"Oh, Mu Ning Xue, are you looking for me on some matter? I'm conducting a tour for our dear guests right now, but if it's urgent, I'll switch to it for sure." Professor Lu fawned before my cousin, fidgeting with his glasses nervously and blushing a bit. Dude, she's like ten years younger! Though yeah, nothing wrong. Still, creepy guy.
"No, Professor, I came to talk to my cousin." Mu Ning Xue stated coldly and, without a second glance at him, headed straight for me. His face turned ashen from the humiliation; hard to even look. Guess the guy just got his heart broken.
"Ning Xue, my dear! You came to see me?!" Ignoring her answer, Mo Fan jumped forward, puffing up proudly and thumbing himself. Dude, what's wrong with you? You're not kids anymore; childhood play roles don't project to adult life.
Fixing Mo Fan with a heavy gaze, the ice beauty voiced a fair grievance right to his face:
"You still haven't come to be my father's dog. As I recall your bet, my father would kneel and apologize to you and your dad if you beat Mu Bai. If our clan rep won, you'd be our dog. Your memory must be short if you haven't shown up, and I see no collar on your neck."
"I-I don't know what you're talking about. Since your father kicked Mu Bai out of your clan, the duel doesn't count—I lost to an outsider to you, not your family rep." Mo Fan stuttered at first but wriggled out quick, keeping his proud pose. But judging by Luo Song's whispers with our team guys, they want to swap "Evil" in his "Evil Rat" nickname to "Lying." Honestly, I'd forgotten their bet; it didn't matter to me.
"Mu Bai was and remains family, no matter what my father says. Back then, he was fully official, and stayed so a while after the duel." Mu Ning Xue eyed him contemptuously.
Yeah, you're done, kid—she hates liars most in life. Guess no canon couple development for me to see. Though, we'll see in the future. I know how changeable it is.
"Hmph, you clan folks always twist everything. Gotta take a piss; don't go anywhere. We'll talk when I get back." Mo Fan bolted to the station toilet fast, knowing no one would wait. Guess the talk was too awkward. And yet, if he'd won, he'd have pressed the Mu family to the end, humiliating his crush's dad.
Watching her failed childhood suitor go, Mu Ning Xue finally reached me, obstacles cleared.
"Greetings, cousin. I heard you broke through to High-tier—congrats. Impressive without family support." She opened dialogue with her usual impassive cold face. But her brow twitched when my girls possessively hugged my arms, challenging her. Heh, fun watching them defend territory.
"Hi to you too, Mu Ning Xue. No need for family titles—after exile, we're strangers. And now, as you see, I have a new family." I smiled, not planning family ties.
I'm fine helping her later and leaving her indebted, but I'm a busy man now, she's free. Don't want to worry my girls. Her brow twitched again at that.
"My father overreacted then. Mu Yuan's loss hit him hard; don't take his words to heart. Let's forget old grudges and reunite. Main Mu clan offers great terms and promises High-tier breakthrough if you rejoin." Calmly dropping the bomb without changing expression. At least for bystanders. My girls and I weren't surprised. Who knows my potential better? They wouldn't blink if the Emperor personally invited me to his guard.
"Heh, so that's why you're here. Guess they're pressuring Mu Zhuo Yun hard over my exile, and you play peacemaker—earning extra resources from main family for my return." I voiced my guess; her pupils narrowed—bullseye. Heh, classic clan grab for the fattest slice.
"Sorry to disappoint, but they can't offer enough to trade for my freedom. I like living as I please. And recalling what main family did to your mother, I don't fancy joining their circle." Her fists cracked with strain, brow furrowing. Whoa, she can show faces besides the cold mask.
"No need to mention my mother; I heard your decision and will relay it to the clan. Looking forward to clashing at the comps and testing High-tier mage strength. Farewell." Barely nodding, she turned and strode away from our group.
Yeah, mentioning mom was low—sore spot for her. On the flip, the sooner hatred for main family ripens in her, the faster she'll seek help. With no other strong-backed contacts, high chance she'll come to me. And no, I won't exploit her hardship selfishly... it'll be for mankind's good! Ugh, even I'm sick of myself. Maybe I should've talked normally?
"Mu Bai, come on, we'll miss the tour." TuTu tugged my sleeve, pointing at the student-teacher group drifting away.
Guessing nothing juicy left in my cousin chat, they resumed to the Great Chinese Wall. Fine, let's not lag; still wanna walk Qing Long's dead body.
Five minutes later. Station exit. Mo Fan emerging from the toilet.
Glancing around for classmates, he couldn't figure where they'd gone. By his little wife's mood, the talk with showoff Mu Bai should've dragged.
Damn! That cursed Mu Bai ruined his plans again! Back at the duel, now too! Couldn't he have just lost then? Mu Yuan wasn't worth his notice; one surprise lightning spell would've dropped him, glory all Mo Fan's! After humiliating Mu Zhuo Yun, Ning Xue would've jumped into his arms! Grr, this situation pissed him off!
But no worries—he still had a shot! Propose to Ning Xue continuing their past duel as a rematch, she wouldn't refuse with her pride! Then, beating her, he'd prove his manhood and win her heart!
Just gotta figure which way to go...