Two Women Compete

"What are you telling me?"

Gu Yi pretended not to understand and asked in return.

"Didn't you say that if I kissed you... kissed you once, you'd tell me what your grandfather thought of me?"

Seeing Gu Yi play dumb, Zhu Zhuqing immediately grew anxious. Heaven knew how much courage it had taken for her to kiss him just now, and now he was going to renege on his word?

"I was just teasing you. Who knew you'd be so obedient?" Gu Yi said with a mischievous grin.

As he spoke, Gu Yi wrapped his arms around Zhu Zhuqing's slender waist again.

But Zhu Zhuqing was unwilling to let it go. She sulkily slapped at Gu Yi's hands and said, both embarrassed and angry, "Hmph! Let go! I hate you the most!"

Could something like this really be used to tease her?

He was too awful! She couldn't accept it!

"Haha~ Alright, alright. Since you really want to know, I'll tell you."

"My grandfather didn't say anything, and that already made his stance clear. If he weren't satisfied with you, he definitely would've found a way to make me leave you."

"And if he weren't pleased with you, he wouldn't have smiled at you. He's a Titled Douluo, after all. It isn't so easy to earn a smile from him."

Gu Yi explained with a light laugh.

"Really?" Zhu Zhuqing was a little stunned as she asked tentatively.

"Of course. Why would I lie to you?" Gu Yi whispered softly into Zhu Zhuqing's ear.

"Hmph! That's more like it. If you tease me again next time, I... I won't talk to you anymore."

Zhu Zhuqing gave a delicate snort and threatened him "viciously."

Seeing this, Gu Yi only found her more and more adorable. As his arms tightened around her, he rested his head on her shoulder and pressed close to her.

Zhu Zhuqing did not resist either, allowing him to hold her like this. This guy had already tricked her out of her first kiss, so what was a hug?

But just as the two were sharing a tender moment, a familiar figure gradually walked onto the training ground.

"Hm? Ning Rongrong?"

Looking at Ning Rongrong, who had stopped not far away, Zhu Zhuqing exclaimed in surprise.

Hadn't Gu Yi scolded her into leaving? Why had she come back now? What was she back for?

Several questions surfaced in Zhu Zhuqing's mind at once, leaving her unable to make sense of it.

In her impression, Ning Rongrong was not the kind of person who could still get along amicably after being angered.

But Ning Rongrong's next action left her utterly dumbfounded.

After meeting her gaze for two seconds, Ning Rongrong actually smiled at her! She even waved!

Strange! It was truly incredibly strange!

This Ning Rongrong was far too different from the one in her memories!

Fortunately, Ning Rongrong did not stay long. After greeting them from afar, she headed toward the dormitories.

"Gu Yi, this..."

Zhu Zhuqing was confused. She wanted to ask Gu Yi about it, but she did not know how to phrase the question.

"Don't mind her. I don't know why she came back either, but something's off whenever things are abnormal. Try to keep your distance from her."

Gu Yi reminded her seriously.

He knew Ning Rongrong could not have returned with good intentions, but he did not know how to warn Zhu Zhuqing. He could only tell her to be careful and take things one step at a time.

"Mm, I understand." Zhu Zhuqing nodded.

"Alright, that's it for today. Go back and get some proper rest. See you tomorrow."

With that, Gu Yi slowly released Zhu Zhuqing. After bidding her farewell, he turned and headed toward the boys' dormitory.

Zhu Zhuqing returned to the girls' dormitory. Since Xiao Wu had gone out to obtain a spirit ring, only she and Ning Rongrong were in the dorm for the time being.

After entering, Zhu Zhuqing said nothing and did not look at Ning Rongrong. She simply began preparing the Medicinal Bath on her own.

Zhao Wuji had already given them the Medicinal Bath formula and ingredients, so they only needed to prepare it themselves after each training session.

Ning Rongrong sat by her bed, silently watching Zhu Zhuqing without saying a word. The atmosphere in the room grew increasingly awkward.

However, Zhu Zhuqing did not care. After taking off her clothes, she lay down in the Medicinal Bath barrel.

But at that moment, Ning Rongrong was the first to break the silence in the room.

"You two were really intimate at the training ground just now. Have you already confessed your feelings to each other?"

As if merely curious, Ning Rongrong wore a smile as she asked, her tone calm and even.

Zhu Zhuqing was startled by the sudden question, but she chose not to answer. Instead, she ignored it outright and pretended not to hear.

There was no need to report her relationship with Gu Yi to Ning Rongrong.

Ning Rongrong waited for a while. Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing was ignoring her, she did not get angry and asked again, "You like him so much now. If one day he abandons you, what would you think?"

"He wouldn't. Don't try to badmouth him in front of me." Zhu Zhuqing frowned and replied in a low voice.

She had not wanted to pay Ning Rongrong any attention, but she could not restrain the urge to refute her.

"Wouldn't he?" Ning Rongrong pressed her right hand to her lower lip and pretended to ponder before asking, "He liked me for a full five years before, didn't he? And yet, hasn't it still turned into this?"

"That's because you failed to hold on to him. What does that have to do with him?" Zhu Zhuqing replied disdainfully.

"Is that so? That seems to make a lot of sense. Then I hope you can hold on to him properly and don't let someone else steal him away. Otherwise, I'm afraid you won't be able to bear it," Ning Rongrong said with a mocking reminder.

"Hmph! That's none of your business." Zhu Zhuqing snorted coldly, no longer wanting to pay her any attention.

"How is it none of my business? Something I threw away, I naturally have to take back myself. Even if I don't want it, you can't pick it up."

Ning Rongrong directly revealed her purpose and laid her cards on the table with Zhu Zhuqing.

"Heh! Then go ahead and try." Zhu Zhuqing replied disdainfully.

Ning Rongrong's image in Gu Yi's heart had already been shattered beyond repair. How could he possibly turn around and accept her again?

She was only asking for trouble and humiliation!

"You don't really think you've got Gu Yi firmly in your grasp already, do you?"

"How long have you even known him? It probably hasn't been more than two months yet."

"How long did he like me? A full five years! Do you really think his five years of feelings for me would fade so easily?"

"Although he looks like he doesn't care now, if I show him some kindness, do you think it's impossible for him to change his mind?"

Ning Rongrong sneered. She was extremely confident in her plan!

In her heart, Gu Yi only liked Zhu Zhuqing because of the novelty. As long as she gave him an opening, she refused to believe Gu Yi would not take the bait.

"I already said it. If you want to take him back, then come and try!" Zhu Zhuqing's pretty face darkened as she replied coldly.

"Then just wait and see."

As she spoke, the two stared at each other from afar, sparks seeming to crackle fiercely in their eyes.

But at that moment, the dormitory door was suddenly flung open!

Bang!

"I'm back!"

Xiao Wu excitedly pushed open the dormitory door and shouted into the room.

But in the next instant, she sensed the strong smell of gunpowder in the dormitory.

She froze in place and looked at the two of them in confusion before asking tentatively, "You two... are you alright?"

The next moment, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing answered in unison:

"Fine!"