The senior class buzzed uneasily. A stocky young man with short crimson hair suddenly stood, his voice shaking.
"Shrek Academy… forbids drinking!"
Silence.
"…Tyron, are you insane?"
"That's Lucien! Even Tiandou's board doesn't dare scold him."
"The Five Element academies—all wiped out by him alone. Haven't you heard!?"
"Don't! Sit down, you'll get us all killed!"
But Tyron stood resolute, alarmingly righteous. "As eldest disciple of this Academy, this is my obligation!"
Mouths dropped.
"Big Brother… times have changed."
"That's Lucien. Your rules don't apply."
"Dage, let's run before he gets drunk-mad!"
"Out!" Tyron snapped, moving to drag Lucien bodily outside.
Lucien's head tilted back lazily. "Hn? Which bastard…?"
His jug tilted. He had come here to find his kitten, and this fool dared order him out?
Backhand grab. Palm twisted.
WHAM!
Tyron sailed clear through the doors.
Then staggered back in.
And got tossed back out.
Back in. Slam.
Out again.
The entire class sat frozen, watching this absurd replay cycle.
Finally Lucien growled, eyes dark. "Oi, plaster-boy, what are you trying to do? Hell's stickier than you!"
Tyron sweated bucketfuls. "Shrek forbids… drinking… I'll keep throwing you!"
Lucien's eyebrows jumped. "…Then why didn't you say so earlier?" he barked, outraged. "This whole time, you throw me out but don't mention why?! Bastard!"
Tyron almost wept. I did say! You weren't listening!
Lucien turned, grin curling again. "Kitten—come, let's drink outside. I've something good to give you."
Zhu Zhuqing rose without hesitation, quietly walking at his side.
Desks rattled as whispers broke loose:
"That icy beauty… Lucien's girlfriend?!"
"No chance for us then!"
"She's lucky. I wish I was his girl…"
Dai Mubai's fist slammed the desk, veins bulging.
It wasn't enough that Zhuqing followed Lucien publicly… now everyone believed it.
He shot to his feet. "I am Zhu Zhuqing's fiancée!"
A pause. Then—uproarious derision.
"Pah!"
"You say so, so it's true?"
"He was just silent when Lucien grabbed her—now suddenly you're brave?"
"Fiancée? More like trying to steal another man's woman!"
The insults rained until—
The classroom door creaked again. Zhu Zhuqing stepped back inside, eyes cold.
"He says he is your fiancée. Is it true?" someone called.
"I am not." Her tone sliced like ice. She turned and walked out without a glance toward Dai Mubai.
The room erupted.
"Hear that? She denied it herself!"
"Slap to the face!"
"Dog trying to snatch another's girlfriend—bah!"
Dai Mubai went stone pale. Inside, his world shattered. Special hell! Zhu Qing… you came back just to finish me off? Rage boiled, but Ma Hongjun dragged him down, whispering harshly, "Don't. We'll die."
For now… he swallowed blood and pride.
Elsewhere – Liu Erlong's Residence.
"Lu Yuan, you bastard!" Liu Erlong roared, flames seething as she ripped apart bindings scorch-marked from sword qi. "Not enough to peek at me—then you actually tied me down like some bundle set?!"
She staggered, panting, cheeks red with fury and shame. Nobody, nobody had humiliated her like this. And worse—her Martial Soul had been suppressed beneath that abyssal sword the boy carried.
"Lucien… my old lady will never forgive you!"
Yuexuan, midnight tavern hush.
Zhu Zhuqing sat beside Lucien, their drinks clinking. Already her usual icy mask had flushed, pink faint on her cheeks.
"Kitten—drinking together with you is always fun," Lucien chuckled, topping her cup.
"Mn. Only with you." Her voice was quiet, her eyes lowered. "The rest of the time… I don't feel free. I have a marriage contract. A chain."
She sipped, gaze clouded. "Since birth, my family decreed Zhu Zhuyun and I would be raised as enemies. Only one sister survives. That is our destiny. Marriage to Dai Mubai—politics only. I cannot change it."
Lucien leaned closer, grin soft. "Bah. Complicated politics. A marriage contract? Just tear it. Your fate's yours to choose. That's the truth."
Her eyes shimmered at his words. For a heartbeat—all the shackles, all her frozen pride melted.
She moved suddenly—leaning into him, her lips pressing to his in a cold-soft rush like melted snow.
When she pulled back, her face was burning red, but her eyes glowed with fierce clarity.
"You are drunk, but I am not. I know exactly who sits before me. The one I kissed… is you, Lucien."
Her words hung in the air between them, heavier than any vow.
Lucien blinked—then downed his jug in one long pull.
"…Drink!" he bellowed, grinning foolishly.
But the heat across his chest had nothing to do with wine that night.
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