Ning Rongrong's words, which sounded very much like a confession, scared Su Xiaoqi half to death. He quickly took a step back and said, "Whoa, don't take it that far. At best, we're just playing around together—it's not like that between us."
Ning Rongrong wasn't upset in the slightest and continued to smile sweetly at Su Xiaoqi. If it weren't for his words just now, she would've suffered a huge blow, so she felt immensely grateful to him.
At this moment, Zhu Zhuqing took the initiative and grabbed Su Xiaoqi's hand. "Xiaoqi, I'm feeling a bit tired."
As a fellow girl, she could clearly sense that Ning Rongrong's affection for Su Xiaoqi had soared. So now, she was staking her claim through her actions.
"Alright, let's go back then."
Su Xiaoqi nodded at Zhu Zhuqing and turned to Flender with a smile. "Dean Flender, we're heading off now. See you tonight."
"Oh, right—don't forget to have Tang San and Xiao Wu run fifty laps around the village."
He originally planned to say at least another 30,000 words—he hadn't even gotten around to trashing people like Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai.
But no matter. There would be plenty of opportunities later, especially when they headed to the Star Dou Great Forest—that's when the real fun would begin.
"Flender, you almost had me fooled," Ning Rongrong said. "Starting today, I'll be living outside the academy with Xiaoqi and the others. If you don't like it, just expel me."
"But let me remind you—losing me, Ning Rongrong, will be Shrek Academy's loss."
With that, she hurried after Su Xiaoqi. The rest of the so-called Shrek group meant nothing to her now. From now on, she'd only hang out with Su Xiaoqi.
Flender watched the three figures walking away, his face clouded with gloom.
Of course, he wouldn't actually let Ning Rongrong leave Shrek Academy. Everything he said earlier was just part of a plan to help break her temper—a plan he only dared execute because he had received Ning Fengzhi's prior consent.
Everything had been going smoothly… until that troublemaker Su Xiaoqi messed it up again.
Su Xiaoqi was now a major headache. As long as he remained, peace would never return to the academy. Flender knew he had to find a way to drive the boy out.
Dai Mubai approached and cautiously asked, "Dean, are we really just letting them go like that?"
Flender, full of pent-up frustration with nowhere to vent, shouted, "And what do you propose?! If you're so capable, go get Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing back yourself!"
"And the rest of you—start running laps around the village, now! Zhu Zhuqing is already level 30, and you lot are still wasting time. Get training!"
Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun didn't dare make a sound under Flender's fury.
Tang San, on the other hand, stepped forward and said, "Dean is right. Xiao Wu and I will complete our fifty laps."
Xiao Wu tugged on his sleeve and whispered, "Brother, are we really going to run? That's fifty laps—it'll be exhausting."
But this time, Tang San didn't coddle her. He looked serious as he said, "Xiao Wu, do you want to lose to Zhu Zhuqing again next time? Don't forget—she's the youngest among us."
Xiao Wu fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, I'll run with you. I was the top girl in this academy before, and I still will be."
"Xiao Gang… he really is your disciple through and through," Flender muttered, watching Tang San's back with pride.
Then he turned and saw the other three still standing there like wooden stakes. His face darkened again.
"You three still standing around? Start running! They're doing fifty laps—each of you do thirty. I'll have the other teachers keep watch. Skip a single lap and you don't eat."
"Yes, sir," they all responded, miserable.
Dai Mubai redirected all his resentment toward Su Xiaoqi.
Ma Hongjun felt utterly wronged—I didn't even do anything!
Oscar, on the other hand, was inwardly conflicted.
On one hand, he couldn't quite accept Ning Rongrong's real personality; on the other, he regretted staying silent when she needed someone most.
After all the students had left, Zhao Wuji approached Flender and asked, "So, what do you plan to do with that brat?"
Flender shook his head. "For now, we wait. We still don't know his identity or background. Let's hold off until that senior finishes his investigation."
"Wu Ji—whatever happens, don't act rashly."
Zhao Wuji nodded solemnly. "Understood. Anyone who can produce a soul bone of that level is definitely no ordinary figure. And that kid himself is strange—I can't see through him at all."
"At this rate," he added, "Mubai probably won't be able to win Zhu Zhuqing back."
Flender sighed. "The power struggles of the Star Luo Imperial Family are beyond us. All we can do is try to buy Mubai some time."
"In a few days, I'll need you to take Zhu Zhuqing and that troublemaker to the Star Dou Forest to obtain a soul ring. Once you return, that old friend of mine—who I haven't seen in years—should be here. I bet he'll have a way to deal with Su Xiaoqi."
Zhao Wuji laughed. "No trouble at all. I am the academy's vice dean, after all. If he really tags along, I'll let him suffer a little. The forest's full of soul beasts—it's only natural for some... minor accidents to happen."
Flender chuckled. "You really hold a grudge, huh? Just don't go too far—make sure he comes back alive."
—
Meanwhile, Su Xiaoqi—on his way back to Soto City—had no idea that several people were already scheming against him.
He was currently busy spinning stories for Ning Rongrong, who wouldn't stop pestering him with questions.
Eventually, with no other choice, Su Xiaoqi gave her a half-true, half-fabricated account of his relationship with Zhu Zhuqing.
He didn't bother hiding Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai's identities—anyone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan could find that out with a little digging. Ning Fengzhi likely already knew, since Ning Rongrong's every move outside the sect would be monitored.
As for his own identity, he crafted the persona of a secluded aristocratic clan member. With how vast the Douluo Continent was, he didn't believe the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan knew everything.
Their backstory was simple: he left his clan to train and, by chance, encountered Zhu Zhuqing while she was fleeing from danger. He saved her, they fell for each other over time, and eventually became a couple.
And their reason for coming to Shrek Academy? Zhu Zhuqing, abandoned by a scumbag ex, was now bringing her new boyfriend to slap the jerk in the face. What storyline could possibly be more satisfying than that?
After hearing it all, Ning Rongrong was completely touched. Pumping her fists, she declared,
"That Dai Mubai is a real scumbag. So what if he's royalty from the Star Luo Empire? Others may fear him—I don't!"
"Zhuqing, from now on, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan has your back!"
"Not necessary," Zhu Zhuqing replied coldly, then looked at Su Xiaoqi. "He alone is enough. His backers are my backers."
After all, the two of them had the chat group behind them. Compared to that, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was nothing—and even the entire Douluo Continent was just a playground.
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