The audience was still immersed in the intense, high-level magical battle that had just unfolded. The final exchange between Mo Fan and Dongfang Lie remained vividly etched into their minds—unforgettable, a scene they would carry with them for years. After a brief silence, the arena erupted.

  “That was insane! Mo Fan deserves the title—he swept through the Fire Institute like a storm!”

  “What do you mean Mo Fan? Show some respect! It’s Chief Mo now!”

  “Haha! Chief Mo, my bad! I’ll kneel and apologize properly ter!”

  The crowd buzzed wildly. Some ughed, some cheered, others stared in disbelief. The Fire Institute had a new Chief.

  The moment the referee officially decred Mo Fan victorious, the female students in the front rows erupted into cheers, cpping enthusiastically. A few bold girls even rushed toward the stage, calling out “Chief Mo!” as they surrounded him.

  Within seconds, Mo Fan found himself engulfed in a sea of fragrances and soft ughter. Perfume, shampoo, natural scents—it was overwhelming. Arms brushed against him, figures leaned close. Even for someone like Mo Fan, this was excessive.

  He forced an awkward grin while trying to maintain some dignity.

  Amidst the chaos, his gaze drifted beyond the crowd.

  Standing slightly apart, calm and composed, was Ding Yumian.

  The position of Chief was not just about ranking first.

  It meant authority.

  The Chief had direct control over Institute resource allocation. Beyond academy rewards, external funding flowed in through various channels. Every year, assets worth tens of millions passed through the Chief’s hands. Who received funding, who got recommendations, who was sent out for real-world missions—those decisions rested with them.

  A Chief was automatically part of the Student Council’s decision-making body, attending high-level meetings and holding voting power.

  They were not ordinary students.

  Even the weakest among them were solid Mid-tier mages. Most Chiefs broke into High-tier before graduation. Their influence rivaled officials in mid-sized cities.

  When Chiefs joined forces, the Student Council became a power bloc that connected noble families, corporations, and government agencies both inside and outside the academy.

  That was why the crowd’s attitude had shifted instantly.

  New ruler.

  New order.

  The cheers had not fully died down when the senior administrative staff of the Fire Institute approached the stage. A formal scroll was presented, listing the authority, privileges, and responsibilities of the Institute Chief. Resource allocation rights, external contract approval, Three Step Tower scheduling, internal ranking arbitration, Student Council attendance.

  Mo Fan skimmed through it zily, then looked up. “So I need an assistant?”

  “Yes,” one of the senior instructors replied. “Every Chief appoints one. They handle administrative matters, scheduling, resource distribution coordination, and internal communications. The assistant must be selected from the Top Ten.”

  The Top Ten students stiffened slightly.

  Many eyes subtly shifted.

  Huang Xingli straightened instinctively.

  A few other top-ranked girls adjusted their posture.

  Dongfang Lie’s brows twitched.

  This position wasn’t just clerical. The Chief’s assistant controlled information flow. They handled documents before the Chief even saw them. Whoever stood beside the Chief stood at the center of influence.

  Mo Fan didn’t look at them immediately.

  Instead, his gaze moved calmly through the crowd until it stopped.

  Ding Yumian.

  She was standing slightly apart, as always, neither eager nor withdrawn. Her expression remained serene, as if the matter did not concern her at all.

  Mo Fan spoke without hesitation.

  “I choose Ding Yumian.”

  The entire hall fell silent.

  Even Ding Yumian blinked.

  There was no visible reaction at first. Only a slight tightening of her fingers around the document she had been holding.

  “You… choose me?” she asked quietly.

  Mo Fan shrugged. “You’re calm. You think clearly. You won’t be noisy. And you won’t try to manipute me.”

  A few students choked.

  That was blunt.

  Ding Yumian studied him carefully. “You’re aware this position isn’t symbolic. It requires time and responsibility.”

  “I’m aware,” he replied. “And I don’t like paperwork.”

  A faint ripple of ughter moved through the hall.

  The instructor coughed lightly. “Ding Yumian, do you accept the appointment?”

  For the first time since the duel ended, she hesitated.

  She had expected congratutions. Perhaps even colboration on projects.

  She had not expected to be chosen.

  And certainly not so directly.

  Her eyes met Mo Fan’s again. There was no teasing in his expression. No arrogance.

  Only trust.

  After a brief pause, she inclined her head.

  “I accept.”

  The hall erupted again, though this time the tone was different. More specutive. More calcuting.

  Mo Fan had not chosen the loudest.

  He had not chosen the most ambitious.

