After returning to his office, Flander leaned back lazily in his chair, propped his feet up on the desk, and sipped his tea with satisfaction.
Outside in the courtyard, Dai Mubai was surrounded by several angry people. Watching the scene unfold, a smug smile crept across Flander's face.
"That little brat… looks like I really can't help him."
Lately, the boy had been acting out of line. As the dean, it was his responsibility to settle the unruly students and restore order.
"But Ning Rongrong... she's going to be even more of a headache."
Flander's brows furrowed as he recalled a few things.
The personal guard of the little princess from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was only a Soul Emperor, and he had passed along Ning Fengzhi's message: Flander was free to discipline her however he wanted.
Initially, Flander planned to knock some arrogance out of her with a carefully arranged series of suppression tactics.
But within a day... Old Ning himself showed up.
Flandre cursed in frustration. Discipline her as I please? How I dare to do that when she has a Soul Douluo-level guard with her?
Still, there was a silver lining to all this.
Thanks to yesterday's events, Old Ning had taken a liking to Ma Hongjun. And since Flander was closest to Hongjun, his standing in the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect quietly rose as well.
That said, educating Ning Rongrong would now be even more difficult.
If those two really ended up together, wouldn't it be awkward for him in the future?
But if the girl was truly as unruly as Ning Fengzhi claimed, leading this team of talented misfits would be nearly impossible.
"Forget it. Let's see if she can run without causing trouble."
He had ordered her to run twenty laps. If the little princess could finish even half, she'd be considered saved.
If not… well, even if it meant offending the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, he'd be forced to take stronger measures.
Flander shook his head just as a black silhouette flashed past and vanished from the room.
"Huff… puff…"
Out on a country road, Oscar was panting heavily as he glanced sideways.
Despite her delicate appearance, the pretty girl next to him wasn't much slower than he was. She looked far more composed, too—only a light sheen of sweat dotted her forehead.
A soft summer breeze swept past, lifting her silky black hair and fluttering the hem of her skirt. In the golden sunlight, she looked like a butterfly dancing through a field of flowers.
Gulp—
Oscar swallowed reflexively, mesmerized by Ning Rongrong. It felt as if his heart had just been struck.
"T-That…"
He hesitated, then gathered his courage, raised his hand, and said awkwardly, "You're… Ning Rongrong, right? I'm Oscar, a food-type soul master. Please take care of me!"
Ning Rongrong blinked in surprise, but then smiled sweetly.
"Hello. I'll be counting on you."
She didn't particularly like this guy, but she had heard that Oscar and Ma Hongjun had been close for two years.
Out of respect for her brother's friend, she decided to be polite.
If it had been anyone else, she would've ignored them outright.
Wow!
That smile knocked Oscar completely out of his senses. He felt like he could float straight into the sky.
"Hey, do you want to try my martial spirit?"
Oscar flashed what he thought was a charming grin, extended his hand, and chanted confidently, "I have a big sausage!"
He clearly forgot that he was still sporting a scruffy beard and that his trademark bootlicker face made the whole act even more cringe-worthy. Combined with his exaggerated gesture, the scene couldn't have looked more vulgar.
"This is my first soul skill—Recovery Sausage. It restores stamina. Want to try it? It actually tastes great."
He chuckled and offered the sausage to Ning Rongrong.
"You…"
The smile on her pretty face froze, and her composure began to crack.
Taking a deep breath to suppress her disgust, she took a step back and raised a hand.
"No, thanks."
She turned to leave, fuming inside. So Qingqing was right—anyone who hangs around Dai Mubai really is disgusting!
Ugh! How could Hongjun have such a friend?
"Come on, just give it a try! You're sweating—you must be tired. It really works."
Oscar was stunned for a moment, assuming she was just embarrassed. He chased after her enthusiastically, waving the sausage.
"Even the dean said it tasted good!"
Ning Rongrong clenched her fists. A few veins bulged on her forehead, and her delicate face stiffened as she struggled to hold back her anger.
"No, thank you. Really. I don't need it."
She sped up, trying to escape the situation.
"Don't be shy, Rongrong! Don't worry, I can make plenty more once you eat this one!"
Oscar patted his chest proudly, trying to show off his strength and soul power.
Suddenly, Ning Rongrong stopped in her tracks.
Uncle Big Sausage, thinking she had changed her mind, eagerly held out the sausage again with a goofy smile. "Rongrong, you—"
"Eat, eat, eat—eat your mother's head! Now get lost!"
With that, she stormed off, not even glancing back.
Oscar stood frozen in place, completely stunned.
Everyone nearby was speechless.
No one had expected such fierce words from such a sweet-looking girl.
Clap, clap, clap—
Footsteps echoed again. Oscar looked up blankly—Ning Rongrong was running back.
Was she coming to apologize?
Oscar's eyes lit up with hope.
"I forgot to mention—if you dare tell Brother Hongjun about what happened today, I'll kill you. Got it?"
Her eyes flashed coldly as she gave him a look of utter contempt.
"You're nothing like Brother Hongjun."
Oscar: !!!
What does that mean?! What do you mean I'm nothing like that fat guy?!
Before his martial spirit mutated, I was better than him in everything, okay?!
"Wait!!"
Oscar shouted in frustration, his aura suddenly turning fierce.
"You…"
He took a deep breath, staring hard at her, and slowly enunciated:
"Don't you want to know about Fatty Hongjun's past life?"
Ning Rongrong, who had just been fuming, suddenly froze. Her eyes lit up with excitement.
"Really? Brother Hongjun's past? Tell me! Now!"
She ran back immediately, her earlier disgust and scorn completely gone.
"Hmph! You should know—I'm Hongjun's best buddy. Of course I know all about his past."
Seeing the eager light in her eyes, Oscar felt a pang of bitterness in his heart… but he still forced a smile.
"It all started two years ago, when I was—"
"Skip your part. Just talk about Hongjun."
"…Fine."
Out in the training field, the slightly aggrieved voice of Uncle Big Sausage and the occasional gasps of amazement from the girl gradually faded into the distance.
Up in the sky, Flander adjusted his glasses and watched quietly.
For some reason, he felt complicated.
Ning Rongrong's performance had far exceeded his expectations. She hadn't complained or given up.
"Hongjun… you've really created trouble for me."
...
Hey guys, I have some good news.
I think I'll start uploading two chapters a day, but I need your support. Please leave me a five-star review to boost my energy. It really means a lot to me.