Why not turn the tables?
In a flash of thought, Su Linfeng let his eyes glaze over with the haziness of drunkenness.
You said I'm drunk…
Then I might as well make use of it.
Before Dugu Yan could react, Su Linfeng spoke:
"Why did you try to sneak-attack me?"
Sneak attack?
I didn't!!!
Dugu Yan's eyes widened like saucers.
She clearly only followed him out to see what he was up to, yet somehow she became the attacker? Wasn't this the thief crying "stop thief"?
"I didn't!"
Her voice came out flustered. She pressed a hand against Su Linfeng's chest, gently pushing upward, her rosy lips parting as she whispered in embarrassment:
"C-can you get off me first? You're… hurting me."
Panic flickered in her beautiful eyes, her lips trembling slightly.
With a burst of courage, Dugu Yan shoved Su Linfeng off her, then quickly stood up. She fumbled with her disheveled hair and rumpled robes, face full of panic.
"T-then, um… I-I'll just head back now."
Watching her graceful figure disappear into the side hall, Su Linfeng exhaled in relief and pushed himself up from the ground. But in his mind, the lingering sensation from just moments ago refused to fade.
A crushing sense of guilt.
Sorry… it couldn't be helped.
He glanced at the extinguished lights of Bibi Dong's chambers, then slipped away like a shadow into the side hall.
When Dugu Yan returned to her room, she found Hu Liena and Zhang Ping unexpectedly awake.
"Dugu Yan, where did you go? Why isn't Brother Su here?" Hu Liena asked.
"I-I'm fine. Just stepped out for some fresh air."
Her heart still pounded so loudly she could hear it herself. The excuse sounded so flimsy that even she didn't believe it.
Zhang Ping, however, caught the strange atmosphere. With a sly smile, she sidestepped to let Dugu Yan pass.
"Did Brother Linfeng go out with you?"
Dugu Yan frowned, glancing at Zhang Ping's teasing eyes. "N-no, we didn't meet."
"Really?" Zhang Ping's smile deepened, her tone light but probing. "Then where exactly did you go?"
"Nowhere…"
Dugu Yan inhaled sharply, her cheeks burning red. "I just felt stuffy and took a walk. If you don't believe me, ask Linfeng when he comes back."
Zhang Ping's gaze lingered on her flushed face.
Strange… why does she look so guilty?
There's something fishy here.
But before Zhang Ping could press further, Hu Liena, ever the carefree one, cut in to defuse the situation:
"Brother Su's probably already gone to sleep. He usually stays in the main hall with Her Holiness the Supreme Pontiff anyway."
"Eh…"
The alcohol in Zhang Ping's system surged again, dulling her suspicion for now. She chuckled, "Brother Linfeng always with Her Holiness, huh? He's already fifteen and still such a mama's boy."
"Alright, enough already."
Dugu Yan finally relaxed, sighing in relief as she quickly changed the subject. "Come on, let's keep drinking!"
She grabbed the nearest jug and gulped it down in big swigs, hoping to drown her racing thoughts.
But the wine only made her blush deeper, and her mind kept replaying what had just happened.
Su Linfeng…
She'd liked him for nearly ten years now, ever since her grandfather asked her that question back then…
But he was too outstanding.
And some so many other outstanding girls liked him too—Hu Liena, Zhang Ping…
Do I really even have a chance?
Maybe she did. This trip to the Star Dou Great Forest would give her the rare chance to be alone with him. Perhaps…
Ahhh! Dugu Yan!
What are you even thinking?
So embarrassing!
Flustered, she took several more gulps of wine.
Meanwhile—
At the Spirit Hall Inn, most of the other tournament teams had already left Spirit City after the competition. Only Heaven Dou Royal Academy's team remained.
The once-bustling hotel had fallen into silence.
Inside Qian Renxue's room.
After returning from Spirit Hall, she too had drunk a little and now lay restless on her bed, unable to sleep.
Ever since meeting Bibi Dong, her heart had been in turmoil. She thought she could ignore that woman forever, but something had changed.
Bibi Dong now treated her with such careful tenderness as though truly cherishing her.
It was a kind of affection she had never felt before—not in her childhood, not ever.
In short—
Qian Renxue had no idea how to deal with this tangled relationship anymore.
And then there was Su Linfeng.
His bond with Bibi Dong was deep. Being caught between them was suffocating.
Not to mention…
That guy still had the nerve to…
Creak—
The familiar sound of a window opening startled her out of her thoughts.
"Ah—who's there?"
She jolted upright, staring at the window.
Again?
Just what she feared.
"Big Sis, it's me!"
Su Linfeng slipped deftly inside, shutting the window behind him with practiced ease, grinning brightly as he approached her.
"Ah… Linfeng?!"
Qian Renxue's eyes twitched violently, her pretty face flushing crimson. She scolded with a mix of shyness and irritation:
"Y-you… why are you here again?"
"What? Am I not welcome?"
He gave her a pitiful look. "You're going back to Heaven Dou tomorrow, and I haven't even had the chance to say goodbye."
Qian Renxue's cheeks grew redder. With a sigh, she muttered, "Aren't you afraid she'll show up again?"
Su Linfeng: "..."
Afraid?
Bibi Dong was already asleep. And even if not, what was there to fear?
Fueled by wine and nerves, he sat casually on her bed.
"Big Sis, you wouldn't be so heartless as to kick me out, would you? Can you really bear to?"
"Y-you're still as shameless as when you were little!"
She had no comeback. He had already sealed off her escape routes.
"Anyway, I'm here now."
If she thought him shameless, then shameless he would be. "Even if you chase me out, I'm not leaving tonight."
"You…"
Qian Renxue was utterly speechless.
Stubborn. Impossible to sway.
But…
Her face burned hot as she thought of what he might be planning tonight. What should she do?
Reject him? Or let it be?
She was torn in knots.
Forget it!
Whatever happens, happens!
Frustrated, Qian Renxue buried her head under the quilt. "Fine, just go to sleep. I'm leaving for Heaven Dou tomorrow."
"Alright!"
Su Linfeng's eyes lit up as he slipped under the quilt with ease.
"Big Sis, I like you."
He leaned close to her ear, whispering.
"Mmm."
Qian Renxue trembled, her voice so soft only she could hear it.
"I-I like you too…"
But the instant the words left her lips—
Her eyes flew wide.
"Ahh! You little brat, what are you doing?!"
"No way!"
"Who taught you that?!"