The Two Simps

On the other side of the bed, Ling Luochan was covering her mouth tightly with one hand.

She curled up beneath the blanket, her shoulders trembling slightly as she desperately held back her laughter.

Tianchen, do you react even to your own sister?

What Ling Tianchen didn't know was that not only did she not mind, she was actually delighted.

So those scenarios she'd read about in books weren't lies after all. Getting the moon first from a nearby terrace was real.

It seemed she really had a chance.

She slowly steadied her breathing, letting her excitement settle.

No rush. She wasn't in a rush.

Tonight's gains had already far exceeded her expectations. All she needed to do next was wait patiently.

Wait for the perfect opportunity to give him a shock he'd never forget for the rest of his life.

What kind of expression would Tianchen make then?

Just imagining it felt delicious.

She wore a knowing smile.

The next morning, Ling Tianchen woke up as well.

He instinctively glanced beside him. Seeing that the spot next to him was empty, he first breathed a sigh of relief, only for a faint sense of loss to inexplicably rise in his heart.

At that moment, an enticing fragrance drifted over. His stomach let out an embarrassing growl, distracting him.

Sister Luochan was so considerate. What delicacy had she made for him today? He couldn't wait to find out.

He half sat up in bed and pulled open the curtains beside him, letting the sunlight pour in freely. The weather was lovely today, brightening even his slightly gloomy mood.

He was stretching toward the window when he heard a soft chuckle behind him.

"Oh, you're awake?"

Ling Luochan leaned against the bedroom doorframe with her arms crossed, her affectionate gaze resting on him.

"Go wash up and come eat breakfast. I brought this back from the Inner Court cafeteria. The ingredients I use when cooking are ordinary, after all, and the nutrition can't compare to the cafeteria's special provisions. You're still growing, so you need to eat more nourishing food."

"I'm perfectly healthy."

He muttered before continuing, "Sigh, Sister Luochan, why didn't you wake me earlier? I'm already late."

"What's the big deal? Who knows when your confinement ends? It'd be completely fine for you to stay in the Inner Court a few more days."

"Please spare me."

Ling Tianchen shook his head repeatedly. One night had already turned out like this—if he stayed a few more days, wouldn't things ignite between them?

"When did Tianchen become so fond of school? Did you get yourself a little sweetheart in class? Let's see, you've been apart for a month now. You must be getting impatient."

Ling Luochan spoke with a light, conversational smile, but there wasn't the slightest hint of teasing in her eyes.

"It's only been a few days. It's not that exaggerated. We're just ordinary classmates."

Ling Tianchen felt inexplicably guilty. As he answered, he rolled out of bed, hoping to use washing up as an excuse to escape this dangerous topic as quickly as possible.

However, the moment he stood up, he saw Ling Luochan's face rapidly turn red.

Then she abruptly raised both hands to cover her face, though she left a gap between her fingers. Her voice was slightly hurried. "Quick, put it away!"

Ling Tianchen looked down and saw a little tent standing out conspicuously in the sunlight.

"S-Sorry! I'm going to the bathroom first!"

He bent over and fled in panic.

"Oh, but don't overdo it."

Ling Luochan was determined not to let the matter end so easily.

Ling Tianchen stumbled, nearly crashing into the bedroom door.

"I'm just going to wash up!"

He tossed those words behind him, but he had already vanished.

What was that supposed to mean, Sister Luochan? Don't tell me her embarrassment just now was an act too?

Ling Tianchen stayed in the bathroom for quite a while before it finally went down.

Come on! At least show up in an appropriate place, you castle!

"So big... Tianchen's body is developing faster than his mind."

Ling Luochan slowly lowered the hands covering her eyes. Looking in the direction Ling Tianchen had fled, her tongue casually swept over the corner of her lips. There was no trace left of her earlier embarrassment.

"I need to train him properly. Otherwise, some bad woman will lure him away sooner or later. Rather than letting someone else take advantage of him, I might as well be the first to enjoy the privilege myself..."

She pondered to herself.

After breakfast, Ling Luochan escorted him to the Outer Court.

The moment the two of them left the courtyard gate, Ling Tianchen sharply sensed something.

"Come out, you two. Sneaking around like that—have you no shame?"

Ling Luochan frowned slightly at his words. "Could it be those two?"

A deathly silence followed.

"Forget it, I must've been mistaken." Ling Tianchen shrugged, naturally taking Ling Luochan's hand in his. His tone was casual. "Just two rats under a tree. Let's go."

As he spoke, he took Ling Luochan's hand and prepared to leave.

Before his words had even faded, a pig-like howl erupted from behind the bushes, and a plump young man rolled out first.

"Ahhh! Let go of her hand! How dare you touch Chenchen? Even I haven't held her hand!"

Calling it rolling was no exaggeration. He was even wider than he was tall, his round belly stretching his clothes tight enough to burst. A pair of tiny round glasses sat on his nose.

Behind the lenses, a pair of pea-sized eyes stared fixedly at Ling Tianchen and Ling Luochan's clasped hands. The fat on his face quivered nonstop with rage.

Those words sent a chill down Ling Tianchen's spine. Chenchen could also refer to Tianchen, yet no one had ever dared call him that.

The tall, skinny man following the fat man also stepped out.

"Kid, you're a first-year freshman. How did you get into the Inner Court? Explain yourself honestly. Otherwise, Inner Court disciples have the right to detain suspicious individuals on the spot."

His slicked-back hair gleamed with oil, and his fitted black-and-green martial outfit was crisp and neat. He puffed out his chest with a deliberately dashing air. His tone was far steadier than the previous man's, and instead of mentioning the hand-holding, he used his Inner Court status to pressure Ling Tianchen.

"So it really is you two, Qian Shaoshao and Yao Haoxuan. What exactly do you want? Can you stop pestering me already?"

Ling Luochan instinctively stepped behind Ling Tianchen, her face filled with undisguised disgust.

The boy named Yao Haoxuan wasn't affected by Ling Luochan's words at all. The way he looked at her even softened considerably.

"Luochan, you brought this freshman in, didn't you? Even we don't have the authority to bring students in whenever we want. Come over to our side now, and this matter will have nothing to do with you. I'm doing this for your own good. Don't take a punishment for an outsider."

Ling Tianchen ignored Yao Haoxuan and lowered his voice as he turned to the side.

"Sis, what did they do to you? Tell me. I'll stand up for you."

"They're both my teammates among the Shrek Seven Monsters. They've both shown interest in me, but I rejected them harshly long ago. Even so, they still won't leave me alone."

"Sigh, Sister Luochan, you've really suffered at the academy. Leave the rest to me."

Ling Tianchen patted her shoulder. Besides feeling sorry for her, he was also furious on her behalf.

What kind of freaks were inside the Shrek Seven Monsters?

Not to mention Ma Xiaotao—whenever her evil fire went out of control, she either came looking for Ling Luochan or went looking for Xu Sanshi. Then there was Qian Shaoshao, fat-faced and lecherous, with no self-respect as he relentlessly pestered her.

And Yao Haoxuan, who put on the act of a righteous gentleman while secretly plotting who knew what.

Add that effeminate Gongyang Mo to the mix, and it was practically a gathering of oddballs.

His sister had spent so long in that environment without being corrupted into an oddball herself. That was a blessing in itself.

"Luochan, are you really going to break the academy rules for this kid?"

Yao Haoxuan took a step forward, faintly assuming a stance as though preparing to make a move.

"Come over now, and it isn't too late."