“Canglan Region?”
“Is it that vast sea region more than ten times larger than Shanhai Region?”
“Damn! He’s actually from Canglan Region?”
The mere mention of the three words [Canglan Region] instantly ignited the curiosity of everyone in the classroom.
Countless gazes turned toward Du Xingzhou’s back. The young man stood upright with a straight posture and handsome features. Though dressed simply, his eyes were as sharp as an eagle’s. At a glance, it was clear he had experienced the wider world.
“Hello, everyone… My name is Zhou Hang!”
“Due to some issues with my family’s business in the [Canglan Region], I have temporarily come here. It is my honor to become your classmate!”
“I hope that in the days ahead, we can get along well and become outstanding [Navigators] together!”
With his calm and composed voice, Zhou Hang quickly scanned the classroom.
When his gaze swept across the back row, he subconsciously met Zheng Hao’s eyes.
Immediately afterward, his hunter-like stare locked firmly onto Liu Ruyan.
“Ruyan…”
“Ruyan! He’s looking at you!”
“He’s looking at you!”
Lin Man excitedly patted Liu Ruyan’s arm. Under Zhou Hang’s gaze, Liu Ruyan’s cheeks flushed slightly. She puffed her lips, and for some reason, a ripple stirred within her heart.
“I know…”
“He’s actually quite handsome… And he’s from a major sea region. His family background is probably impressive too…”
“If he awakens an ‘SS’-Class support ability at the Awakening Ceremony… that would be even better!”
Scheming inwardly, Liu Ruyan cast Zhou Hang a coquettish glare.
Zhou Hang responded with an awkward smile. The two of them looked exactly like a pair of lovers exchanging flirtatious glances.
“Heh…”
Watching this scene from the back row, Zheng Hao’s expression turned mocking.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk…”
“So this is the so-called test of loyalty?”
“Stringing someone along for over a decade while demanding responsibility and unwavering devotion, yet indulging freely in romance yourself…”
“How laughable…”
Classic!
Absolutely classic!
What decades-long childhood devotion? It couldn’t compare to a sudden stranger descending from the sky.
Unrequited devotion was worse than nothing.
Simping never ended well.
Too lazy to concern himself with this inevitably entangled pair, Zheng Hao stared coldly at Zhou Hang for a moment.
If nothing unexpected happened, this destined male protagonist of Demon Sea Star would soon begin making his mark in Shanhai Region.
“Perfect timing!”
“I was just worried that my probability of awakening an SSS-Class talent wasn’t high enough…”
As he lowered his head silently, Mo Yurou, sitting beside him, glanced at him curiously.
“Hey!”
“Are you angry?”
“Huh? Why would I be angry?”
“Because Liu Ruyan and Zhou Hang just exchanged glances! If it were the old you, you would have slammed the table, stood up, and demanded to know who he thought he was for looking at your woman!”
“Uh…”
“You said it yourself—that was the old me.”
“Now, I care more about your feelings. Tell me… do you feel more for Zhou Hang, or for me?”
Zheng Hao blinked playfully at her. His sudden question made Mo Yurou’s cheeks flush.
“You! You and him… neither of you are good men!”
She turned her head away, her pale-yellow short hair covering her face, and fell silent.
“Hehe~”
…
“Well…”
“Zhou Hang…”
“Why don’t you take a seat in the back row for now?”
“Sit beside Mo Yurou—”
Du Xingzhou was about to arrange Zhou Hang’s seat next to Mo Yurou, but when he saw that Zheng Hao had already occupied it, his eyes flickered with surprise. He then pointed to another empty seat in the corner.
“You can sit over there.”
“Understood, Teacher!”
With calm composure, Zhou Hang walked toward the corner. His gaze fell upon the seat that originally belonged to him. Suspicion flashed in his eyes as he glanced at Zheng Hao and Mo Yurou.
When he saw them chatting and laughing together, his heart tightened visibly.
It felt as if…
Something important was being taken away from him.
“Huh?”
“Why is he sitting in the corner?”
“I thought people from major sea regions had good family backgrounds!”
Seeing Zhou Hang assigned to the corner, Lin Man’s expression changed.
Within the class, seating arrangements symbolized one’s background and potential.
For example, she, Liu Ruyan, and Zheng Hao occupied front-row seats due to their superior family backgrounds.
Those dreamy adolescent boys could barely glimpse the front of the [Smoke Ship] even once a day and could only stare blankly at her back.
Of course…
Family background was secondary.
After the [Awakening Ceremony], seats would be reassigned based on family conditions and [Awakened Talents].
It was realistic, but that was the rule of this world.
“It’s understandable if his family business declined after returning from another region…”
“If his [Awakened Talent] isn’t low, my Liu Family could consider cultivating him…”
Liu Ruyan muttered softly, leaving Lin Man stunned.
“Huh?!”
“Ruyan, are you in heat?”
“You’re actually considering taking him as a live-in son-in-law?”
“You’re dead! I was just saying it casually!”
Their whispered conversation reached the ears of others, causing many students to glance at Zhou Hang again.
As for Zhou Hang…
He glanced at Mo Yurou with a faint smile before sitting in the corner.
He already understood the “significance” of seating arrangements. When he looked at Mo Yurou’s yellow hair and heavily powdered face, his eyes were filled with disdain.
“Just an E-Class junk ship…”
“Not worth my attention at all…”
“An A-Class [Smoke Ship]? I never expected such a vessel to exist in this tiny [Shanhai Region]…”
“You are mine!”
“You can only be my ship, Zhou Hang’s!”
His greedy gaze locked onto Liu Ruyan’s back. Zhou Hang’s eyes flickered as he tapped the shoulder of a girl seated in front of him, revealing a bright smile.
“Classmate…”
“May I ask about Liu Ruyan’s situation?”
“…”
[Ding! You have successfully altered the first encounter between the male protagonist and his main ship, the Demon Ship, reducing her favorability toward him and decreasing the protagonist’s opportunity by 30%!]
[You have plundered three strands of the protagonist’s destiny fortune!]
[The probability of awakening the SSS-Class talent Dice of Destiny has increased by 3%. Current probability: 34%!]
The system’s notification rang in his ears. Zheng Hao looked in surprise at Mo Yurou, who had lowered her head.
What was this?
On the surface, this little [Ship Maiden] claimed that neither he nor Zhou Hang was a good man.
But deep down, she had compared the two of them.
Clearly, Zhou Hang’s unscrupulous gaze had made her even more disgusted.
According to the original plot, Zhou Hang was supposed to sit beside Mo Yurou. He would have had the chance to erase her initial dislike and establish a connection with her.
But now, Zheng Hao had taken the seat and rewritten the story.
The [Demon Ship]…
Seemed to be drifting further and further away from Zhou Hang.
“Students…”
“Today’s lesson is… the classification of [Ship Maidens]!”
“As everyone knows, [Ship Maidens] are divided into cargo ships, fast ships, and heavy ships. The vessel we are currently aboard at Shanhai Academy is the principal’s [Ship Maiden], a B+-Class cargo ship…”
“Although she lacks combat ability and exceptional speed…”
“Her storage capacity is astonishing…”
“…”
In the classroom, Du Xingzhou lectured methodically.
Zheng Hao found this new knowledge fascinating and, for once, listened attentively throughout the entire lesson.