Su Ling's condition was terrifying.
His face was as pale as paper, and fine cold sweat had soaked through his bangs and clothes. He looked as if he'd just been fished out of the water.
Even more alarming, a smear of blood remained at the corner of his mouth, and his lapels were stained with large patches of dark red.
Every breath came with an abnormal heat, short and labored. His chest heaved violently, as if even the simplest breath took all his strength.
"Little Ling! What happened?" Ye Wanqing sprang to her feet, and the teacup in her hand smashed against the floor.
She rushed to Su Ling's side and steadied him with trembling hands. Her voice brimmed with a murderous intent she'd never shown before.
"Who hurt you? Tell Mom. I'll wipe out his entire clan."
Her eyes, usually as gentle as water, were now as cold as ice that had endured for ten thousand years.
Yu Xiaogang and Flender hurried forward and exchanged a glance, each seeing fear and relief in the other's eyes.
Thank goodness Xiao Wu's kick hadn't really landed that morning. Otherwise, Shrek Academy would've been finished.
That brat dared to bully Xiao Wu this morning. He deserves the Path to Death. But the academy's short on funds right now and still needs financial support from the Su Family, so I'll spare his life for the time being!
The moment Tang San saw Su Ling, his hand instinctively moved toward the Soul Tool at his waist, and a cold murderous glint flashed in his eyes. But when he sensed someone watching him from the shadows, he quickly composed himself.
Xiao Wu cowered behind Tang San, too frightened to look at Su Ling. She'd been badly frightened that morning, and since he knew her true identity, all she wanted now was to get away as soon as possible.
"I'm fine. I'm just a little tired."
Su Ling's legs could barely support his weight. He staggered forward twice, then toppled uncontrollably.
Ye Wanqing caught him in the blink of an eye and pulled him into her arms, her eyes instantly reddening. "Don't be ridiculous! This is no mere tiredness!"
She sensed that the Soul Power in Su Ling's body was in turmoil and that his Meridians were badly damaged. Her voice could barely contain her anger and heartache.
"What happened? Who hurt you? Our Su Family has never been afraid of anyone!"
She turned to Yu Xiaogang and Flender, her gaze sharp as a blade.
The two hurriedly waved their hands, cold sweat beading on their foreheads.
Flender hastened to explain, "Madam Ye, heaven and earth can bear witness: we've been guests here all day. There's no way we'd lay a hand on Young Master Su."
"He was fine when he went out, too. We don't know what happened..."
Ye Wanqing gave a cold snort, clearly dissatisfied with his explanation.
She carefully helped Su Ling to the sofa, gathered a gentle green light in her palm, and pressed it lightly to his chest.
After a long spell of treatment, Su Ling's unfocused eyes finally began to focus.
He blinked at the Shrek group gathered around him with concerned expressions, then fell silent.
"Mom... what are you..." Su Ling looked up in confusion. He couldn't shake the feeling that his own mother had already defected to the enemy.
My blood's boiling with rage! I paid a huge price to draw their hatred this morning, and yet Mom... I'm ready to fight to the death, so why has Your Majesty surrendered first?
Ye Wanqing cleared her throat and explained, "Little Ling, what happened today was all a misunderstanding."
"Master Yu and the others came to treat their student's injuries, so they were a little anxious. That's why the fight broke out."
"Now the misunderstanding's cleared up, and they've apologized. Besides, the way you treated that little girl earlier really was out of line."
At her words, Su Ling nearly spat up blood.
He forced himself to sit upright and swept his gaze across the Shrek group. Finally, he fixed on Tang San, raising a finger to point at him. "Mom... look at that guy's fake smile. He might as well have 'You have the Path to Death' written all over his face."
"If we don't get rid of him now, he'll become a threat sooner or later. He might even destroy our Su Family!"
His voice was weak but firm. Every word struck Tang San like a knife.
He remembered clearly that in his First Life, this Little Scumbag had killed him and ruined his mission.
Tang San's smile instantly froze, and shock surged through his heart.
He hadn't expected Su Ling to see right through him. Cold sweat trickled down his back. Did I accidentally let my murderous intent show when I was thinking he had the Path to Death?
Everyone followed Su Ling's pointing finger. Tang San's face was stiff, and a flicker of panic crossed his eyes, but he quickly returned to his humble, gentle expression.
"Young Master Su, do you dislike me?"
"You bullied my little sister this morning, and I didn't even hold it against you..."
Tang San suppressed the murderous intent in his heart and put on a wounded expression.
"I hate center-parted hair, people who don't wear overalls, and Little Scumbags who can't play basketball."
Su Ling cut him off coldly, his disgust utterly undisguised.
Tang San's mouth twitched. What a ridiculous reason.
Forget it. I, the pure and immaculate Tang Buddha, won't stoop to arguing with a brat.
After a long silence, Flender broke the tension, trying to ease the atmosphere. "Haha... I think Young Master Su has fallen for our Rongrong, which is why he keeps targeting Xiao San."
He'd already noticed Su Ling glancing at Ning Rongrong from time to time.
As for his supposed "bullying" of Xiao Wu, there'd been no trace of lecherous intent in his eyes. If anything, he'd clearly paid more attention to Ning Rongrong.
"Huh?" Ning Rongrong froze, her pretty face turning bright red. She stamped her foot in embarrassment. "Dean, what are you talking about?"
She sneaked a glance at Su Ling. When she met his noble golden eyes and saw his peerlessly handsome face, a shrill squeal went off in her heart.
He's so handsome! His eyes, his bearing, his air... He's utterly captivating!
No, no!
Ning Rongrong shook her head frantically, refusing to accept it. Her head swung like a rattle, but the blush on her face only deepened, spreading all the way to her ears.
"This is so childish... so embarrassing."
She protested under her breath, mortified. Her eyes darted about, and her hands twisted together without her realizing it.
What's wrong with me? I'm nearly forty if you count this life and my Previous Life. Why would a boy make my heart race? This is mortifying.
The sight of the girl blushing left all the Shrek boys heartbroken.
Dai Mubai's face turned livid, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked. He'd been pursuing Ning Rongrong for ages, only for this newcomer to beat him to the punch.
Tang San couldn't maintain his expression either. Undisguised jealousy and malice filled his eyes.
He'd thought Ning Rongrong was fond of him. He never expected Su Ling to steal her attention so easily.
Su Ling's upper eyelids drooped slightly, half veiling his eyes as his gaze fell on Ning Rongrong. He looked at her with barely concealed disdain.
As expected of a Mary Sue heroine. She's so scheming.
It took her no time at all to max out the male leads' hatred for me.
"Host, Host, remember your character!"
"You're the obsessive male supporting character who loves the heroine but can't have her. Put away that disdainful look!"
"Honestly, it's because you don't pay attention to the details and your acting isn't up to par that you've failed in so many lives!"
The system's exasperated electronic voice suddenly rang in his mind.
My acting's no good? If you can do better, then you do it!
Su Ling snapped back at the system in his mind. Looking at Ning Rongrong's bashful, girlish expression, he couldn't help curling his lip.
She's a heroine who can turn a reverse harem into a thing in a male-oriented novel.
Just looking at her made his skin crawl. How could he possibly play the role of a lovesick tool?
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