"Nom."
"Nom."
"Nom."
"You want another slice?" Xiao Ning'er's spoon paused mid-bite, her cheeks reddening as she remembered that Xue Hui was sitting beside her, watching her with a fond smile.
After Xue Hui treated her Arctic Disease, her body felt better than it had in years.
So much better, in fact, she suddenly found herself quite hungry and ended up accepting Xue Hui's invitation to have a small tea break with him.
Surprised by how delicious the food was, Xiao Ning'er ended up indulging in the sweets.
And, for a moment, completely forgot about Xue Hui's existence.
Embarrassed, Xiao Ning'er shyly shook her head and placed her spoon back on her plate.
Straightening herself, she glanced at Xue Hui and thanked him.
"U-um, I already had enough. Thanks for the food, Xue Hui. It was great."
"Alright, then."
Xue Hui grinned as he stored the dishes back into his interspatial ring, leaving only the table, chairs, and the tea they had been drinking.
An awkward silence settled between them.
Xiao Ning'er fidgeted in her chair. She wanted to say something, anything, to break the silence, but she couldn't seem to find the right words.
Another minute passed before the two finished their tea. They stood up and stored away the remaining items.
Xiao Ning'er found herself watching the back of the boy who had helped her.
Running her thumb over the scroll in her grasp, its smooth texture somehow felt reassuring. She bit her lower lip, her mind flooded with countless questions.
Her eyes widened as panic suddenly rose in her heart when she saw Xue Hui preparing to leave.
Reaching out, Xiao Ning'er caught hold of his clothes, making him stop and turn toward her.
Now that she had his attention, Xiao Ning'er felt flustered, struggling to find the right words.
Before she could say anything, however, she felt Xue Hui take her hand. He gave her an understanding smile.
"Don't overthink it, Lady Xiao Ning'er. I went out of my way to help you because I found your determination admirable."
Xiao Ning'er's face reddened, both from the physical contact and his words.
"Since I've already helped you, if anyone tries to bully you in the future, come find me. I'll deal with them."
Xiao Ning'er's heart fluttered.
The first thing that came to mind was her marriage arrangement. She wondered if Xue Hui could actually help her with that matter.
"Even if it's against the Sacred Family?"
Her voice was faint, almost inaudible.
"Especially if it's the Sacred Family."
Xiao Ning'er's head snapped up, shock flashing across her face.
Xue Hui, on the other hand, wore a confident grin.
"I hate that scummy family anyway. Might as well go and mess with them."
He chuckled.
Now that his strength had reached a significant level, a family like the Sacred Family was hardly a threat to him.
The only reason Xue Hui hadn't taken action against them was the lack of solid evidence that could expose their traitorous intentions.
Xiao Ning'er felt her eyes water once again. Ever since the marriage arrangement, she had felt as though everyone had abandoned her and that she had no one to turn to for help.
That was why Xue Hui's words immediately melted away the grievance in her heart.
"I-I don't know how to repay your kindness, Xue Hui," Xiao Ning'er muttered.
With everything he had done for her, treating her disease, giving her a powerful cultivation technique, and now being willing to go against the Sacred Family for her sake, Xiao Ning'er was at a loss for how she could ever return the favor.
"Good. That means you'll be stuck with me for a long time."
Xue Hui shifted the hand holding hers, repositioning it so they could shake hands.
"Friends?" he asked with a bright smile.
Looking at his confident smile, Xiao Ning'er felt a glimmer of hope.
She sniffled and nodded.
"Mm, friends."
The night gradually deepened.
After they finished talking, Xiao Ning'er returned to her residence. Dressed in a silky yellow nightgown, she lay on her side in bed.
Her fingers brushed over the hand Xue Hui had held earlier. A strange longing lingered in her heart, and the sensation of his touch remained vividly in her mind.
Turning over, Xiao Ning'er lay on her back, her eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.
All she felt now was a sense of blissful comfort, especially knowing that her Arctic Disease was finally gone.
She still couldn't believe how easily Xue Hui had expelled it from her body.
Her face flushed yet again as Xue Hui's image surfaced in her mind.
"Xue Hui," she whispered.
Just saying his name brought her comfort, enough to lull her into a peaceful sleep.
The next day.
Divine Family Mansion.
Patriarch Residence, Family Dining Hall.
A noticeably annoyed Chen Linlin had been boring a hole into Xue Hui's head ever since they sat down for breakfast.
Everyone at the table noticed it except Xue Hui, who was too engrossed in eating while reading the latest news.
