"..."
The light in Xue Qinghe's eyes went out instantly, replaced by an urge to punch someone.
Was this guy messing with her?
If this were not Jixia Academy's territory, she really wanted to have the guards beside her pin this guy to the ground and grind him into the dirt.
She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger in her heart as she patiently asked, "Then what does Brother Lu Ming mean?"
Lu Ming lightly tapped the tabletop with his fingers, wearing an unfathomable expression.
"Didn't you want the two academies to hold a competitive exchange?"
"I have a way to arrange that for you."
Xue Qinghe froze, looking at him skeptically. "You? Didn't you just say you were merely a nobody and didn't know the Dean? Can you make decisions about something as major as an exchange between two academies?"
He could not even manage to meet the Dean, so what gave him the right to arrange a competition between the two academies?
Lu Ming smiled faintly without answering directly. Instead, he beckoned Xue Qinghe over.
"His Highness the Crown Prince, lean closer."
Though Xue Qinghe was doubtful, her curiosity got the better of her. She leaned forward slightly and brought her ear closer.
Lu Ming moved close to her ear, deliberately lowering his voice. His warm breath brushed against her sensitive earlobe.
"Because... I'm good at horse riding."
"Horse riding?"
Xue Qinghe froze and repeated it instinctively.
What did that have to do with arranging a competition?
Could it be that Jixia Academy's upper ranks liked horse races?
But the next second, when she met Lu Ming's eyes, which held a hint of teasing and deeper meaning, a flash of realization suddenly struck her mind.
Horse riding... riding a horse... riding...
As the "Crown Prince" who had grown up in the imperial palace, that great melting pot, she had kept herself clean, but naturally understood certain dirty jokes and veiled innuendos immediately.
What horse riding!
He was clearly implying that he had some unspeakable "riding" relationship with a female member of the academy's upper ranks!
In other words... he was living off a rich woman!
Boom!
Xue Qinghe's face instantly reddened to the tips of her ears. Her originally fair and refined face now looked like a fully ripened tomato.
"Shameless!"
She spat viciously in her heart.
So this Lu Ming had risen through such methods!
No wonder Gongsun Li and Cai Wenji had treated him like that earlier, and no wonder he had said being handsome was useful.
After all that, this guy was just a gigolo being kept by a wealthy woman!
"Cough, cough..."
Xue Qinghe coughed awkwardly twice, her gaze wandering as she did not dare look at Lu Ming at all.
"So... so that's the kind of horse riding you meant! Brother Lu Ming truly... keeps himself well hidden."
Seeing her look as though she wanted to die from embarrassment and indignation, Lu Ming was even more delighted.
He deliberately leaned a little closer, looked at Xue Qinghe's face that was red enough to drip blood, and asked with feigned concern, "His Highness the Crown Prince, why is your face so red?"
"Did you get heatstroke?"
Xue Qinghe hurriedly retreated half a step, putting some distance between them. Somewhat flustered, she fanned herself with her hand.
"It's from the heat! It's noon, and the sun is scorching. Of course it's hot."
Lu Ming's gaze swept over the brocade robe wrapped tightly around her body, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.
"Since you're hot, why doesn't Your Highness take off your outer robe?"
As he spoke, he reached out and placed his hand on Xue Qinghe's shoulder with complete ease, as though he wanted to help her undress.
"Look at how tightly you're wrapped up. Even your neck is covered. It would be strange if you weren't hot."
The instant his fingertips touched Xue Qinghe's shoulder, Lu Ming could clearly feel her body stiffen abruptly.
"W-what?!"
Xue Qinghe was horrified and flung Lu Ming's hand away as though she had been electrocuted.
Was he kidding?!
She was wearing women's clothing underneath. If she took off her outer robe, would she not be exposed on the spot?
And why was this guy getting so handsy?!
"N-No need!"
Xue Qinghe stammered, "I... I have a special constitution and get cold easily! Yes, I get cold easily, so I can't take off my clothes."
To cover up the awkwardness and escape this topic, which was filled with ambiguous and dangerous undertones, as quickly as possible, Xue Qinghe hurriedly took a deep breath and forcibly restored a serious expression.
"Brother Lu Ming, since you have a way... even if it is that sort of way."
She gritted her teeth. Though she despised him inwardly, she could only endure it for the greater good.
"Then I'll have to trouble Brother Lu Ming to arrange a competitive exchange between the two academies. As long as you can make it happen, consider me owing you a favor."
Lu Ming sat back down on the stone stool, crossed one leg over the other, and the smile on his face vanished at once, leaving him looking bored.
"I never agreed to it."
"You!"
Xue Qinghe choked with anger.
He had clearly brought it up himself just now, yet now he claimed he had never agreed?
"Brother Lu Ming, are you playing me?" Xue Qinghe's voice carried a trace of anger.
She was genuinely furious.
As the Crown Prince, when had she ever been toyed with like this again and again?
Yet Lu Ming remained completely unruffled. He raised one finger and waved it before Xue Qinghe.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, don't rush. There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world, especially not for something this important."
"You want me to use my... 'horse riding' connections to help you handle this. That takes quite a bit of physical exertion."
Lu Ming looked at Xue Qinghe and said calmly, "That depends on His Highness's sincerity."
Xue Qinghe looked at that raised finger, her brows knitting slightly.
"One thousand Gold Soul Coins?"
She asked tentatively.
For an ordinary person, one thousand Gold Soul Coins was already an enormous sum.
Lu Ming snorted and shook his head. "Your Highness the Crown Prince, you really don't understand the rules. Is this tiny amount supposed to send off a beggar?"
Xue Qinghe took a deep breath and spoke again. "Ten thousand Gold Soul Coins!"
Lu Ming still shook his head.
Xue Qinghe gritted her teeth. "One hundred thousand!"
Lu Ming continued shaking his head, not even bothering to lift his eyelids.
Xue Qinghe's heart sank.
One hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins was no small amount. Was this guy's appetite really that huge?
"Could it be one million?"
Even Xue Qinghe's voice trembled.
One Million Gold Soul Coins was enough to equip an elite Soul Master legion!
Yet Lu Ming still shook his head.
He slowly withdrew his finger, looked at Xue Qinghe, and calmly stated a number.
"Ten Million Gold Soul Coins!"
"What? Ten Million Gold Soul Coins?!"
Xue Qinghe's eyes flew wide open, and her voice rose several octaves in an instant. She completely lost her composure.
"Are you insane?!"
Ten Million Gold Soul Coins!
What kind of concept was that?
A single Gold Soul Coin was enough for an ordinary family of three to live comfortably for a year.
Even Bibi Dong, the Pope of Spirit Hall and the most powerful woman on the continent, only had an official annual salary of one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins.
Ten million was equivalent to Bibi Dong working without eating or drinking for a hundred years!
That sum could even buy several incomparably rare Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones!
He wanted ten million just to arrange one friendly competition?
This was outright robbery!
"Why don't you just rob me?!" Xue Qinghe trembled with rage.
Before you continue