Douluo Dalu: I Can Become Stronger by Pitfalling Yu Xiaogang

Ning Rongrong trailed at the back of the group, silent as a statue.

Oscar wanted to offer a few words of comfort, but several times, he had no idea how to begin.

Besides, it was obvious that Ning Rongrong did not even have him in her eyes. Even if he said ten thousand words, she probably would not take in a single one.

So Oscar decisively gave up on trying to persuade Ning Rongrong.

Many people thought Oscar was a simp, but that was completely wrong.

Not only was Oscar not a simp, he was actually truly Sober World.

The original plot had clearly stated that Oscar had more than one girlfriend.

After Ning Rongrong asked Tang San to help her kill Dai Mubai and was refused, she turned to Oscar for help instead.

If Oscar really had been a simp, then even knowing full well that he was no match for Dai Mubai, he would have bravely challenged Dai Mubai for the sake of his goddess.

Simps had no brains. They really would do something as stupid as "sparing no cost for their goddess," and would even be deeply moved by themselves, believing it was only natural for them to do so for their goddess.

If someone could not do something so brainless, then they did not deserve to be called a simp.

Oscar had not done that. Moreover, he clearly realized that Ning Rongrong merely treated him as a tool, as a servant; she had never given him a proper glance.

He knew perfectly well that even if he truly challenged Dai Mubai for Ning Rongrong's sake and was beaten half to death by Dai Mubai, Ning Rongrong would not pity him in the slightest.

Such was the beautiful relationship between a goddess and her simp.

And so, after seeing Ning Rongrong's true nature clearly, Oscar decisively gave up, decisively cast her aside, decisively left, and decisively uttered those famous words—

"If you still have this kind of mindset and personality, leave this place. It really isn't suitable for you."

Just imagine it: if he had truly been some brainless simp, would he have been willing to say something like that to his goddess?

They would not say it even if you beat them to death!

Later on, after Ning Rongrong had improved her personality, Oscar began pursuing her again like a simp.

But he only looked like a simp on the surface.

In reality, Oscar was using the [Advance by Retreating, Winning Affection Through Weakness] tactic from The Art of Wooing—

[Using retreat as an offensive means to advance, using displayed weakness to win sympathy.]

Women generally liked strong men, but because women were emotional creatures with an innate "maternal instinct," they also generally liked the weak.

Oscar had always presented himself as the weak one. At the very least, among the boys at Shrek Academy, he had always shown himself as the "weakest."

However, this "weakness" referred to inferior combat ability, not psychological fragility.

For example:

Did Oscar not often "give his all" to protect Ning Rongrong? Though he protected her, he himself ended up suffering some injuries.

Whenever people saw such a scene, someone would complain: He's so weak, yet he still wants to play the hero and save the beauty?

But in Ning Rongrong's eyes, this was fucking love!

"He's obviously so weak, and protecting me will hurt him, but he still protects me without regard for himself. He truly loves me!"

And then, step by step, Ning Rongrong was conquered.

—This was the [Winning Affection Through Weakness] tactic recorded in The Art of Wooing.

The Art of Wooing was invincible!

As long as one mastered the knowledge within it, any girl—any type of girl—could be won over!

Having thoroughly studied this book, Zhang Tianyu naturally understood every tactic within it like the back of his hand.

He found Oscar's behavior quite contemptible.

But he understood it as well. There were many tactics for winning over Ning Rongrong, but for Oscar, this one was the most suitable.

Xiao Wu quietly said to Zhang Tianyu, "Hey, weren't your words just now a little too harsh?"

"Harsh?" Zhang Tianyu shook his head and asked in return, "If you want to put out a raging fire, the best and fastest method is to create a violent explosion beside it, draining all the air from the fire scene. The blaze will naturally go out."

Xiao Wu and Tang San were both stunned.

"This is called the Suffocation Fire Extinguishing Method." Zhang Tianyu sighed and said softly, "Just like the dean said, Ning Rongrong's nature isn't bad. She was simply spoiled. Her personality is like a raging fire; if you want to put it out quickly, you need a big explosion."

"Collapse Therapy," the system said.

Zhang Tianyu smiled. "Collapse Therapy—shattering all her fantasies at once, shattering all her psychological defenses, shattering everything she takes pride in."

"That would be very painful," Xiao Wu said.

"Without destruction, there can be no construction; only after destruction can one rebuild," Zhang Tianyu said.

Xiao Wu nodded thoughtfully.

Tang San, meanwhile, was instantly filled with solemn admiration!

In his previous life at the Tang Sect, one Tang Sect senior whom he admired most had also said, "Without destruction, there can be no construction; only after destruction can one rebuild."

It was that very senior who, when the Tang Sect was in peril and teetering in the storm, took on the heavy responsibility of sect master, tearing down the old to establish the new, rebuilding after destruction.

In the end, not only did he save the Tang Sect from utter ruin, but he also made it prosper more than ever before!

Destruction and rebuilding—that was rebirth!

The same was true for a sect, and for people as well!

Zhang Tianyu knew that Ning Rongrong would definitely get past this hurdle.

Once she got past it, once tonight was over, she would welcome a rebirth.

And Zhang Tianyu would gain a better Ning Rongrong.

If she doesn't get better, then I won't chase her anymore! Zhang Tianyu thought viciously.

They made their way back to the academy.

As soon as they entered through the gates, Ning Rongrong suddenly said, "Zhang Tianyu, I want to speak with you alone for a few moments."

Everyone was taken aback. Zhang Tianyu stopped walking and considered it for a moment. "Alright."

The others dispersed. Zhang Tianyu said to Xiao Wu, "You go back first too. It'll only take a few words."

Xiao Wu was somewhat worried and was just about to say something when Zhang Tianyu gently shook his head. Xiao Wu pouted and turned to leave.

