Playing Hard to Get

Wang Dong raised her chin and gave a proud, cold snort.

"Who still says it's fake?"

The entire crowd fell silent.

Just then, a male voice pierced the silence.

"The Light Goddess Butterfly, universally recognized across the Douluo Continent as the most beautiful Martial Soul. There is indeed no equal."

Everyone turned toward the voice.

On the shaded path in the distance, a striking pair approached.

The speaking youth had golden hair and wore a neat white school uniform. His hands were tucked into his pockets, and a casual smile lingered in his mismatched eyes.

At his side was a black-haired girl with a fiery figure and an icy expression.

Her hand was held by the golden-haired youth. Though her face remained cold, her body honestly pressed close to his, like a food-guarding kitten declaring her territory.

They were none other than Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu, who had just returned from their "well-fed and satisfied" state.

Dai Huabin had not expected his luck to be this absurd. He had only come to scout the place out, yet he had run right into this classic scene of "Wang Dong'er showing off and slapping faces."

He stopped, his gaze passing through the crowd and settling on those dazzling butterfly wings.

He had to admit, they were truly beautiful.

Even by the standards of someone who had lived two lives, this Martial Soul was at the absolute pinnacle of appearance.

Hearing someone not only call out her Martial Soul's name but also praise it so highly, most of Wang Dong's irritation instantly faded.

She turned to look at Dai Huabin and thought, Looks like this academy isn't full of idiots after all. There are still people who know their stuff.

"You've got good taste."

Wang Dong's arrogance eased somewhat, and even her gaze toward Dai Huabin softened considerably.

"At last, someone who knows what he's talking about."

The corners of Dai Huabin's lips curved up as he leisurely led Zhu Lu forward.

The crowd, which had originally packed together tightly, instinctively made way when they saw the air of nobility around the pair and their finely tailored clothes.

"Of course I do."

Dai Huabin stopped three meters away from Wang Dong and said leisurely,

"According to ancient records, this kind of Martial Soul only dwells in the purest Forest of Life. It is a miracle born from the convergence of heaven and earth's spiritual energy and the purest light element. It is not merely a Martial Soul, but the most beautiful soul beast in the world. Ordinary people have never even heard of it, much less seen it."

That explanation left the older students around them completely stunned.

Senior Li's face reddened in embarrassment. As an upperclassman, he felt a little ashamed that he was less knowledgeable than a freshman.

Wang Dong felt thoroughly pleased.

This was what professionalism looked like!

This was what presence looked like!

The more she looked at Dai Huabin, the more pleasing he seemed.

That golden-haired guy looked rather smug, but he spoke well enough, and he was decent-looking too. Far better than those country bumpkins.

"I didn't expect you to be so knowledgeable."

Wang Dong crossed her arms. Though she was still dressed like a male big shot, her tone carried much more approval.

"Want to get acquainted? My name is Wang Dong."

"Dai Huabin." Dai Huabin nodded lightly, returning the courtesy.

Beside him, Zhu Lu frowned slightly.

A woman's intuition was often terrifyingly accurate.

Although this Wang Dong was supposedly a "boy" and was rather handsome, Zhu Lu simply felt that there was something about this person that made her uncomfortable.

Especially the way Wang Dong looked at Dai Huabin. The more Zhu Lu saw it, the more she wanted to hide Dai Huabin away.

"Huabin, let's go. We still need to get to the dormitory building," Zhu Lu reminded him softly, shaking his hand.

"Mm, it is getting late."

Dai Huabin nodded, seeming as though he truly intended to leave just like that.

He turned around and took a step.

Then, as if he had suddenly remembered some trivial matter, he paused, turned back, and looked once more at Wang Dong, who was about to withdraw her Martial Soul.

That gaze was profound.

So profound that Wang Dong's heart inexplicably skipped a beat.

"Only..." Dai Huabin's tone carried a trace of teasing, mixed with a peculiar hint of doubt.

"Only what?" Wang Dong asked instinctively.

Dai Huabin looked her up and down, his gaze pausing briefly on her flat chest before casually shifting away.

"The Light Goddess Butterfly has, throughout history, only ever awakened in one kind of person."

With that, Dai Huabin did not linger. He immediately left the registration area with Zhu Lu.

Wang Dong's heart suddenly clenched, as if an invisible hand had squeezed it.

That Dai Huabin's gaze had been far too sharp.

"Hey! What you said..."

Wang Dong wanted to call him back and demand an explanation, but the words reached her lips before she forcibly swallowed them.

The area was full of freshmen and parents, each craning their necks and pricking up their ears like antennae.

If she shouted about it now, would that not be admitting it herself?

She could only watch helplessly as that guy named Dai Huabin leisurely turned and left, holding the hand of that black-haired girl whose figure was irritatingly perfect.

The way he walked away practically screamed, "I know your secret, but I just won't tell you," making him unbearably punchable.

"That bastard..."

Wang Dong gritted her teeth, a flash of embarrassment and anger crossing her pink-blue eyes.

Ever since childhood, she had been the little princess everyone doted on in the Clear Sky Sect. Who had ever dared treat her with anything less than complete respect?

When had she ever suffered the grievance of someone deliberately keeping her in suspense?

More importantly, what exactly had that guy seen through?

If that secret were exposed...

The more Wang Dong thought about it, the more panicked she became. Forgetting all about the forms she still had to fill out, she threw the pen in her hand onto the table and took off after him.

Dappled sunlight spilled across the shaded path.

Dai Huabin did not walk quickly. It would be more accurate to say he was taking a stroll.

Hearing the hurried footsteps behind him, the corners of his mouth rose slightly.

Not exposing Wang Dong'er in public had been both a courtesy to her and Dai Huabin's way of avoiding becoming enemies with Wang Dong'er.

And Dai Huabin had left directly because he was certain Wang Dong'er would chase after him.

"Huabin." Zhu Lu pressed against his arm, her voice carrying a hint of confusion. "That Wang Dong is catching up."

She turned back and cast a cold glance at the overly beautiful "youth" behind them.

For some reason, Zhu Lu felt an instinctive hostility toward this Wang Dong.

It was not because Wang Dong had provoked her, but because of an indescribable sixth sense telling her that this person's existence posed a great threat to her.

"Let her chase."

Dai Huabin squeezed Zhu Lu's palm, his tone assured.

"She's a tsundere little butterfly. If you ignore her, she'll stew herself to death."

"Tsundere?" Zhu Lu blinked. What kind of word was that?

Before she could figure it out, an exasperated shout came from behind them.

"Hey! You golden-haired brat! Stop right there!"

Dai Huabin stopped and turned around, calmly watching Wang Dong run over, panting.

Wang Dong had run in such a hurry that her delicate, doll-like face was flushed red, with fine beads of sweat forming on her forehead. She looked even more like a girl now.

"My name isn't 'hey,' and it isn't 'golden-haired brat.'"

Dai Huabin kept his hands in his pockets.

"I have a name: Dai Huabin. If you still haven't remembered it, I don't mind introducing myself again."

"Who cares what your name is!"

Wang Dong glared, like a kitten with its fur standing on end.

"What did you mean by that just now? What do you mean, 'only awakens in one kind of person'? Explain yourself!"

As she spoke, she took an aggressive step forward, trying to overwhelm him with her presence.

Unfortunately, at just over one meter sixty, she was hardly intimidating in front of the well-developed Dai Huabin.

Dai Huabin looked down at her, his gaze lingering for a second on her excessively flat chest before he sighed.

It was the look of someone pitying a mentally challenged child.