"Useless Best Friend"

"Feng Mei, what do you think of Ning Wuque?"

The river of time was stirred backward by a finger, and time temporarily rewound to a night several days earlier.

As usual, Ning Tian and Wu Feng lay on the same bed in their pajamas, nestled beneath the covers and whispering before sleep.

Lying on her side, Ning Tian watched the faint shyness and anticipation on Wu Feng's little face. It was as though she were imagining something embarrassing, an inexplicable light flickering in her eyes.

"Wuque? That guy's pretty good, isn't he? He just sweet-talks too much. I don't like that."

Wu Feng complained to Ning Tian somewhat sourly. She did not stop to wonder why Ning Tian was bringing this up today, merely voicing her opinion of Ning Wuque:

"Still, that guy is really popular with the elders. My father is always saying things like, 'It'd be great if you were even half as hardworking as Wuque!'

What do you mean? I'm working hard too! How could I not even measure up to half of him? Dad's getting senile! Once I become a Titled Douluo, I'll beat him until he has no choice but to retire!"

She no longer disliked Ning Wuque. She just felt a burst of jealousy whenever Ning Wuque used some roundabout excuse to praise Ning Tian.

Even though Ning Tian was the one who asked Ning Wuque to praise her every time, couldn't that bad guy just keep quiet? He made her worry every time that her Tian Jie would be stolen away by him.

Fortunately, Tian Jie had always kept her in her heart. She had not stopped sleeping with her and whispering together just because of her relationship with Ning Wuque.

At that thought, Wu Feng scooted a little closer to Ning Tian.

"You~ Feng Mei, do you think Ning Wuque would make a suitable other half? I mean... as a boyfriend, the kind you'd marry someday."

"He'd be very suitable! Ning Tian, you know it too. Every now and then, that bad guy blurts out some sweet words. What normal little girl could withstand that kind of praise?

And although Wuque is a little cold, he's actually very considerate and knows how to take care of people. When I first started training, I thought he was super heartless, just as sharp-tongued as before. But unexpectedly, he kept encouraging and motivating me to persevere..."

As if she had found something to talk about, Wu Feng's words did not stop for a moment:

"And, and, he's strong, he's good-looking, and he knows how to repay kindness without demanding too much. Other than being overly focused on training every day, there doesn't seem to be anything bad about him.

It's only because he's not my type that my dad hasn't dealt with him already! And Ning Tian, you definitely think he's still not worthy of you either, right?"

The person who understood you best was surely your sworn enemy. Wu Feng understood Ning Wuque's strengths all too well.

Other than his behavior seeming oddly abnormal to people his age, making no one willing to understand or approach him, and his tendency to keep his distance from others, he utterly outclassed boys his age in nearly every other respect!

If she had to put it into words, Ning Wuque was the type with a special attack—especially effective against little rich girls!

Mysterious and strange, knowledgeable, diligent and serious, socially adept, ambitious, steadfast, and individualistic—every single trait struck right at the hearts of those foolish, sheltered little rich girls whose lives were dull and flavorless.

It was precisely because she understood all this too well that she always worried her Tian Jie would be whisked away by that hateful Ning Wuque.

Thankfully, Ning Tian's standards were far higher than those of ordinary little rich girls. She treated Ning Wuque only as a companion and friend, showing absolutely no interest in that respect. That was why Wu Feng had remained so happy until now~

Ning Wuque, Ning Wuque, he was only so-so, really. Disdainful little girl face.

"I see. Then Feng Mei, if I wanted to be with Wuque, would you support me?"

"Of course... Wait! Ah—!"

Wu Feng jolted upright, then let out a long, explosive scream. The room's soundproofing was good enough; otherwise, it would definitely have disturbed the neighbors.

She stared at Ning Tian.

Ning Tian was wearing pale yellow pajamas. Moonlight shone upon the side of her face resting on the pillow, and she looked at Wu Feng with a slightly embarrassed expression, like a mother preparing to confess to her child that she had secretly found her a stepfather.

She was just... a little embarrassed, afraid the child would not be able to accept it.

"Tian, Tian, Tian..."

Wu Feng was stammering. Pointing at Ning Tian, her face was filled with disbelief.

No, why? Usually, the most intimate thing Ning Tian did with Ning Wuque was hold his hand.

But she only did that while holding Wu Feng's hand too. She was not favoring one over the other.

Other than that, Wu Feng had never seen Ning Tian and Ning Wuque do anything more intimate. How had this come so suddenly!?

"I... have actually been considering this for a long time. Just as you said, Wuque is not only very popular with girls, but he's also a genius beyond geniuses. As someone born into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, how could I possibly not consider such matters?"

Ning Tian looked at Wu Feng and slowly sat up before saying:

"However, I know Feng Mei would definitely mind this. But I have to get married someday. Ever since I was born, this has been something I was meant to follow, even if I did not awaken Innate Full Soul Power. The only difference is whether it will be a political marriage or a choice of my own.

Ning Wuque is a very good person. In my eyes, his character and conduct are both nearly perfect. If I truly have to give something up for the clan... I think choosing him would make me feel better and happier than choosing some stranger in the future."

Ning Tian did not care that much about the clan's arrangements and upbringing for her. She also knew gratitude and repayment, and the clan would examine the other party's character when arranging a marriage.

But... she was human, a person with her own thoughts.

She looked at Wu Feng. Precisely because she knew Feng Mei's possessiveness toward her was very strong, she had never provoked the conflict between her and Ning Wuque in order to avoid damaging the fragile triangular relationship among the three of them.

She merely used coded words, phrases, and actions that only she and Ning Wuque understood when talking with him.

Silly Feng Mei could not see or hear any of it at all.

However, times had changed.

She was about to fulfill her obligations and responsibilities, heading to Shrek Academy like the seniors before her to recruit talent for the clan and choose her future partner.

Thus, some things were destined to be impossible to hide. Wu Feng needed to know, and Ning Tian needed to make a choice.

But... would the clan agree? She did not know. Yet love made people impulsive, so she did not intend to consider that for now. Instead, she asked Wu Feng what she thought.

At worst, the three of them could run away together. Under normal circumstances, they would have to stay at Shrek until around the age of twenty anyway. A dozen or so more years would not make a difference. Once they grew stronger, they could return and see who dared say anything!

Strength was the true right to speak!

Wu Feng could grow into a Titled Douluo, and she firmly believed that Ning Wuque could stand shoulder to shoulder with a Titled Douluo once he matured as well.

"I... I..."

Wu Feng slumped weakly on the bed, her red hair falling loose. She looked at Ning Tian, at the expectation in her eyes, and finally gritted her teeth.

"As long as it's what Ning Tian wants, I'll stand by your side!"

Once she said that, she turned her head away gloomily, not daring to look at Ning Tian again.

Just like when, several days later, the graduation ceremony ended beneath the setting sun.

She leaned against a tree trunk, turning her head away and not daring to watch Ning Tian and Ning Wuque talk.

Exactly the same!

"I was clearly here first. Whether it was becoming friends with Ning Tian or growing up together with Ning Tian, why..."

She thought to herself as the sound of their conversation reached her ears.

Wu Feng had experienced her first crush and found her first kindred troublesome friend.

This should have been double the happiness, so why... why...

Things were not supposed to be like this!