Ethan Shaw and Liam Howard saw what was happening and hurried to stop him. “Third, don’t be impulsive!”

“Are you crazy?” William Thompson snorted disdainfully. “Your dad works at the Agricultural Department. If there’s a drought and the harvest is bad, he’ll be in trouble. I’m taking advantage of you… what are you even thinking?”

After these past few days together, everyone already knew that Brian Faulkner’s father was a minor official in the Agricultural Department of Seven Illusions City. Third Faulkner was a local, and his family had official status, so it was normal for him to be a bit arrogant.

Brian Faulkner was so angry he was practically jumping, but he just couldn’t break free from the two of them. “What happens to my dad is none of your damn business!”

“Exactly,” William Thompson laughed loudly. “And what happens to me is none of your damn business!”

After saying that, he didn’t even look at the other party and turned to leave.

He had just gone downstairs when a voice called out from behind, “Fourth, wait up.”

It was Ethan Shaw chasing after him. Despite weighing over two hundred jin, he ran surprisingly fast, his whole body of fat jiggling as he moved.

“Huh?” William Thompson was a bit surprised. “Why aren’t you at First Howard’s promotion banquet?”

“Such a tiny promotion,” Ethan Shaw snorted dismissively, then forced a smile. “Fourth, are you going to stake out the female cultivators’ dorm again? I’ll go with you!”

“I…” William Thompson was honestly speechless. Stake out… can you not make me sound so creepy? “I’m just passing by, pretty boy, you’re overthinking it.”

“My name is Ethan Shaw!” Ethan Shaw huffed in annoyance. “Call me that again and I’ll get mad.”

“Then you…” William Thompson looked at him suspiciously. “You’re going to pass by the female cultivators’ dorm with me?”

“Of course,” Ethan Shaw nodded solemnly. “I know you can’t get a tuition waiver. We’re dorm brothers—if you’re in a bad mood, I have to look out for you.”

“You just want to hit on the female cultivators,” William Thompson laughed, though he was thinking to himself, This guy actually knows I can’t get a tuition waiver—he’s clearly well-informed.

The two of them stopped about ten zhang from the entrance of the female cultivators’ dorm. It was just after class and almost dinner time, the peak period for girls coming and going.

Quite a few girls had already noticed William Thompson waiting there. Especially since he was so handsome and elegant, truly “stunning” in the academy. Most female cultivators simply couldn’t bring themselves to dislike him.

You have to admit, no matter the era, looks always matter.

With a “clatter,” a lunchbox fell to the ground. The lunchbox was round and actually rolled right up to William Thompson’s feet.

Ethan Shaw bent down and, with lightning speed, picked up the lunchbox and handed it to the woman. “Senior… uh, Instructor, you dropped your lunchbox.”

The one who dropped the lunchbox was a woman of about thirty, clearly not a student—at the very least, she was from the research institute.

The woman was still charming, shot Ethan Shaw a disgruntled look, forced a smile, nodded, and left. “Thank you.”

Ethan Shaw didn’t mind at all. In fact, he was completely stunned by William Thompson’s charm. In less than an hour, three female cultivators had dropped their lunchboxes, five had twisted their ankles nearby, and at least seven had forgotten how to get to the cafeteria and came over to ask.

Ethan Shaw glanced sideways at William Thompson, secretly gritting his teeth—he really wanted to scratch up that face.

William Thompson was completely unaware of his feelings. With nothing better to do, he asked about something unrelated. “Hey, your family doesn’t seem short on money. Why did you apply for a cultivation subsidy?”

“This thing… it’s interest-free,” Ethan Shaw replied indifferently. “My family doesn’t give me much, so I can’t spend recklessly. I just apply for the subsidy and pay it back later. Did you really think everyone who applies for a cultivation subsidy is poor?”

So, those applying for tuition waivers are the truly poor ones. Those applying for cultivation subsidies aren’t necessarily.

“You seem pretty familiar with things around the academy,” William Thompson’s eyes shifted. “Are you from an academy family?”

“I come from a poor family,” Ethan Shaw spread his hands. Because of the big gesture, the fat on his cheeks jiggled twice. He put on a solemn face. “Just a bit better off than you, the orphan… really!”

Damn, William Thompson thought, taking a deep breath, then turned to leave. “Fine, you stay here. I’m going to walk around.”

“Don’t!” Ethan Shaw chased after him. “Wherever you want to go, I’ll go with you.”

To be fair, pretty boy was a good classmate. Aside from his looks being a bit lacking, he really didn’t have any other flaws.

A couple of days later, William Thompson came out of the cafeteria one day, rubbing his belly contentedly and burping. But people around him were pointing and whispering, “That guy ate two meat dishes and eight buns in one meal—at least fifty coins.”

William Thompson didn’t care. He knew he had a big appetite, and that didn’t even include the cultivation potions. Otherwise, it would cost even more. If you wanted to complete your cultivation, you absolutely needed money.

Just then, someone appeared in front of him and waved, “Yongsheng, come with me for a moment.”

William Thompson had no choice but to follow. The person who came was none other than his homeroom teacher, Jason Brooks.