Publicly Announced, Three Women Envious
Wang Dong'er's sarcastic remark instantly silenced the once bustling street corner.
Zhu Lu and Ma Xiaotao, standing behind Dai Huabin, exchanged a knowing glance.
Zhu Lu whispered in Ma Xiaotao's ear:
"Xiaotao Tao, look, here it comes."
Ma Xiaotao smiled and responded softly:
"I could tell back during the Soul Master Tournament that these three little girls weren't innocent. Now that they see me walking with Huabin, they're just jealous."
Zhu Lu nodded gently:
"In the past few months since the start of the school year, Huabin has indeed treated them differently than he has treated others."
Dai Huabin overheard their whispers perfectly, but he didn't point it out.
Di Lingxi, on the other hand, tilted her golden head, her amber eyes filled with pure curiosity.
She first looked at the three girls who had suddenly appeared in front of her, then glanced back at Zhu Lu and Ma Xiaotao beside her, and finally fixed her probing gaze on Dai Huabin's face, as if analyzing the complicated scene.
Faced with Wang Dong'er's provocation, Dai Huabin remained unfazed, instead displaying a calm smile.
"Dong'er is joking."
He turned to the side and naturally put his arm around Ma Xiaotao, so that they could stand side by side.
"However, there's something I think I should tell you formally."
Dai Huabin's voice wasn't loud, but it reached the ears of everyone present clearly.
"Xiaotao Tao and I are officially together."
These words struck Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, and Cui Yajie like a thunderclap.
Although they had a premonition, especially during the finals, Ma Xiaotao risked her life for Dai Huabin, and anyone could see her determination.
But when Dai Huabin admitted it in person, the shock still left them momentarily blank.
Cui Yajie's playful smile froze.
Xiao Xiao instinctively gripped the hem of her clothes tightly.
A complex emotion, difficult to describe, flashed in Wang Dong'er's pinkish-blue eyes—shock, disappointment, and a bittersweet feeling that she herself was unwilling to admit.
Why do I feel so uncomfortable?
Clearly... Clearly it's Senior Ma Xiaotao, so outstanding, and the top student in the Inner Academy. Standing next to Dai Huabin, they are truly a match made in heaven.
But in some corner of my heart, there's just an empty space.
After a moment of silence, Cui Yajie was the first to react. She quickly adjusted her expression and forced a smile.
"Well... then congratulations to the class monitor and senior Xiaotao!"
Xiao Xiao also whispered, "Congratulations..."
Wang Dong'er pursed her lips, and after a long while, she managed to squeeze out a few words through gritted teeth. "Congratulations."
Seeing the forced smiles on the three of them, Ma Xiaotao laughed heartily instead.
She broke free from Dai Huabin's hand and walked up to the three women.
Her height of 1.75 meters gave her a natural aura in front of Wang Dong'er and the others.
Her long, fiery red hair fluttered slightly in the night breeze as she reached out and patted each of the three men on the shoulder.
Thank you for your blessings.
Ma Xiaotao's tone was not boastful at all; instead, it carried the sincerity of someone who had been through it all.
"However, simply congratulating me isn't enough."
She abruptly changed the subject, her crimson eyes sweeping across the three faces with a mischievous smile.
"You three, keep up the good work! Huabin treats you all differently than he treats others."
This blunt, almost blatant remark made Wang Dong'er and the other two blush instantly.
"Xiaotao Sister Xiaotao! What... what nonsense are you talking about!" Wang Dong'er was both embarrassed and annoyed, and was the first to retort.
"That's right, senior, we're just ordinary classmates with the class monitor." Cui Yajie quickly tried to clarify, but the blush on her face betrayed her true feelings.
Xiao Xiao lowered her head in embarrassment, wishing she could disappear into the ground.
Seeing their reactions, Ma Xiaotao laughed even harder.
That's exactly how she wanted to break through that barrier.
Rather than letting them speculate behind our backs, it's better to put everything out in the open.
Dai Huabin watched this scene without saying a word.
He knew that Ma Xiaotao was helping him, and also helping them.
There are some things that he, a grown man, finds difficult to say, but it's often more effective for Ma Xiaotao to say them.
He planned to find another opportunity to have a proper talk with them before leaving the academy.
Now, this topic should come to an end.
"Alright, it's getting late, we need to go back to the academy." Dai Huabin broke the somewhat awkward silence. "You should all go back and rest early too."
After saying that, he nodded to the three women, then turned and left with Ma Xiaotao, Zhu Lu, Di Lingxi.
Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, and Cui Yajie stood there blankly, watching the group's departing figures.
Dai Huabin walked in the middle, with Ma Xiaotao, who had a hot figure and a powerful aura, on his left and Zhu Lu, who was as aloof as the moon and gentle and quiet, on his right. Behind them was Di Lingxi, who had dazzling blonde hair and an exquisite appearance.
This scene is so unsettling, it's enough to make anyone feel suffocated.
Only after the four figures had completely disappeared around the street corner did Wang Dong'er stomp her foot angrily.
"What's so great about it!"
Cui Yajie sighed, looked away, and patted Wang Dong'er on the shoulder.
"Alright, stop being stubborn. They have the right to do this now, so what are we?"
Xiao Xiao added quietly from the side, "And... Senior Ma Xiaotao is really amazing."
One sentence silenced both Wang Dong'er and Cui Yajie.
Yes, Ma Xiaotao is impeccable in terms of ability, status, and dedication to Dai Huabin.
They seem to have absolutely no competitive advantage.
The three exchanged a glance, each seeing a hint of confusion and resentment in the other's expression.
"Let's go back." Cui Yajie took their hands.
On the way back, the three of them lost all interest in shopping and remained silent, each lost in their own thoughts.
A night breeze blew by, carrying a hint of coolness, and it also stirred up the hearts of the three girls.
Back in the dormitory, Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, and Cui Yajie finished washing up and silently climbed onto the large communal bed made up of two beds pushed together.
Only one dim wall lamp was on in the dormitory, its soft light unable to dispel the oppressive atmosphere in the air.
Wang Dong'er turned over, facing away from the two of them, and covered her head with the blanket.
Xiao Xiao hugged her pillow, staring blankly at the ceiling with wide eyes, seemingly lost in thought.
Lying in the middle, Cui Yajie could clearly feel the depressed mood emanating from the two people beside her.
Silence filled the room, broken only by the occasional chirping of insects outside the window.
"You just fell asleep like that?"
In the end, Cui Yajie couldn't stand the lifeless atmosphere any longer and spoke first.