Ice Cream and Orange

The young man's face flushed crimson, and he seemed unable to process what had happened. "Xue Ruigao, I'm helping you!"

Xue Ruigao said coldly, "I don't care about any of that. All I know is that anyone who dares lay a hand on Orange will have me to answer to!"

The young man jabbed a finger on his right hand angrily at Wen Xiancheng. "He was bullying you!"

Xue Ruigao drew a deep breath and forced her anger down before saying, "Wen Jie, I'll say this one more time. Whatever your reason, don't lay a hand on Orange again."

With that, she ignored Wen Jie, whose breathing had quickened with anger, and turned to Wen Xiancheng. "Orange, please don't be like this. Go home!"

Wen Xiancheng released Xue Ruigao's hand and passed her the bag filled with a heap of low-grade spirit stones. Opening it a little, he said quietly, "Look for yourself. I can make money too! Besides, I earned over eighty thousand low-grade spirit stones in one month. How much did you earn working part-time?"

Xue Ruigao's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, and she blurted out, "How much did you earn?"

Wen Xiancheng said, "Over eighty thousand in a month."

"Orange, did you go rob someone?!" Xue Ruigao covered her mouth.

Wen Xiancheng raised his eyebrows. "Do you think I robbed someone? With my build, do you think I could pull that off?"

Xue Ruigao came back to her senses.

Throwing her right arm around Wen Xiancheng's neck, Xue Ruigao burst out laughing, tears shimmering in her beautiful eyes. "I knew it! I knew you weren't useless at all. As long as you put your mind to it, you can do anything! Anything!"

Wen Xiancheng asked, "So, are you still going to work part-time?"

Xue Ruigao wiped her eyes with her left hand and shot Wen Xiancheng a reproachful look. "But I want to lighten your burden too. Every little bit helps, doesn't it? That way, you can take it a little easier."

"Oh, come on! Focusing on your cultivation right now is the best way you can lighten my burden! All right, let's go, let's go. Come shopping with me, and afterward we'll get something to eat!" Wen Xiancheng said with a smile.

Xue Ruigao nodded helplessly. "Then let me speak to the shop manager first."

Watching Wen Xiancheng and Xue Ruigao act so intimately, Wen Jie felt towering waves of fury surge through him.

The goddess I've been pursuing all this time is usually cold as ice, yet she's so intimate with this completely ordinary-looking man!

And she even dared snap at me!

Bitch!

Wen Jie cursed inwardly.

Sooner or later, I'll have you on your knees, begging me to take you!

Xue Ruigao told the shop manager she was quitting her part-time job, and the manager tried for a while to persuade her to stay.

However, Wen Xiancheng stood beside her, utterly firm in his stance.

In the end, the manager could only let Xue Ruigao leave.

Xue Ruigao and Wen Xiancheng went to Huang's Elixir Shop next door.

Watching Wen Xiancheng spend fifty thousand low-grade spirit stones on Marrow-Cleansing Liquid, Xue Ruigao swallowed hard.

As she looked at Wen Xiancheng's profile, a smile appeared on her face.

Orange really is amazing!

All these years, I've only been able to support the two of us with the monthly allowance of one high-grade spirit stone from the Royal Academy.

Yet once he started working, he earned over eighty thousand in a single month.

Imagining the two of them earning money together after they married, Xue Ruigao felt sweetness fill her heart and couldn't help hugging Wen Xiancheng's arm.

The clerk selling elixirs at Huang's Elixir Shop watched Xue Ruigao's behavior with inward astonishment.

As a salesman, reading people's expressions was a basic skill.

Xue Ruigao's expression clearly showed genuine happiness.

He couldn't quite understand it. Beauties of Xue Ruigao's caliber could be counted on one hand even in Li City, the Imperial City.

Yet she actually liked this man buying Marrow-Cleansing Liquid.

I just don't get it!

Still, he knew how to sweet-talk customers. "Miss, you and your boyfriend are such a perfect match. A talented man and a beautiful woman!"

Wen Xiancheng's face reddened a little.

Xue Ruigao, however, nodded proudly. "Exactly, exactly! I've always thought Orange and I were a perfect match too!"

