Chapter 102: Encountering Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luochen Is Helpless and Angry...
"Calling me to the inner courtyard?"
Ling Shuang, who received the message from Wang Yan, was walking toward the inner courtyard while secretly pondering the purpose of the summons.
Was it to apologize for the matter with Xuan Zi, or to put pressure on him...?
Ling Shuang wasn't sure.
After all, Shrek Academy had the dual nature of bullying the weak and fearing the strong, as well as protecting its own.
Whether it was the former apologizing because of his mysterious background or the latter pressuring him to preserve the Academy's image it was possible.
But Ling Shuang wasn't worried.
He had a backup plan. No matter what happened, his life wouldn't be in danger.
"Ling Junior Brother?!"
While lost in thought, Ling Shuang suddenly heard a familiar voice filled with excitement, surprise, and a trace of nervousness.
He looked up to see a fiery red figure trotting over.
Seeing the person approaching, Ling Shuang's expression shifted slightly. After a brief moment, he managed a faint smile. "Sister Xiaotao."
Ma Xiaotao arrived in front of Ling Shuang, her scarlet eyes full of surprise.
She had just returned from the mimicry training ground in the inner courtyard and was on her way back to her room to rest. She hadn't expected to bump into her beloved junior, Ling Shuang.
When Ma Xiaotao confessed her feelings to Ling Shuang, she had done so boldly, as if she had no fear of rejection.
But that was just a front.
Afterward, she had felt anxious and insecure.
She had worried that Ling Shuang would still deliberately distance himself from her because of Jiang Nannan.
So during this time, she hadn't gone to the outer courtyard to find him.
She told herself it was to give Ling Shuang more time, but in her heart, she knew she was just afraid afraid to face the answer.
But today, when fate brought them together in the inner courtyard, Ma Xiaotao no longer wanted to run away.
She saw it as a reminder from destiny.
A reminder that avoidance solves nothing, and what must be faced should be faced head-on.
So, Ma Xiaotao greeted Ling Shuang.
And the outcome wasn't as bad as she had feared.
Though she noticed his reaction was slightly off, she was already satisfied that he didn't treat her like a plague.
At least it meant he didn't despise her because of that incident so she still had a chance!
But she wouldn't rush.
Her earlier impulsive confession had been forced by the fact that Ling Shuang already had a girlfriend, Jiang Nannan. She'd needed to make her feelings clear to even have a chance.
Now was different.
If she pushed too hard again, it might backfire.
That wasn't what Ma Xiaotao wanted.
By nature, she would have charged forward with all her heart when it came to someone she liked, without much thought.
But she had learned restraint from her master's wife, Cai Mei'er.
Cai Mei'er, understanding Ma Xiaotao's strength in cultivation but cluelessness in romance, had gladly accepted Ma Xiaotao's request for help. She had analyzed the situation and offered her a detailed strategy for approaching Ling Shuang.
Although Ma Xiaotao didn't fully understand the strategy's , she knew one thing just follow it.
So she acted as if the earlier confession had never happened and asked Ling Shuang casually:
"Xiao Shuang, why are you in the inner courtyard? Did the Academy transfer you here?"
Ma Xiaotao's scarlet eyes sparkled with anticipation.
She knew Ling Shuang's talent and strength. Even she, the Phoenix Girl of the inner courtyard, wasn't his match.
It was entirely possible that the Academy had promoted him.
If that were the case, she would have more chances.
Ma Xiaotao's disadvantages compared to Jiang Nannan were twofold: time and distance.
Jiang Nannan had known Ling Shuang much longer and was in the outer courtyard like him. Ma Xiaotao, in the inner courtyard, had the distance disadvantage.
While she didn't mind flying from the inner to the outer courtyard every day, that would seem too deliberate.
But if Ling Shuang was transferred to the inner courtyard, that would change everything.
The inner courtyard was small it would be normal to run into each other.
And as a senior, helping a junior familiarize himself with the inner courtyard? Completely natural.
That meant more chances to spend time together.
More time together meant more chances to win him over.
Ma Xiaotao's plan was ideal unfortunately, it wasn't the reality.
"No," Ling Shuang said, explaining that he had received a notice from Wang Yan to go to the Sea God Pavilion.
"Old Xuan made a move on you?!" Ma Xiaotao's eyes flared with anger.
As an inner courtyard disciple, she knew who Xuan Zi was.
So upon hearing that Xuan Zi had attacked Ling Shuang, she was furious.
This was outright bullying!
He was an elder how could he do that?
Ma Xiaotao had never disliked Xuan Zi before. She thought he was a bit sloppy, but otherwise fine.
But now, her opinion changed drastically.
He had used his position to make things difficult for Ling Shuang how could she not resent that?
Especially since Ling Shuang was someone she loved.
Learning that Ling Shuang was now headed to the Sea God Pavilion, Ma Xiaotao immediately became concerned that he would be wronged. She grabbed his arm without hesitation.
"Let's go. I'll go with you!"
If those old geezers at the Pavilion tried to bully Ling Shuang, her presence might at least count for something.
After all, beyond being second only to Zhang Lexuan in the inner courtyard, her teacher was Yan Shaozhe. That had weight.
If they ignored her, she'd go straight to her teacher!
He held Ling Shuang in high regard he wouldn't let him suffer.
Ling Shuang didn't think her accompanying him would help much. He tried to explain that it wasn't necessary.
But Ma Xiaotao wouldn't listen.
Worried, she insisted on following him.
Seeing that she wouldn't budge, Ling Shuang had no choice but to accept.
They walked toward the Sea God Pavilion together, unaware that a pair of icy blue eyes was quietly watching them from not far away.
Ling Luochen frowned slightly.
"Toward the Sea God Pavilion… what is that woman Ma Xiaotao doing dragging him there..."
"Is she trying to force marriage?!"
Ling Luochen bit her lip in frustration, feeling both helpless and furious.
Like someone powerless, she could only watch another woman try to steal the person she loved...
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(End of this chapter)