Xian Lin'er froze for a moment. Her blue eyes blinked, and her body reacted faster than her mind. She straightened her back and lifted her chin, as if she had just been handed some grave responsibility.
She answered solemnly, "Vice Pavilion Master, just tell me what you need! If it's within Lin'er's power, I won't refuse."
Tang An took half a step forward, bringing them much closer—close enough for Xian Lin'er to see the faintly amused look in his eyes.
Xian Lin'er instinctively took half a step back. Her lower back hit the edge of the desk, and she realized she had nowhere left to retreat.
"Vice Pavilion Master?" Xian Lin'er's voice remained steady, but its pitch rose slightly with uncertainty. There was no panic in her blue eyes, only confusion and the faintest hint of foreboding.
Tang An chuckled. "Since Secretary Xian feels bad about it, give me a kiss. Then we'll be even."
Xian Lin'er blinked, stunned.
She had imagined countless possibilities. The Vice Pavilion Master might ask her to help regulate the Soul Power Tide, arrange a Special Service Course, or even "cultivate together, up close."
But that was all he wanted?
"Vice Pavilion Master, you mean... just that?" Xian Lin'er tilted her head slightly, uncertainty written across her blue eyes.
"What, you don't want to?" Tang An raised an eyebrow.
"No, no! I do!" Xian Lin'er hastily cut him off. Only after the words left her mouth did she realize how quickly she had answered. Her ears warmed.
She took a deep breath and regained the composure of the dean of the Soul Guidance Department. "Since it's the Vice Pavilion Master's order, Lin'er will obey."
Xian Lin'er stepped forward, rose slightly onto her toes, and quickly kissed Tang An on the cheek. Then she stepped away again, her movements crisp and precise, as if completing a military mission.
She clasped her hands behind her back, lifted her chin, and met Tang An's eyes with an expression that said, "Mission accomplished." Only the flush on her cheeks betrayed her forced composure.
Tang An gave her an amused look and lifted a hand, lightly tapping his lips with a fingertip. "Xian Lin'er, when I said 'give me a kiss,' I meant here, not on the cheek."
Xian Lin'er's eyes widened slightly, surprise flashing through them. She opened her mouth to say something, but found she had no grounds to object.
She had agreed to "give him a kiss." The Vice Pavilion Master had never said where. She was the one who had "misunderstood."
Xian Lin'er bit her lower lip and stepped forward again.
This time, she didn't rise onto her toes. Instead, she raised both hands and gently cupped Tang An's face. Her fingers were long and strong, yet now they trembled slightly.
Xian Lin'er closed her eyes, leaned in, and pressed her lips to Tang An's.
It was the lightest, quickest touch, like a dragonfly skimming the water. By the time Xian Lin'er drew back, her ears were scarlet, but she still stood straight, hands folded in front of her.
Her voice, though, was unsteady. "There. I've repaid the favor. If the Vice Pavilion Master has no other instructions..."
Before she could finish, Tang An had already slipped an arm around Xian Lin'er's waist and pulled her back.
Before Xian Lin'er could even gasp, his warm breath covered hers. Unlike her fleeting, dragonfly-light touch, this was a real kiss, carrying the boldness and forcefulness unique to a young man.
Xian Lin'er's mind exploded with a buzz. Her palm instinctively pressed against Tang An's chest, but his arm was as solid as a mountain. She couldn't push him away.
She closed her eyes, her fingers unconsciously clutching the front of Tang An's shirt.
After a brief struggle, Xian Lin'er's expression changed.
She was Xian Lin'er, dean of Shrek's Martial Combat Department, a Titled Douluo who had fought her way through countless battles. When had anyone ever pushed her around like this?
Even if she was repaying a favor, she should be the one taking the lead.
The moment that thought crossed her mind, her refusal to be outdone overwhelmed her embarrassment and hesitation.
The hand pressed against Tang An's chest tightened sharply, then clutched his shoulder instead. Then she kissed him back.
Xian Lin'er's movements held a stubborn edge of defiance, yet her inexperience made her seem especially earnest.
Her sapphire-blue eyes opened for a moment, staring straight at Tang An. Her gaze challenged him—"Don't underestimate me"—and held a kind of reckless candor.
Since things had come to this, Xian Lin'er wasn't about to give in without a fight.
At last, their lips parted.
Both were breathing a little heavily. Xian Lin'er's hand still rested on Tang An's shoulder as she looked at the face so close to hers. His starry eyes gazed back at her with that same faint amusement.
But Xian Lin'er didn't look away or lower her head.
She simply took a deep breath, withdrew her hand, and tugged at her clothes, smoothing out every rumpled crease.
Then she raised her head. Her blush had not entirely faded, but the calm composure of the dean of the Martial Combat Department had returned to her eyes. Her voice was steady, as if nothing had happened. "Vice Pavilion Master, that's enough for today. You should leave."
Tang An raised an eyebrow but didn't move.
Xian Lin'er met his gaze for a moment, then finally relented and turned her head away. A hint of reproach crept into her voice. "Hurry up and go. I want to be alone for a while."
Tang An smiled faintly. He knew it wasn't easy for someone like Xian Lin'er to say even that much.
Tang An straightened his collar and headed for the door. Just as he reached it, a faint murmur came from behind him, as if spoken to herself—or perhaps meant for him to hear. "Next time... not in the office."
Tang An paused, gave a slight nod without answering, then pushed the door open and strode out, feeling refreshed as he headed for class.
When he returned to Freshman Class One, the morning lessons had just ended.
The students were leaving in small groups. When they saw him come in, they quickly made way, their eyes a mix of awe and curiosity.
That morning, Tang An had crushed everyone at the Martial Arts Arena without using his Martial Soul. He had become someone no one in Freshman Class One dared to provoke.
Zhou Yi was at the lectern, organizing her lesson plans. When she saw Tang An come in, an ingratiating smile immediately spread across her weathered face. She hurried over and said quietly, "Tang An, about what the teacher mentioned earlier..."
Tang An waved a hand, his tone casual. "You and Mu Jin wait for me in the office tonight. We'll discuss it together."
Zhou Yi froze. He wanted her and Mu Jin to wait together? What was this kid planning?
Her brows instinctively furrowed, but she remembered the gray-robed man in the dean's office that morning respectfully calling Tang An "Young Master An," and Tang An's calm expression.
In the end, she didn't ask any questions. She only nodded. "All right. I'll let her know."
Tang An said nothing more. His gaze swept over the classroom and settled on Xiao Xiao, who was packing up her things at the back. "Xiao Xiao, come with me."
Xiao Xiao froze, her big eyes blinking. Though confused, she obediently stood up and followed him.
The students around them whispered among themselves, wondering what was so special about the girl Tang An had personally chosen to be vice class monitor.
Xiao Xiao followed behind Tang An, her thoughts in turmoil. She wanted to ask, but didn't dare. Halfway there, she finally worked up the courage to speak softly. "Tang An, where are we going?"
"To my dorm," Tang An replied without looking back. "I have something to tell you."
Xiao Xiao paused, her face turning slightly red. His dorm? A boy's dorm?
But Tang An sounded so casual, with not a trace of anything suggestive in his voice, that she wondered if she was overthinking it. She bit her lip and followed him anyway.
Xiao Xiao followed Tang An to his dorm and went inside. The furnishings were simple but tidy.
Tang An took off his outer robe and draped it over the back of a chair. Then he sat cross-legged on the bed and lifted his chin. "Take off your shoes first, then come sit up here."
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