Under everyone’s questioning, Yun Yi could only briefly explain that his parents had passed away and that he worked part-time to support his younger sister. When these words came from his mouth, the others imagined a young man who was resilient, tirelessly working to earn a living, caring for his adorable sister, and still excelling in his studies and martial arts training…


    Immediately, a towering image formed in their minds.


    "So pitiful…" Yang Yue’er’s eyes welled up with tears as she heard that Yun Yi had to wake up at 5 a.m. every day and couldn’t sleep until midnight.


    Gudrian raised his glass, setting aside his usual mischievous demeanor, and said seriously, "Buddy, I admire you. Here’s to you."


    Yang Chengling gave him a firm nod and simply said, "Not bad." For someone as proud as Yang Chengling to offer such praise, it was indeed significant.


    Omir seemed lost in thought, saying nothing, but his eyes occasionally flashed with admiration.


    "Yun Yi, I don’t want to say too much. But if you ever need help, just let me know," Chris said, looking directly into his eyes.


    "Just let me know"? How about helping me gather a few thousand warships to take down the Iserlohn Republic? The thought crossed Yun Yi’s mind, and he found it amusing. However, he maintained a calm smile and said, "Thank you all for your concern. I’m able to take care of myself and my sister now. I don’t need anyone’s help."


    The others understood that Yun Yi was a proud person who would never ask his classmates for money or assistance. This kind of person would rely solely on their own efforts, no matter how difficult things got, and would never ask for a single penny from others.


    But it was precisely this kind of person, tempered by hardship, who would seize opportunities and eventually achieve remarkable success.


    At that moment, the food began to arrive. Chris laughed heartily and said, "Alright, from now on, Yun Yi’s matters are everyone’s matters. As friends, I propose we all toast."


    "Cheers…" Red wine, coffee, and black tea clinked together, marking the beginning of a friendship.


    By the time they left the cafeteria, no one brought up the idea of charming the senior members of the Disciplinary Committee again. After the meal, Yun Yi bid farewell to the group and left for his part-time job at Swift Mechanics. His life remained the same, but now he had a group of friends at school.


    Perhaps the initial motivations for their friendships weren’t entirely pure—even Yun Yi had considered whether he could use them in the future. But as time passed, their bond deepened, and they became close friends who could talk about anything. Of course, the deepest secrets in each person’s heart remained unspoken.


    Chris’s sincerity, Omir’s steadiness and cunning, Yang Yue’er’s innocence and enthusiasm, Yang Chengling’s pride and honesty, and Gudrian’s mischievousness and slyness all left a deep impression on Yun Yi. These were the first friends his age that he had genuinely connected with, and Yun Yi silently cherished this friendship in his heart.


    Yun Yi silently resolved that as long as these friends didn’t betray him, he would never betray them either. Even if he might need their help in the future for his plans to restore his nation, he would definitely repay them.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    The autumn wind rustled, and a coolness gradually descended upon the land.


    Autumn had arrived.


    After school, Yun Yi, as usual, greeted his friends and headed out.


    As he walked out of the school gate, Yun Yi looked around and frowned.


    "It’s been almost a month since I last saw that timid girl. Could something have happened to her…"


    "Big brother… big brother… big brother!"


    "Ah… huh? What?"


    Zhao Xiyue’s round eyes stared at him, filled with displeasure.


    "Meow… Are you thinking about the girls at school? I’ve been calling you for a while, and you only just noticed!"


    "How could that be? I’m not handsome or rich. How would I dare to get to know those young ladies?" With that, Yun Yi quickly shoveled rice into his mouth.


    In truth, he hadn’t been thinking about those young ladies but rather the timid girl.


    Like him, she lived off-campus. Did she also have to work part-time to make ends meet? With her shy personality, what kind of job could she be doing? Was she being bullied?


    For some reason, the image of the girl nervously waving her hands and stammering, "I don’t know," was deeply etched in Yun Yi’s mind.


    "I don’t even know her name or which class she’s in. Even if I wanted to ask, I wouldn’t know where to start…"


    "If only someone knew her, I could ask about her situation…"


    "I wonder if she’s being bullied by customers at her part-time job, if she’s still nervously waving her hands and saying she doesn’t know…"


    "Since we both live off-campus, if I get the chance, I should help her."


    "Off-campus… Wait! Doesn’t the school keep records of all students living off-campus? I could just check the records!"


    "Hahaha…" Yun Yi couldn’t help but laugh out loud, earning a puzzled look from Zhao Xiyue.


    "Slap." Zhao Xiyue threw her chopsticks on the table and said expressionlessly, "I’m full!"


    Yun Yi glanced at her plate, which was still more than half full, and asked curiously, "What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Why did you eat so little?"


    Zhao Xiyue glared at him, said nothing, and went straight to her room, slamming the door shut with a loud bang.


    "This kid… Did something happen at school?"


    After washing the dishes and tidying up, Yun Yi thought for a moment and decided to send a message to Zhao Xiyue’s homeroom teacher to ask about her situation. The response made him feel relieved. Every time he contacted the teacher, she would praise Zhao Xiyue endlessly, whether it was about her studies or her life at school. Zhao Xiyue always presented herself as a perfect, well-mannered young lady. Recently, she had even participated in the school’s choir competition as the lead singer for her class and had performed exceptionally well.


    After ending the call, Yun Yi couldn’t help but smile. This little princess behaved so well at school and even participated in choir competitions. Why was she always so temperamental at home?


    "Xiyue, open the door."


    Yun Yi walked to the little girl’s room and gently knocked a few times.


    There was no response from inside. After thinking for a moment, Yun Yi took out his key and unlocked the door.


    Zhao Xiyue was sitting on her small bed, which was covered with a cute bear-patterned sheet, hugging a large stuffed bear that was over a meter tall. When she saw him come in, she immediately turned her head away.


    Yun Yi was at a loss, unable to figure out why the little girl was so upset.


    "Xiyue, do you like singing?"


    Yun Yi asked, but when Zhao Xiyue didn’t respond, he casually opened his computer and started playing a few songs. Ever since leaving the war-torn base, he had developed a fondness for songs that stirred the soul—whether they were joyful, exciting, sorrowful, or filled with anger. He enjoyed quietly experiencing the emotions they conveyed.


    Moreover, he had noticed that as he spent more time listening to music, many of the songs seemed to influence his martial arts training—specifically, his state of mind. Regardless of whether this influence was positive or negative, or what effects it had on him, he found that while listening to music, he could reflect on his past experiences: the warmth of his childhood, the resilience of his youth, the loneliness of being stranded on a foreign planet, the courage to move forward amidst the flames of war, the sorrow of losing comrades, and the pain of leaving the base…


    To his surprise, he found that his state of mind actually improved while listening to music.