Lin Yan: I Felt Bad That You Hadn't Eaten Anything

Oscar scooted his chair a little closer to Dai Mubai.

"Boss Dai, you've finally come around."

"You said it yourself: women are a resource."

"So tonight, we..."

He didn't finish the sentence, but what kind of people were the Three Scoundrels? One look was all it took for them to understand.

Dai Mubai patted Oscar on the shoulder. "I'll arrange it!"

Ma Hongjun hurried over at those bold words. "Me too, me too!"

Dai Mubai laughed with wild abandon and casually draped an arm around each of their shoulders. "Look at you two, so eager. Of course I'll bring you along!"

The room erupted in cheerful laughter.

These three had known each other for ages, and visiting brothels to listen to music was basically part of their daily entertainment. Now that Dai Mubai was treating them to dinner—and to prostitutes—the mood around the table was naturally lively.

Slightly tipsy, Dai Mubai reveled in being fawned over and began to feel a little light-headed.

With his habit of sharing anything good he had, he instinctively looked toward Tang San, who had barely drawn any attention all night.

"Xiao San, do you want to come with us..."

He suddenly stopped halfway through.

Silence fell. Everyone's gaze began shifting between the two of them. Xiao Wu's mouth fell open in shock, and even Zhu Zhuqing stopped chewing.

Dai Mubai sobered up a little. Realizing Tang San's current situation, he looked terribly awkward and said,

"Sorry, I've had a bit too much to drink. Don't take it to heart."

Tang San took a deep breath, his expression neither angry nor pleased.

"It's fine."

"Keep eating. I'm going out for some air."

With that, he pushed back his chair, stood, and walked out of the private room.

Over the past three months, Tang San had gradually come to accept reality. He had never let his emotions show in front of the others; he was calm to the point of being frightening.

But only Xiao Wu knew that Tang San was no longer the same San-ge as before...

At the table, Dai Mubai's previously cheerful, easygoing expression turned apologetic. He looked at Xiao Wu.

"Xiao Wu, I really didn't mean to. Why don't you go keep him company and apologize to him for me?"

Xiao Wu furrowed her brows slightly and glanced at the closed door. In the end, she let out a soft sigh.

"Forget it. Tang San probably won't take it to heart."

Likewise, over the past three months, Xiao Wu had also moved on from her feelings for Tang San.

She had even stopped calling him San-ge and now just called him Tang San...

Xiao Wu said nothing more. She downed the drink beside her, then gazed out the window, lost in thought.

Seeing this, Dai Mubai apologized to Xiao Wu again.

"Sorry about that."

"You two keep eating. I'll go settle the bill at the front."

With that, he all but fled the private room.

Seeing that their meal ticket had already left, Ma Hongjun and Oscar hurried after him.

"Lin Yan, Xiao Wu, the three of us aren't coming back to the dorm tonight. Tell the dean for me."

"Sure, no problem."

Click.

The door closed.

The lively room was now left with only Xiao Wu and Lin Yan—and Zhu Zhuqing beneath the table...

Silence settled over the room. Afraid her movements might make a sound, Zhu Zhuqing held her breath and slowly swallowed the food in her mouth.

Just as she finally relaxed, Xiao Wu suddenly spoke from above the table.

"Lin Yan, are you really going to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect with Rongrong?"

Zhu Zhuqing had no idea what Xiao Wu meant by the question, but she instinctively felt a surge of jealousy and unease.

Lin Yan, seated in front of her, spoke at an unhurried pace.

"I don't like being bound by a sect. I'll probably go to Heaven Dou Academy, or somewhere else."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing! I was just asking."

Xiao Wu's voice turned a little hesitant, because at that moment she was weighing her future.

Her future as a transformed Soul Beast.

"Um..."

"Have you made any plans for the future?"

Lin Yan looked up, letting a trace of confusion show.

"Plans?"

"Yeah. Like whether you want to join some faction, what level you want to reach, what kind of person you want to become."

"Don't get me wrong. I just think you're really talented, and you might become a powerful expert one day."

"I... I'm not trying to get on your good side early or anything..."

"Anyway, I was just asking~"

Xiao Wu rattled off a lot in an almost flustered tone. Lin Yan realized that this little rabbit seemed to be drifting further and further from her original nature.

He furrowed his brow slightly and looked at her.

"If you need help, you can just say so."

"If it's within my power, I'll do my best to help you."

Xiao Wu felt a flicker of delight at his words, but quickly hid it.

"I..."

Truthfully, she did have something she wanted Lin Yan to help with.

Ever since cutting ties with Tang San, she had gradually remembered why she had first come to human society.

Revenge!

Back then, one reason she had approached Tang San was that he was talented enough to become a valuable ally in her future revenge.

And now, her conversation with Lin Yan was partly for the same reason.

But she had been in human society for six years now, and she understood the strength and standing of Bibi Dong—the woman who had killed her mother. There was no way she and Lin Yan could accomplish their revenge with their current strength.

They might not be able to do it even in the future.

At the table, Xiao Wu parted her lips, but in the end, she didn't say it.

"Forget it. It's nothing."

"Go ahead and eat. I'm heading back."

Xiao Wu didn't linger any longer. Her thoughts were a mess, and she needed somewhere quiet to think things through and weigh her options.

Besides, Lin Yan wasn't leaving anytime soon. So Xiao Wu simply left the private room.

Click.

Another door closed...

Now, at last, there was no one left in the room.

Zhu Zhuqing, beneath the table, let out a long breath. The tension in her heart finally lifted. She tried to sit up, but those familiar hands pressed down on her head even more roughly.

A moment later, a muffled, sobbing sound suddenly rang through the room. Mixed with the calls of some unknown birds outside the window, it composed a lovely melody that afternoon.

A long while later.

"Wheeze—cough, cough!"

The young woman finally got a chance to breathe. Coughing violently, she clutched Lin Yan around the waist and crawled out in a disheveled state.

The moment she saw that annoyingly handsome, pale face, Zhu Zhuqing angrily demanded,

"What are you doing? Are you trying to choke me to death?"

A strange scent lingered in the air. Lin Yan saw a little residue still on her lips and couldn't help bursting into laughter.

"I just saw that you hadn't eaten much, and felt bad for you~"

"Don't say that!"

Seeing Lin Yan's unrepentant, smug expression, Zhu Zhuqing slammed her fist into his chest.

But at that moment, Lin Yan pulled her into his arms and squeezed hard with one hand.

"Mmm~"

P.S. A lot of readers have been asking about the Second Martial Soul's Soul Rings.

To clarify, the Second Martial Soul's Soul Rings can grow. As the body gets stronger in the future, the Soul Rings' age will rise along with it.

And finally, please give me a boost! Recommendations! Monthly votes!