My Demon Friends-Chapter 640 - 608: Bring Your Girlfriend Over for Me to See

The 23rd, another Friday.

Zhou Li went to see Brother Nan attend her physical education class again.

Starting from today, there would be a "College Students' Career Skills Training" course every Friday evening, spanning four weeks, and after that, it would conclude. It should be similar to last semester's "College Students' Career Planning" course. He planned to pick up Brother Nan after her class and then go together to pick up Lord Dumpling from work. Afterwards, they would mooch off Lord Dumpling's work meal and then head to evening self-study.

Huai Xu also followed him.

This Old monster seemed quite idle today, having just watched him during his badminton class, and now following him to see Brother Nan's Sanda class.

Before they reached the Sanda classroom, they heard Brother Nan's voice:

"From now on, when you see me in school, call me big brother, and you few will be under my protection.

"I might not be able to help you with some minor issues, like if you fail too many subjects and repeat a year, get into a fight and don't win, or get caught violating school rules. I can't help with those, but if one day you get tricked by a pyramid scheme, payday lenders come knocking, or you get involved with evil forces, you can call me, and I'll surely take care of it for you.

"I, Big Brother, never make empty boasts in my life..."

"Alright! Big Brother!!"

"..."

Zhou Li turned his head and glanced at Huai Xu, his mouth twitching slightly. Steeling himself, he walked to the classroom and looked in from the window.

The Sanda class teacher was in the corner, instructing two skinny male students, while Brother Nan stood close to the window, her back to the outside. A few tall but somewhat bruised or awkwardly standing male students were scattered in front of her. As she did chest expansion exercises, she said to them:

"Come on, perk up, and spar with Big Brother again!"

"No, no, no..."

"Pick the guy next to me, he's hurt the least!"

"No, no, no, this brother here can fight the best, let him be your sparring partner for the best effect!"

"You guys..."

Brother Nan frowned, suddenly feeling that the new 'little brothers' she had taken under her wing weren't up to snuff.

Finally, a quick-witted male student saw Zhou Li popping his head by the window and immediately remembered having seen him last Friday. He pointed toward the window as if he had seen a savior and exclaimed:

"Big Brother, your boyfriend!"

Only then did Brother Nan turn her head and see Zhou Li.

She scratched her temple with her boxing gloves, then took them off, bent down to pick up her shaker bottle, and headed out. "You guys carry on," she said, "I'm going to finish class early."

The few male students dared not utter a word.

Brother Nan walked out of the classroom door with great swagger, not minding the teacher's gaze.

Once outside, her gaze lingered on Zhou Li, noticing his face was still a bit red and the sweat on his forehead hadn't dried yet. She reached out casually and wiped his forehead for him. Then her eyes shifted to Huai Xu beside him. Today, Huai Xu was much to her liking.

She was a very cute girl.

"Let's go!"

As she walked out, Brother Nan said, "These past few days, your Little Trash Cat actually made a good amount of money. How about the three of us go out for a big meal tonight?"

The three of us...

You're talking about spending Lord Dumpling's hard-earned money from his part-time job, and you're not even inviting him?

Zhou Li forced a smile, "I have evening self-study tonight." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"What evening self-study?"

"College Students' Career Skills Training, it's a big lecture."

"Oh, I forgot." Brother Nan smacked her head, but she still seemed unconcerned. "That kind of class counts as a class?"

"It counts."

"It doesn't!"

Brother Nan adopted an 'if I say it doesn't count, then it doesn't' expression. "Wasn't it the same class last semester? Many people skipped it. Whether you attend or not, it's all the same; the teacher was too lazy to even call roll. In the end, you just pay Baozi a few tens of yuan to copy a paper for you, and that's it."

"Last semester that was called career planning," Zhou Li corrected.

"..."

"We still have to go," Zhou Li meekly insisted, "It's the first class. We should at least show some respect to the teacher."

"Then tomorrow!"

"Tomorrow won't work either. I have to go to Sister Hong Ran's for a meal," Zhou Li looked around warily and lowered his voice, "and incidentally gather some information for you."

"Then the day after tomorrow!"

"I have classes the day after tomorrow."

"Such a freaking nuisance!"

"Don't swear."

Zhou Li appeared endlessly patient and put an arm around Brother Nan's shoulder to comfort her. Then he pondered for a moment, "The day after tomorrow seems to be a make-up for Monday's classes. There are quite a few, but we can still go out for a meal in the afternoon. We can come back late at night, or not come back at all."

