Lakeside Beauty's Laughter at Night

The familiar voice brought a surge of joy to Su Qing's heart, but it quickly curdled into confusion.

How does Sister Lexuan know I'm reporting in today? Damn it! I forgot to get my story straight with that guy Bei Bei!

Realizing he was in deep trouble, Su Qing looked at the senior from the admissions office with an earnest expression:

"Senior! I'd really prefer to stay with you!"

"Heh, you two go ahead. I'll take him to catch up on old times."

Zhang Lexuan's gentle tone was as intoxicating as a first love, yet Su Qing could clearly sense a bone-chilling coldness radiating from her.

"Understood, Senior Sister. We'll get back to work then."

"Mm."

With that, Zhang Lexuan naturally took Su Qing's hand and led him through the academy gates.

"Sister Lexuan, you haven't heard any rumors about me, have you?"

Although he knew he was doomed, he still clung to a sliver of hope. What if Bei Bei hadn't told her he'd run into him in the Star Dou Great Forest?

Hearing this, Zhang Lexuan was so angry she laughed:

"What rumors? Like how someone said goodbye to me, only to turn around and dive into the Star Dou Great Forest, where he stayed for over a year? Su Qing, are you trying to become a wild man?"

She wasn't angry that Su Qing had snuck into the forest behind her back; she was furious that he treated his life like a joke. He had lived in the Star Dou Great Forest for a year—she didn't even want to imagine the consequences if he had run into any trouble. Besides, Bei Bei had told her that not a single piece of fabric on his clothes had been left intact...

When she had first met him, his clothes had been pristine. This meant he must have clashed with soul beasts countless times in the Star Dou Great Forest, sustaining numerous injuries. It was said that the hole in the back of his clothes was the largest, and even after he'd sewn beast hide over it, it couldn't cover his flesh.

When she heard this from Bei Bei, she immediately envisioned Su Qing being ambushed by a vicious soul beast. She didn't dare imagine how desperate Su Qing must have felt after being ambushed and severely wounded.

Meanwhile, inside the Life Lake, a small golden beast sunning itself suddenly shivered, wondering what Su Qing was up to. Di Yueyao, confused, sat on a rock and scratched her large head with a hind paw, wondering:

"Eh? Is Su Qing thinking of me?"

"Sister Lexuan, listen to me. I went into the Star Dou Great Forest to train. There was no danger."

Su Qing tried to explain, but he couldn't reveal the truth to Zhang Lexuan. For a moment, he found himself unable to defend his actions.

"You might think you have no attachments and that it wouldn't matter if you died, but do you have any idea how cruel that way of thinking is to those who care about you?"

Zhang Lexuan's tone was calm, but a dangerous aura emanated from her entire body. Su Qing could clearly tell she was furious, as the hand she was holding his with was gripping him incredibly tightly.

He didn't dare argue further, though he was curious about where Zhang Lexuan was taking him.

The two walked in silence until Zhang Lexuan led him across the Sea God Lake and to a cemetery.

"Those buried here are students of Shrek who were killed while on missions or met with accidents while hunting for soul rings. Some students' families come to pay their respects every year, but others have been forgotten since the moment they were brought here. The teammates who died when I first met you are here, too. They were orphans; no one comes to see them except me. I don't want you to end up like them, forgotten in memory. So, you must live well for me."

Zhang Lexuan said the last sentence through gritted teeth. If a third person were present, they would have been shocked to see the usually unflappable, gentle, and steady inner court senior sister reveal such an unknown side of herself.

"I understand, Sister Lexuan. I will never go to dangerous places alone again."

After bowing his head in apology and seeing that Zhang Lexuan's attitude had softened, Su Qing hugged her. Her body stiffened, but she didn't push him away. Seeing that she didn't reject him, Su Qing didn't let go for a while.

It wasn't until Zhang Lexuan's emotions had settled that she pinched the soft flesh at his waist.

"That's enough. You've got some nerve taking advantage of your senior sister."

"Ow! Sister Lexuan, you're ruthless!"

Suddenly attacked at the waist, Su Qing cried out in pain and immediately released her, rubbing his side while complaining.

"If you run off to dangerous places alone again, I'll break your legs."

Zhang Lexuan glared at him. This kid was completely lawless—he actually wanted to flirt with his senior sister? Didn't he know she was over a decade older than him? Though, she had to admit, based on his looks alone, he was quite handsome, but his personality was truly a headache.

"In that case, Sister Lexuan will have to take care of me for the rest of my life."

Su Qing raised an eyebrow at her, but a moment later, the reckless boy was given a sharp knock on the head.

"Ow—"

Seeing that Zhang Lexuan's anger had dissipated, Su Qing finally relaxed, and the two found a spot by the Sea God Lake to enjoy their rare time alone.

"By the way, didn't those two students at the admissions office forget to give you the key to your freshman dormitory?"

Coming back to her senses, Zhang Lexuan realized they had left in such a hurry that she had forgotten about that. However, she didn't take it to heart; Shrek's freshman dorms were rarely full, and it would be easy to arrange a room for Su Qing. She didn't mention it, though, teasing instead:

"It looks like a certain poor little wild man will have to sleep in the open tonight. Though, that little wild man should be used to it by now."

Zhang Lexuan's schadenfreude didn't make Su Qing nervous in the slightest. He leaned in closer to her and said with a sarcastic tone:

"What? Sister Lexuan, the culprit behind this, actually has the heart to let me sleep in the open? That's a real pity. I was going to offer the wild man's gratitude and a bed that's always as warm as spring."

Hearing this, Zhang Lexuan was flustered and annoyed. This guy really talked nonsense; she had no idea where he learned it.

"You brat, you even dare to tease your senior sister? I think you're asking for a beating."

As she spoke, she pinched his fair, jade-like cheek, her eyes overflowing with a gentle smile.

"It was Sister Lexuan who started it. But really, Sister Lexuan, as the culprit, doesn't your heart ache to see me wandering the streets? You woman, your heart is harder than stone! Wuwuwu..."

Su Qing clenched his fists, pressed them against the corners of his eyes, and rotated them to pretend he was crying.

"You brat, I'm still not letting you sleep in my bed!"

Zhang Lexuan was amused by him. The gentle image she had maintained for so many years was completely shattered. At this moment, she laughed heartily, completely unrestrained.

"What are they laughing at?"