Intrigued, Chen Zhenlong sent a questioning look toward Chen Yinying and Chen Wenrou, silently asking whether they knew what was going on with their daughter.
The two mothers simply shook their heads, equally clueless.
Meanwhile, Xue Hui continued flipping through the newspaper, oblivious to the tense atmosphere.
Seeing this, Chen Linlin huffed in annoyance and slammed both hands onto the table, causing the cutlery to clatter loudly.
This finally drew Xue Hui's attention. He looked at her in confusion.
"What's up?" Xue Hui asked, finally noticing her sour mood.
"D-Did you do it?" Chen Linlin asked in return, her face slowly turning red with embarrassment.
Everyone at the table noticed.
"What exactly?" Xue Hui asked.
Seeing her flushed cheeks only made him more confused. Her vague question made no sense to him.
Chen Linlin's entire body trembled as her glare turned accusatory.
Feeling everyone's eyes on her, she grew even more agitated. She abruptly stood from her chair and pointed at Xue Hui with a trembling finger.
"YOU DID IT, RIGHT!? YOU MESSED WITH MY FRIENDS LAST NIGHT!"
Chen Linlin's face turned bright red as she pointed at him.
"You pervert!"
Not only Xue Hui, but even Chen Zhenlong, Chen Yinying, and Chen Wenrou choked on their food when Chen Linlin loudly accused him of doing something inappropriate with her friends.
Coughing, Xue Hui grabbed a napkin from beside him and covered his mouth, his mind reeling from the sudden accusation.
"I DID WHAT!?" Xue Hui exclaimed in shock.
He wondered if he had heard her correctly, but the scandalized looks from everyone at the table confirmed that he had.
Feeling completely wronged, Xue Hui shot Chen Linlin a disbelieving glance.
His reaction only made Chen Linlin huff in annoyance. She folded her arms across her chest, refusing to back down.
"You didn't visit my room even once last night, and I searched everywhere but couldn't find you."
She squinted and leaned forward to make sure he heard her clearly.
"And you smell like this! I can detect a faint scent of a woman's perfume on you, Hui-hui."
Xue Hui pinched the collar of his clothes and brought it closer to his nose.
His eyebrow rose the moment he caught the lingering scent.
It carried traces of sweets, tea, and Xiao Ning'er's lavender perfume.
Realizing what she meant, Xue Hui immediately tried to explain himself.
"Okay, I didn't do anything to your friends. This has nothing to do with them."
Xue Hui told Chen Linlin and her parents about his brief outing the previous night, explaining how he had gone to the Holy Orchid Institute's Hunting Grounds and encountered Xiao Ning'er alone and unwell.
He went on to explain how that encounter had led to him helping her.
The misunderstanding was quickly cleared up, as none of them believed he was lying.
Once Xue Hui had cleared his name, he turned to Chen Linlin and questioned her.
"But first, I want to know why the first thing that came to your mind was that I was messing around with your friends like that!?"
At his question, all eyes shifted from Xue Hui to Chen Linlin.
She panicked, trying to explain herself but failing miserably as she stammered, "W-Well! Jing Ya and the others are really pretty, and you were gone last night, so don't blame me for imagining things!"
Xue Hui let out an amused chuckle.
"So you imagined it, huh?" he teased.
Chen Zhenlong let out a tired groan. He really didn't need to hear about his daughter's more personal thoughts.
Chen Yinying and Chen Wenrou, on the other hand, burst into laughter as they watched their daughter dig herself deeper into embarrassment.
"S-Shut up! I didn't mean it that way!" she yelled defensively.
Chen Linlin's face turned green the moment she realized she had just blurted out her private thoughts in front of her parents.
Embarrassed, she quickly bolted out of the dining hall, excusing herself under the pretense of preparing for school.
Not wanting to be left behind with Chen Zhenlong and his wives, Xue Hui also excused himself and followed after her.
Overall, breakfast had been quite eventful and chaotic.
Hours later.
Holy Orchid Institute, Fighter Apprentice Class.
Xiao Ning'er fidgeted in her seat as she waited for someone.
Earlier, after having the most comfortable sleep she had experienced in a long time, Xiao Ning'er immediately began practicing the Heavenly Tempest, World Dominator Cultivation Technique.
To her astonishment, she broke through to One-Star Bronze Rank, far exceeding her expectations.
Xiao Ning'er was extremely grateful to Xue Hui. She couldn't believe that he had simply handed her such a powerful cultivation technique.
