At Notting College, the work-study students trained as usual under the morning sun.
On the rough playground, Wu Ling ran at the front, her light steps carrying her swiftly ahead of the others. Behind her, Tang San and Tang Chuan struggled to keep up, while Wang Sheng trailed even farther back.
Sweat drenched their clothes. Tang Chuan, in particular, looked pale, his chest heaving as if every step brought agony.
The memories of Xiao Wu and Yuan Longxuan's affection tormented him daily, driving him to despair.
More than once, he had even considered ending his own life.
But fate refused to grant him that escape.
Lost in thought, he stumbled over uneven ground.
"Plop!"
He crashed face-first into the dirt.
"Brother, are you alright?" Tang San rushed forward, helping him up with worry written across his face.
Tang Chuan shoved him away angrily. "Don't touch me!" But his strength failed him. After two shaky steps, he fell again, collapsing like a broken puppet.
"Bang!"
"Brother, stop being stubborn.
I'll take you to the teacher." Tang San's voice was firm this time. Without waiting for protest, he pulled his weakened brother along toward Yuan Longxuan's villa
At that moment, Yuan Longxuan and Xiao Wu reclined together on a wide sun chair in the garden, basking in the warm light.
Xiao Wu nestled close, her nose pressed against his chest, breathing in deeply. "Brother Longxuan, you smell so nice."
He stroked her hair, smiling. "If I didn't, would you still sneak into my room every night, little rabbit?"
She giggled, pinching his waist lightly. "You're so mean.
One day, I'll give you a whole nest of bunny children to keep you busy!"
Yuan Longxuan laughed, kissing her forehead. "I'll be waiting."
Their laughter floated through the garden, bright and carefree....until Tang San and Tang Chuan arrived silently at the gate.
Tang San stopped in his tracks, eyes widening at the sight of his teachers so affectionate.
A pang of envy struck him. One day, he thought, I'll find a girl as beautiful as Teacher Xiao Wu.
But beside him, Tang Chuan's face twisted with rage. His body trembled violently.
"Ahem! Poof!"
A mouthful of blood burst from his lips, staining the ground.
"Brother!" Tang San cried, catching him before he fell.
As Tang Chuan's vision blurred, the sound of Xiao Wu's laughter pierced his heart like a blade.
The heavens seemed to mock him once more.
Snow fell in his mind's eye, cold winds howling through an endless void.
And in the midst of that desolate winter, only Xiao Wu's smile remained, forever out of reach.
"Xiao San, your brother's condition is a classic case of overindulgence.
His essence and vitality are depleted, and his vomiting seems to be triggered by some kind of shock."
Watching Tang Chuan, who had fainted from vomiting blood in anger, Yuan Longxuan's expression was unusually calm.
Tang San looked at his irritable older brother with a mix of concern and confusion.
Tang Chuan had lately been disappearing in the middle of the night without explanation, only showing up the next day at school with dark circles under his eyes.
"Send your brother home to rest first. In cases like this, he only needs proper food and a few days of rest.
I'll grant him three days off here. And you, keep an eye on him....don't let him chase women recklessly anymore."
Tang San nodded solemnly at Yuan Longxuan's words.
Over the past four years, he had truly come to respect Yuan Longxuan.
Whether it was knowledge about spirit beasts, absorbing soul rings, or other obscure knowledge, Yuan Longxuan could always provide a perfect answer.
Tang San quietly regretted learning under Yu Xiaogang.
Aside from revealing that he had dual martial souls, Yu Xiaogang had left most of the research to the library.
His so-called "master" title now seemed highly overrated.
"Thank you, Teacher!" Tang San said, bowing respectfully before leaving.
Over these years, Tang San had genuinely benefited from Yuan Longxuan's teaching.
Yuan Longxuan had never targeted him over past incidents, earning Tang San's lasting respect.
Meanwhile, Xiao Wu looked at Tang Chuan with distaste.
"Yuan Longxuan, is that Tang Chuan sick or something? I feel like there's something wrong with his brain."
Yuan Longxuan laughed softly, holding Xiao Wu in his arms.
"Why worry about him? We're here to enjoy life. Being a teacher is just for fun.
Work is just a formality....so long as you don't get fired, the money goes into your account. Why stress over it?"
He hummed a tune, cuddling the soft, supple Xiao Wu. The afternoon passed in comfort and leisure.
"Mmhm," Xiao Wu responded happily, nestling closer.
As evening fell, the work-study students all went to dinner, leaving Tang Chuan alone in his dormitory.
He awoke from a deep slumber, exhausted and sore.
"Ugh… so painful."
Tang Chuan slowly sat up, feeling pins-and-needles aches along his ribs and sharp pain in his kidneys, reminders of his recent tumbles.
He also realized his face ached, likely from hitting the floor.
"Xiao San?" he called out weakly, but there was no response.
Looking out the window, he saw that twilight was approaching.
The empty dormitory only amplified his sense of despair.
His Xiao Wu had been betrayed… the pain of that memory hit him like a tidal wave.
Tang San's eyes filled with what could only be described as tears of agony.
"Why! Why would this happen to me!!!"
He roared in the empty dormitory for what felt like an eternity.
Xiao Wu had betrayed him, entangling herself with another man. Even as a reincarnation of the God King,
Tang Chuan felt humiliated, as if a green hat had been placed on his head. He swore vengeance.
He vowed to make Yuan Longxuan pay for what had happened.
Glancing around the dorm, his gaze fell on a half-bag of hard biscuits placed by Wang Sheng at his bedside.
A small comfort, yet it reminded him of his resolve.
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