Everyone rose and left with complicated feelings.
As he passed Ye Liuyun, Dai Mubai stopped.
His evil eye flickered with barely suppressed rage and gloom.
Ye Liuyun's remarks had humiliated him, a prince, before everyone and completely enraged Zhu Zhuqing.
He could not wait until tomorrow to settle this score.
"Ye Liuyun."
Dai Mubai lowered his voice and spoke viciously, so only the two of them could hear:
"You'd better pray you don't lose too badly tonight."
"And don't think pretending to be some saint in front of Zhuqing will change anything."
"If she doesn't marry me, the Star Luo Empire won't let her go either."
With that, he snorted coldly, deliberately slammed his shoulder hard into Ye Liuyun's, and strode away.
Ye Liuyun did not move an inch, as though nothing more than a breeze had brushed past him.
He patted the nonexistent dust from his shoulder without even lifting his eyelids.
After the crowd dispersed, peace returned to the training ground.
Ye Liuyun did not return to the dormitory. Instead, he headed alone toward the woods at the edge of the academy.
It was quiet there, suitable for a brief rest before the match.
Just as he reached the edge of the woods,
light, hesitant footsteps sounded behind him.
Ye Liuyun stopped but did not turn around.
"Is there something else?"
Zhu Zhuqing emerged from the shadows behind a tree.
She still wore her black form-fitting outfit, outlining her breathtaking curves. Yet her cold face now carried a complicated expression.
She looked at Ye Liuyun's back and remained silent for a moment before asking softly:
"Why?"
Ye Liuyun turned around and leaned against the tree trunk, his expression calm.
"Why what?"
"Why did you speak up for me?"
Zhu Zhuqing bit her lip, a trace of confusion