"From now on, we'll all be classmates. There's no need to hold a grudge over a few little disagreements."
As far as Dai Mubai was concerned, Tang San was someone he absolutely had to win over.
Once he'd brought Tang San over to his side, he'd start picking on Luo Yao along with the others. He'd even force her out of Shrek Academy.
If that happened, and Luo Yao no longer had the protection of those two spirit stones, then he'd have a much better chance of winning Zhu Zhuqing back.
That was precisely why he couldn't stand the sight of Tang San and Xiao Wu getting along.
Luo Yao heard what Dai Mubai said and couldn't help looking at him strangely.
"You're a face-con value enthusiast, too?"
Dai Mubai was indeed fond of the beauty fruit, but whether it was Tang San or Han San, he'd gladly give either of them some face.
Besides, they were classmates now. It wouldn't look good to start a fight in front of everyone.
Han San laughed and said, "Boss Dai, I've already been made into a eunuch. You can tell me to stop, but you have to keep your word."
Dai Mubai coughed awkwardly and generously reached out to shake his hand.
"No problem. Once today's match is over, I'll send you to the Soul Reliance City brothel. You can go ahead and enjoy yourself."
Han San flipped him off and scoffed.
"I wasn't asking you to treat me to a meal. Now that Mianhua is here, even the braised phoenix meat is bound to taste awful. I don't want to spoil my appetite."
Han San made no effort to hide the jealousy in his voice.
In any case, Luo Yao and Tang San had already seen him as a green phoenix. There was no point pretending he could live it down, so he might as well take advantage of the situation and get something more out of it.
Unlike Dai Mubai, who had been born into the Star Luo Empire's royal family, Han San could only curry favor with low-ranking people unless he was seeking out ordinary folk.
He didn't have enough money to enjoy the services of high-class courtesans.
Now that he finally had a chance to let Dai Mubai treat him, Han San naturally wasn't going to let it go.
Unfortunately, although Dai Mubai had already seen Han San's true colors, he hadn't said anything. But that remark had still thoroughly offended him.
After learning what Han San meant, Dai Mubai found the look in his eyes even more unsettling and disturbing whenever he tried to make advances toward him.
Even though Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, and Mianhua had long since learned the truth about him from Luo Yao, they were still staring at him with unabashed disdain.
He was so young, yet already had access to the Moon Pavilion. What kind of strange hobbies did he have?
It wasn't because of some flaw in his martial soul that he lacked proper perception, was it?
Wasn't the root of the problem simply that he wanted to go play in that kind of place?
Under the strange gaze of the others, Dai Mubai's face twisted with anger. He was itching to slap Han San across the face.
He tried to use his gaze to restore his image in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes, but Han San brought him right back down to earth with just one sentence.
Dai Mubai admitted defeat. In Zhu Zhuqing's eyes, his image had already fallen to rock bottom. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't get it back.
After thinking it over, Dai Mubai gave up. He jabbed a finger at Han San, then turned to the others.
"That's enough. Let's eat first."
While they ate, Dai Mubai deliberately tried to draw Tang San closer to him.
Since Tang San also wanted to bring the days he'd spent at the Shi Lan Ke Academy into the Tang Sect he'd yet to establish, he didn't resist. Instead, he joined Dai Mubai and Han San in their lively conversation.
But whenever Tang San tried to steer the conversation toward Luo Yao, Dai Mubai would coldly interrupt, unwilling to let Luo Yao take part.
Luo Yao understood his intentions perfectly. She gave a cold laugh to herself and started eating.
Am I alone?
Do I really have to put in all this effort to isolate you four?
[Heh, what a childish trick.]
[Because I needed to obtain the image and prestige of the Tang Sect in this world, I'd already started laying the groundwork early on. That's why even though Dai Mubai didn't like me, he still had to put up with me and occasionally socialize with me.]
[But this time, because I wanted to take Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, and Mianhua with me, I had to leave Tang San behind. That meant I'd have to use the methods Dai Mubai couldn't use in his previous life to deal with him.]
[It's obvious. That guy wants to win Tang San over to his side so he can join the others in isolating me. Ideally, he'll even drive me out of Shrek Academy.]
[That way, he can force Zhuqing into marrying him.]
[Come to think of it, it really is quite deliberate. Even if he isn't deliberately doing this because of his past-life punishment, I still can't get along with him. In a way, it works out in my favor.]
[I don't have much time to waste on trying to win over the girls around him. I might as well use this opportunity to figure out how to persuade Xiao Wu and Mianhua.]
[Since Zhuqing has already seen through Dai Mubai's true colors with my help, his every action is destined to be futile.]
[Even though Zhuqing isn't as deeply devoted to me as she was in the original world, she's already decided to marry Dai Mubai. That means she's surely given up on him as a future husband.]
[So he doesn't mind accepting Mianhua, but he still thinks Zhuqing will come back to him?]
After hearing all that, Xiao Wu and Mianhua both looked toward Zhu Zhuqing.
She seemed completely unaffected. She ate her breakfast and chatted and laughed with Luo Yao as if nothing had happened.
And with Zhu Zhuqing's attitude last night, it was already clear that she wasn't impressed by Luo Yao's charm. Dai Mubai's chances of marrying her were slim. In fact, Luo Yao had an even better chance than he did.
Still, it was better to keep things amicable.
Especially after what had just happened, she was certain Dai Mubai wasn't a good person. Leaving her unmarried was the sensible choice.
After breakfast, Dai Mubai took the others to the academy's training grounds.
Although he'd successfully drawn Tang San closer, he still felt a pang of disappointment.
Compared to speaking with Tang San, he preferred spending time with Luo Yao, chatting and laughing with Zhu Zhuqing.
As a result, Zhu Zhuqing ignored him throughout the whole conversation. Aside from occasionally exchanging a few words with Xiao Wu and Mianhua, she focused all her attention on Luo Yao.
What was the point of having a husband-to-be who acted like that?
Dai Mubai, seething with anger, took Luo Yao and the others to the training grounds. Oscar was already there waiting for them.
By then, he'd recovered from his hangover and looked much better.
Strictly speaking, Oscar and Dai Mubai had somewhat similar looks.
But when Oscar stood next to Luo Yao, who was as beautiful as an immortal, he looked like a candle beside the bright moon, completely unable to compare.
Before you continue