"I thought I'd lost you…"
Zhang Lexuan threw her arms around Su Wen. From her trembling voice, one could clearly hear the beauty's current state of mind.
"Senior Sister, I'm fine." Su Wen murmured softly.
"…"
Only then did Zhang Lexuan realize the ambiguous posture between them. Her pretty face flushed red as she gently pushed him away. Luckily, only Elder Xuan was nearby. The Sea God Pavilion elder wisely turned his head, chewing on a chicken leg while humming a little tune.
…
Sea God Pavilion Meeting.
"You saved the Auspicious Beast?" Elder Song gaped.
"So that beam of light was your doing?"
"That's right," Su Wen admitted openly.
"…"
Song Yunzhi was momentarily speechless, and Yan Shaozhe quickly followed up: "Then how did you break through that space?"
So, under the watchful gazes of all the elders—
"I don't know." Su Wen spread his hands.
Everyone: "…"
Yan Shaozhe's lips twitched. Though there were countless complaints he could have voiced, Su Wen not knowing was actually the most reasonable answer.
"Enough. No need to discuss this further," Mu En said gently.
Since the gray light beam had helped Su Wen and the Auspicious Beast break through the spatial barrier, it wasn't necessary to overanalyze. Knowing such a power existed was benefit enough.
"Lexuan, take Xiao Wen to rest. After this trip to Star Dou Forest, he must be starving," Mu En said with a smile. "Xiaoxiao has prepared a lavish banquet."
…
Night fell deep.
In the inner courtyard dining hall, the back kitchen still had a light burning.
Slurp~
Su Wen sipped beef noodle soup.
The broth was as delicious as ever—Aunt Lu's cooking never disappointed.
"But Aunt Lu, Elder Mu's 'lavish banquet' feels a little different from just one bowl of noodles…" Su Wen muttered under his breath.
Smack!
Something struck the back of his head.
"The dining hall was already closed. I was at home snuggling with my man, pants half-off, when Elder Mu suddenly told me to come cook for you. You should be grateful you even got noodles!" Lu Xiaoxiao said angrily, tying up her hair as she spoke.
Because of Su Wen's importance, and what had just happened, Elder Mu didn't even trust Shrek City. He insisted Su Wen stay within the academy for now, instead of running around. Otherwise, he'd have long since gone out for late-night snacks.
"Cough, cough…" Su Wen lowered his head further.
Aunt Lu looked like a gentle noble lady, a refined middle-aged beauty. But in truth, she was tough as nails, and few in the inner courtyard dared provoke her. Su Wen had just let his mouth run.
He felt guilty for interrupting a couple's intimate moment. It was as if words floated before his eyes:
Shrek Inner Court Birth Rate –1
"Sister Lexuan, I'll head back to the dorms~"
On the road leading to the outer courtyard, Su Wen waved.
"Wait!"
Just as he was about to turn away, Zhang Lexuan suddenly called out.
"Hm?" Su Wen looked at her in surprise.
The senior sister stood there, the night breeze lifting her turquoise dress. The two were by Sea God Lake, faint soul-guide streetlights casting a soft glow across her face. In her beautiful eyes, a glimmer of emotion surfaced.
That emotion deepened as she stepped forward.
Soft, cool lips brushed Su Wen's cheek. The touch was like a rose petal kissed with morning dew, fleeting yet tender. For that instant, the air froze—the rippling lake, the beauty before him, the night's tranquility forming a perfect picture.
As the moist warmth faded, a gentle voice whispered in his ear.
"Let's go~"
Her figure flashed. With a few blinks of light, she disappeared into Sea God Lake.
Su Wen instinctively touched his cheek. The damp tingling still lingered, the soft breath of warmth clinging stubbornly to his ear.
…
Late at night.
Su Wen tiptoed into his dorm.
He climbed into bed—only to find someone already inside.
He froze. Good grief, someone just took over my bed while I was gone?
But under the pale moonlight, he realized—it was Wang Dong'er, in her girl form?!
Even with just faint moonlight, her beauty shone. No wonder she could rival the campus belle Jiang Nannan. As the daughter of god, her looks were flawless.
Yet strangely, she was curled up, her long lashes trembling. Su Wen clearly saw a tear glistening there.
She'd been crying?
Su Wen found it even stranger.
He shook his head, ready to sleep, when suddenly her light-blue eyes opened. She stared at him without blinking, then rubbed her eyes sleepily. "Had a nightmare. Su Wen, even if you turn into a ghost, don't come looking for me, okay? My skin's too tender…"
Saying this, she slowly closed her eyes again and turned over.
Su Wen: "…"
"You should go. Don't bother me anymore~"
Still facing away, Wang Dong'er extended one arm, lazily waving at him.
Su Wen's lips twitched.
"Wang Dong!"
"Ahhhh!!!"
Her scream was instantly muffled—Su Wen covered her mouth. Her fear gradually shifted to confusion, then bewilderment…
"You… weren't you dead?"
As soon as he let go, her crisp voice rang out.
"Dead your ass," Su Wen said darkly.
"Everyone was saying you died in Star Dou Forest! And since all the students who joined the hunt had returned except for you, so…" Wang Dong'er trailed off guiltily.
"Enough. Time to explain." Su Wen arched a brow.
"Explain what?" Wang Dong'er blinked in confusion.
"Explain why you've…" Su Wen hadn't finished before Wang Dong'er cut him off, feigning ignorance. Her eyes darted left and right as she stood up stiffly, pretending to be a zombie. "Oh no, I'm sleepwalking. Don't disturb me, or something bad might happen~"
She tried to retreat to her own bed—but Su Wen grabbed her arm firmly. She couldn't break free.
"…Fine. I can explain," Wang Dong'er finally said, face full of dejection.
"As long as you don't tell the academy."
Su Wen's lips twitched.
So basically, everyone already knew Wang Dong'er was a girl, except her? He remembered in the original story, when her secret was revealed, even Bei Bei and the others had known long beforehand.
"That's the truth," Wang Dong'er muttered, nervously clutching the blanket as she sat cross-legged on Su Wen's bed.
"So… the Clear Sky Sect knew you were a girl, yet still forced you to disguise yourself as a boy and live in a boys' dorm?" Su Wen asked flatly.
"That…" Wang Dong'er opened her mouth, but in the end, dropped her head.
She was confused too. Her uncles clearly loved her. But on this matter, they had been uncharacteristically stubborn.
"And when you moved out of one boys' dorm, they just sent you to another boys' dorm?" Su Wen continued.
"Feels like they're treating you as a tool."
"Move you around wherever you're needed."
"Oh, and that Huo Yuhao kid… he's no ordinary one."
"…"
Wang Dong'er bit her lip, her pretty face full of complicated emotions.
"Don't say any more…"