Chapter 148: Yu Tianheng Is Rejected, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling
At the center of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Pink flower petals swirled slowly in the wind, drifting in lazy circles.
Yu Tianheng had specially changed his outfit today. His white combat uniform was embroidered with dark blue lightning patterns.
The fabric was stiff and crisp, making his back stand straight like a spear.
In his left arm, he held a large bouquet of deep blue hyacinths.
His right hand rested behind his back, chin slightly raised. When his gaze swept across the surroundings, it carried the air of someone silently declaring, Watch carefully.
One step.
Two steps.
He walked toward the corridor pillars.
His boots struck the stone path. The sound was not loud, yet each step tapped clearly against the gradually quieting air around them.
Dugu Yan leaned against a vermilion corridor pillar.
Her green hair was tied into a high ponytail that swayed lightly when she tilted her head.
The academy uniform wrapped around her figure perfectly, fitting where it should and loosening where it should.
She did not look at Yu Tianheng. Instead, her fingertips idly spun a newly fallen cherry blossom petal, her face completely expressionless.
Yu Tianheng stopped three steps in front of her.
"Yanzi."
He deliberately raised his voice so that every corner of the plaza could hear it.
"I like you."
He extended the bouquet before her.
The deep blue color filled her vision, carrying the fresh scent of morning vegetation.
"Please be with me!"
The words landed like a stone.
The plaza went silent for half a second.
Then it exploded.
"Holy crap!"
A boy wearing glasses slipped, nearly dropping his weapon on his foot.
"Yu Tianheng? He confessed? In public?"
A girl with twin ponytails tugged violently at her friend's sleeve.
"It's Dugu Yan!"
Someone in the crowd shouted loudly.
"Yu Tianheng is the young master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
Someone immediately added,
"And Dugu Yan is the granddaughter of Dugu Bo, the Poison Douluo! Have you seen her Jade Phosphor Violet Poison? Last practical class, the opposing team collapsed in three seconds!"
After learning the identities behind the two, the crowd's expressions changed.
What had been simple curiosity instantly became: Well, those two really are a perfect match.
Several bold boys had already begun waving their arms and shouting.
"Accept him!"
"Accept him!"
The voices connected into a wave, crashing against the buildings around the plaza and echoing back.
The cherry blossom trees trembled along with the noise, petals falling in showers.
Hearing the cheering, Yu Tianheng's lips curved upward slightly.
This is in the bag.
He thought.
With his talent and the reputation of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, what girl in the academy would reject him?
Not to mention he was good-looking and well-built. Even this outfit had been specially chosen.
His fingers rubbed against the rough bouquet wrapping, the texture sharpening his focus.
The words of his family echoed in his ears.
Entering Heaven Dou Royal Academy, his first mission was to get close to Dugu Yan.
Ideally, become lovers.
Once he secured her, it meant gaining a connection to Dugu Bo.
Everyone knew how much that old monster doted on his granddaughter.
That was why Yu Tianheng had fought to become the captain of the Heaven Dou team and join the same squad as Dugu Yan.
Spending time together day and night meant endless opportunities.
Today's confession was simply the natural next step in that plan.
He waited for Dugu Yan to reach out and accept the flowers.
Three seconds passed.
Five seconds.
Ten seconds.
…
Dugu Yan did not move.
She did not even look at the flowers.
Her gaze drifted past Yu Tianheng's shoulder, staring at the empty air behind him.
Her slender brows knit slightly.
The cherry blossom petal between her fingers slipped silently to the ground.
"Yanzi."
A gentle voice sounded nearby.
Dugu Yan's good friend, Ye Lingling, had quietly stepped closer.
Her blue hair draped softly over her shoulders, the hem of her pale blue dress brushing the ground.
She held a thick ancient book in her arms, its cover bearing the emblem of a healing soul master.
With pale fingers, she lightly tugged at Dugu Yan's sleeve.
"The captain is talking to you."
Dugu Yan seemed to snap back to reality.
She turned her head, but instead of looking at Yu Tianheng, she stared directly at Ye Lingling.
There was confusion in her green eyes, along with a trace of anxiety she could not hide.
"Lingling."
Her voice was low, yet the silence around them made it audible.
"Look carefully. Above Yu Tianheng's head, slightly to the left… Do you see a light screen? A faint green one?"
Ye Lingling froze.
She followed Dugu Yan's gaze and looked carefully.
Several seconds passed.
Her blue eyes blinked again and again.
Then she shook her head.
"No."
Her voice was full of confusion.
"I only see Yu Tianheng and everyone else. There's no light screen."
Dugu Yan's expression changed instantly.
Her brows tightened completely, the anxiety in her eyes erupting into unease.
She did not hesitate anymore.
Grabbing Ye Lingling's wrist, she said—
"Let's go."
And turned to leave!
Her green ponytail swung through the air.
The purple hem of her skirt swept across the ground, stirring a few fallen petals.
Her steps were hurried, almost breaking into a run as she dragged Ye Lingling toward the dormitory.
She did not look back.
She did not even glance at Yu Tianheng.
"???"
Yu Tianheng still held the bouquet in the same position.
The confident smile frozen on his face stiffened awkwardly.
"!!!"
The cheering around them stopped abruptly.
The plaza became so quiet that only the wind could be heard rustling through the flower trees.
The onlookers exchanged stunned looks.
What just happened?
Was he… rejected?
Just like that?
Yu Tianheng finally reacted.
Blood rushed to his head with a roar. His face burned hot enough to fry an egg.
Humiliation slithered up from his feet like a venomous snake, biting straight into his heart.
His fingers clenched tightly.
The bouquet wrapping crinkled loudly.
The hyacinth stems bent under the pressure, juice seeping between his fingers.
The veins on Yu Tianheng's forehead bulged violently, his temples throbbing.
He stared in the direction where Dugu Yan had disappeared, his eyes frighteningly red.
…
Footsteps clattered against the pebbled path.
Dugu Yan dragged Ye Lingling along at a rapid pace, almost jogging.
She deliberately chose the quietest paths, avoiding every possible gaze.
Her green hair flew behind her like a streak of fleeing lightning.
Ye Lingling stumbled as she was pulled along.
"Yanzi, slow down."
She gasped for breath, her blue hair slightly disheveled.
"What happened?"
"…"
Dugu Yan did not answer.
Only after rushing into the girls' dormitory, sprinting up the stairs, opening the room door, pulling Ye Lingling inside, and slamming it shut with a bang—
Did she finally release her grip.
Ye Lingling leaned against the door, breathing heavily.
She clutched the ancient book tightly in her arms.
Looking at Dugu Yan, her blue eyes were filled with questions.
"Yu Tianheng…"
"Don't mention him."
Dugu Yan interrupted coldly.
Without looking at her friend, she walked straight toward her own private bedroom.
Her hand rested on the doorknob.
After a brief pause, she twisted it and slipped inside.
The door closed in front of Ye Lingling.
The click of the lock snapping shut sounded crisp and final.
Ye Lingling stood in the center of the living room.
The ancient book slid from her arms onto the table with a dull thud.
"…"
She stared at the closed door.
Her lips moved slightly, but in the end, she said nothing.
Too strange.
Yanzi was far too strange today.
Ignoring Yu Tianheng's confession.
She remembered that Yanzi and Yu Tianheng's relationship had never been that bad.
And then there was that "light screen" Yan mentioned.
What light screen?
Ye Lingling rubbed her eyes.
She truly had seen nothing.
End of Chapter