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"I thought I had lost you…"
Zhang Lexuan threw her arms around Su Wen, her trembling voice betraying her emotions.
"Eldest Senior Sister, I'm fine," Su Wen murmured.
"…"
Only then did Zhang Lexuan realize their position was rather intimate. Her pretty face flushed red as she gently pushed him away. Fortunately, only Xuanzi was nearby. The Sea God's Pavilion elder was tactful enough to turn his head, humming a tune while gnawing on a chicken leg.
At the Sea God's Pavilion meeting.
"You saved the Auspicious Beast?" Elder Song was dumbfounded.
"So that beam of light was your doing?"
"That's right," Su Wen admitted openly.
"…"
For a moment, Song Yunzhi was at a loss for words. Yan Shaozhe quickly followed up: "Then how did you break through that pocket dimension?"
Under the watchful gazes of all the venerable elders—
"I don't know." Su Wen spread his hands.
Everyone: "…"
Yan Shaozhe's mouth twitched. Although he had countless retorts on the tip of his tongue, he had to admit that Su Wen genuinely not knowing was the most logical answer.
"Enough. There's no need to discuss this further," Mu En said gently.
Since the gray pillar of light had helped Su Wen and the Auspicious Beast escape, there was no need to investigate further. Knowing it existed and was on their side was sufficient…
"Lexuan, take Su Wen to get some rest. After his trip to the Star Dou Great Forest, he must be starving." Mu En smiled kindly. "Xiaoxiao has prepared a lavish banquet for him."
…
Night had fallen.
In the inner courtyard's dining hall, a single light still glowed in the kitchen.
Slurp—
Su Wen took a mouthful of beef noodle soup.
The broth was as delicious as ever. Aunt Lu's cooking was impeccable.
"But Aunt Lu, this bowl of noodles is a far cry from the 'lavish banquet' Elder Mu mentioned," Su Wen muttered under his breath.
Smack!
A hand struck the back of his head.
"The dining hall had already closed for the night! I was at home getting cozy with my man—pants already halfway off—when Elder Mu suddenly ordered me to come back and cook for you. You're lucky to be getting noodles at all!" Lu Xiaoxiao snapped, tying up her hair.
Because of Su Wen's importance and the recent incident, Elder Mu didn't even trust letting him go to Shrek City. He insisted Su Wen stay within the academy for now; otherwise, he would have already snuck out for a midnight snack.
"Ahem…" Su Wen lowered his head.
Though Aunt Lu looked like a refined and gentle lady, she was famously fierce. Few in the inner courtyard dared to provoke her. It was his fault for running his mouth.
He felt terribly guilty for interrupting the couple's intimate evening.
It was as if a line of text appeared in his mind:
Shrek Inner Courtyard Birthrate: -1
"Lexuan-jie, I'm heading back to the dorm~"
On the path leading to the outer courtyard, Su Wen waved.
"Wait a moment!"
Just as he was about to turn, Zhang Lexuan called out.
"Hm?" Su Wen looked at her, surprised.
They stood by the shore of Sea God Lake as the evening breeze lifted her teal dress. The faint glow of soul tool lamps illuminated her face, adding a touch of tenderness to her gaze.
That tenderness deepened as she stepped closer.
Her soft, cool lips brushed against his cheek, a touch like a rose petal kissed by morning dew. It lingered for a fleeting instant as her warm breath caressed his skin. In that frozen moment, the shimmering lake, the beautiful woman, and the scenic night formed a perfect picture.
"Alright."
As the moist coolness faded from his cheek, a soft voice sounded in his ear.
"I'm going now~"
With a few flickers, her figure vanished across the surface of Sea God Lake.
Su Wen instinctively touched his cheek, where a faint tingling warmth remained. A wisp of her breath still seemed to curl by his ear, refusing to dissipate…
…
Late at night.
Su Wen slipped quietly into his dorm room.
He climbed into bed—only to find someone already curled up under his blanket.
He froze. Good grief, someone took over my bed while I was gone?
But as his eyes adjusted to the faint moonlight, he saw her clearly—it was Wang Dong'er in her female form!
Even in the pale light, her breathtaking beauty was undeniable. No wonder she could rival the academy's belle, Jiang Nannan. As the daughter of God-King Tang, her appearance was flawless.
What was strange, however, was that she was curled up tightly. When her long lashes quivered, Su Wen could clearly see a single, glistening tear clinging to them.
She was crying? He found it even stranger.
Just as he shook his head, preparing to sleep, her pale blue eyes suddenly opened. She stared at him without blinking, then rubbed them drowsily. "I had a nightmare… Su Wen, even if you've turned into a ghost, don't come haunting me. I have delicate skin…"
Muttering, she slowly closed her eyes again and rolled over.
Su Wen: "…"
"Just go away, don't bother me~"
Without looking back, Wang Dong'er stuck an arm out from the covers and waved vaguely at him.
Su Wen's mouth twitched.
"Wang Dong!"
"Ahhh!!!"
Her scream was cut short as Su Wen clamped a hand over her mouth. Her expression slowly shifted from terror to confusion, then utter blankness…
"You… you're not dead?" she asked the moment he let go.
"Who the hell said I was dead?" Su Wen's face darkened.
"Everyone was saying you died in the Star Dou Great Forest! All the other students from the hunt came back, but you didn't, so…" Her voice trailed off guiltily.
"So that's it." Su Wen raised an eyebrow, finally understanding. "Alright then, you'd better start explaining."
"Explain what?" Wang Dong'er asked, feigning innocence.
"Explain how you…" Su Wen began, but she cut him off. Her bright eyes darted around as she stood up stiffly like a zombie. "Ah, I'm sleepwalking. You mustn't disturb me, or something bad could happen."
She tried to flee to her own bed, but he grabbed her arm firmly, and she couldn't break free.
"…Fine, I'll explain," Wang Dong'er said with a dejected sigh, realizing she was caught.
"Just promise you won't tell the academy."
Su Wen's mouth twitched again.
So, except for Wang Dong'er herself, everyone was already in on the secret? He recalled from the original story that even Beibei and the others knew the truth long before it was officially revealed.
"And that's the whole story," Wang Dong'er mumbled, sitting on his bed wrapped in a quilt.
"So… the Clear Sky Sect knew you were a girl, but they still forced you to disguise yourself as a boy and share a room with male students?" Su Wen asked flatly.
"Well…" Wang Dong'er opened her mouth, then lowered her head in silence.
She was confused by it too.
Her uncles clearly loved her, yet they were uncharacteristically firm on this one matter.
"And then they just moved you from one boy's dorm to another?" Su Wen continued.
"It almost feels like they're treating you as a tool."
"Just moved around wherever you're needed."
"And by the way… that Huo Yuhao kid isn't as simple as he seems."
"…"
Wang Dong'er bit her lip, her lovely face clouded with complex emotions.
"Please… don't say any more."
(End of Chapter)