won’t it? Won’t I have to pay a toll to go home in the future?”
He shook his head and sighed softly, “Time to go back to my hometown… Hey, never mind, what’s the point of saying these things in front of you young people? Anyway, today’s on me, don’t be shy!”
Everyone was a bit silent, but then they heard the owner say again, “If you feel bad, just leave me some photos as a memento later. Honestly, having so many beautiful girls come to my restaurant to eat is what I look forward to most every month.”
“No way will we give them to you! Who knows what you, you perverted old man, would do with our photos!” Lilia Alfonso, a Latina girl with a sweet smile and supermodel height, said loudly.
Amidst the girls’ playful scolding, the old man returned to the kitchen to work, and the atmosphere became lively again.
After all, this might be their last meal as the Central Defense University Student Council.
Starting tomorrow, they would enter their final semester, completely step down from their Student Council duties, hand them over to the juniors in their second and third years, and begin preparing for graduation and future employment.
This dinner lasted nearly three hours, with Yu Lian (almost) truthfully recounting his experiences in New Yumen and the Gibraltar Star System. The girls were utterly engrossed, occasionally showing expressions of worry, pity, or joy, which greatly satisfied Yu Lian’s vanity.
“That Kazz seems like an extraordinary person,” Annie Romanova commented.
This was a silver-haired Russian girl. Being young, her looks and figure were still in their prime. She was also the pilot responsible for distracting the pursuers earlier, and the best pilot in the Student Council.
Zhi Xia was also very good at driving and could perform many stunt maneuvers, but compared to Annie Romanova, it was the difference between amateur hobbyist and professional.
It was said that Annie Romanova used to be a rather famous gang leader of the “Raging Flyers,” but that was all her black history before she got into the Defense University.
Her current position is the Student Council’s Executive Secretary, a legitimate Commonwealth Reserve Officer.
“That Ina Hilika also seems quite interesting,” Annie Romanova licked her lips again, seemingly licking beer foam, but it immediately earned a roll of the eyes from Yu Lian.
Oh, and by the way, there were rumors that Annie Romanova was a lesbian and a butch, but ultimately, they were just rumors, as there had been no reports of any scandalous news involving her and her roommate.
“Eleanor is even more interesting,” Yu Lian said.
The other girls burst into laughter. Annie Romanova glared at Yu Lian and chugged a large glass of draft beer.
“That female knight and Suliuka King are also quite interesting,” Yu Lian added.
“Yes, I really admire you. At least your skill at offending people is cosmic-level. You even manage to provoke such important figures; you’re probably already on the Empire’s blacklist, aren’t you? I need to stay away from you, lest I can’t get a visa if I want to travel to the Empire in the future,” Daina said, then immediately put on an expression of “get away from me, you filthy thing,” shooing Yu Lian away with continuous “shooing” sounds.
This girl’s full name was Daina Jefferson, the daughter of a large farm owner. She had been fierce and wild since childhood, and had actually fought with the indigenous people, bringing along armed thugs hired by her family’s plantation.
She probably entered the military academy to better manage the armed thugs in her family.
The dinner ended, and everyone began to leave, deliberately leaving Yu Lian and Feifei behind.
Yu Lian got into Feifei’s car again and drove back to school.
“Oh, by the way, Yu’er, the results of the hearing are out.”
Feifei’s words seemed a bit out of nowhere, but in Yu Lian’s mind, a slender, frail, pale young figure quickly flashed, his face full of helplessness and despair, not even daring to make eye contact.
He trembled and cowered in the corner of the room, like a hamster utterly terrified.
However, he shouldn't have been like that originally. He was a decent, hardworking, ambitious, and passionate young man full of anticipation for the future. He was certainly among the first in the school to exercise and attend morning self-study, and certainly among the last to leave the study room and library.
“What a long judgment!” Although Yu Lian knew that once he bypassed the school authorities and submitted all the evidence directly to the Ministry of Justice, the outcome should have been predetermined. However, a matter with conclusive evidence dragged on for so long; he wondered if it was because the esteemed Central Defense University and the military judiciary department were too meticulous, or simply too inefficient.
“The few who were involved in the fight have all been expelled. Additionally, they have been handed over to the military justice department.”
“Hmph, they got off easy!”
Feifei bit her lower lip and whispered, “Also, Toby still decided to drop out. However, the school agreed not to pursue his tuition fees and to compensate him for emotional damages, but they still signed a non-disclosure agreement with him, prohibiting him from disclosing anything to the media or any third party.”
“...If it were me, I would do the same.”
“He wanted to stay and thank you, but you hadn’t made it back. The school kept urging him to leave, so he had no choice but to leave first. Before he left, he kept asking me to convey his apologies.”
“Hmm, it’s fine. We can find a chance to visit him sometime. I’d also like to know his future plans.”
“He didn’t leave any contact information, and his family moved away.”
“...Is that so?”
“...Yu’er.”
“You did the right thing.”
“Thank you, Feifei.”
“But you did it too well, and now a bunch of little foxes are itching for more.”
“I, I didn’t…”
“Right, right, that’s exactly the attitude! Yu’er always has this attitude, which is why those little foxes, those flirtatious foxes, those thieving foxes, always think they have a chance!”