Chapter 31: Tang Ya — I'm Tired, Bei Bei, Don't Bother Me
The two drew closer and closer, almost touching...
"Um... hurry up and eat. It'd be a waste to let all this good food go cold..."
In the end, Tang Ya couldn't handle Ye Chen's intense gaze. Her face flushed, and she turned away quickly, changing the subject.
Her heart, however, was beating wildly.
"Alright. You should eat more, Sister Xiao Ya. That way, you'll get stronger~"
Ye Chen smiled as he added food to her plate.
"Wha—are you saying I'm weak?" Tang Ya glared at him, puffing her cheeks with mock anger.
"Not at all! My Sister Xiao Ya is the best~" Ye Chen laughed heartily.
"Hmph, that's more like it~"
Satisfied, Tang Ya smiled.
She knew Ye Chen was flattering her on purpose, but that didn't stop her from enjoying it.
Unlike that blockhead Bei Bei, who only ever spoke the truth—he couldn't sweet-talk to save his life, though he was great at making hollow promises.
...
...
...
"Xiao Ya... where are you… my Xiao Ya..."
Late at night, Shrek City's once-bustling streets were nearly empty. Most shops had long since closed.
A lonely, dejected figure wandered down the quiet streets—it was Bei Bei.
He had searched every place Tang Ya usually went, but she was nowhere to be found.
Today was their anniversary. Tang Ya had never once forgotten it—so why did she suddenly disappear tonight?
He wasn't worried she'd run into danger. Shrek City was the safest place in the world—dark soul masters wouldn't dare set foot here.
Tang Ya herself was a Soul Elder and wore Shrek's school uniform. No one would be foolish enough to mess with a Shrek student.
That left only one explanation—she left on her own.
But with her family gone, where could she possibly have gone?
Bei Bei couldn't make sense of it, no matter how hard he thought...
Then, suddenly, it clicked.
Maybe she had left to handle something but was actually waiting for him back at the academy!
"That's it! I'm overthinking. Maybe Xiao Ya's been searching for me this whole time. I need to hurry back before she starts worrying!"
Feeling relief at last, Bei Bei quickened his pace, hope flickering in his heart. Maybe she was there, waiting anxiously for him too.
That would make him happy.
Maybe… that's what people meant by mutual longing.
Bei Bei broke into a near run. Moments later, he arrived at the academy gates.
Then, as if guided by fate, his eyes instantly locked onto a familiar silhouette beneath the archway—Tang Ya!
"Xiao Ya!!"
He called out, his voice trembling with excitement.
"Hm? Bei Bei?"
Tang Ya turned around, surprise flickering across her face.
She hadn't expected him to still be here this late.
Thankfully, Ye Chen had already left. If Bei Bei had seen them together, with his possessive nature, he'd probably have jumped to ridiculous conclusions.
She and Ye Chen were completely innocent—she couldn't let Bei Bei slander him.
"Xiao Ya, where did you go? I looked everywhere for you..."
Bei Bei stumbled toward her, arms outstretched, about to pull her into an embrace—
But Tang Ya instantly stepped aside.
"Honestly, what kind of grown man acts like a crying child?"
She frowned slightly, clearly displeased at the sight of the disheveled, desperate Bei Bei.
Especially when contrasted with Ye Chen's calm and confident demeanor—Bei Bei suddenly seemed utterly pathetic.
Crying? Over nothing? If not for the empty street, she would've pretended not to know him.
"No... Xiao Ya, I was just really worried. It's our anniversary today! You disappeared all of a sudden—you have no idea how scared I was..."
Bei Bei's voice wavered. Tang Ya's disdain felt like needles in his chest, making him both sad and bitter.
"Enough already. I wasn't missing, and I wasn't in danger. Why worry? It's just an anniversary. Is that really more important than what I did today?"
Tang Ya looked at him blankly, then turned to go, clearly unwilling to keep arguing and ruin her mood.
Just the thought that her revenge might finally be close made her feel exhilarated.
She'd been with Bei Bei all this time, yet saw no progress toward vengeance.
But after bringing Ye Chen into the Tang Sect, that goal might be achieved in just three months.
The comparison made Bei Bei seem utterly useless.
"What could possibly be more important than our anniversary!?" Bei Bei shouted, his voice cracking with emotion.
"Recruiting new talent for the Tang Sect, of course~" Tang Ya said proudly.
Anniversary? What use was that?
Even ten anniversaries couldn't avenge her clan.
But today—today she had personally brought in a prodigy like Ye Chen, ensuring the Tang Sect's revival and her revenge.
That was worth countless anniversaries.
"Who is it? Xiao Ya, the Tang Sect's rules are strict—you can't just recruit anyone! Don't risk everything for revival by bringing in someone untrustworthy!" Bei Bei said anxiously.
He sounded as though he cared more for the Tang Sect's survival than for Tang Ya herself.
And in truth—he did.
Bei Bei's real mission, given by Elder Mu En, had been to save the Tang Sect's last heir, rebuild it, and take control.
The Tang Sect had been founded by the great ancestor Tang San. If they could revive it under Shrek's guidance, perhaps even Tang San would notice—and grant them miraculous fortune.
That was Bei Bei's true goal.
Falling for Tang Ya had simply been… an accident.
Still, their relationship didn't hinder his mission. If anything, it made rebuilding the Tang Sect easier—so Mu En hadn't objected.
...
"His name is Ye Chen. He's Dean Yan Shaozhe's disciple and the top freshman this year—you must've heard of him," Tang Ya said frankly.
It wasn't worth hiding; Bei Bei would find out eventually. And secrecy would only cause misunderstandings later.
"Ye Chen... the Soul King-level freshman!?"
Bei Bei's pupils shrank sharply in shock.
Of course he'd heard the name—Ye Chen's accomplishments had spread even among the upperclassmen.
A twelve-year-old at the Soul King realm—he'd shattered Shrek Academy's historical record!
Not even the founders of the original Shrek Academy had achieved that!
And his combat power was terrifying to match...
At fifteen, Bei Bei was only a rank-38 Soul Elder.
"Yes, that's him. With Ye Chen's help, the Tang Sect's revival will be faster than ever. Impressive, right~" Tang Ya said, pride gleaming in her eyes.
(END CHAPTER)
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