All of This Was Supposed to Be Mine

This time, Jiang Chen did not refuse. He accepted Ling Luochеn's invitation.

The two left the academy together.

Behind them, Ning Tian watched their retreating figures, her smile frozen on her face.

So Jiang Chen really did treat people differently.

"My lady! Why do you care so much about Jiang Chen? I don't think he's a good match for you."

Wu Feng stood beside her, unable to keep her complaints in.

As far as she was concerned, her lady came from an illustrious family and was the young master of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. With such a bright future ahead of her, inviting Jiang Chen herself had already been a great honor for him.

Not only had Jiang Chen failed to appreciate it, he had turned her down. How wicked.

Ning Tian was not angry. Instead, she remained calm.

To her, a boy like that had character. He was worth pursuing.

If a man did not even have principles of his own, he would only end up a despised student like Xu Sanshi.

At that thought, Ning Tian asked, "Wu Feng, who do you think would suit me?"

Wu Feng tilted her head and thought for a long while, but no suitable candidate came to mind.

There did not seem to be anyone in the Outer Court worthy of her lady.

So she said, "My lady, the way I see it, nobody deserves you except me. I've got a Red Dragon Martial Soul that can breathe fire!"

Ning Tian promptly flicked Wu Feng on the forehead. "This young lady isn't into girls."

With that, she headed for the Cafeteria.

Elsewhere, the streets of Shrek City bustled with people. Merchants came and went, while students in uniform walked through the city, buying goods and the cultivation resources Soul Masters needed.

Jiang Chen and Ling Luochеn walked close together, looking for a distinctive little eatery where they could have dinner.

Ling Luochеn wore a long white robe, her ice-blue hair falling over her shoulders. She looked like an elegant white lotus untouched by the world.

After a while, Ling Luochеn looked up and said softly, "You went too far today. Dai Huabin isn't someone to trifle with. His brother, Dai Yueheng, may look harmless, but he's a venomous snake too."

"And Dai Huabin holds a grudge over the slightest slight. You need to watch out for the White Tiger Duke's Mansion. There's no telling what might happen. They might even scheme against you inside the academy."

She was warning Jiang Chen that the White Tiger Duke's Mansion was not to be underestimated. The title of duke was hereditary, after all, and Dai Hao himself was a hero of the empire.

By treating Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu as he had in the semifinals, Jiang Chen had made an outright enemy of the White Tiger Duke.

Whether Dai Yueheng would cause trouble was hard to say, but the White Tiger Duke's Mansion might not swallow that insult. Ling Luochеn decided to warn Jiang Chen in advance.

Jiang Chen's expression did not change. "I know what Dai Huabin is like. He's just a petty villain. But if he thinks he can use the White Tiger Duke's Mansion to get rid of me, I can call on my family too."

"I'm not an orphan, after all. I have parents, and my family is no pushover."

Ling Luochеn felt relieved when she heard that.

Jiang Chen had thought things through.

Before long, they reached the Guizhou Grilled Fish Shop. They ordered its famous grilled fish with vegetables and found a couple of seats.

Ling Luochеn said, "Their grilled fish has something in common with yours. I used to love eating here. I just don't know where Guizhou is."

Jiang Chen glanced at the owner grilling fish over a charcoal stove and silently gave the place his seal of authenticity.

It was not merely similar. It was practically the same.

He had loved this dish most in his previous life.

Soon, the fragrant grilled fish arrived at their table. Ling Luochеn picked up a piece and said gently, "Let me feed you."

Jiang Chen felt a little embarrassed, but he accepted the bite she offered him.

After she had fed him a few times, however, Jiang Chen suddenly realized they were drawing attention. The students and merchants eating fish around them were staring, their expressions strange.

There was envy, anger, even bitter anguish...

The main reason was that Ling Luochеn attracted attention wherever she went.

Her red uniform marked her as a senior from the Inner Court at a glance.

And now an Inner Court senior was eating with an Outer Court student and even feeding him herself. No one watching could feel good about that.

She was giving single people no chance to live.

A faint blush touched Ling Luochеn's pretty face, and she lowered her head shyly.

Jiang Chen picked up a piece of grilled fish and held it out to her. "Anyone who didn't know better would think I was your son. Come on, eat."

Ling Luochеn could only accept his kindness, like a kitten being soothed.

Mmm!

It tasted different this time. It tasted like home.

Not far away, the students who had been force-fed a bellyful of romance scratched their heads in frustration. They could not figure out what Jiang Chen had that they did not, or why he had an Inner Court senior as his girlfriend while they had no one.

They were so jealous!

Just then, an Outer Court student spoke up. "You lot really don't know anything, do you? That's Senior Jiang Chen, the strongest genius student in our Outer Court right now. The senior beside him is outstanding even among the Inner Court students."

"Senior Jiang Chen has a top-tier Ice Phoenix Martial Soul, and he's an Ultimate Attribute Soul Master. He's cut down every opponent he's faced in the Freshman Assessment and reached the finals today. Compared to him, you're miles behind."

The students shuddered when they heard that.

So that was the famous Jiang Chen.

They did not dare keep staring, afraid he might settle accounts with them.

But in an alley not far away, Ma Xiaotao stood with her red hair spilling over her shoulders. Watching how happy the two looked together left a sour ache in her heart.

She had been there first, yet Ling Luochеn had plucked the peach in the end.

All of this was hers. Hers!

Why were they doing this to her?

Tears kept falling down Ma Xiaotao's cheeks. Jealousy of Ling Luochеn and resentment toward Jiang Chen took root in her heart.

They had to be doing it on purpose.

It was dark by the time Jiang Chen and Ling Luochеn prepared to return to the academy.

But just before they reached the little grove near the academy gates, Jiang Chen suddenly took Ling Luochеn's hand.

Things had come this far. Some things had to be said outright, and he was not one to hem and haw.

By then, Ling Luochеn's pretty face was scarlet. She was afraid he might hear her heartbeat.

"Senior," Jiang Chen said suddenly.

Ling Luochеn pressed her lips together and lowered her head even further, not daring to meet his eyes.

Jiang Chen went on, "We've known each other for a long time. You're single, and I really like you. How about we get together?"

The words made Ling Luochеn's mind go blank in an instant. Anxious beyond measure, she fidgeted with her fingers while her heart thudded in her chest.

What should I do?

What on earth should I do?

Say yes, or turn him down?

Second after second passed, and Ling Luochеn still gave no answer. Even Jiang Chen began to grow anxious.

What was going on with her?

At last, Ling Luochеn looked up and asked, "What about Ma Xiaotao?"

Jiang Chen frowned. "What about her? There's been nothing between us for a long time. If Yan Shaozhe and Mu En hadn't pressured me back then, I never would have agreed to be with her. I'd jump off here before agreeing to it."

"Besides, we've already gone our separate ways. We'll have nothing to do with each other for the rest of our lives."

Ling Luochеn could not help laughing. She linked her arm through his and said, "Then you'd better treat me well from now on. If you ever let your heart wander, I won't forgive you."

Jiang Chen drew her close and said softly, "I swear on my Martial Soul that I won't let my heart wander."

As they spoke, they fell into each other's arms beneath the moonlight.

Just then, Zhang Lexuan and several Inner Court students happened to pass by. At the sight, they all covered their mouths.

"Luochеn, you..."

The one who had spoken was Zhang Lexuan, the Inner Court's eldest senior sister.