Soul Land—Chapter 3: My Name is Zhu Zhuqing
The girl had fair skin and was delicate and cute, and what attracted Ling Qianyao the most was the roundness at the front of her body.
Ling Qianyao recognized that this was Zhu Zhuqing.
It had only been a short time since she awakened her martial soul, and her body had just begun to develop rapidly, but the kitten already showed her extraordinary talent.
Her alluring figure and the cold expression that contrasted sharply with her peers deepened Ling Qianyao's impression of her.
Without taking the initiative to talk to Zhu Zhuqing, Ling Qianyao admired her openly for a while before looking back to continue his nap.
"Why don't you drive me away like you did with them?" A cold voice sounded suddenly.
"If I chase you away, you will be unhappy," he replied.
"You didn't provoke me."
"Oh? Okay." Zhu Zhuqing was silent for a moment. "Thank you."
"Thank me?" Ling Qianyao was puzzled.
"The Dai family is very annoying."
"Really? You're welcome."
The conversation between the two suddenly stopped, and the whole space seemed to become more peaceful due to their silence. Only the occasional sound of the wind gently brushed against the treetops.
Zhu Zhuqing sat there, her fingers rubbing unconsciously. Her clear eyes, tinged with indifference, occasionally glanced at Ling Qianyao before quickly moving away, as if she were afraid of being discovered.
"What a weird person."
Her fingers instinctively tugged at the hem of her skirt, and suddenly, she took out a piece of candied fruit wrapped in oil paper from the small bag at her waist. She stared at the candied fruit for a while, then tiptoed to Ling Qianyao's side and gently pushed his hem with her fingertips. "Do you want to eat?"
Ling Qianyao opened half of his eyes and saw the crooked "Amber House" mark of Star Luo City printed on the candied fruit. He remembered the price tag of three silver soul coins in the window when he passed by that store that morning.
"Too sweet." He deliberately turned his head away and noticed the girl's ear tips turn light pink. "But thank you."
He reached out, took the candied fruit, and put it in his mouth.
"Can you help?"
Ling Qianyao immediately spat the candied fruit onto the oil paper. "What?"
Zhu Zhuqing was stunned. She genuinely didn't expect Ling Qianyao to react this way. Before she could respond, it got stuck in her throat.
She was taken aback for a moment, then frowned in annoyance and whispered, "You are really... weird."
Ling Qianyao looked at her somewhat angry expression, secretly amused, but pretended to be innocent and said, "What's wrong?"
Zhu Zhuqing replied angrily, "Nothing."
So, Ling Qianyao put the candied fruit back into his mouth, causing Zhu Zhuqing to roll her eyes.
"Did you do that on purpose or by accident?"
Ling Qianyao laughed and ate the candied fruit. "I did it on purpose and by accident."
Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing clenched her teeth even tighter, and the icy persona she typically maintained nearly shattered. Her pink fists were clenched tightly, looking fierce.
"Humph." Zhu Zhuqing no longer paid attention to Ling Qianyao and said in a muffled voice, "Goodbye."
Ling Qianyao watched Zhu Zhuqing walk away, unable to suppress his smile. Instead of letting her worry about family matters all the time, it would be better to let her divert her attention first.
Besides, it would take years to change Zhu Zhuqing's character as depicted in the original novel.
Since they were in the same class, Ling Qianyao would be foolish to send her away. A kitten that he cultivated himself is a good kitten.
The time for the students to familiarize themselves with the campus passed quickly, and the students of Class 1 gathered in the classroom again.
"Students, choose your seats first. If they're not suitable later, I will adjust them," said Ma Guobao, the teacher in charge of Class 1.
Perhaps because of the lesson he gave Dai Gonggong earlier, Ling Qianyao noticed many boys looking at him oddly. Awe? Fear?
Dai Gonggong approached at this moment. "Hey, big brother, I greeted you. You choose your seat first."
"Tsk, you big mouth." Ling Qianyao rolled his eyes at him. "Thanks."
He walked to the second-to-last window seat in the back row and sat down directly.
The seats were quickly chosen. He didn't know if it was because Dai Gonggong privately spread stories about Ling Qianyao's bad temper, but no one sat behind him.
"Oh, we meet again. You didn't even tell me your name just now?" Ling Qianyao said as Zhu Zhuqing took her seat last.
Zhu Zhuqing's face froze, and she nodded. "My name is Zhu Zhuqing." Then she sat down behind him.
Dai Gonggong, noticing this scene from afar, keenly looked back and forth between Zhu Zhuqing and Ling Qianyao.
A month passed quickly.
He also had a clearer understanding of Zhu Zhuqing's situation.
Before the age of three or four, Zhu Zhuqing's childhood was still very innocent.
She had a loving mother and an older sister who played with her.
After the age of four, her older sister began to alienate her, and the resources at home began to tilt.
It wasn't until Zhu Zhuqing awakened her martial soul at the age of six and was selected by the imperial family to form a team with Dai Mubai to fight against Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun in the future, competing for the position of crown prince, that Zhu Zhuyun completely severed ties with her and even threatened her with death.
Since then, she had grown, but her enthusiasm for cultivation intensified.
"Are there any candied fruits today?" Ling Qianyao stretched out his hand to Zhu Zhuqing.
Zhu Zhuqing slapped his hand away unhappily. "No!" This guy had always been freeloading, thinking she was his snack bag.
"Are you in a bad mood today?"
Zhu Zhuqing did not reply, but her eyes looked a little lonely.
Seeing this, Ling Qianyao couldn't help but ask, "Did your sister bully you again?"
She sighed. "No."
"Ling Qianyao."
"Hmm?"
Zhu Zhuqing glanced at him and whispered, "Do you think we are friends?"
"Heh~" Ling Qianyao stroked his chin. "You are usually so cold and don't talk to others. In this class, I guess I am the only one who often talks to you.
If I deny it, you'd be a friendless person, which is quite pitiful~," he lamented.
Zhu Zhuqing's heart remained unmoved. Over the past month, Ling Qianyao's sarcasm was countless, and such non-aggressive language could not sway her heartstrings at all.
He didn't deny it? Zhu Zhuqing's eyes moved slightly.
"Come with me to a place." She grabbed Ling Qianyao by the shoulder and walked out with him in an instant.
"Hey, hey, hey?" Ling Qianyao raised his eyebrows, shaking off Zhu Zhuqing's hand and following her slowly.
"Where are you going?"
"Outside the academy, to see someone."
Ling Qianyao narrowed his eyes. "What will happen after you finish?"
Zhu Zhuqing paused, a look of confusion flashing in her eyes, and shook her head. "I'll be back after I finish."
Ling Qianyao continued to ask, "Why don't you dare to go alone?"
Zhu Zhuqing slowed her pace slightly after hearing this, and a trace of confusion flickered in her eyes again, but it was quickly replaced by indifference. "I just want someone to go with me, nothing else."
"Let's go," Ling Qianyao said, shaking his head. "I hope we can have some fun."
(End of this chapter)