"Brother Ao! You're finally back! You have no idea how much I missed you!" Ma Hongjun took a swift step toward Oscar and Dugu Yan, throwing himself into Oscar's arms.
Oscar looked at Ma Hongjun's handsome face with disgust and pushed him away: "You're ten years old now, not a child anymore. Stop being so cheeky!"
Ma Hongjun then released Oscar and turned to look at Dugu Yan. Her looks and figure were naturally impeccable, instantly making Ma Hongjun's eyes light up with admiration.
Ma Hongjun thought to himself that it was no wonder she could make Brother Ao fall for her. This temperament, this figure, this appearance... if it were him, he would probably be even more of a simp than Brother Ao.
The reason Ma Hongjun acted this way had to do with what happened between Dai Mubai and him half a year ago, though Ma Hongjun hadn't recalled this at the moment, with his eyes only on his sister-in-law.
"Is this the sister-in-law?" Ma Hongjun turned to look at Dugu Yan with admiration. After all, she was the one who could capture Brother Ao's heart.
"Sister-in-law, hello. I'm Ma Hongjun, Brother Ao's loyal little follower."
Seeing this handsome young man who was almost obsessed with Oscar, Dugu Yan's expression changed slightly, but she still smiled and said: "Hello. I often hear Little Ao talk about you. He says your talent is excellent and that you'll definitely be his right-hand man in the future."
Hearing this, Ma Hongjun, at his height of one meter seventy, excitedly wrapped his arm around Oscar's shoulder with a smug look: "Boss, did you really say that? Never mind! Whether you did or not, since these words came from sister-in-law's mouth, you can't take them back!"
Looking at Ma Hongjun's smug appearance, Oscar helplessly shook his head: "Of course I said it. From now on, you just follow me. I guarantee I'll introduce you to a wife as beautiful as your sister-in-law!"
Hearing this, if Oscar hadn't dodged quickly, Ma Hongjun would have almost planted a kiss on Oscar's face: "Boss, I love you so much!"
Oscar quickly pushed Ma Hongjun away and hid behind Dugu Yan: "No way. I have my sister's love alone, and that's enough for me."
Dugu Yan watched the two of them being so close and could imagine Oscar's excitement when he had told her about the things that happened between him and Ma Hongjun.
Actually, this was something Dugu Yan envied. Oscar had grown up with such a caring friend. This was probably something she, and many others, could never obtain in their lifetime.
Oscar then took Dugu Yan's hand and brought her before Zhao Wuji: "Teacher Zhao, this is my girlfriend Dugu Yan. The teacher should have already told you about her."
When Zhao Wuji saw Dugu Yan, he was evaluating her, becoming more and more satisfied with each look. Let alone the fact that Dugu Yan's grandfather was Dugu Bo, even if he wasn't, he would still be satisfied with Oscar's little girlfriend.
After all, putting everything else aside, just from her temperament alone, one could tell she was from a noble family.
"Dugu Yan, very good. You being with Little Ao, I, Old Zhao, sincerely bless you both," Zhao Wuji said.
"Thank you, Teacher Zhao. I also often hear Little Ao mention you. If not for your consistent guidance, I wouldn't have met such a wonderful him," Dugu Yan replied sincerely.
Hearing this, Zhao Wuji felt incredibly satisfied inside. For a teacher to receive such high praise was enough to make him happy for the rest of his life.
And Dugu Yan wasn't wrong. Before Gai Yue came, apart from learning staff techniques from Teacher Li Yusong, Oscar's practical combat training mainly relied on Old Zhao.
Moreover, it was precisely because of Old Zhao and his gravity control training for Oscar that Oscar's physical quality was able to improve tremendously in just a few years.
"Hahaha, our Shrek Academy welcomes your joining. But you should be mentally prepared. My requirements at Old Zhao's place are very strict. I won't lower my standards just because you're a girl," Zhao Wuji laughed.
Dugu Yan nodded upon hearing this: "Little Ao has already told me about it. Plus, I've been training with him for several months. I definitely won't have any problems."
Afterward, Oscar turned to look at Dai Mubai and introduced him to Dugu Yan: "This is Dai Mubai. Although I only spent half a day with him before leaving the academy, my impression of him was quite deep."
"During the assessment back then, his hand was broken by Hongjun's attack, yet he didn't make a single sound and persisted until the end. He's a real man."
