A Star Luo Kiss Farewell, a Tsundere Heart

The carved beams and painted pillars of Star Luo Palace's long corridor stood beneath the evening breeze, which carried the peony fragrance of the imperial garden and lingered among the vermilion columns, softening the atmosphere of parting.

After Adult Tang Wulin finalized the exchange alliance between Shrek and Star Luo Academy with the Star Luo Emperor, every important matter of this journey had been settled. There was no reason to remain. Dressed in plain robes, he stood beneath the corridor, all of the Dragon Emperor's soul power fully restrained, leaving only the calmness of one weathered by life. With a slight nod, he prepared to bid farewell, his expression tranquil and unruffled, as though this visit to Star Luo had been nothing more than a passing encounter in the mortal world, unworthy of deeper thought.

"Travel safely, Your Excellency. Star Luo Palace will always await your return." The Star Luo Emperor bowed respectfully. The mysterious powerhouse before him was unfathomably strong, and he did not dare show the slightest negligence. After speaking, he quietly signaled for the nearby attendants to withdraw, leaving the two alone.

Dai Yun'er stood to one side, her fingers tightly clutching her skirt until several wrinkles formed in its flower-embroidered hem. Her eyes brimmed with undisguised reluctance, yet she forced herself to lift her chin and assume the proud, tsundere bearing unique to a Star Luo princess. As she watched Adult Tang Wulin prepare to leave, her heart raced as though it might burst from her chest. From the awe she had felt upon first seeing Young Tang Wulin at the Shrek arena to the affection she now held for his mature self, her feelings had never been false. With parting at hand, she could no longer suppress the impulse in her heart.

"Wait!"

She hurried forward, her slender hand lightly catching Adult Tang Wulin's sleeve. Her grip was gentle, as though she feared he would shake her off. A faint blush colored her cheeks, and though her voice trembled almost imperceptibly, she still forced herself to sound firm. "Y-you're leaving now. Will you ever come back to Star Luo?"

Her heart was full of reluctance and attachment, yet she insisted on pretending not to care. Proud, awkward, and tsundere, she was being entirely herself.

Adult Tang Wulin lowered his eyes to look at the small hand clutching his sleeve. Her knuckles had turned faintly white with nervousness, and the longing in her eyes could not be concealed, yet she stubbornly clung to her pride like a kitten unwilling to show weakness. He did not withdraw his sleeve. His tone remained gentle, but it carried an insurmountable distance. "It is best if we each live well."

Those words utterly shattered her last trace of hope.

Dai Yun'er bit her lower lip, her eyes growing slightly hot, but she stubbornly refused to let her tears fall. She lifted her gaze and swiftly glanced at him. The man before her had deep features and a steady, imposing aura, making her heart stir far more than he had in his youth. Proud as she was, she had never been so forward with anyone before. But with parting imminent, she did not want to leave behind regrets.

With no one around to interrupt them, she suddenly rose onto her toes, lifted her little face, and with lightning speed, gently pressed her soft lips to Adult Tang Wulin's right cheek.

The touch separated at once, so quickly it seemed like an illusion.

Only a faint fragrance unique to a young girl lingered by his cheek, soft and warm before vanishing in an instant.

Adult Tang Wulin's body stiffened abruptly, and his golden eyes narrowed slightly. He clearly had not expected such a bold gesture from her, and for a moment, he forgot to react. His fingertips trembled instinctively.

After kissing him, Dai Yun'er abruptly retreated two steps. Her entire face and even the tips of her ears instantly flushed red like ripe cherries, but she refused to show weakness. She immediately clasped her hands behind her back, held her head high, and let her gaze drift toward the flowers beyond the corridor, unable to look directly at Adult Tang Wulin. Deliberately raising her voice, she put on an arrogant, indifferent tsundere act and desperately concealed the panic in her heart. "Hey! Don't get any ideas! This is just a farewell gift from this princess to an honored guest, one of the Star Luo Royal Family's customs!"

She paused, then stubbornly added, her tone deliberately disdainful even as her guilt reached its peak. "It's not like I can't bear to see you leave, and it's not like I like you! Don't flatter yourself! Hurry up and go. This princess is busy and has no time to see you off!"

Though her words were resolute, her fingertips tightly gripped the corner of her clothes. She was so nervous that even her breathing became shallow. She feared that he might be angry and rebuke her, yet she feared even more that he would not care about her feelings at all. Her contrary behavior perfectly displayed both a young girl's tsundere pride and sincere heart. In that moment, a faintly ambiguous atmosphere quietly spread, neither too much nor too little, striking directly at the heart.

Adult Tang Wulin fell silent for a moment, then raised a hand and lightly touched the spot on his cheek where the soft warmth remained. There was neither anger nor affection in his eyes, only a faint, detached sigh from one who had seen much of the world. He understood clearly that her initiative and tsundere behavior were the purest and most sincere expressions of a young girl's heart. He did not wish to expose her bravado, nor did he wish to respond to these fatedless feelings. He merely nodded slightly, his tone calm and appropriate, giving her all the dignity due a princess. "Thank you for the generous gift, Princess. Farewell."

That single expression of thanks was gentle and courteous, yet it also completely drew the boundary between them, leaving not the slightest improper thought.

Dai Yun'er's nose stung slightly, but she still forced herself to maintain her tsundere act. She waved her hand, her voice carrying a hint of awkwardness. "Go, go. It would be best if we never met again!"

Adult Tang Wulin spoke no more. A faint golden light flickered around him, and his plain-clothed figure gradually faded before vanishing at the end of the corridor in an instant. From beginning to end, he never looked back.

Only after that familiar, powerful presence had completely disappeared did Dai Yun'er finally let her shoulders slump. She lightly covered her mouth as her eyes slowly reddened, yet she never allowed her tears to fall. She had been proud all her life, and this was the first time she had been so brave and proactive. Even without a response, she had no regrets. That youthful flutter of the heart came to a gentle close with this light farewell kiss.

The wind passed through the corridor, scattering the last lingering trace of ambiguity. Star Luo's bond was completely severed at last.

Meanwhile, a thousand miles away in Shrek Inner Court, the morning sunlight was perfect, warm and gentle. Tang Wulin was playing with Na'er in the courtyard while Xu Xiaoyan sat quietly nearby, occasionally helping Na'er straighten her clothes. The three siblings got along harmoniously, and the fragmented emotions of the past had long since returned to pure familial affection. The Seven Monsters accompanied them nearby, wholly unaware of the distant farewell kiss that had carried both tsundere pride and sincerity. They simply cherished the peaceful days before them and gathered their strength for the upcoming exchange tournament.

Hidden beneath the shade of the dense forest, Adult Tang Wulin watched the youths' peaceful daily life, his golden eyes growing ever more tranquil. The faint sensation on his cheek had long since faded, while the dragon-shaped jade pendant in his arms felt slightly cool. To him, that Star Luo interlude had been nothing more than a wisp of smoke in the mortal world, scattered with the passing wind. Protecting those by his side was the only obsession of his life.