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*****
"Does it feel comfortable?" Jiang Nannan softly asked, biting her rosy lips.
"It's warm…" Su Wen smiled faintly.
"That's good." Jiang Nannan let out a sigh of relief, only for her hand to suddenly be caught by Su Wen. He rubbed her pale, slender fingertips—like spring onions—feeling the faint marks of countless tiny pinpricks. For a Soul Elder's resilient body, such little wounds would naturally fade quickly, but Su Wen still noticed them.
After all, when you already know the answer, it's easy to spot the clues.
The rough handiwork of the scarf was too different from Jiang's mother's delicate craftsmanship.
"Mm…"
Jiang Nannan tried to pull her hand back, but Su Wen held on. Her snowy earlobes turned crimson. She struggled lightly, but when he didn't let go, she simply turned her gaze aside, letting him play with her fingers.
"Does it hurt?" Su Wen asked gently.
Jiang Nannan's cheeks flushed red. She knew perfectly well he had already seen through her little secret—that this scarf was her own work. Yet he still teased her like this. She shot him a shy, angry glare and finally snatched her hand back, turning to leave.
But a thunderous roar suddenly echoed from the distance.
"Su Wen!!!"
A brown figure shot toward them like a meteor. Xu Sanshi's rage had already reached the heavens. He had heard his classmates gossiping that the school beauty, Jiang Nannan, had given a scarf to the new student Su Wen—handmade, no less. At first, he dismissed it as just rumors. But rumors repeated often enough gain weight. Finally, unable to stand it, he came to check. And sure enough, what he saw was the intimate scene just now.
"Xu Sanshi, are you insane?!" Jiang Nannan's figure flashed, instantly standing in front of Su Wen, her beautiful eyes glaring furiously at him.
"Yes, I'm sick—ever since the first time I laid eyes on you, I've been afflicted with the sickness of loving you…" Xu Sanshi clutched at his chest as though struck by lightning, staggering half a step back.
"You…" Jiang Nannan's face flushed scarlet with anger. Her slender hands clenched into fists, veins faintly bulging against her pale skin. She wanted nothing more than to beat this pest to a pulp—but in the past, every time she struck him, he treated it like some twisted reward.
"Nan Nan-jie, let me handle this." Su Wen smiled calmly.
He looked straight at Xu Sanshi's love-stricken expression.
If anyone around stirred the crowd, Jiang Nannan would probably die of embarrassment.
This guy had a decent character in the original story—but as a simp, he was practically an expert.
"So you're Su Wen?!" Xu Sanshi narrowed his eyes.
He had heard some of the commotion about the new students at the start of term, but to him—a peak Soul Elder—it was just childish scuffles, hardly worth a glance.
But he had pursued Jiang Nannan for three years!
He was the number-one simp of the Outer Court.
And yet this newcomer dared to cut in so easily?
He refused to accept it!
"At least you're not hiding behind a woman. That's something." Xu Sanshi snorted coldly.
"Shall we settle this in the Duel Arena?" Su Wen's lips curled into a smile.
"…Huh?!" Xu Sanshi blinked, then broke into an uncontrollable grin—he was actually being given the chance!
Were today's freshmen really this arrogant?
"Good! You're a man!" Xu Sanshi almost feared Su Wen would change his mind, so he urged them toward the Duel Arena as fast as he could.
Jiang Nannan glanced at Su Wen with worry, but he only took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. She blushed and shot him another angry glare.
Watching the two exchange such tender gestures, Xu Sanshi ground his teeth in fury. Once they reached the arena, he would teach this brat what it meant to respect his elders!
——
"Did you hear? Tonight one of the Outer Court's Twin Stars, Xu Sanshi, is going to… duel someone?"
"Xu Sanshi? His Absolute Defense is nearly unbreakable—few in the Outer Court can get through his shield. But his opponent… seems to be a real monster too. Word is, even though he's just a freshman, he once single-handedly beat down a Soul Elder."
"..."
Two students in yellow academy uniforms passed by, whispering. Nearby, Bei Bei and Tang Ya were lounging on the grass, enjoying the evening breeze as the setting sun painted the sky with its final rays.
"Xu Sanshi?"
Bei Bei raised an eyebrow in surprise.
That guy was going to fight—and didn't even call him along?
And against a freshman, no less?
Bei Bei couldn't help but chuckle. "He's really slipping. Fighting a freshman? Doesn't he care about our reputation as the Twin Stars of the Outer Court?"
"Should we go watch?" Tang Ya asked with a bright smile.
"Sure, we've got nothing better to do tonight anyway." Bei Bei brushed off his pants and stood. But before they could leave, the Outer Court's broadcast boomed across the campus.
"Today's Duel Arena event: Xu Sanshi, Absolute Defense, versus freshman Su Wen! The match begins in half an hour…"
Bei Bei froze in place, slowly turning toward the equally stunned Tang Ya.
"Did I hear that right?"
"Xu Sanshi's opponent… seems to be Su Wen?!"
"You didn't mishear." Tang Ya swallowed hard and nodded slowly.
"Crap! We'd better warn that guy—don't let him get himself killed!" Bei Bei grabbed Tang Ya's hand, dragging her toward the Duel Arena like the wind.
——
By the time they arrived, panting, Xu Sanshi was already in the arena, warming up. Spotting Bei Bei in the stands, he grinned broadly and flashed a thumbs-up, his white teeth gleaming.
Bei Bei's expression turned grave as he gestured frantically for him to surrender.
Xu Sanshi hesitated, failing to understand. He thought Bei Bei was cheering him on! His pride swelled, and he arrogantly ran his thumb across his throat before holding up a single finger.
"One minute to finish this!"
"…It's over."
Bei Bei buried his face in his hands.
(End of Chapter)