"Wu Ming-jie, are you falling for him?" Ma Xiaotao teased, giving Wu Ming a playful pinch at her waist, her smile mischievous.
"N-no way! How could I…" Wu Ming stammered, denying it while her flustered expression gave her away.
"Hmph. I never said it wasn't allowed," Ma Xiaotao said, rolling her eyes. Even if she wanted to stop Qian Ran, she knew he'd still find a way to pursue other women. Rather than fight it, she might as well bring her closest friends into the fold. At least that way, they'd look out for each other.
This wasn't just an excuse—Ma Xiaotao genuinely believed it.
Qian Ran's charm was overwhelming, and none of them could truly control him. So why not go with the flow?
Wu Ming had a personality and temperament similar to hers, and the two of them had always been good friends in the inner court. Ma Xiaotao saw this as an opportunity to do a good deed.
After all, even if she didn't bring Wu Ming into Qian Ran's life, it was likely he'd pursue Wu Ming sooner or later. By taking the initiative, Ma Xiaotao could at least make Wu Ming feel indebted to her.
This way, Ma Xiaotao would have both a close friend and an ally, Wu Ming would gain a dependable partner in Qian Ran, and Qian Ran would win over another beautiful woman.
It was a win-win-win situation.
"You're really that generous?" Wu Ming asked, surprised. She'd been struggling with her feelings, thinking it was inappropriate to fall for her friend's man.
"It's not about generosity. It's about reality," Ma Xiaotao said with a sigh. "Even if I wanted to be selfish, I can't. Look around—how many women by Qian Ran's side are actually possessive?"
"When he went to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, he came back with a whole group of women. Qian Ran isn't the kind of person to stay idle," Ma Xiaotao said, shaking her head.
If she could have Qian Ran all to herself, she would have wanted that. But that wasn't realistic.
Love might be inherently selfish, but when the person you loved was as outstanding as Qian Ran, it was hard to hold onto that possessiveness.
In fact, Ma Xiaotao often felt unworthy of monopolizing him.
"I guess Qian Ran is a bit of a philanderer," Wu Ming said thoughtfully.
If it had been any other man, Wu Ming wouldn't have tolerated such behavior. But with Qian Ran, even as an outsider, she couldn't bring herself to be upset.
"If he weren't like this, we wouldn't have a chance," Ma Xiaotao said matter-of-factly. She recalled how Qian Ran already had Wang Dong'er and Tang Ya by his side when they fell in love.
If Qian Ran had been even slightly more reserved, she wouldn't have had the opportunity to become his woman. As someone who had benefited from Qian Ran's affections, Ma Xiaotao had no right to be jealous.
"Let's not dwell on it… Should I go change into something else to prepare?" Wu Ming asked, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness.
Her admiration for Qian Ran's talent and strength had already won her over. From a practical standpoint, being with Qian Ran meant securing a future with an extraordinary man. The alternative was marrying someone ordinary.
On the Douluo Continent, even those who didn't wish to marry often had to produce heirs to preserve their lineage. Martial soul inheritance was paramount.
"Don't bother. While Qian Ran has some peculiar tastes, you look great as you are," Ma Xiaotao said, taking Wu Ming's hand and giving her a reassuring look.
From a girl's perspective, the Shrek Academy uniform was unflattering. But Ma Xiaotao knew better—if you could make something as plain as this look good, you truly stood out.
"Really? You're not setting me up, are you?" Wu Ming asked, rolling her eyes.
"Trust me. Dressing too provocatively isn't always the best move. Clothes like tight dresses or stockings can make most people look good. If you rely on those, Qian Ran might not be as impressed.
"But wearing something simple and still standing out? That's what catches his eye. Besides, now that Qian Ran is vice-dean, the uniform has… its own special appeal," Ma Xiaotao added with a sly grin.
"Huh?" Wu Ming, usually bold, was rendered speechless by Ma Xiaotao's reasoning.
"You have an amazing figure," Ma Xiaotao said, playfully squeezing Wu Ming's curves. "It's perfect."
"Vice-Dean Qian," Wu Ming said, her tone respectful as she greeted Qian Ran formally.
"See that, Xiaotao? Look how polite Wu Ming is. You should take notes," Qian Ran teased with a grin.
Even if he became dean of Shrek Academy one day, he doubted Ma Xiaotao would ever act so proper around him.
It was refreshing to see someone like Wu Ming acknowledge his new title.
"Vice-dean, should I wear the uniform more often from now on?" Ma Xiaotao asked with a smirk, her tone deliberately playful. She knew Qian Ran had a fondness for certain "themes," and this setup was already hitting all the right notes.
In a different world, this kind of dynamic would definitely land them on a social media blacklist, attracting waves of criticism.
"Do as you like," Qian Ran said with a light chuckle, though the idea of his women in neatly arranged uniforms lingered in his mind. It had… potential.
After dinner, Ma Xiaotao gave Wu Ming a knowing look before making an excuse to leave.
Her departure left Wu Ming alone with Qian Ran.
Despite her fiery personality, Wu Ming couldn't help but feel nervous. This was new territory for her—she had kept herself pure all these years.
Was it going to happen now?
The pace of events was faster than she'd imagined.
In the original story, Wu Ming had chosen an inner court disciple as her partner, but even then, she had taken her time. Gaining her trust and affection required patience.
Now, it had been less than four hours since she'd met Qian Ran. From introductions to dinner, everything had happened so quickly.
As she wrestled with her thoughts, Qian Ran, ever experienced, smoothly moved to sit beside her.
(End of Chapter)
Notes-You can read advanced chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X