Brother Nan hummed noncommittally, her voice tinged with a grumble.

「Saturday.」

Atop West Mountain, within the Bamboo Garden.

Zhou Li leaned close to the fish tank, carefully examining it.

Inside were mountains, water, cliffs, trees, grass, red leaves, and even flowing waterfalls, with houses buried leaving only their roofs visible, resembling a miniature world.

The water was as clear as air, with several beautiful fish, not even the size of a pinky finger, swimming back and forth.

"It's really beautiful."

Zhou Li expressed his genuine admiration.

From beside him came the voice of Hong Ran, "Take it back with you... I don't have time to take care of it, and it frequently gets algae blooms. It's always someone else taking care of it."

"No, don't..."

Zhou Li felt somewhat embarrassed.

He withdrew his gaze, no longer looking further, and sat back down opposite Hong Ran to start a new game of Gomoku.

As Zhou Li watched her sip tea delicately and stare at the Gomoku board as though pondering her next move, or perhaps listening to the demon playing the guqin behind the bead curtain—a sound that had the power to soothe and relax—he steered the conversation on track while continuing the game, "I heard that traces left by His Royal Highness, the Prince of Yu, were discovered in Yulong Snow Mountain, and you are researching it..."

Hong Ran responded with a smile, "Heard about it?"

"I've been found out."

Zhou Li wasn't the least bit embarrassed but instead said, "To speak of it, it always feels odd... I was just there to help."

Hong Ran still wore a gentle smile. "There's nothing strange if you don't overthink it. Humans are often burdened by their own subjective thoughts. Sometimes, humans are not really in control of themselves."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not telling!"

You're being playful, Sister.

Zhou Li rested his arms on the table edge, leaning forward slightly, and candidly asked, "So what exactly have you discovered in your research?"

"Spying for information?"

"Just curious, curious."

"As the contemporary Master Ming, you should naturally grasp the movements between the two races. It doesn't matter whether you act on it, but at least you should be aware," Hong Ran seemed to be instructing him, smiling with pursed lips, while discreetly waving her finger to move one of Zhou Li's inconspicuous Gomoku pieces. She appeared to have moved past her contemplation, speaking calmly, "Her Highness found a loophole through the Array in Yulong Snow Mountain, transformed into a human, and now no longer exists."

After finishing, she suddenly winked at Zhou Li. "Did little brother guess it?"

"Hmm..."

"Why would she do that?"

"Maybe..." Hong Ran tilted her head, pretending to think. "She got tired of being a demon, tired of being Your Highness, and wanted a change of pace."

"Was it to test another path for demons?" Zhou Li disregarded her words.

"That path is difficult to navigate."

Hong Ran shook her head, her tone becoming serious. "The Will of the World in your world is too domineering. Even if Her Highness went to great lengths, she would still have to erase her memories to transform into a human. Without memories, what's the difference from being dead? Besides, having become human and abandoned the Old Land, wouldn't the demon cease to exist as well?"

"Then what's the point of her doing this?"

"She had an agreement with Master Ming. By erasing her memory, Master Ming would ensure her neutral stance once she became human, creating a powerful human who, like Master Ming, maintains neutrality. The Array also contains elements that penetrated the Will of your world, but we can't understand it. That part was written by Master Ming, using his power, and it may have a miraculous effect. Perhaps she left other methods to restore her memories, but tricking Master Ming wouldn't be easy."

"How can Master Ming guarantee it? Through a part of this Array?"

"I don't know," Hong Ran shook her head. "That's what the Bamboo Book says. Perhaps you'll understand it later."

"Or perhaps, I might never understand."

Master Ming's great power stemmed mostly from his lifespan, and his lifespan came from becoming a demon. Zhou Li, if he did not become a demon, would not be able to live nearly as long.

Zhou Li shook his head and asked no further.

Gleaning information from a beloved sister was indeed difficult. Even raising the question was hard.

At that moment, Hong Ran had completed a winning cross on the Gomoku board.

"I win!"

"You cheated!"

"No, I didn't!"

"Yes, you did!"

"Do you have evidence?"

"I remember, there was a piece here and here," Zhou Li finished, shaking his head. "I'll let you win this time."

"You've really grown up! So generous!"

Hong Ran's tone had a teasing quality, then suddenly, she looked at him and asked, "I'm becoming more and more interested in your girlfriend. When will you bring her over for me to see?"