A little flustered, Wen Xiancheng said, "Let's head back."

Seeing his reaction, Xue Ruigao laughed. "Hahaha, Orange, that part of you hasn't changed at all. You get embarrassed so easily!"

Watching the two leave, the clerk shook his head and rubbed his chin in bewilderment. "How strange! Do girls these days all like ordinary men? Why hasn't a girl who likes me that much fallen for a handsome man like me?"

After leaving the elixir shop, Wen Xiancheng and Xue Ruigao took a ride all the way back to the Royal Academy, then ate at the restaurant beside Wen Xiancheng's little rented room as before.

This time, Xue Ruigao ordered five dishes in one go.

Watching Xue Ruigao's excitement, Wen Xiancheng rubbed her head and said gently, "Well... you've had to put up with so much all this time."

Xue Ruigao froze for a moment.

Coming back to her senses, she raised her brows angrily and huffed. "If you keep saying things like that, I'll really get upset! What are we to each other? I'm your future wife, understand? If I don't share your hardships, who do you want sharing them? Besides, I don't even think it's been hard!"

A pang of sorrow welled up in Wen Xiancheng's heart.

Wen Xiancheng inwardly rolled his eyes.

That consciousness inside him was acting up again.

Still-

Wen Xiancheng couldn't be bothered with him anymore.

Even if he objects ten thousand times over, he can't come back to life now!

Besides-

Wen Xiancheng studied Xue Ruigao. She really was a good girl.

Whatever happens, since I've transmigrated here and can't go back, I won't let her go.

"How about I use a normal nickname for you from now on?" Wen Xiancheng suddenly asked.

Taken aback, Xue Ruigao said, "Whatever you like. I'll know you're talking to me no matter what you call me."

Wen Xiancheng insisted, "Then I'll call you Ice Cream. Ice Cream and Orange-they're both things you can eat."

A powerful surge of resistance welled up inside him, making Wen Xiancheng involuntarily want to take back his words.

But Wen Xiancheng dug the nails of his right hand hard into his flesh, forcibly suppressing that consciousness.

Xue Ruigao gave him a radiant smile. "All right, Orange."

After they finished eating, Wen Xiancheng walked Xue Ruigao to the Royal Academy's gate.

This time, Xue Ruigao didn't send Wen Xiancheng straight home. Instead, she said, "Orange, will you take a walk with me? We've never gone walking together like this before."

Wen Xiancheng nodded. "Sure."

Night fell, and the two wandered at leisure through the Royal Academy without speaking.

Wen Xiancheng turned to look at Xue Ruigao's lovely profile, and his heart stirred.

He truly realized something.

Being with a girl like her really was rather nice.

Taking a deep breath, Wen Xiancheng suppressed the flutter in his heart and reached for Xue Ruigao's hand.

That powerful resistance arose inside him again.

This time, the resistance was so strong that Wen Xiancheng failed to suppress it and pulled his hand straight back.

His fingers had only brushed Xue Ruigao's hand.

Wen Xiancheng sighed inwardly, feeling rather helpless.

Looks like I'll have to deal with this lingering consciousness in my body.

Otherwise, I'll never have a moment's peace.

Wen Xiancheng knew very well that this consciousness was utterly unreasonable.

When I like Xue Ruigao, he resists this much.

If I distance myself from Xue Ruigao, he won't agree to that either.

Since that's how it is, don't blame me for being ruthless!

Xue Ruigao had been thinking about cultivation when she suddenly felt someone brush her hand.

Turning to see Wen Xiancheng's conflicted expression, Xue Ruigao struggled to hold back a smile.

Oh, Orange!

Her own heart was pounding too. Xue Ruigao took a deep breath, reached out, and clasped Wen Xiancheng's hand, interlacing their fingers.

Wen Xiancheng looked at Xue Ruigao in surprise.

But Xue Ruigao kept looking ahead as she walked, pretending nothing had happened.

Only her crimson face betrayed her secret thoughts.

Inside Wen Xiancheng's heart, that powerful resistance faded.

In its place came profound despair and a fierce desire to end his own life.

(End of chapter)