Li Luo jumped a little to see Jiang Qing’e here at the bridge as well. Could it really be such a coincidence?
She was watching his every fumble and fondle with Zhao Huiyin calmly, neither distress nor amus.e.m.e.nt in her eyes.
And she stood her ground, not approaching.
Li Luo was just about to wave to her, but Zhao Huiyin took the chance when he raised his arm to press closer. The two looked as though they were embracing.
Jiang Qing’e turned and walked away.
Li Luo frowned, then gave her a rough shove, uncaring of their gender difference anymore. It was a good, solid push, but she barely moved an inch, as though he had only nudged her gently.
Li Luo, on the other hand, had pushed himself backwards two steps. Her exquisite face was looking forlorn, in a pouty, seductive sort of way.
“Junior Li Luo,” she said with a hint of a smile. “Is this the rough hospitality of Astral Sage College? It’s not very gentlemanly, you bad boy.” “Senior Zhao, what exactly do you want?” he asked testily.
Zhao Huiyin batted her alluring lashes innocently. “Whatever are you talking about?”
“That collision was intentional, wasn’t it? Truly the Vixen of Blue Abyss. Barely set foot in Astral Sage College and already stirring up trouble. I know your goal is not me, but Jiang Qing’e.”
“Let me see… you knew about me and Jiang Qing’e, so you decided to play this trick and get her riled up?”
“You know how good Jiang Qing’e is, and you know you’ll likely face her in the ticket match. You’re trying to get an advantage, using me to provoke her and make her lose her cool,” he said coolly. “Very clever, senior Zhao.”
She smiled knowingly at him. “Junior Li Luo’s perceptiveness is matched only by your handsomeness.”
“As for Jiang Qing’e, I’ve read the information on her many times. She’s una.s.sailable on any front, except a soft spot for you. Seems like the betrothal between you two is more solid than most people imagine.”
“I didn’t really believe it myself. An exceptional girl like that, I didn’t believe she would go for the other s.e.x. But from her reaction just now, I guess I underestimated what’s going on between the two of you.”
“Well, at least I learned something from my little play,” she laughed.
Li Luo stared at the vexing but gorgeous girl for a moment, then laughed a little strangely. “Oh senior Zhao. Angering Jiang Qing’e is not a wise decision at all.”
“Believe me, you might just regret it the day after tomorrow.”
Zhao Huiyin smiled unconcernedly. “Oh really? I can’t wait.” “Rather than me, I think junior Li Luo should worry about yourself. Our Lu brothers are hard to deal with, no matter who takes the stage.”
Li Luo only smiled in response. There was no need to explain or argue further. He flicked a hand dismissively and brushed past her.
She watched him go with a half-smile on her face, then stuffed her hands in her pockets and turned to watch the lake.
A moment later, she was joined by two figures who stood one at each side.
They were dressed in black and white respectively. If Li Luo were still here, he would have recognized them immediately. They were Lu Cāng and Lu Cáng of Blue Abyss Sage College’s One Star Hall.
“Senior, did your plan work?” The white-clothed Lu Cāng asked brightly.
“Plan? It was just a casual pa.s.s,” she said indifferently. “I just wanted to see if the engagement was anything serious. After all, I’m quite curious as to Jiang Qing’e’s orientation. If only she was a Blue Abyss student. I’d love her.”
She spoke boldly, with no care as to who heard her.
The white-clothed Lu Cāng was not surprised at her declaration. Senior Zhao’s s.e.xual orientation was well-known in Blue Abyss Sage College.
“But from that little test, I think there’s some real feeling between those two. I’m not sure what kind of feeling it is, but it’s quite solid.”
She laughed. “Of course, I wouldn’t rule out the possibility that Jiang Qing’e did that on purpose to make me feel like I’ve successfully angered her, so that I would be the one to get careless in our fight.”
Lu Cāng was stunned.
“Did you see that Li Luo?” she asked, swinging around to face the white-clothed youth on her right.
Lu Cāng nodded. “Sources say he has dual resonances, water and wood… That’s really rare, but I think my chances of winning are a little higher than his.”
Zhao Huiyin looked back out over the water. “Don’t underestimate him. Astral Sage College is a stronger school than ours. We’ve bided our time for many years before the school managed to nurture this lineup. It’s just bad luck that Astral Sage College would draw a trump card like Jiang Qing’e in the same hand. And also a dual resonance Li Luo.”
“Well, the only way to find out who’s better is to fight,” Lu Cāng laughed, a little arrogance in his tone.
Zhao Huiyin nodded slightly, then turned to leave.
“Let’s go. See what sort of delicacies Astral Sage College has.”
…
Li Luo walked briskly back to the tower. When he pushed open the door, he saw Jiang Qing’e and Bai Mengmeng sitting opposite each other at the table, sharing pleasant conversation.
Her golden eyes flicked up to him, then away just as quickly.
Bai Mengmeng got to her feet. “Leader, are you back from cultivating? I’ll go brew you some tea.” Li Luo smiled his thanks, then sat down on Jiang Qing’e’s side. Hands on his cheeks, he smiled sunnily at her. “You wouldn’t really be angry, would you? You’re smart enough to see through Zhao Huiyin’s little tricks.”
Jiang Qing’e took a delicate sip from her cup with a smile.
“I guess I’ll have to thank junior Lu Qing’er for my lack of anger. With her around, how could a feeble attempt like Zhao Huiyin’s hope to anger me?”