"Hey, Wang Dong, you're back." Tian Chen smiled faintly, his tone relaxed, as though nothing had happened.
Wang Dong walked into the dorm room and asked curiously, "What are you studying here all by yourself? You look pretty focused."
Tian Chen scratched his head and said offhandedly, "Nothing, nothing much. Just thinking about cultivation."
Wang Dong sniffed, and her expression instantly darkened. A trace of displeasure crept into her voice. "Tian Chen, why do you smell like a woman again? Have you been fooling around behind my back again?"
Tian Chen froze for a moment, then hurried to explain. "No, Wang Dong, you've misunderstood! I just went to the Inner Court to spar with a senior student, and I chatted with Xiaotao for a while. Some of her fragrance must have rubbed off on me. Don't get the wrong idea. We really were just sparring!"
Wang Dong's expression softened a little, but she still looked at Tian Chen skeptically. "Xiaotao? You sparred with her? How many times have you used that excuse already? Besides, Ma Xiaotao's isn't the only fragrance I can smell on you. Explain yourself!"
Seeing that Wang Dong still did not believe him, Tian Chen hurried to add, "Really, Wang Dong, hear me out. When I went over today, Xiaotao happened to be fighting another senior student, so I sparred with that student. Some fragrance probably rubbed off on me during the match."
Wang Dong's brows drew even tighter, suspicion showing in her eyes. "Another senior student? Who was it this time? Don't think I haven't noticed. You've been running off to the Inner Court all the time lately, and every time you come back, you act so mysterious."
"Tian Chen, I'm warning you. If you really are fooling around out there, I won't let you off!"
"Wang Dong, you really have misunderstood! I'm not fooling around. I go there to learn. Experts gather there like clouds, and I'm just asking for advice and honing my fighting skills. If you don't believe me, I can take you to the Inner Court to ask the teachers there."
Tian Chen waved his hands as he spoke.
"Fine. I'll believe you this time, but if I find out you lied to me, I won't let you off."
Wang Dong sighed, her tone softening slightly.
Then she smiled faintly and patted Tian Chen on the shoulder, her voice becoming lighter. "Come on, let's get something to eat. I'm hungry. Training was especially exhausting today."
"Sure, I'm hungry too. I spent a long time sparring in the Inner Court today and burned through quite a bit of energy." Tian Chen smiled and nodded.
Wang Dong stood up and stretched. "Then let's go have a good meal at the dining hall."
"Oh, Wang Dong, why don't we invite Xiao Xiao? She doesn't seem to have eaten much today either. She's probably hungry too."
Wang Dong was unhappy the moment she heard that. She frowned, sounding a little awkward. "Tian Chen, we don't get many chances like this. Can't we have a meal alone together?"
After all, this was a rare chance to spend time alone with Tian Chen. She did not want anyone interrupting them, especially Xiao Xiao.
"Come on, Wang Dong, you know Xiao Xiao is my girlfriend. She doesn't seem to have eaten much today, and I'm a little worried about her..."
Tian Chen coughed lightly.
Wang Dong's expression instantly darkened, and a flicker of jealousy crossed her eyes.
"I know she's your girlfriend, but can't it just be the two of us today? I was really looking forward to having a proper chat with you."
Sensing Wang Dong's mood, Tian Chen hesitated before saying softly, "Wang Dong, I know you envy me for having a girlfriend, but Xiao Xiao... she's been under a lot of pressure lately too. I'm a little worried about her."
A flicker of resentment crossed Wang Dong's eyes, and she cursed inwardly, You big idiot.
"I know. I'm not jealous that you have a girlfriend. I just want to spend a little more time with you. You're my best friend at the academy."
Hearing that, Tian Chen stepped forward and patted Wang Dong's shoulder reassuringly. "Wang Dong, I understand how you feel. How about this? We'll invite Xiao Xiao first, and after dinner, I'll take a walk with just you. All right?"
Wang Dong nodded, the resentment and jealousy in her heart instantly replaced by delight.
"Sure. Let's go, then. We'll get Xiao Xiao first and talk after dinner."
She went with Tian Chen to fetch Xiao Xiao, secretly looking forward to their evening walk.
Just then, however, the Eastern Emperor Bell suddenly spoke. "Master, there seems to be something wrong with this person."
Tian Chen paused, then quickly understood.
"I know. There's a strange Divine Sense inside her, right?"
The Eastern Emperor Bell's voice rang out in Tian Chen's mind. "Yes, Master. This Divine Sense is extremely powerful, but it is hidden very deeply. Had I not been keeping watch all along, it would probably have been difficult to detect."
"I know about this. Don't panic. As long as we don't do certain things, this Divine Sense won't affect us!"
The Eastern Emperor Bell's voice continued to sound in Tian Chen's mind. "This energy seems to have a very unusual existence. It resembles some sort of seal or protective power, though it does exert an influence. It can affect her mind without her noticing, but I cannot determine its exact origin."
"I understand. We'll discuss this another time," Tian Chen said, his tone turning slightly solemn.
