"You're still too young…"
Neuvillette's expression tightened.
"No!" Wang Dong'er's voice wasn't loud, but her tone was filled with unshakable resolve.
Tonight, she had braved the risk of someone discovering her true gender and had slipped straight into Neuvillette's tent to launch a midnight assault.
It was all to lay her feelings bare.
Every attempt she had made before to get close to him had been sternly rejected. But now, nestled against Neuvillette's chest, her hair gently stroked as she nuzzled like a kitten, that strange affection within her only deepened.
The sense of security in his embrace was something she had never felt before.
Without parents, growing up in the cold halls of the Clear Sky Sect, raised by her two rugged uncles—who, though they gave her all the love they could, still fell short—it had always left a gap.
Until she met Neuvillette. At her most helpless, her most lost, he had been the one to give her warmth.
That feeling was intoxicating.
"Teacher Neuvillette, do you know? That day, I felt as if the world had lost all its color. Even my closest uncles, instead of understanding me, forced me to learn those so-called hidden weapons. I even wondered if behind it all there wasn't some vast conspiracy at play."
"Until I met you—color returned."
"You risked injury, all to undo the seal on me, so that I could choose the soul tool I truly wanted, rather than those outdated, hidden weapons."
"Other than Yutong, only you really understand me…"
"And besides—you're the very first person in all of Shrek Academy to know that I'm a girl!"
Her voice was crisp and gentle, like a clear bell.
Neuvillette felt the girl's arms tighten more firmly around his neck and let out a faint sigh.
If Tang Shenwang heard this, he'd regret it to death—losing both his daughter and his soldier in one stroke.
And besides…
Neuvillette's expression grew strange.
This little girl probably didn't even realize that her secret had long been known by Shrek's upper echelons. After all, the Bright Goddess Butterfly was inherently a female martial soul.
Forget it.
Neuvillette shook his head helplessly and said nothing more.
The atmosphere fell into silence.
Still, the girl clung tightly to his neck, like a frightened kitten terrified of being left behind, a sight that instinctively stirred his pity.
Her thin clothes were hardly enough for the autumn night. Even through the fabric, he could feel the smooth, delicate skin beneath. In the quiet dark, their two hearts seemed to drift closer together.
"Your Highness, are you asleep?"
Just then, a soft voice sounded again from outside the tent.
Neuvillette: "…"
He waited a moment. No reply.
"Not awake…?"
The gentle voice came again, half to herself, tinged with shyness and unease.
Neuvillette: "…"
Glancing at the flustered face of Wang Dong'er beside him, he rubbed his forehead. What, did you all plan this together?
Just as he was about to speak, the girl beside him suddenly slipped beneath the blanket, curling tightly into his arms.
Lowering his gaze, in the faint moonlight, her exquisitely lovely face came into view. Her small body curled tightly against him, her cheeks flushed with nervous excitement—afraid of being discovered, yet even more enthralled by the dangerous thrill.
Very soon, the sound of soft footsteps came again.
The tent flap was carefully lifted.
In the next instant—
A cold, slender figure slipped beneath the covers, sliding in as well.
The corner of Neuvillette's mouth twitched.
Front and back, surrounded by beauties—now he truly couldn't move.
"Yutong, you…" He said helplessly.
"Your Highness, there are things I've kept in my heart for far too long…" Huo Yutong's fair arms, smooth as white jade, wrapped around his neck.
Leaning close, her lips brushed his ear.
"From the first moment I saw you, my heart was yours. To be able to follow you has been the greatest purpose of my life."
"For that, I've trained hard, studied diligently, even set up a stall outside the academy selling grilled fish every day, all to grow stronger and keep pace with you…"
In Neuvillette's arms—
Wang Dong'er's eyes widened. So that's why Yutong worked so desperately hard… it was all because…
The corner of Neuvillette's eye twitched.
This girl really… all for me, huh…
Truly, worthy of being a child of destiny—when it came to gratitude, she had no equal.
But…
Wasn't this a bit much?
This is practically offering herself!
Feeling the two young beauties pressed close against him, clinging to him as though he were a warm stove, Neuvillette's lips gave a helpless twitch.
This was punishment—true punishment!
"Your Highness, ever since ten years ago, when you gave my mother and me a place to stay at the Duke's manor and let us survive till today, neither of us has ever dared forget your kindness."
"And recently, when Dai Huabin threatened us, you brought my mother here. Yet all I could feel was anger at my own powerlessness."
"So…"
Her cheeks flushed crimson.
"I…"
"Neuvillette, are you asleep?"
Just as she was about to pour her heart out, another voice suddenly broke in, startling all three.
"Asleep? This early?"
The voice was oddly playful, yet exceptionally beautiful.
Neuvillette: "…"
(End of Chapter)