"Hey, buddy, is your stiff neck better?"

"Thanks to you, it’s almost gone. Here, take this back."

I handed the wish bottle from around my neck to Shen Yufeng. Though I hadn’t really used it that way.

Shen Yufeng took it back, but his expression carried a trace of gravity. Probably just my imagination.

"What’s wrong? You’re usually all smiles, but today you look so glum. Got rejected after confessing?"

"Pfft! I haven’t even confessed yet. Besides, how many times was I rejected in middle school? I’m used to it. Hurry up—class is starting."

As usual, I was already slumped over my desk before the teacher reached the podium. No choice—I stayed up too late with Mengze yesterday. My daily sleep quota was way off. Only way to catch up was during class.

Suddenly, a bright light woke me. But I didn’t want to open my eyes. Seriously, can’t I even rest properly in my dreams?

"Four-legged lizard! Wake up!"

"So noisy! Call me that again and I’ll get mad!"

I opened my eyes. I wasn’t on a cold desk—I was lying on fluffy clouds. This scene felt familiar.

"Hello! Long time no see. Did you miss me?"

"It’s you, Celestial."

I closed my eyes and kept resting.

"Hey hey! Don’t sleep! You big lazybones—we haven’t met in ages. Don’t you have anything to say?"

Say what? Meeting her in my own dream was truly unfortunate. Even a wet dream should feature a busty older sister!

"So noisy! It’s only been sixteen years. For us, it’s a blink of an eye. Do you miss me enough to treat me to tea?"

"Tsk! You stinky lizard—you’ve been human so long, but your temper’s unchanged. Now I’m an Archangel! You’re just a mortal. Our statuses differ! Show some respect, Endsinger—Mordred."

It’d been ages since anyone called me that. A strange nostalgia washed over me. Since this Celestial lady wanted to chat, I’d humor her.

I opened my eyes, sat up straight, and turned serious.

"Why did you bring me to this mental realm, Miss Celestial? This isn’t just a casual catch-up, is it?"

"You have zero self-awareness. You caused a huge fuss recently—acting alone without telling me. The Father God is displeased. You deceived the Goddess of Life and stole fruits from the Sea of Life. No punishment, but a verbal warning: don’t do it again."

"Sorry, sorry. I’m used to joking with her. Slipped my mind. Won’t happen again."

"Listen! This world differs from ours. The World Tree’s growth is unique. Don’t disrupt its order—it only burdens the administrators."

I turned my head away. Her lecture grated on me. I was risking so much sleeping in class, and now she dragged me here to scold me? Couldn’t a guy rest?

"Sigh… You never take this seriously. What about that ghost bound to your dragon soul? What’s your plan?"

"Help her fulfill her wish, then send her to the afterlife’s other side. Problem?"

…………

The worst was the sudden silence. "Hey! Why stare at me like I’m an idiot? Keep it up and I’ll curse you out!"

"You—are you a once-in-a-century fool?"

"What exactly did I do wrong? If you’ve no good reason to scold me, I’ll fire back!"

"That girl’s soul is bound to your dragon soul. Do you grasp what that means?"

"Means she’s a dragon overlord now?"

"Ugh! People like you—acting without consequences—are so troublesome! Your dragon soul doesn’t belong here. Bound to you, she’s outside this world’s jurisdiction. She can’t enter the life-death cycle. Her existence depends entirely on her binder—you, this four-legged lizard!"

"Wait! Can’t we cancel it?"

"Do you think it’s an Alipay order? Cancel anytime? Last year I bought a hiking backpack—super durable!"

"Let’s not mince words with swearing. So what now? Must I raise a ghost forever?"

"Who knows? Kill her. Swallow her whole. Problem solved."

"I’m omnivorous, but not soul-devouring strong. That’s sorcerer stuff!"

"No other way?"

"Nope. Destroy her or keep her… You won’t set her loose, right? Useless. A binding thread ties you. You’ll never shake her off."

Seriously—I’d landed in deep trouble. Being good was hard these days.

"Time’s up. Summon me if needed. Whether I come depends on my mood."

"Hey! Wait! I’m not done—"

I reached out to hold the Celestial lady back. Instead, I grabbed something soft and squishy. Felt pretty nice.

"Y-Yuchen! C-can you let go?"

D-done for. Why was I back in reality? And why was I grabbing Cute Teacher’s breasts? Worst part—classmates stared with weird looks.

"OOOHHH!!! What the hell, you stinky idiot! Get your pig hooves off my goddess’s chest!!"

"W-wait! Misunderstanding!"

"Misunderstanding my ass! Take this! Eat my Heaven-Shattering Star Cloud Chair!"

Shen Yufeng swung his chair at me. I knelt, barehanded, gripping both sides.

"Are you really trying to kill me?"

"Obviously! You defiled my goddess! Think you’ll see tomorrow’s sun?"

Our fight was too comical. Classmates watched like a show—no one intervened. How cold-hearted!

"You two—stop fighting! Cease now!"

"Hold on, Goddess Cute Teacher! I’ll send this pervert straight to hell!"

"Huh? Try it! Punk, you haven’t seen real hell. Think I’m a pushover?"

"Perfect! Let’s settle this once and for all!"

Seriously—Shen Yufeng was strong. Matching my 5% dragon power. Capable! He’d hidden this from me. What else was he concealing?

"So noisy! Teacher Cute Teacher! What are your students doing?!"

Mid-fight, a bald man strode in. Suit, sunglasses, a scar on his head… That bizarre look made us freeze. All attention shifted to this black-clad figure.

"D-director! It’s… complicated…"

"You two fighters—out. Teacher Cute Teacher, you too. Rest—quiet study!"

We ended up in the dean’s office.

This muscular, bald man wore a suit but radiated killing intent. Even behind sunglasses. Was he a former gang boss?

"What’s this?! Allowing fights, Teacher Cute Teacher? You’re young, inexperienced—but correct your attitude. By noon, submit a 1000-word self-criticism to my desk. You two troublemakers—severe demerit. Next time, expulsion!"

"Director! Don’t blame them. Boys can be unruly—it’s normal."

"Teacher Cute Teacher, fix your attitude. We educate—not cover up fights! Or they’ll become society’s black sheep! Each of you—800-word self-criticisms!"

"Director, please! They’re new students. A demerit stains their futures!"

"Teacher Cute Teacher, you—"

"Cute Teacher, stop. It’s just a demerit. This isn’t their fault. Blame me alone, you old man!"

What?! This fierce, bald dean was Shen Yufeng’s father?!