Leng Qing was extremely curious.
She had just been passing by when she spotted a figure that looked suspiciously like Mu Ningwei from behind, so she took a few extra glances.
Then she saw the beautiful Ash Riya suddenly hug Mu Ningwei, only to be pushed away by him.
Mu Ningwei said something, and Ash Riya seemed to have suffered a massive blow. The sight made Leng Qing feel pity for her.
Such a beautiful woman, yet Mu Ningwei could bear to make her cry?
What followed was intense curiosity.
"What is your relationship?"
Leng Qing remembered that Mu Ningwei had lived abroad before. Although the sorrowful beauty before her possessed the softness of Eastern features, she was clearly still a foreigner.
With Mu Ningwei's strength, no one could hug him if he did not wish it.
So this foreign beauty was definitely more than some ordinary admirer!
Leng Qing gave him an odd look. "Ningwei, don't tell me one of your old romantic debts has come knocking?"
Before Mu Ningwei could speak,
Ash Riya immediately choked out, "It isn't Ningwei's fault. It's all my fault..."
Mu Ningwei sighed. How wonderful would it have been if Ash Riya had always had this attitude?
"In any case, please have some self-respect."
"We're already impossible. Go back today. They probably can't do without you over there."
Ash Riya looked bitter and grief-stricken. Pale-faced, she leaned against Leng Qing and bit her lip tightly.
"Are we really—"
"Don't think about it."
"...It seems my mistakes were even more serious than I imagined."
Ash Riya took out a crystal stone containing Pious Dew that flowed with dazzling nine-colored radiance, then stuffed it into Mu Ningwei's hand.
Pious Dew?
Mu Ningwei was somewhat surprised. This was already a top-tier Blessing Element resource; using it to break through an advanced-tier bottleneck would be a waste.
"I'll transfer the money to you."
Ash Riya said softly, "No, this is a gift for you."
"Consider it... my compensation."
Hearing that, Mu Ningwei put away the Pious Dew and drew a light breath.
"Since that's the case, then let's part here. Goodbye."
"Ningwei..."
Mu Ningwei turned and left.
Ash Riya raised her hand, wanting to grab Mu Ningwei, but caught nothing. Her expression was miserable.
Having watched this whole melodrama at close range, Leng Qing looked at the onlookers around them and immediately said,
"Let's leave first."
"Mm."
Leng Qing brought Ash Riya back to her residence, poured her a drink, and asked curiously,
"What is your relationship with Ningwei? He borrowed my car today just to pick you up?"
Ash Riya smiled bitterly.
The woman before her was exceptionally beautiful, and she addressed Mu Ningwei with such intimacy.
That silver sedan which had picked her up was actually this woman's car.
Why were there so many beautiful women around Mu Ningwei after he returned to the country?
"I'm Ash Riya. Ningwei and I grew up together..."
Leng Qing's expression turned strange as she carefully examined Ash Riya.
So you're that blind Parthenon saintess!
Leng Qing did not know what to say.
She had originally wanted to comfort Ash Riya, but after learning her identity, she suddenly did not feel like comforting her anymore.
No, that wasn't right.
If not for Ash Riya, how could Mu Ningwei have returned to the country?
If Mu Ningwei had not returned, how could she have met him and earned several major merits?
Even the Totem Black Snake would have faced grave danger!
Thinking about it that way, Leng Qing felt she ought to thank Ash Riya.
What a wonderful person, so selflessly devoted.
Leng Qing smiled and comforted her.
"Actually, you don't need to be too sad. Ningwei's relationship with his younger sisters is perfectly normal."
"Although they act intimately and introduce themselves as boyfriend and girlfriend to others, they actually have a very pure sibling relationship."
Ash Riya froze slightly, a glimmer of light appearing in her eyes. "Are you sure?"
Of course she was sure. They had even lain in the same bed, and nothing had happened, right?
Thinking of her first meeting with Mu Ningwei, Leng Qing shook her head with a smile. "Of course. Mu Nujiao and her sister only share the feelings of siblings reunited after a long separation with Ningwei, so they're a little closer than ordinary siblings."
"I'm a few years older than you all. Sometimes, I still fool around and sleep with my younger sister at night."
"Ningwei is an upright man. I believe you know that better than I do, don't you?"
Ash Riya was delighted. "Exactly! I knew Ningwei couldn't have found two women the moment he returned home!"
"He respects the wishes of the people he likes. Even after all the years we spent together, we never took that final step."
Seeing Ash Riya pull herself together, Leng Qing smiled in satisfaction.
Ash Riya sank into her own world and continued excitedly, "If Ningwei truly had no feelings for me, he wouldn't have asked his sister to pretend to be his girlfriend, nor would he have spent so long shopping with me."
"He still cares about me! He still likes me!"
"That's wonderful! Though Ningwei is in the Divine Land, his heart is still with me. I still have a chance!"
"A few years. Just a few years, and I'll definitely give him an answer that satisfies him!"
Uh...
Leng Qing's smile stiffened.
Was this woman really that confident?
She really dared to imagine it.
If she truly liked Mu Ningwei, why not work to repair their relationship now? Why wait several more years?
A few years from now, if she and Mu Ningwei wanted to, their children might already be calling Ash Riya Auntie.
"Thank you!"
Ash Riya hugged Leng Qing. "Here is my contact information. Let's be friends."
Leng Qing did not refuse.
Ash Riya held a lofty position. Being friends with her would bring only benefits and no harm.
Mu Ningwei returned home.
Before entering, he cautiously cleansed and purified his entire body with the Light Element, preventing any lingering trace of Ash Riya's scent from being discovered by Mu Nujiao.
He opened the door.
Mu Nujiao, wearing an apron and holding an electric mixer, walked out of the kitchen.
"Brother Ningwei, where is she?"
"I told her to return to her country."
Mu Nujiao immediately beamed. "Mm-hmm! I'm following an online recipe to make a dessert that's popular in Hellas. Aren't I good?"
Mu Ningwei chuckled and hugged Mu Nujiao, feeling his mood healed.
"You're very good."
"I want a kiss!"
"No problem."
Mu Ningwei lowered his head.
Their lips met, and Mu Nujiao felt nothing but contentment and happiness.
Mu Ningwei held her soft body in his arms. The complicated emotions within him ignited at that moment, and he decisively pried open her lips, deepening the kiss.
"Mm!"
Mu Nujiao's eyes widened, her pretty face turning pink.
After a long while.
Mu Nujiao leaned against Mu Ningwei's chest, gasping for breath.
Mu Ningwei smacked his lips. "Did you sneak some cream?"
"Mm-hmm."
"It was very sweet. Thanks for the treat."
"Brother Ningwei is bad~"
Mu Ningwei stroked Mu Nujiao's smooth long hair and asked gently,
"Nu Jiao, do you ever overthink things because of my protection?"
Mu Nujiao raised her head, confusion in her eyes. "What do you mean?"
"I mean... you're already a nineteen-year-old High-level Mage, invincible throughout Hangcheng Academy, and one of the top geniuses in all the Divine Land."
"Your future will be brilliant. Your clansmen will be proud of you and heed your commands."
"You'll join the national team, perhaps even become its leader, with every member convinced by you."
"You'll become an important figure. If you join the Judgment Association, you could wield the authority to oversee an entire city. There would be so, so many things you could accomplish."
"At that time, would you no longer need my protection and desperately want to protect me instead..."
Mu Nujiao felt the arm around her back tighten.
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