Her heart fluttered as she recalled the events of the previous night and how that fateful encounter had transformed so many aspects of her life.
The classroom door slid open as students began to fill the room. Xiao Ning'er turned her head to see who had arrived, only to find Nie Li and his friends entering the class.
For some reason, they looked tired and worn out.
Xiao Ning'er bit her lip as disappointment crept into her heart.
The person she wanted to see most hadn't arrived yet.
At the same time, she wasn't sure how to approach Xue Hui once he arrived. Despite calling each other friends, she wasn't certain whether it was appropriate to simply walk up to him and spend time together.
The last time Xiao Ning'er had a friend was when she was still a small child, and even that connection had been brief. Once her family began to decline, she stopped associating with that friend.
Another person entered, and this time it was Ye Ziyun.
Xiao Ning'er quickly averted her gaze, not wanting to meet the eyes of the City Lord's daughter.
Nervously, Xiao Ning'er tapped her fingers against her thighs. She hated how fidgety she was. The last thing she wanted was to look strange in front of Xue Hui.
Wanting to distract herself, Xiao Ning'er took out a hand mirror and checked her reflection.
Seeing nothing amiss, she let out a relieved sigh.
One thing she had done differently today was put extra effort into her appearance. She wore a bright-accented dress and light makeup, making her look even more striking.
That was when another group of people entered the room.
Leading them was Chen Linlin. Her usual cheerful demeanor immediately brightened the atmosphere inside the classroom, making the boys pause whatever they were doing and turn their admiring gazes toward her.
Behind Chen Linlin were the trio of commoner girls, Jing Ya, Mei Lin, and Yue Ling, all looking vibrant and confident.
The four girls ignored the attention they received as they continued chatting happily, making a beeline for their seats.
Another person who felt excited upon seeing them was Xiao Ning'er.
Their arrival could only mean one thing.
Xiao Ning'er straightened in her seat, waiting with bated breath as she fixed her gaze on the doorway, anticipating Xue Hui's appearance.
When he finally appeared, Xiao Ning'er's face lit up.
Her usual icy demeanor melted instantly, replaced by unmistakable excitement.
The surrounding boys who had been eyeing Xiao Ning'er held their breath, their jaws dropping at the unexpected sight.
Ignoring the bewildered looks directed at her, Xiao Ning'er kept her attention fixed on Xue Hui as he walked in.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Xue Hui entered the classroom with a graceful stride.
Despite being the same age as everyone else, his elegant demeanor made the others feel inadequate. He was simply far too refined for his age.
The moment Xiao Ning'er met Xue Hui's gaze, she immediately brightened and waved to him.
"Xue Hui!"
However, it seemed Xiao Ning'er wasn't the only one excited to see him, because at the exact same moment she called out, another voice echoed through the classroom.
"Xue Hui!"
The classroom fell silent.
Everyone's eyes shifted between Xiao Ning'er and Ye Ziyun, the two goddesses of their class, both calling out to the same person.
Xiao Ning'er and Ye Ziyun stared at each other, complicated emotions flickering in their eyes.
While the two beautiful girls locked in a silent standoff, a group of girls watched the scene with raised eyebrows.
Whistle...
"Girls, boss is, like... super popular with the ladies. Jeez, it's only the second day of class, and they're already fighting over him," Mei Lin said, whistling in astonishment.
"W-Well, Master is really an a-awesome guy, so I get why," Yue Ling added.
She glanced around at the students' reactions and noticed some hostility from the boys watching the scene unfold, which made her uneasy.
"Hmm."
Jing Ya nodded, her usual stoic expression giving nothing away.
Shaking her head, Chen Linlin sighed in resignation.
She hadn't believed her mothers at first when they told her that Xue Hui was dangerous to women.
But seeing Ye Ziyun and Xiao Ning'er glaring at each other with such tension and complicated emotions, Chen Linlin finally understood what her mothers had meant.
Her eyes narrowed as she shot Xue Hui a look.
His confused expression did nothing to lessen the irritation in her heart.
With a huff, Chen Linlin sat down, ignoring the standoff between Ye Ziyun and Xiao Ning'er.
'Just don't forget who the first-wife title belongs to,' Chen Linlin declared, sending the message through their Divine Family communication soul technique to Xue Hui.
Receiving the soul transmission, Xue Hui let out a tired sigh.
A troubled smile appeared on his face as he shook his head.
'Women,' he thought to himself.
End of Chapter 43