Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Collective PUA
Chapter 38: Collective PUA
When Su Mo and the others returned to Shrek Academy, they saw Ning Rongrong and Oscar standing outside the academy gates.
After Zhu Zhuqing ignored Ning Rongrong's greeting and went inside, Ning Rongrong noticed that Dai Mubai seemed to have suffered a setback with Zhu Zhuqing, and immediately mocked him, which enraged the already furious Dai Mubai.
Dai Mubai's evil eyes flashed with cold light. "Ning Rongrong, don't test my patience. This is Shrek Academy, not your home. Others might fear your Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan, but I, Dai Mubai, do not. If you push me too far, be careful, or I might just kill you!"
Ning Rongrong giggled. "Oh, I'm so scared! Come on then, do it!"
"You…" Dai Mubai finally couldn't contain his anger anymore, and his soul power erupted. In an instant, Ning Rongrong was sent flying, landing hard on the ground.
"Mubai." Tang San stepped forward, positioning himself between Ning Rongrong and Dai Mubai, grabbing Dai Mubai's arm. "We're all classmates, let's leave it at that."
Ning Rongrong, who had never suffered such humiliation in her life, was shocked that Dai Mubai actually dared to hit her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she glared at him but was unable to speak.
Looking at Tang San standing in his way, Dai Mubai exhaled deeply, retracting his surging soul power. "Fine, Xiao San, I'll give you face." He gave Ning Rongrong a cold glance with his evil eyes. "Remember this: this isn't your home, don't provoke me again. Otherwise, I don't care what your status is."
With that, he strode into the academy.
"Tang San!" Ning Rongrong wiped away her tears and suddenly shouted his name.
Tang San turned back to look at her.
Ning Rongrong gritted her teeth and said fiercely, "Help me kill him. Use those special weapons of yours to kill him. If you do it, you'll become an honored guest of our Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan. I'll give you money—ten thousand gold soul coins. How about that? And we'll support you unconditionally in the future."
Even though Su Mo was standing behind them, Ning Rongrong still thought Tang San was more powerful since he had defeated Zhao Wuji.
Tang San walked slowly up to Ning Rongrong and looked at her intently. "Ning Rongrong, in this world, not everything can be bought with money or power. This is an academy, just an academy. We're all classmates. If you continue to hold onto this mindset, thinking that the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan makes you superior, then I suggest you leave."
"You… do you even know how powerful our Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan is?" Ning Rongrong glared at him, unwilling to accept defeat.
Tang San smiled faintly. Having lived two lives, how could a twelve-year-old girl like her understand him? "So what if I know? So what if I don't? What does it have to do with me? Xiao Wu, let's go."
Shaking his head with a hint of regret, Tang San walked into the academy with Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu only gave a glance at the disheveled Ning Rongrong, with no intention of offering any comfort. Tang San's attitude was her attitude.
Watching them leave, Ning Rongrong stood frozen in place. If Dai Mubai's aggression had made her angry, then Tang San's look of pity when he left struck her even deeper.
From a young age, she had always been pampered by the powerful figures of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan, growing up with a self-centered mindset. But today, after receiving three intense shocks in a row, she suddenly began to question herself. Why were they treating her like this? Was she really wrong?
"Oscar." Ning Rongrong, unwilling to believe that she was in the wrong, turned to look at Oscar.
"Would you help me?"
Oscar's eyes showed a trace of quiet disappointment. "When I first met you, I was amazed by your beauty. I believe that when you grow up, you'll become an absolute stunner. At that time, the gentleness you showed was exactly what I liked most. That's why I decided to pursue you, even though I'm just a commoner and you're from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan. I didn't care. But I realize now that I was completely wrong."
"Wrong? Why?" Ning Rongrong looked at him, confused.
Oscar smiled faintly. "Because you're not the type of person I like. You're not the tree that's worth giving up the whole forest for. I'm not worthy of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan's little princess. Even if I were willing to help you, what then? What do you take me for? Just your servant? Sorry, but I'd rather be myself. I'm sure there are plenty of people in your clan willing to help you—you don't need me."
As Oscar walked toward the academy, Ning Rongrong shouted, "Don't you like me? Even you won't support me?"
Oscar paused but didn't turn around. "Tang San was right. If you keep that attitude and personality, you should leave. This place isn't for you. And with the way you are, the word 'friend' will forever be out of your reach."
Oscar walked away too.
"Su Mo!"
Ning Rongrong hurriedly turned to the last person who hadn't left—Su Mo.
"Get up first."
Su Mo walked over, extended his hand to Ning Rongrong, and said softly.
If he didn't offer some warmth now, Ning Rongrong might really start questioning her whole existence.