Hearing this, Dugu Yan also looked at Dai Mubai with new respect. Moreover, she had to admit that their Shrek Academy currently only had three students, but all three were handsome young men with excellent talent.
"Hello, I'm Dugu Yan." Dugu Yan also greeted Dai Mubai.
Dai Mubai smiled slightly: "Dai Mubai. Welcome, sister-in-law, to Shrek Academy."
Dai Mubai's smile was genuine, his welcome was genuine, and this "sister-in-law" was also genuine.
Actually, he originally had some questions about Oscar being Ma Hongjun's big brother. He would have found it hard to call him Brother Ao or Boss.
After all, although he came later and his strength wasn't as good as Ma Hongjun's, he was born into a royal family and had grown up with a silver spoon in his mouth. Calling someone else "big brother" was completely out of the question for someone of his background.
However, during this one year at the academy, he had been thoroughly beaten into submission by Ma Hongjun—literally beaten into submission.
When Ma Hongjun hadn't taken the Phoenix Nirvana Pill, his soul power cultivation was the same as Dai Mubai's. But even so, Dai Mubai had never won against Ma Hongjun even once.
That's right—not even once. However, this didn't hurt his self-esteem. Instead, he became more courageous with each battle and was completely convinced by Ma Hongjun's talent and strength.
Even though Ma Hongjun was three years younger than him, in this Shrek Academy where strength was paramount, he was still willing to be the third brother.
And because of his admiration for Ma Hongjun, naturally, Dai Mubai had developed a sense of awe toward this "big boss" of Shrek Academy whom he had only interacted with for half a day.
After all, whether it was from Ma Hongjun or from other teachers at Shrek Academy, Oscar had become almost legendary to Dai Mubai.
Even later, when Ma Hongjun took the Phoenix Nirvana Pill and his strength advanced rapidly in a short time, Oscar remained the legend of Shrek Academy—and a currently enrolled legend at that.
So Dai Mubai's "sister-in-law" was also from the bottom of his heart.
Although Dai Mubai hadn't had the chance to witness Oscar's true strength with his own eyes and had only heard about it from Ma Hongjun and the teachers...
But while one person saying it might be false, if everyone said it, then it must be because there truly was strength to back it up.
Hearing Dai Mubai's words, Dugu Yan smiled slightly: "Thank you. From now on, we're all classmates. There's no need to be so formal. If you're not used to calling me sister-in-law, you can just call me by my name."
Although Dugu Yan now had an elegant temperament, she didn't yet have that domineering "big sister" aura. Because of Oscar, her whole personality had become incredibly easygoing.
Dai Mubai chuckled upon hearing this: "I'm used to it. After all, Hongjun already calls Brother Ao 'Boss,' and I can't even compare to Hongjun. Calling you 'sister-in-law' is something I'm willing to do from my heart."
Hearing this, whether it was Oscar or Dugu Yan, or even Ma Hongjun, although none of them said anything on the surface, each of them was incredibly happy inside.
And this was Dai Mubai's way of conducting himself. During this year, he had learned many things—that there are always people better than oneself, and skies beyond skies. Especially with geniuses like Ma Hongjun and Oscar, one could only truly make friends with them by being genuine.
And if one could add a bit more emotional intelligence while being sincere, the relationship would go even further. This would become his opportunity and trump card for turning the tables in that future struggle.
Although Oscar hadn't been around this past year, Dai Mubai had changed a lot. Just from these few sentences, Oscar could feel it.
He just didn't know what Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun had experienced together over this year that would make this prince willingly call him Brother Ao and call Dugu Yan sister-in-law.
But regardless, at least Oscar didn't dislike this kind of Dai Mubai. Instead, he had gained a bit more favorable impression of him. After all, who wouldn't want a friend, or even a brother, with good talent, background, and emotional intelligence?
He just wondered if, during his absence, Dai Mubai had gone carousing and partying like in the original story.
It seemed like he hadn't; otherwise, Ma Hongjun probably wouldn't be so close to him.
Oscar might not understand Dai Mubai as a person. But he understood Ma Hongjun.
With his previous supervision and guidance, even if Ma Hongjun longed for romance and love, he would absolutely not debase himself by going to find prostitutes!
So naturally, Ma Hongjun wouldn't have gone out carousing and partying.