Oscar left as well, though he walked very slowly, looking back every few steps.

Once everyone had gone, Zhang Tianyu faced Ning Rongrong and said gently, "What is it? Go ahead."

"Do you really hate me that much?" Ning Rongrong got straight to the point, looking up at Zhang Tianyu.

Her eyes were red, and she looked utterly aggrieved. Two streams of tears fell from the corners of her eyes, leaving twin tear tracks on her fair little face.

That pear-blossom-in-the-rain appearance really made one's heart itch.

But who was Zhang Tianyu?

He was the kind of fierce man who could play Landlord with both his ex-girlfriend and current girlfriend at the same time!

Ning Rongrong's little tricks could not shake his resolve in the slightest.

"Do you want to hear the truth?" Zhang Tianyu asked.

Of course Ning Rongrong wanted to hear the truth.

"I don't hate you."

Light instantly returned to Ning Rongrong's eyes, and delight clearly appeared on her face. "Really?"

"Really. You were born into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and your talent is so outstanding. It would be strange if you weren't pampered. Anyone raised in an environment like yours would develop a whole host of bad habits from being spoiled. Honestly, compared to those other spoiled young masters and misses from aristocratic families, you're already pretty good."

Ning Rongrong's mood instantly brightened!

But then her expression darkened again. "Then those things you said just now..."

Zhang Tianyu smiled and pointed at a stone bench nearby. "Let's sit and talk."

What Did You Two Talk About?

When it came to dealing with spoiled little girls like this—smart and clever, yet inexperienced in the ways of the world—Zhang Tianyu had plenty of ways to make them behave obediently.

"I didn't actually want to drive you away. I just felt that if you still had that kind of personality, leaving would be better for you than staying."

"Why?" Ning Rongrong asked.

Why?

I just said you were pretty smart and clever, and now you're asking why?

"With your personality, you simply can't fit in with the group." Zhang Tianyu laid it out plainly. "I know you hate Dai Mubai right now. Dai Mubai is also from an aristocratic family, and he has a bad temper too. But he understands restraint. He knows when he can lose his temper, when he should control himself, when he can act recklessly, and when he should rein himself in."

"Are you saying I don't know restraint?" Ning Rongrong asked.

"Not exactly," Zhang Tianyu said.

Ning Rongrong's expression had only just eased slightly when Zhang Tianyu continued.

"You simply have no idea what 'restraint' even is."

Ning Rongrong:!!!

Zhang Tianyu smiled. "You might be cursing me in your heart right now, but let me make this clear: I'm more straightforward when I speak to friends. As for other people... I usually can't even be bothered to talk."

Ning Rongrong fell silent.

Zhang Tianyu said, "Just now, if I hadn't been there, or if the others hadn't been capable of protecting you, what would you have done? What if Dai Mubai had really killed you?"

Ning Rongrong's little face turned cold. "If he dared lay a hand on me, he would definitely suffer terrible consequences!"

"I completely believe that," Zhang Tianyu said. "But the key point is, you wouldn't live to see him suffer those consequences."

Ning Rongrong froze.

"To put it simply," Zhang Tianyu said, "if he really killed you, then no matter how severe the consequences he suffered, you still wouldn't come back to life."

Ning Rongrong's face turned deathly pale!

"Mm, looks like you've figured it out," Zhang Tianyu said. "In a person's life, no matter what wealth, strength, fame, talent... they're all a string of zeros. The 1 at the very front is life."

"Without life, it's the same as losing that leading 1. Without that 1, no matter how many zeros come after it, they're meaningless."

Ning Rongrong understood it thoroughly now.

"So you completely understand now, right?" Zhang Tianyu said. "I wasn't actually driving you away. I was protecting you."

Ning Rongrong's delicate body trembled, her heart shaking as she raised her head to look at Zhang Tianyu.

"If you don't change that personality of yours, then as classmates, we can let you have your way. But people outside won't indulge you," Zhang Tianyu said. "For example, that day after we finished eating in Suotuo City and came out of the restaurant, we ran into those three people. If they wanted to hurt you, what would you do?"

"Could you beat them? If you warned them that you were the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, they'd definitely be afraid. Then guess what they'd do—would they let you go? No. They'd kill you and bury you somewhere no one could ever find."

"Because they know that if they let you go, you'll return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and report them. Then the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would send people after them. So killing you and burying you in some hidden place would be their best choice."

Perhaps she had already imagined that scene. Ning Rongrong shivered in fear.

"So, all things considered, if you don't change your personality, the best thing would be to return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. There are so many experts there to protect you. No matter how arrogant and overbearing you are, you won't be in danger.

"But that won't work here. Even if I want to protect you, I can't stay by your side twenty-four hours a day. I'm not your boyfriend, right?"

Ning Rongrong's little face immediately turned red!

The words "boyfriend" were incredibly suggestive and devastatingly effective!

"Taking a step back, even a boyfriend couldn't stay with you twenty-four hours a day to protect you." As he spoke, Zhang Tianyu stood up and said to her, "I'll walk you back to the dorm. Go back and think it over carefully."

"If you can change, if you want to change, if you make up your mind to change, then stay. I can't speak for anyone else, but I'll definitely stay by your side to support and help you."

"If you don't want to change, if you think it's troublesome, if you think changing is too painful, then don't. Go back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. We'll still be good friends."

"That rhetoric is incredible!" the system said. "On the surface, you gave Ning Rongrong enough freedom to choose for herself, but in reality, you used Sand-Shooting Shadow to set up a superior and inferior option.

"Choosing to stay and change makes her brave; returning to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect makes her a spoiled brat who can't get rid of her bad habits. You've provoked her to this extent—who would choose to go back?"

However—