Xiao Xiao

Jiang Nannan returned to the dorm, her body a little weary. As soon as she stepped inside, she saw Tang Ya lying on her bed in a sprawled-out starfish pose.

"You're back, Nannan. You've worked hard."

Seeing her close friend return, Tang Ya rolled over like a flopping fish and climbed out of bed. She adjusted her slightly crooked high ponytail, looking at her friend with concern.

"Nannan, you really should eat more. Your mother's situation is important, of course, but you need to take care of yourself, too."

Jiang Nannan managed a faint smile.

"Xiao Ya, I'm going to shower first. Don't worry about me." With that, she headed for the bathroom.

Tang Ya was worried. She knew Jiang Nannan's mother had a serious heart condition, and Jiang Nannan saved nearly all her money to pay for her treatment.

Tang Ya sighed. Her own life was a mess, too, but seeing Jiang Nannan like this, she couldn't bring herself to unload her troubles on her close friend.

In the bathroom, water slid down Jiang Nannan's golden hair, then over her shapely figure and onto the floor, splashing softly.

Yet the absent look in her eyes still betrayed the young woman's troubled thoughts.

Her mother's condition had grown worse. Now, she could barely even move. When Jiang Nannan thought of the treatment the Soul Master had described, despair and suffocation washed over her.

One option was to find a healing-type Soul Master capable of regrowing severed limbs. That might cure her mother's congenital illness.

The other was to obtain the Mysterious Underworld Sect's Black Tortoise Divine Pill. In return, she would have to help their young master undergo Martial Soul Awakening. But just thinking of Xu Sanshi filled Jiang Nannan with disgust and revulsion.

If he were just an ordinary suitor, she would simply have ignored him. But the thought that he had approached her with this motive made her sick. Still, she felt a little despondent. If she couldn't find a healing Soul Master capable of regrowing severed limbs, then she could only...

Xu Sanshi had no idea any of this was happening. For now, he simply liked Jiang Nannan.

Thinking of this, Jiang Nannan bit down hard on her lower lip, trying not to sob.

Once she had composed herself, Jiang Nannan wrapped herself in a towel and stepped out of the bathroom. She looked at her close friend, Tang Ya. They had known each other for a long time, so she could tell Tang Ya had something weighing on her mind. Tang Ya had only kept quiet out of consideration for her.

Jiang Nannan's heart warmed. She went over and pressed down on Tang Ya, who was wriggling around on the bed, lost in who-knew-what thoughts.

Feeling the jade-like hand at her waist, Tang Ya shuddered and clamped her thighs together. Then she suddenly realized she was in their dorm room, and that it was her close friend Jiang Nannan.

She rolled over, her face still flushed. She looked embarrassed, yet a little bewildered.

"Xiao Ya, you look like something's bothering you. You can tell me about it." Jiang Nannan found it a little strange that her close friend Tang Ya looked so lovestruck, but she still asked gently.

She wondered to herself, Could Xiao Ya and Bei Bei be together now? But she remembered that Xiao Ya had always seemed rather resistant to him.

At Jiang Nannan's words, Tang Ya froze, her face reddening again. She wanted to confide in her, though, so she slowly spoke up.

"Nannan, if you had to give up everything you had to achieve a certain goal, what would you do?" Tang Ya was talking about herself. She felt embarrassed by what she was thinking, yet also tempted and conflicted.

Jiang Nannan's body jolted. Could Xiao Ya already know something? She trembled slightly, and her suppressed emotions nearly overwhelmed her again, but she quickly dismissed the thought.

If Tang Ya knew the whole story, she wouldn't beat around the bush like this. She would probably grab her Hidden Weapons, find Bei Bei, and give Xu Sanshi a good beating.

Once Jiang Nannan ruled out that possibility, her gaze softened even more. It was not only the tenderness she felt for her close friend, but also a sense that they were both in the same boat.

Tang Ya felt a little awkward under her gaze. Girl, you're not into girls, are you?

Jiang Nannan bit her lower lip hard. "Xiao Ya, no matter what, it depends on what you want. If you don't want to do it, don't force yourself." After saying that, Jiang Nannan added silently, Unless I have no other choice. She knew her own situation. If she couldn't find another solution within a year, she would have no choice but to rely on...

Tang Ya was slightly taken aback. What did she want? Well, it seemed... fine? She didn't feel particularly opposed to it.

Tang Ya nodded slightly.

"I understand, Nannan."

Understand what? Jiang Nannan couldn't quite follow her friend's thinking. Am I just a part of your play?

Early the next morning, Xiao Yi left the dorm early. He had already come up with a plan for dealing with Tang Wutong. He wasn't an honest, naive boy like Huo Yuhao in the original story.

As long as he confirmed his guess, then, heh heh heh—who held the leash might not be so certain after all.

After leaving the dorm, he greeted Mu En at the entrance, just as before. Mu En liked polite geniuses, and his opinion of Xiao Yi rose a few notches.

Xiao Yi had a high cultivation but none of the arrogance that often came with being a genius. Compared to those who let success go to their heads, that was already rare. On top of that, he treated people with great kindness and warmth.

Tang Wutong came out right behind Xiao Yi, and she was completely different. In her eyes, a Limit Douluo from the lower realm wasn't worthy of a greeting. She felt a little irritated. Her roommate seemed easy enough to get along with, so why did he always seem so strange?

He had actually let her oversleep until she was almost late without even waking her.

Tang Wutong fumed inwardly, but kept moving. She made it to the classroom just before class started.

Xiao Yi was sitting beside Huo Yutong, chatting with a cute, green-haired little girl. Huo Yutong smiled as she watched them.

The little girl was none other than Xiao Xiao. She had long green hair tied in a cute side ponytail, and a chubby little face that made her a budding beauty.

Yet this little girl was an out-and-out beauty lover.

She had been chatting happily with her roommate Huo Yutong when she saw a handsome guy approach and warmly greet Huo Yutong.

The lively little girl immediately went over to meet him.

"Hi, I'm Xiao Xiao, Huo Yutong's roommate. You must be the Xiao Yi big brother she told me about." The little girl greeted him with a grin.

Xiao Yi naturally smiled back. Who wouldn't like a lively, adorable girl?

They had only been chatting for a short while when Xiao Xiao's eyes lit up again. A boy with pink-and-blue hair ran into the classroom and went straight to the empty seat beside Xiao Yi.

Tang Wutong was just about to confront Xiao Yi when he beat her to it.

"Xiao Xiao, Huo Yutong, this is my roommate, Tang Wulin. He's a new student this year, too." Xiao Yi smiled as he introduced him to the two girls.

Xiao Xiao stared at him, utterly smitten, and blurted out without thinking.

"Xiao Yi, is your dorm some kind of campus hunk dorm? You're both so handsome." Realizing how inappropriate that sounded, Xiao Xiao hurriedly lowered her blushing face, cursing herself inwardly.

"Haha, I can't exactly call myself a campus hunk. In terms of looks, Tang Wulin is the more handsome one."

Hearing Xiao Yi's compliment, Tang Wulin immediately forgot the tiny bit of displeasure he'd felt that morning.

At least you've got a good eye, he thought.