The two chatted for a while until they heard a knock on the door of their dorm room.

The female housekeeper entered slowly, pushing a silver meal cart. Like magic, she unfolded a table, covered it with a clean tablecloth, placed a vase filled with roses, and placed several exquisitely carved plates in the center.

“Miss, your supper is ready.”

Miss Xia never eats anything at night to maintain her figure, so why make an exception today?

“Hmph.”

Seeing Yuan Hanshuang’s puzzled eyes, Xia Mengrou pouted, “It’s all your fault. You’ve been sneaking out at midnight to snack these past few days, and now I’m a bit hungry too.”

Of course, she would never admit that she didn’t know what Yuan Hanshuang was eating, but she secretly peeked through the curtains last night and saw a tall, black-haired girl standing there. The normally aloof girl’s cheeks puffed up like a hamster.

It seemed like she was enjoying her meal, which made Xia Mengrou a little envious. Not that she thought the girl was cute or anything!

Yuan Hanshuang scratched her head, “Ahaha, I made some small snacks myself.”

She would never admit that she was actually eating crystal cores.

After taking advantage of her cousin, Yuan Hanshuang  worked hard these past few days, working overtime and practicing meditation. She felt that she was not far from reaching the Intermediate Fourth Order, so she decided to make an effort and consume some crystal cores.

“You can make snacks too?” Xia Mengrou looked her up and down.

Although Yuan Hanshuang, as a Close Combat Major, appeared slender and graceful, those who knew better could see that she had all the muscles she needed, with well-defined abs and obliques.

This type of melee specialist is usually referred to as a “musclehead,” so Xia Mengrou never expected her to be good at cooking.

“I’ll make some for you next time.”

“Hmm.” Caught off guard by this straightforward response, Xia Mengrou awkwardly turned her head. “Then I’ll reluctantly taste your cooking. Hey, come over and eat your supper!”

“What? Is there one for me too?” Yuan Hanshuang delightedly asked, “I’m coming!”

Although they didn’t have any training scheduled for the next week, they still had to follow the military training procedures.

For example, visiting the memorial hall and receiving patriotic education, something that no one can escape even in the interstellar world.

The memorial hall is located in the heart of the central star system.

Upon hearing the news of the off-campus visit, the new students, who had been in military training for almost half a month without leaving the school, were all excited, making it feel like a middle school field trip.

After inviting Xia Mengrou to join, the team now had five members. Xuan Yuansheng planned to find a senior student to complete the traditional six-person team.

While riding the star rail to the memorial hall, the group sat together and continued their discussion.

“Do you have any suggestions for inviting a senior to join us?” Xuan Yuansheng asked.

“I don’t, but I overheard students from the neighboring military academy discussing it yesterday. They plan to invite the president of their academy.”

“I never would have expected this,” Wu Haoxuan said sarcastically. “The neighboring Imperial Military Academy will definitely try to invite their precious Academy President, who is like a gem in their eyes, to join the battle.”

“Yes, that’s true. Their president is S+ level. Even if they can’t Resonate with their Manifestation, they are still powerful enough,” Ke Junda said worriedly. “If he participates in the war, our Silver Star’s chances of winning are probably very low.”

“Well, I know Luo Jia quite well. Your concerns are likely unnecessary,” said Xuan Yuansheng, expressing his disagreement. “Knowing his meticulous character, the Holy Son of Luminous Temple will probably refuse the invitation from the new students.”

“Huh?” Wu Haoxuan exclaimed. “Do you know him?”

“I wouldn’t say we’re acquainted, but we’ve had a few encounters,” Xuan Yuansheng replied.

As the Grandson of the Empress, Xuan Yuansheng often had to attend gatherings and banquets of the privileged and influential, even if he didn’t particularly enjoy them.

As an independent sovereign state, the Holy Luminous Temple naturally had social obligations. In recent years, the Pope had been old and sickly, rarely receiving guests. Thus, the responsibility of external social engagements had been delegated to the Holy Son.

Luo Jia was undoubtedly the most brilliant genius in the entire interstellar realm for the past few hundred years, and everyone in the Federation knew him.

In just a few encounters, he had left an extremely deep impression on Xuan Yuansheng.

“Well, how should I put it,” Xuan Yuansheng struggled to find the right words. “He is a good person.”

“Xuan Yuansheng, that doesn’t sound like a compliment,” Yuan Hanshuang said silently.

“No, I really mean it,” Xuan Yuansheng said, getting frustrated. “Because he really is like the rumors say! Words like ‘elegant and upright,’ ‘honorable and just’…ugh, these adjectives are too cheesy, but he truly is a good person.”

Just a good person, albeit one that most people don’t understand, Xuan Yuansheng added silently in her heart.

Meanwhile, in the Chairman’s office, Luo Jia, who had been labeled as a “good person” by the little prince of the Empire, was working.

The sunlight streamed in from the window, casting a warm color on his flowing silver hair.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

“Come in,” he said without raising his head.

“Chairman,” the Empire’s Close Combat chief, Bian Yu, entered the room. “The Third Legion has decided to hold a joint competition for the new students of both academies. They say they need to invite senior students to wear the badges. Have you heard about it?”

“Yes,” Luo Jia replied, concentrating on his work. “They sent me an invitation, and I declined.”

Bian Yu looked embarrassed. “They’ve come to invite me now.”

“If you want to go, it’s fine. Most likely, Silver Star has invited their S-level chief as well.”

Luo Jia’s fingers holding the pen continued moving. “That would make it fair.”

Indeed, Bian Yu thought to himself.

He was well aware of his chairman’s principles.

Having achieved the fifth rank, Luo Jia had already surpassed the major hurdle of talent, known as the second great obstacle, by the previous semester. Many talented individuals spent their entire lives stuck at the peak of the fourth rank, unable to break through.

Crossing this hurdle brought about a qualitative change in strength.

The S+ badge of the fifth rank was a guarantee of victory, even without going all out.

If the chairman were to make a move, it would not only betray the Imperial Military Academy’s progress but also overshadow the entire competition.

Originally, the intention was for the newcomers to receive proper training, but instead, they relied on the achievements of their predecessors, leaning on them for support and eventually losing their fighting spirit.

Adhering to the principle of excellence, such a situation would never be allowed to occur.

“You’re right,” someone agreed.

Bian Yu nodded in agreement, saying, “Since we’ve chosen to attend the Imperial Military Academy, we must be prepared to work hard.”

“Yes. I will come to watch the freshmen competition that day, so don’t mind me.”

“Huh?” The chairman was usually busy with administrative matters, dealing with paperwork both on campus and in the Temple. He rarely had time to spectate. Bian Yu couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Is there a particular group of freshmen that you, Chairman, are paying special attention to?”

Lou Jia gently put down his pen.

He was good-looking, his features having shed the delicacy of his youth, gradually taking on the depth and three-dimensionality of a young man. Even with his eyes closed, he resembled clean, pure new snow in early winter, holy and translucent, making one feel unworthy of desecrating it.

“There is one,” he calmly said, facing Bian Yu’s astonished gaze.