"Is it comfortable to wear?" Jiang Nannan pursed her red lips and asked softly.
"Pretty warm…" Su Wen smiled.
"That's good." Jiang Nannan let out a breath of relief, but Su Wen suddenly took her hand and rubbed the soft, white fingertips, where there were several tiny pinpricks. With a Soul Elder's physique, these small wounds would soon fade, but Su Wen still noticed.
After all, when you're looking for an answer you already suspect, it's easy to find.
This slightly rough needlework was too different from Jiang Nannan Mother's fine, exquisite craft.
"Mm…"
Jiang Nannan tried to pull back, but Su Wen held on. Her white earlobes grew redder. She only tugged lightly; when he didn't let go, she turned her gaze aside and let him knead her fingers.
"Does it hurt?" Su Wen asked gently.
Jiang Nannan blushed. She knew he'd already realized the scarf was handmade by her, and he was teasing her. She shot him a shy glare and forcibly pulled her hand back.
She was about to turn and leave—
A thunderous roar sounded from afar.
"Su Wen!!!"
A brown-clad figure rushed over at high speed. Xu Sanshi's fury had broken through the sky. He'd heard from classmates—and all over third year—that school belle Jiang Nannan had given a scarf to freshman Su Wen… and it was supposedly handmade!
He laughed it off as a rumor, but with enough people talking, he had to check. Then he saw the ambiguous scene just now.
"Xu Sanshi, are you sick?!" Jiang Nannan flashed forward, shielding Su Wen behind her. Her beautiful eyes glared at Xu Sanshi in fury.
"Yes, I'm sick. Ever since I first saw you, I caught the lovesick disease…" Xu Sanshi clutched his chest, as if struck by lightning, staggering half a step back.
"You…" Jiang Nannan's face flushed with anger, slender hands clenched, veins faintly bulging on the back of her fair hands. She wanted to beat this barnacle senseless, but whenever she hit him before, it was like rewarding him.
"Sister Nannan, leave it to me." Su Wen smiled.
He looked at the love-struck Xu Sanshi.
If anyone around started hyping it up, Jiang Nannan might actually die of disgust.
This guy had decent character in the original, but when it came to being a simp, he was top-tier…
"You're Su Wen?!" Xu Sanshi narrowed his eyes at Su Wen.
He'd vaguely heard some freshman exploits—big fuss at the start of term—but to a peak Soul Elder like him, that was just kids scuffling. Nothing worth noting.
He'd chased Jiang Nannan for three years!
Number-one simp.
Why should some newcomer snatch her so easily?
He refused to accept it!
"At least you're not hiding behind a woman. You've got some guts." Xu Sanshi snorted.
"Settle it in the dueling arena?" Su Wen smiled.
"Hmm?!" Xu Sanshi froze, then couldn't help a hint of barely contained delight—he's actually giving me the chance!
Are freshmen this arrogant now?
"Good. Be a man!" Afraid Su Wen would regret it, Xu Sanshi hurried them toward the arena.
Jiang Nannan glanced at Su Wen with worry, but he simply took her hand and gently squeezed. The beauty shot him a shy, exasperated glare.
Seeing the flirting, Xu Sanshi gnashed his teeth. Once at the arena, he'd make the kid learn to respect his elders!
…
"Heard the news? Tonight one of the Outer Court's Twin Stars, Xu Sanshi, is going to… fight in the arena?"
"Xu Sanshi, huh. Absolute Defense. Few in the Outer Court can break it. But his opponent… seems monstrous too. Even as a freshman, rumor says he's already single-handedly thrashed a Soul Elder."
"…"
As two students in yellow academy uniforms walked past, Bei Bei and Tang Ya were lying on the grass, enjoying the evening breeze. The sun was setting, casting its last glow.
"Xu Sanshi?"
Hearing the name, Bei Bei blinked.
That guy's fighting and didn't tell him?
And against a freshman?
Bei Bei couldn't hold back a laugh. "He's dropping the ball—fighting a freshman. Not afraid to shame our Outer Court Twin Stars?"
"Yeah. Should we go watch?" Tang Ya smiled.
"Let's go. Nothing to do tonight anyway." Bei Bei patted his butt and stood—just as the Outer Court broadcast sounded.
["Tonight's Soul Arena matchup."]
["Absolute Defense, Xu Sanshi vs. freshman Su Wen! Match starts in thirty minutes…"]
Bei Bei's body stiffened. He slowly looked at the equally dumbfounded Tang Ya.
"Did I mishear?"
"Sanshi's opponent seems to be… Su Wen?!!"
"You heard right." Tang Ya swallowed and nodded.
"Crap, go warn that idiot! Don't get himself killed!" Bei Bei grabbed Tang Ya's hand and sprinted for the arena like the wind.
…
By the time the two arrived, panting,
Xu Sanshi was already warming up in the ring. Seeing Bei Bei in the stands, he gave a thumbs-up with a grin, flashing white teeth.
Bei Bei's face tensed. He gestured wildly for him to concede immediately.
Xu Sanshi paused, not getting it. He thought Bei Bei was cheering him on, then cockily slid a finger across his neck and raised one finger.
One minute to finish!
"It's over!"
Bei Bei covered his face with a big hand.
Advanced chapter here: p-atreon.com/Sajaboyzzz
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