After hearing Sun Sheng's words, Bibi Dong froze on the spot, scenes from the past surfacing in her mind.
A faint tremor appeared in her eyes.
Many years ago, someone had said something similar to her.
"That brat really knows how to cause trouble."
A moment later, Bibi Dong came back to her senses and shook her head with a smile.
At that moment, her heart, once as steady as a rock, gradually began to soften.
Logically, hearing those words should have made her angry.
Yet for some reason, Bibi Dong simply could not bring herself to be angry with Sun Sheng.
Especially after hearing what Sun Sheng had said, an indescribable feeling rose from the depths of her heart.
She always felt an inexplicable sense of closeness with Sun Sheng.
Though it was not very obvious, it still affected her emotions.
It made her feel somewhat unaccustomed.
In the end, she could not be bothered to think about it anymore.
In truth, the reason Bibi Dong felt this way was the same as when Hu Liena had first met Sun Sheng.
That inexplicable feeling and sense of closeness were precisely the unique charm of the Douluo Leveling System.
This hidden charm selectively released an invisible affinity toward certain people, helping the host gradually build good relationships.
It allowed the host to get off to a good start and complete tasks smoothly.
The longer those chosen by the affinity spent with the host, the deeper their feelings became.
Over time, sparks could naturally fly.
The reason Sun Sheng had won Hu Liena over so quickly was largely due to this invisible affinity.
Progress of Bibi Dong conquest task: 5%
Sun Sheng, who had been sprinting away without daring to look back, suddenly heard the system prompt in his mind and slowed down.
He had not expected those words to actually work.
They had actually caused a ripple in the unflappable, rock-steady Bibi Dong, making her feel a trace of goodwill toward him.
That let him see hope.
Great hope.
"Little brother, you're out. What did Teacher say to you?"
The moment Hu Liena saw Sun Sheng emerge, she ran over and asked.
"Uh, nothing much. Teacher just gave me a few instructions."
"Oh, right, big sister. Teacher is calling for you and told you to go over immediately."
Sun Sheng paused for a moment before quickly telling her.
"Ah, Teacher called for me?"
"You wait here for me."
Hu Liena was slightly startled and hurried inside.
She did not dare delay.
After Hu Liena left, Yan and Xie Yue exchanged looks, their expressions somewhat strange.
They seemed to have something to say, yet did not know how to begin.
Seeing this, Sun Sheng sneered inwardly.
How could he not know what the two of them were thinking?
They undoubtedly wanted to find a chance to ask why he had not told Hu Liena about what happened in the Star Dou Great Forest.
Or perhaps they wanted to find a way to shut him up and keep him from spreading the matter around.
But he deliberately did not expose them. He meant to test their patience, wandering around nearby and admiring the architectural style as though he knew nothing at all.
Sure enough, before long, Yan and Xie Yue could no longer hold back and walked toward him.
Seeing that the two had finally lost patience and were about to ask, Sun Sheng smiled calmly and said, "You two want to ask why I didn't tell Hu Liena about what happened in the Star Dou Great Forest, right?"
Yan and Xie Yue shuddered, exchanged another glance, and both saw shock in the other's eyes.
They had not expected Sun Sheng to see through what they wanted to say.
"That's right. Why didn't you tell Sister Liena?"
Yan was an upright man. He pursed his lips and asked somewhat unwillingly.
"Do you see me as the kind of petty person who stabs others in the back?"
Sun Sheng curled his lips into a smile and replied meaningfully.
There was clearly more to his words.
And that single sentence thoroughly shook the two of them to their core.
It also filled them with guilt.
That was right!
What they had done in the Star Dou Great Forest before—how was it any different from the actions of petty villains?
And they were supposed to be the Golden Generation of Spirit Hall.
They were supposed to be geniuses, proud men.
Yet they had done something like that?
They had truly let down Spirit Hall's teachings.
They had let down their current status.
"Yan, there is a conflict between us."
"But that is only a conflict between us. There is no need to drag Hu Liena into it."
"Don't worry. I will not tell her about what happened in the Star Dou Great Forest."
"But that does not mean I will forget it."
"I will settle this matter in my own way."
"If you're a man, then come at me openly and honorably. Don't pull little tricks behind my back."
"Otherwise, I'll look down on you."
"Xie Yue, this is between Yan and me. I hope you won't interfere. From now on, we still have to live together."
Seeing that his earlier words had taken effect, Sun Sheng pressed on, speaking with impassioned conviction.
Men!
If there was something to say, say it directly.
Do not hide it away.
And do not scheme behind someone's back.
If you had the guts, make it clear.
That way, no one would keep whining and acting like a petty villain.
It was pointless.
Sure enough, his words were like arrows piercing straight into their hearts.
W-Was that really something a twelve-year-old boy could say?
Not only was it reasonable and well-founded, it was also full of conviction.
He was clearly an old hand.
"Brother, what are you doing? Why are you standing here in a daze?"
At that moment, Hu Liena returned. Seeing the stunned expressions on the two men's faces, she asked curiously.
"Big sister, I was just telling them how I killed the Goliath Ant King. It shocked them."
When Sun Sheng saw Hu Liena return, he immediately changed his manner, ran over, and took her little hand.
"Ah! You never told me about it. I was curious too."
Hu Liena suddenly cried out when she heard that.
She had been so happy earlier that she had not gotten around to asking.
"Hehe, big sister, let's go back first. I can tell you about it slowly then. I could talk about it for three days and three nights."
Sun Sheng glanced at Yan and Xie Yue, then pulled Hu Liena away with a grin.
Only after Sun Sheng and Hu Liena had left did Yan and Xie Yue slowly come back to their senses.
"Yan, in some ways, Sun Sheng isn't actually that annoying. At the very least, we can't compare to him in this matter," Xie Yue muttered hesitantly.
At that moment, his impression of Sun Sheng had changed.
At least Sun Sheng was not as detestable as before.
"Indeed, he handled this better than we did."
"But so what? I will not give up on Sister Liena."
"Sister Liena belongs to me alone."
"Didn't he say he wanted to do this openly and honorably?"
"Then let him come. I'm not afraid."
Yan was also a proud man, not some insidious villain.
Since Sun Sheng had already spoken plainly, there was no need to keep making moves in secret.
Otherwise, how would he be any different from a petty villain?
"Yan, little sister has always treated you as a brother. You know that too. Why insist on this?"
Seeing his expression, Xie Yue shook his head helplessly.
"No, this concerns a man's dignity."
Yan clenched his fists, narrowed his eyes, and wore a resolute expression.
No matter what, he could not admit defeat.
"Ah, what is love in this world, that it makes people pledge their lives to each other?"
Xie Yue sighed helplessly and left.
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