Warmth

In Suotuo City, on the street!

Dai Mubai arrived with a pair of twins in his arms, clearly looking for a room. He looked at Zhu Zhuqing, then at Chen Yuan and Ning Rongrong. His eyes reddened, his breathing gradually quickened, and the resentment and fury in his heart were plain to see.

Zhu Zhuqing was unwilling to say another word to him. Instead, she followed beside Chen Yuan with Ning Rongrong, making him feel as though a lush green meadow had grown atop his head.

Judging others by himself, Dai Mubai knew perfectly well what kind of person he was. Seeing this scene, he naturally assumed Zhu Zhuqing was no different from him.

Though he no longer dared bare his fangs at Chen Yuan and Ning Rongrong, the matter between him and Zhu Zhuqing made him unable to resist threatening her.

"Zhu Zhuqing, don't forget your identity. Our fates were decided long ago. Don't think that just because you've attached yourself to another man, you can kick me aside and break free of these shackles on your own."

At this point, Dai Mubai looked at Chen Yuan and Ning Rongrong, his eyes filled with malice. In a low voice, he said, "Chen Yuan, Ning Rongrong, with your backgrounds, it's impossible that you know nothing about our situation. Do you really not know what she's thinking? She definitely wants to climb into Chen Yuan's bed. Ning Rongrong, can you really tolerate her?"

Dai Mubai's words were extremely vicious. He wanted to bind Zhu Zhuqing to himself, and he also wanted to drive a wedge between Chen Yuan and Ning Rongrong, isolating Zhu Zhuqing. Perhaps that would make it easier for him to deal with her.

Chen Yuan had not expected to run into such bad luck just from coming out for a meal. He did not step forward directly, lest Ning Rongrong overthink things. Once a knot formed in her heart, it would only grow larger.

He reached out and took Ning Rongrong's hand. It was soft and boneless, so lovely that he could not bear to let go. When Ning Rongrong looked over, he gave her a reassuring smile before speaking to Zhu Zhuqing.

"Zhu Qing, if you want to make things clear, then make them clear. If you don't want to say anything, I'll send him away. No need to let him ruin our appetite."

When Zhu Zhuqing heard that, her gaze fell on Chen Yuan and Ning Rongrong's clasped hands. Chen Yuan was showing his thoughtfulness and consideration at every turn. Compared to him, Dai Mubai was simply scum—no, worse than scum.

She stepped forward, intending to settle the matter once and for all. Faced with Dai Mubai's malicious slander, her disgust for him had reached its limit. Her voice was pleasant to the ear, yet it carried a bone-deep chill.

"Dai Mubai, I'm not as filthy as you imagine, but you're even more vicious than I thought. So you still remember our identities. Then what have you been doing all these years?"

"You fled the family and left me there alone. You came to this little place thousands of miles away and spent every day rolling around with all kinds of women. Have you been enjoying yourself?"

As though provoked, Dai Mubai flung the twins at his side away. Seeing the situation, the twins had enough pride to save face. They exchanged a glance, then turned and left.

Their departure drew no attention. Dai Mubai said with a dark expression, "If you hadn't refused to give me even a chance to say a word, why would I have come out to seek pleasure? Besides, how are you any different from me?"

Zhu Zhuqing's chest rose and fell with anger. She had never expected Dai Mubai to be so shameless. Gritting her teeth, she said coldly, "Because I wouldn't talk to you, you went looking for other women? Is there anything in your head besides women? You can't even control your lower half. You indulge in those things all day long. Have you ever even thought about cultivation? You willingly sink into depravity. That's what I hate most about you."

"You're weak and spineless. You don't even have the courage to stand in front of me and protect me behind you, yet you expect me to treat you well? You know what our future fate is, but you don't dare rise up and fight against it. You're nothing but a coward."

"I don't care how many women you have. With backgrounds like ours, we were never destined to have one partner for life. If only you had the courage to fight alongside me. If you died in battle, I would follow you. If you succeeded, even if you took my sister for yourself and had both sisters serve one husband, I wouldn't say a word against it."

"Dai Mubai, there's nothing left for me to say to you. Seeing you, this useless lump of mud that can't be propped up against a wall, truly disgusts me. For the rest of my life, I'll live the life I want."

After saying that, Zhu Zhuqing felt as though much of the gloom weighing on her heart had dissipated. Once she calmly accepted everything, her whole body relaxed considerably.

Without sparing Dai Mubai another glance, she turned and returned to Chen Yuan and Ning Rongrong. She bowed slightly and said in a low voice, "I'm very sorry for making you watch such an embarrassing scene. If my presence has affected you, I'll leave now."

Chen Yuan replied casually, "Don't worry about it. It's fine now that everything has been made clear. Let's go eat. If that guy comes again, I won't give him another chance to open his mouth. There's only one chance to explain yourself. After that, it's just harassment."

Ning Rongrong smiled with her eyes. She only needed to look at Dai Mubai, then at Chen Yuan, to understand just how great the difference between people could be.

She pulled her hand free from Chen Yuan's, then stepped forward and linked arms with Zhu Zhuqing. The two girls whispered to each other as they walked ahead.

Chen Yuan followed behind them. No one looked at Dai Mubai again. He was like a stray dog by the roadside, utterly unremarkable.

He was even worse than a stray dog. Perhaps a stray dog would still dare bark twice, but facing Chen Yuan, Dai Mubai did not even dare make a sound.

That was just who he was. Zhu Zhuqing had not been wrong at all. Weak, spineless—just as a dog could not stop eating filth, a person's nature was difficult to change.

After finding a restaurant, Chen Yuan, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing ordered their dishes and waited for the food to arrive.

After hesitating for a long while, Zhu Zhuqing finally spoke.

"Rongrong, Chen Yuan, we should keep some distance from each other from now on. I believe you can guess my and Dai Mubai's backgrounds. He is from the Star Luo Dai Family, while I am from the Star Luo Zhu Family. If the Star Luo Empire ever intends to harm us, I don't want to drag you into it."

Hearing this, Chen Yuan looked at Zhu Zhuqing and smiled lightly. "I already told you not to worry. We never judge our friends by their backgrounds, because on this continent, there are very few people whose backgrounds surpass Rongrong's and mine. Rongrong sees you as a sister, and I see you as a friend. There's no need to worry about us. You should worry about yourself first."

"The competition method in your families is like raising venomous insects in a jar. Those who fail truly do not meet good ends, but that is in the Star Luo Empire. This is the Heaven Dou Empire. No matter how far their hands can reach, they will still have some reservations."

"As long as you don't return of your own accord, there will be far fewer dangers to deal with. Cultivate in peace. I hope the day comes when you can take control of your own fate."

Ning Rongrong nodded as well. At Shrek Academy, Zhu Zhuqing was the only person she acknowledged and was willing to befriend sincerely. Just as Chen Yuan had said, she had never chosen friends based on background. Smiling, she said, "Zhu Qing, don't pay attention to the words of trash like Dai Mubai. What's so good about the Star Luo Empire? Stay here in Heaven Dou from now on."

Zhu Zhuqing pressed her lips together, her eyes slightly red. She had never felt such warmth at home, yet she had found it here. In truth, she did not absolutely have to return to the Star Luo Empire.