"Yes, Master."
Once they reached the edge of the Girls' Dormitory, they asked a student to help call Xiao Xiao.
Before long, Xiao Xiao came out.
When Xiao Xiao saw Tian Chen, a pleasantly surprised smile appeared on her face. "What brings you two here?"
Tian Chen stepped forward and gently took Xiao Xiao's hand. "Xiao Xiao, we're about to get dinner, and we wanted you to come with us!"
Xiao Xiao smiled faintly and nodded. "Sure. I was just thinking of getting something to eat myself."
She leaned gently against Tian Chen's shoulder, a hint of reliance in her eyes. Their affectionate gestures left Wang Dong feeling rather uncomfortable beside them.
She sighed inwardly, trying her best to look as though nothing was wrong.
The three of them headed toward the dining hall together. Along the way, Tian Chen and Xiao Xiao held hands, chatting and laughing.
Wang Dong followed silently behind them, complicated emotions in her eyes. She tried her best to look untroubled, but her heart was full of worry and anticipation.
At the dining hall, the three found a table by the window and sat down.
"Here, Xiao Xiao, try this!"
Tian Chen sat beside Xiao Xiao, occasionally placing food on her plate, his eyes full of affection.
Xiao Xiao smiled faintly, happiness showing in her eyes.
Wang Dong sat across from them, watching their affectionate behavior with a bitter feeling in her heart.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the academy, Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan were strolling along the street hand in hand.
"Tang Ya, why have you been so distracted lately? Is something on your mind?" Jiang Nannan asked with concern.
Tang Ya smiled faintly, a hint of happiness in her eyes. "No, it's just that I've been a little busy lately. There's been a lot to do with cultivation and studying, so I'm a bit tired."
Tang Ya gave a small smile and said nothing more. She knew perfectly well that her recent distraction had nothing to do with cultivation or studying, but stemmed from something else.
Jiang Nannan nodded in understanding. "Oh, so that's it. Make sure you get plenty of rest, then. Don't wear yourself out."
Tang Ya nodded gently. "Mm, I know. Thanks, Nannan."
They continued strolling along the street, enjoying their rare moment of leisure.
Just then, a familiar figure approached from the distance. Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan looked up together and saw Bei Bei running toward them anxiously.
When Bei Bei reached them, there was a questioning look in his eyes. "Tang Ya, can we talk alone?"
Tang Ya frowned at his words. "What is it? Can't you say it now?"
A trace of awkwardness crossed Bei Bei's face. He lowered his head slightly, his voice subdued. "Tang Ya, this is important. I'd like to speak to you alone. I don't want to say it here. There are too many people."
"All right. Nannan, wait for me over there." Tang Ya gave Jiang Nannan a small smile.
Jiang Nannan nodded. "Take your time talking, then. I'll wait for you over there."
Once Jiang Nannan had walked far enough away, Bei Bei asked bluntly, urgency in his eyes, "Tang Ya, have you fallen for someone else?"
Tang Ya's face reddened slightly, and a flicker of panic crossed her eyes. She said softly, "Bei Bei, what do you mean by that?"
Bei Bei's voice carried a note of urgency. "Tang Ya, I know things have grown a little distant between us lately, but I really care about you. I feel like you're always distracted these days. Is it because you've fallen for someone else?"
Tang Ya turned away, impatience in her eyes. "Bei Bei, thank you for caring so much about me. But if you came here today just to interrogate me, then please leave!"
"It's Tian Chen, isn't it?" Bei Bei's tone was rather cold.
At those words, Tang Ya's expression turned unpleasant. She turned her head and saw Bei Bei take out a portrait.
Her heart sank sharply. The person in that portrait was none other than Tian Chen, his smile gentle and familiar.
"If you haven't fallen for him, then what is this? Tell me, have you fallen for him?"
Bei Bei roared.
Seeing this, Tang Ya had no choice but to lay her cards on the table.
"Bei Bei, I've already made up my mind. With everything you have going for you, you can easily find someone good. Why waste your time on me?"
At those words, Bei Bei felt as though his heart had stopped for a moment. Pain and anger flashed in his eyes, and his voice trembled. "Tang Ya, have you really decided? What bewitching potion did Tian Chen feed you? Are you really going to give up our relationship for him?"
Tang Ya lowered her head slightly and said softly, "Bei Bei, you're a very good person, and I'm truly grateful for your care and support. But my heart already belongs to him. I hope you can understand, and I hope you'll find someone who truly belongs with you."
Bei Bei clenched his fists. "Fine, fine, fine! Then I'll go see what's so good about him that you're willing to throw away everything between us for him!"
Tang Ya's heart tightened at Bei Bei's words, and she hurriedly said, "Bei Bei, don't be rash. Tian Chen is a good person. He won't hurt me. Going to confront him will only make things worse."
But Bei Bei had already made up his mind, anger and resentment in his eyes. "Tang Ya, you're always protecting him like this. I'd like to see just what he's capable of to make you so utterly devoted to him."
With that, he charged off without a backward glance.
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