"Dong'er, what were you up to? Don't tell me…" Zhu Lu's gaze fell on Wang Dong'er's tattered stockings, especially the shredded area around her thighs, which was beyond repair.
"What nonsense are you thinking? How could I do something like that…" Wang Dong'er retorted, puffing out her cheeks as she pinched the soft flesh at Zhu Lu's waist in mock annoyance.
With such a full and voluptuous figure, Zhu Lu's curves weren't limited to her chest and hips—her entire body was fuller than most. Yet, this didn't detract from her charm. Zhu Lu's waist-to-hip ratio remained stunning. A figure as full as hers wouldn't look beautiful if her waist and thighs were too thin; instead, it would look unsettling. Fortunately, her proportions were balanced, and her waist and thighs weren't overly thick.
The Zhu family's signature "hourglass figure" had always been an advantage. After all, anyone could simply gain weight, but cultivating such curves was an art.
As Wang Dong'er pinched Zhu Lu's waist, a flash of envy crossed her eyes. Though Qian Ran was broad in his affections, even the most open-hearted man couldn't give equal attention to everyone. In terms of preferences, figures like Zhu Lu's undoubtedly held an edge.
"Seriously, how do you even grow like that?"
This was the advantage of natural talent—something no amount of effort could change.
If Wang Dong'er hadn't been completely certain that she couldn't compete with Zhu Lu in the "sexy beauty" category, she would never have given up on pursuing that path herself.
But what would happen if she tried? At best, her body could reach a C+ level at its full potential. Yet Zhu Lu, even now, already outshone her.
If Wang Dong'er went all-in on being sexy, wouldn't she be completely overshadowed by Zhu Lu? With someone like Zhu Lu around, would Qian Ran even notice her attempts?
The other girls shared this sentiment. With Zhu Lu as a walking bug, none of them dared tread too far into the realm of pure sensuality.
Instead, they each added just a touch of allure to their own niches. Dong'er, for instance, leaned into a "campus sweetheart" look that balanced youthful innocence with subtle seduction, occasionally switching to a pure, sweet schoolgirl style. This gave her a charm that rivaled Zhu Lu's without directly competing. On campus, her "home-field advantage" often made her seem even more appealing.
Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo had embraced their twin dynamic, refining their appeal as a synchronized duo. Though seemingly simple, their coordinated dances left an impression that was far more striking and captivating than the efforts of others. Cui Yajie leaned into her beast-girl aesthetic, while Ning Tian embodied the elegant nobility of a Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect heiress. Xiao Xiao, meanwhile, had fully committed to her sweet-girl persona, surpassing even Dong'er in some aspects.
It was no exaggeration to say that the outer court boys had been living their best lives in Qian Ran's absence.
With so many stunning, campus-famous beauties dressing up and showing off in different ways, how could those boys not feel overjoyed? Of course, they all knew one thing: these girls were entirely out of reach.
No one dared challenge Qian Ran for his women—not if they valued their lives.
This was true not just for Wang Dong'er and the others. Even Zhou Yi and Mu Jin seemed to grow younger and more beautiful thanks to Qian Ran's influence.
"You… did something, didn't you?"
Ning Tian approached Dong'er, sniffing lightly. The familiar scent in the air made her heart skip a beat.
There was no way Dong'er would betray Qian Ran. The state of her stockings could only be the work of that scoundrel himself.
And that scent—it was unmistakably Qian Ran.
"Shh. Don't tell anyone. Don't let them know he's back," Dong'er whispered, placing a finger to her lips.
If Xu Tiannan and the others found out that Qian Ran had secretly returned to Shrek Academy right under their noses, they would lose their minds.
No matter how much Xu Tiannan and his faction fawned over Qian Ran, their confidence stemmed from the belief that they had him cornered in the Sun Moon Empire. With advanced soul tools monitoring his every move and powerful figures keeping a close watch, how could Qian Ran possibly escape?
Their attitude toward him depended entirely on this false sense of security. If they discovered that Qian Ran could leave the empire at will, they would have acted long ago.
Dong'er understood this perfectly.
The other girls, after their initial excitement, quieted down and prepared to finish their training before going to see Qian Ran.
Looking at Dong'er's shredded stockings, they finally realized why she hadn't bothered to change before coming to them. She was showing off.
And so, Dong'er's moment of pride quickly turned into her being mobbed by the group.
"Where's Qian Ran?"
"He went to see Senior Sister Zhang Lexuan."
"In that case, let's head back to the dorms and get ready first." The girls vented their frustrations on Dong'er for a while before dispersing. Having just finished their training, covered in sweat, none of them wanted Qian Ran to see them in such a state.
In the inner court, Zhang Lexuan immediately demanded Qian Ran "hand in his assignment."
Even someone as resilient as Qian Ran was left exhausted after repeatedly dealing with the relentless attention of his companions.
After sending Dong'er off, he had gone straight to Zhang Lexuan. Despite his physical endurance, the constant demands were beginning to take their toll. Qian Ran had anticipated this—his return was always destined to be both joyous and grueling.
"Hmph. That's what you get for flirting around all the time," Zhang Lexuan teased, noticing the fatigue etched on Qian Ran's face. After resting for a moment, she climbed on top of him, planting a gentle kiss on his lips before wiping his body clean. His skin was covered in her lipstick marks.
Although Qian Ran didn't particularly like his women wearing makeup, lipstick was an exception. They seemed to enjoy covering him in kisses after applying it.
Zhang Lexuan's tenderness was unmatched by Dong'er and the others. Older women had their own charms—maturity, care, and gentleness. Younger girls were sweet and adorable, but older sisters knew how to spoil him. Qian Ran wanted both.
After wiping off the lipstick marks, Zhang Lexuan changed into a new pair of white stockings and fresh clothes. She always kept spares in her storage soul tool because Qian Ran never met her without tearing something.
Dressed in a new nightgown, she sat leisurely at her vanity, applying light makeup. Qian Ran reclined nearby, watching his refined and elegant senior sister with admiration.
"Qian Ran, did you come back just for me?" Zhang Lexuan asked, her tone light but probing. She had already guessed the truth. Otherwise, why would Qian Ran have come to her first? She knew she wasn't his top priority.
Typically, Qian Ran would visit Dong'er and the other girls first, then turn to figures like Cai Mei'er, Xin Lin'er, and herself. It wasn't favoritism—it was practical. Groups took precedence over individuals.
"Senior Sister, do you want to be Empress of the Sun Moon Empire? I can make it happen," Qian Ran said bluntly.
Currently, Xu Tiannan couldn't fully control the Sun Moon Empire—he hadn't even ascended the throne yet. If Qian Ran allied with the Holy Spirit Sect, they could easily usurp him.
Never underestimate the ambition of someone with the heart to become an empress.
Qian Ran had no interest in being an emperor himself, but helping someone else ascend the throne? Especially a woman he admired? That was a challenge he couldn't resist.
(End of Chapter)
Notes-You can read advanced chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X