"Oh, okay…"
Ning Rongrong was slightly stunned when she saw Su Mo's hand in front of her. She had thought he would hate her and ignore her too.
She was truly afraid that even Su Mo wouldn't talk to her, so she quickly grabbed his hand and stood up.
"Do you… hate me like they do?"
"Was I really wrong?"
Ning Rongrong finally raised her head and looked at Su Mo, placing her hands together in front of her, asking cautiously.
"Not really."
Su Mo gave her a light smile.
"So… can I still change now?" Ning Rongrong asked immediately after hearing Su Mo's reply.
Seeing the pitiful look on her face, Su Mo knew that Ning Rongrong had genuinely realized she needed to change.
Su Mo didn't disagree with that, but he didn't think she needed to completely deny herself either.
"Of course, but I actually think Little Devil Ning Rongrong is quite adorable!"
"You're the little princess of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan. What's wrong with having a bit of a temper?"
Su Mo couldn't resist as he looked at the pitiful Ning Rongrong. He gently placed his hand on her head, giving her a reassuring pat, and said.
"R-really?"
Feeling Su Mo's warm hand, Ning Rongrong's face flushed slightly. She wanted to move away but couldn't bring herself to, so she endured her shyness, afraid that if she pulled away, Su Mo might abandon her too.
"Alright, don't be upset. Just use your head a bit more next time and avoid provoking people when they're already in a bad mood!"
"You knew Dai Mubai was in a bad mood, yet you still went to mock him. That was really foolish!"
"Come on, let's head back. A good night's sleep will make everything better—don't overthink it!"
After patting her head a few more times and offering some comforting words, Su Mo withdrew his hand and headed inside.
"Wait for me, Su Mo!"
Seeing this, Ning Rongrong quickly followed him.
Although she still felt upset, walking alongside Su Mo eased her despair a little.
…
The next morning, during the assembly on the field, everyone was surprised to see that Ning Rongrong hadn't left and had stayed at the academy. They had thought after what was said to her yesterday, she would have left.
"Hmph!"
Seeing their astonishment, Ning Rongrong snorted inwardly.
You want me to leave? I'm not going anywhere!
Even though she had decided to change herself, Ning Rongrong still found it difficult to let go of her pride, so she didn't greet Tang San and the others.
"Su Mo! Good morning!"
Ning Rongrong only greeted Su Mo, then stood beside him in line.
"Morning!"
Su Mo smiled in return.
Seeing this, Tang San and the others exchanged thoughtful glances.
A moment later, Dean Flender arrived.
"Where's Oscar?"
As soon as Flender arrived, he noticed Oscar was late, and his expression darkened.
"Dean, I'm here!"
Just as Flender spoke, Oscar came running from afar with a joyful expression. He didn't seem worried at all about being scolded for being late.
"Oscar's broken through to level 30!"
Seeing this, Su Mo's heart stirred, realizing that Oscar had achieved a breakthrough to level 30.
Su Mo couldn't help but think to himself. In the early stages, not only was Oscar a bit sneaky, but he also wasn't particularly diligent in his cultivation.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have only broken through to level 30 at the age of 14.
After all, Oscar was born with full innate soul power.
At 15, Dai Mubai, who was only a year older than Oscar, was already 7 levels higher than him.
Not to mention Su Mo's level—Ning Rongrong, despite her lack of diligence in cultivation, was already at level 26.
In two years, no matter what, Ning Rongrong would surely break through to level 30!
"Dean, I just broke through to level 30!"
Sure enough, as soon as Oscar reached the group, he excitedly announced his breakthrough.
Flender, who had been in a foul mood moments before, brightened up immediately after learning that Oscar had reached level 30. "Good, good, well done! Oscar, you're the second among your peers to break through to level 30. Since that's the case, tomorrow your teacher Zhao Wuji will take you all to the spirit beast forest to help you hunt for a spirit ring. It'll also serve as training for the rest of you!"
Flender glanced at Oscar, signaling with his eyes. "Now, let's continue today's lesson, Little Oscar!"
Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun's faces changed slightly upon hearing Flender's words. Their eyes flickered with amusement, having guessed the content of the lesson.
"Got it, Dean!"
Oscar responded, and immediately began making his recovery sausages on the spot.
In an instant, he had made a large number of them.
Even Tang San and Xiao Wu, seeing this, could guess what was coming, and their expressions turned uncomfortable.
"Today's lesson is for all of you to eat at least one of the recovery sausages that Little Oscar made!"
Sure enough, Flender's next words confirmed Tang San and the others' worst fears.
Standing beside Su Mo, Ning Rongrong looked equally distressed. She quietly asked Su Mo, "Su Mo, are you going to eat one?"
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