Chapter Seventy: The Water Amusement Park

“Alright, Angel, now it’s your turn to state your conditions!”

“Does that mean anything the school can provide is acceptable?” Angel didn’t rush to answer but instead began bargaining with Yang Long.

“Of course!” Yang Long nodded, urging her on, “Just tell me what you want!”

“In that case, I want first-level mechas for myself, Nangong Yuchen, and Nangong Kexin—three in total!” Angel stated her terms calmly and clearly.

Yang Long was momentarily taken aback but then shook his head with a smile. “Little girl, you’re being greedy. I’ll agree to a mecha for you, but I can’t include the others!”

“That won’t do. You just said anything the school can provide is fine. Do you think Star Academy can’t afford mechas for the three of us?” Angel persisted. “Besides, we’re a team!”

Yang Long was speechless. He hadn’t expected this girl to trap him like this and sighed helplessly. “You’re not exactly setting a good example for a class monitor.”

“I’m already an honor student, not a class monitor!” Angel snapped back, reverting to the stubborn attitude that often vexed Nangong Yuchen.

Seeing he couldn’t win the argument, Yang Long finally sighed and said, “Fine. Once you three break through to first level, the school will fund your mechas.”

He wasn’t truly opposed to the idea; the cost of three mechas was trivial for Star Academy. Still, Yang Long’s concession caused a stir among the students gathered in the plaza below.

“Three first-level mechas? That’s allowed?”

“That’s at least a million!”

“A million? You’re blind! Nangong Yuchen and Angel each have three and two specialties respectively. Just their mechas would be ten in total. Add Nangong Kexin’s two, and it’s over three million!”

The students buzzed with speculation. Just as Yang Long prepared to dismiss the assembly, he suddenly staggered, glancing helplessly at the grinning Angel. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t considered the fact that two of them were prodigies. What he thought was a million had tripled. Even he felt the sting—after all, Star Academy was a school, not a corporation.

“Next Monday, the four of you report directly to the Honor Student Department. School’s out now—everyone, head home!” Yang Long announced curtly before leading the teachers away. He had no desire to linger after being thoroughly outmaneuvered by Angel.

“Hehe… Nangong Yuchen, Kexin, now we don’t have to worry about our mechas!” Angel cheerfully told the two.

Unfortunately, Nangong Yuchen and Nangong Kexin showed no interest. Their faces were clouded with sorrow, weighed down by the despair of their parents still being captive.

Around them, the students began to disperse. It was Friday, ushering in the weekend, and everyone happily headed outside.

Those who bore grudges against Nangong Yuchen—Tuoba Lin, Xiao Quan, and others—cast dark glances before storming off in anger.

They had expected to be the center of attention today, but Nangong Yuchen and Angel’s sudden appearance had claimed all three spots, leaving the other senior contestants furious. Especially Tuoba Lin and Xiao Quan, both seniors, who felt nothing but jealousy and hatred. For them, the end of school meant graduation and joining the army. If nothing extraordinary happened, they’d become just ordinary soldiers among the masses.

“Alright, didn’t the principal say an investigation would be conducted? They’ll clear your parents’ names soon enough!” Angel comforted the two as the crowd thinned and they remained unmoved.

Her words fell on deaf ears; silence resumed.

At that moment, ten honor students rose to leave. Yi An waved from afar toward Nangong Yuchen and called out cheerfully, “Haha, see you Monday, juniors!”

Before the laughter faded, Shangguan Yueling raised a gun to Yi An’s temple.

“Yi An, are you courting death?” she hissed.

“Granny, I wasn’t greeting Nangong Yuchen, I was talking to the junior girls!” Yi An raised his hands defensively, half-laughing, half-crying.

“Hmph!” Shangguan Yueling snorted coldly, lowering the gun but then aimed it at Nangong Yuchen, shouting, “Nangong Yuchen, you owe Sister Lingling. Time to settle up!”

But Nangong Yuchen didn’t react at all, not even lifting his head. Shangguan Yueling grew annoyed and just as she was about to rush forward, she saw his sullen expression and bowed head. She bit her lip, threatening, “I’ll settle with you Monday,” before turning away.

Soon the plaza emptied of students. Seeing night fall, Angel couldn’t hold back any longer. She grabbed Nangong Yuchen’s arm and shouted, “Nangong Yuchen! Are you going to make Kexin stand here all night?”

“Ouch… what are you doing?” Nangong Yuchen looked up at Angel, about to snap, but met a threatening glare and quickly sobered from his despair.

“Hah! Now’s not the time to be sad. The principal has promised an investigation. Maybe soon your parents will be freed,” he comforted himself. After a while, feeling a bit better, he began to console his distressed sister.

“Wah… Yuchen, do you really think Mom and Dad can be saved?” Nangong Kexin asked, her eyes red with sorrow.

“Of course! Don’t you trust the principal? Maybe in a few days, there’ll be a result!” Nangong Yuchen forced a smile and continued to soothe her.

Hearing this, Kexin’s mood lightened slightly. She lifted her head and said to Angel, “Thank you, Angel.”

Though still engulfed in grief, she knew Angel had helped her and Nangong Yuchen secure their mechas, so the gratitude was sincere.

“Hehe, no need to thank me. Just consider it payment for all those meals you’ve treated me to!” Angel laughed carelessly. Seeing Kexin was about to say more, Angel quickly added, “It’s almost dark. Let’s head home!”

With that, she strode ahead. Nangong Yuchen and Nangong Kexin followed at a leisurely pace. A few minutes later, as they neared the teaching area, two figures suddenly appeared ahead.

“Kexin, congratulations on becoming an honor student! To celebrate, how about we go to the water park tomorrow?”

The two were Xia Ruli and Chu Huiyan. Earlier at the plaza, they had wanted to approach and comfort Kexin but reconsidered, deciding to wait here instead—after all, the trio’s status was no longer that of ordinary students.

“Lili, Huiyan!” Seeing them, Kexin brightened considerably and hurried over to embrace them.

“Hehe, Kexin, I have to tell you—this water park just opened in Luoting Town. I heard there are lots of fun things to do. How about we go tomorrow and check it out?” Huiyan said excitedly.

Xia Ruli smiled and added, “Yeah, it’s a great chance for you three to relax. After Monday, you’ll be heading to the Honor Student Department!”

Hearing this, Kexin felt a warm surge of gratitude. She wasn’t naive—she knew the two had planned this outing to help her unwind. But at the mention of the water park, a hint of hesitation crossed her face.

“Does that… mean we have to… wear swimsuits?”