  He had chosen the quietest mind in the Top Ten.

  As Ding Yumian stepped forward to stand beside him officially, Huang Xingli muttered under her breath, “I knew it…”

  Mo Fan leaned slightly toward Ding Yumian. “Surprised?”

  “A little,” she admitted.

  “Regretting it?”

  “Not yet.”

  He smiled faintly. “Good.”

  From that moment on, the Fire Institute no longer had just a new Chief.

  It had a center.

  And beside him—

  Stood the one person who could keep him from turning the entire pce upside down.

  Her expression was as tranquil as ever—gentle eyes, serene posture, the faintest hint of amusement hidden beneath her soft demeanor. Unlike the others, she didn’t rush forward.

  Mo Fan finally extricated himself from the swarm and walked toward her.

  “Find somewhere quiet?” he asked casually.

  Ding Yumian nodded. “You’ll have administrative matters to handle now.”

  The surrounding girls immediately understood and dispersed. Chief Mo had responsibilities now.

  The two walked out of the Magic Battle Hall side by side.

  As they moved through the Fire Institute’s core areas, Ding Yumian calmly expined, “This hall is reserved for Institute-level assemblies and internal high-ranking meetings. As Chief, you’ll preside over most of them.”

  Mo Fan gnced around at the imposing structure. Not bad. Real authority.

  They passed through training grounds, research rooms, and resource allocation centers. Every pce bore the imprint of past Chiefs.

  “Our duty,” Ding Yumian said gently, “is to leave something behind for those who come after.”

  Mo Fan scratched his chin. “I’ll leave behind a legend.”

  She gave him a soft look. “Preferably something more constructive.”

  Finally, she led him to the underground resource vault and administrative wing.

  “From now on, I’ll handle your scheduling, document processing, inter-Institute communication, and resource distribution proposals,” she said calmly.

  Mo Fan blinked. “You’re volunteering?”

  Ding Yumian met his eyes steadily. “You don’t like paperwork. And someone has to ensure you don’t cause chaos.”

  He ughed. “Fair point.”

  “All resource profits from Institute external contracts will be recorded and split according to academy policy,” she continued. “However, I will oversee compliance.”

  Mo Fan narrowed his eyes pyfully. “You don’t trust me?”

  Her lips curved slightly. “You’re powerful. Not organized.”

  He coughed. “Alright, Secretary Ding. You win.”

  And just like that, Ding Yumian became Mo Fan’s official assistant.

  Over the next few days, Mo Fan rested while Ding Yumian handled everything seamlessly. Meetings were scheduled efficiently. Invitations filtered. Resource allocations organized. Even external enterprises seeking favor were screened carefully.

  When Mo Fan finally stepped out of Jinyuan Apartments one morning, he froze.

  A sleek bck luxury car was parked outside.

  Leaning lightly against it was Ding Yumian.

  She wore a professional white blouse and fitted bzer, her long hair falling neatly behind her shoulders. A folder rested calmly in her hands.

  Mo Fan blinked twice. “You didn’t have to come pick me up.”

  “It’s standard procedure for an Institute Chief,” she replied evenly. “Besides, you have a meeting with the Magic Association’s Research Division this morning.”

  “And if I overslept?”

  “I would have woken you.”

  He sighed dramatically. “Being Chief is troublesome.”

  “Fortunately,” she said gently, “you don’t have to handle most of it.”

  He studied her for a second. Calm. Efficient. Completely dependable.

  He got into the car.

  Vroom.

  The engine purred as they drove toward Pearl Academy’s main campus. Students stared as the car passed.

  “Isn’t that Chief Mo?”

  “Who’s that with him?”

  “Isn’t that Ding Yumian?”

  The whispers spread instantly.

  Mo Fan leaned back in his seat, already flipping through documents she had organized. “So what’s next?”

  “In the afternoon, you’re invited to observe a cross-Institute evaluation. Tonight, you’ll attend a small internal council meeting. I’ve declined everything unnecessary.”

  He gnced at her. “You’re too reliable.”

  “I’m practical.”

  “And if someone tries to use my name for personal gain?”

  Ding Yumian’s eyes softened slightly. “You have power and instincts you’ll know.”

  Mo Fan grinned. “True.”

  He looked ahead toward the Three-Step Tower.

  “After this week,” he murmured, “I’ll break through.”

  Ding Yumian didn’t respond verbally, but the faint confidence in her gaze said everything.

  Chief Mo might be reckless.

  But with her managing the structure behind him—

  The Fire Institute would not fall into disorder.

  It would rise.