Cold on the Outside, Sappy on the Inside?

Ma Xiaotao's face was expressionless.

She already knew that the moment Bai Luo answered, her entire plan had fallen apart.

She had expected Ling Luochan to mock her mercilessly after seeing through her.

Yet Ling Luochan's next reaction was completely beyond Ma Xiaotao's expectations.

She did not speak up to ridicule her.

Instead, she revealed a gentle, understanding smile.

"So that's how it is."

"The girls in the outer academy truly aren't mature enough."

"But there's no need to solve the problem this way."

"After all, one lie often requires even more lies to cover it up."

"But Xiaotao only meant well. She simply didn't think things through."

"If something like this happens again, Xiaoluo can come to your big sister here. I'm quite adept at handling matters involving little girls like them."

Ling Luochan seemed never to have mentioned anything about the matter between herself and Ma Xiaotao.

Nor had she directly exposed Ma Xiaotao before Bai Luo, revealing that she had not merely been helping him solve a problem, but had her own selfish intentions.

Normally.

Ma Xiaotao should have been happy about Ling Luochan doing this.

After all, this way, she would neither be mocked by Ling Luochan after being exposed nor have her image in Bai Luo's eyes affected.

But...

Why did those words sound so unpleasant to her?

Ma Xiaotao frowned.

Then, when she noticed that Ling Luochan's gaze had never left Bai Luo, she suddenly laughed.

She laughed in anger.

She finally realized what was wrong!

The faux-innocent sweetness dripping from every word Ling Luochan said was practically overflowing!

How could this woman possibly not want to mock her?

She simply did not want to seem overly petty in front of Bai Luo and ruin her image!

At that moment, Ma Xiaotao finally understood completely.

That icy woman Ling Luochan was just like her—she had designs on Bai Luo!

She could not help feeling annoyed and regretful.

If she had known this would happen, she never should have stubbornly claimed that she had won Bai Luo over while arguing with Ling Luochan.

And now look what had happened.

Not only had she failed to strike a blow against Ling Luochan, she had even made her set her sights on Bai Luo!

She had found herself a romantic rival!

She had truly lost the lady and the army!

Ma Xiaotao grumbled inwardly and shot Ling Luochan a vicious warning glare.

Don't you dare have any improper thoughts about him!

Ling Luochan returned an unconcerned look.

Why not?

What are you, Ma Xiaotao, to him? What right do you have to say that?

Others might fear Ma Xiaotao, but she did not.

Having finally met a boy who made her fall in love at first sight, Ling Luochan would not give up so easily.

That was simply her personality.

Anything she wanted, she would work hard to obtain!

Seeing the look Ling Luochan sent her, Ma Xiaotao ground her teeth until they creaked.

Love at first sight?

Pah! There's no such thing as love at first sight in this world. It's plainly lust at first sight!

Who would have thought that you, Ling Luochan, usually look so frigid, yet would fall for someone so easily!

Sure enough, those gossiping people had not been entirely wrong.

Ling Luochan was the quintessential type—cold on the outside, sappy on the inside!

A sense of crisis rose within Ma Xiaotao.

Although she found Ling Luochan thoroughly displeasing.

She had to admit that this woman was indeed beautiful.

Otherwise, she could not have earned the title of Ice Princess in the inner academy.

Ma Xiaotao did not believe her looks were inferior to Ling Luochan's, but what if?

What if Bai Luo liked women like Ling Luochan, cold on the outside and sappy on the inside?

She had heard some senior sisters in the inner academy chatting about it.

Some boys liked women who appeared icy and aloof.

Invisible gunpowder began to spread through the air.

Caught between the two beautiful girls, Bai Luo suddenly shuddered.

Looking at the two beautiful girls, both smiling like flowers, Bai Luo somehow felt an indescribable chill.

But the feeling did not last long.

Because a student dressed in the same fiery-red Shrek Academy inner academy uniform hurried over.

She spoke to Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luochan, her voice still slightly breathless from rushing over.

"Senior sisters, Xuan Lao is looking for you."

"It seems he has something to explain to your generation of the Shrek Seven Monsters."

"I'm not sure exactly what it is."

At those words.

Both Ling Luochan and Ma Xiaotao frowned.

The former had yet to spend much time with Bai Luo, the boy she had fallen in love with at first sight.

The latter had invited Bai Luo to Shrek Academy today so she could show him around and let him see this year's academy recruitment.

With this sudden matter popping up, it seemed she would have to break her promise.

But refusing was not really an option either.

Though she was the disciple of Yan Shaozhe, the future master of Sea God Pavilion and the Bright Phoenix Douluo.

Xuan Lao's seniority was there for all to see.

He was one of the most senior figures in Shrek Academy today.

Even her teacher Yan Shaozhe was somewhat inferior to him in terms of seniority.

Ma Xiaotao could not openly oppose Xuan Lao.

That would make things difficult for her teacher.

Therefore.

On one side was breaking her promise, and on the other was a summons she could not easily refuse. Ma Xiaotao was now caught between a rock and a hard place.

Unable to advance or retreat.

She had already cursed Xuan Lao several times in her heart.

He could have brought it up earlier or later, but he had to do it now.

Wasn't he deliberately going against her?

Bai Luo saw the troubled expression on Ma Xiaotao's face.

He more or less guessed the reason for her dilemma.

So he took the initiative and said,

"If you have something to do, Sister Xiaotao, you should go first."

"Nannan is in the outer academy too. I can go find her."

Hearing that.

The conflict in Ma Xiaotao's heart lessened considerably.

Although she did not want Bai Luo going to find other girls, this was already the best option.

She nodded slightly, looking somewhat guilty.

"Xiaoluo, I'm sorry."

"It's fine." Bai Luo did not mind, and a comforting smile appeared on his face.

"No one could have predicted something so sudden. It isn't your fault, Sister Xiaotao."

"Xiaoluo..."

Ma Xiaotao looked at him with eyes so tender they seemed ready to melt.

She truly could not resist Bai Luo like this!

He was too gentle!

So gentle that she wanted to hide him away, letting herself be the only one who could enjoy that gentleness!

"Let's go!"

Ling Luochan irritably grabbed Ma Xiaotao and forcibly dragged her away.

She seriously suspected that if Ma Xiaotao kept looking, she might do something excessive to Bai Luo.

Having already set Bai Luo as her target, she could not watch that big-breasted, brainless woman corrupt him.

Only then did Ma Xiaotao reluctantly pull her gaze away and bid Bai Luo farewell.

After Ling Luochan and Ma Xiaotao left.

Bai Luo's gaze turned toward the outer academy.

I'll go take a look. It's been a while since I last saw that girl Nannan.

Bai Luo turned around and walked across Sea God Lake as though treading on level ground, making his way unhurriedly toward the outer academy.

At the same time.

The first soul master brawl since enrollment began somewhere in the outer academy.