A vein throbbed on Dong Qingxue’s forehead as she struggled to resist the urge to attack. Taking a deep breath, she said slowly, “That’s part of the reason, I suppose …”
“Oh my god …” Qin Shaojun suddenly turned, staring at Dong Qingxue in disbelief as he exclaimed, “Dong Qingxue, I was just probing randomly, but you actually do like Lu Sheng! He’s your student, you know? Do you realize what that kind of behavior is called? It could practically be categorized as grooming …”
“Go die, Qin Shaojun.”
Dozens of needles suddenly shot forward.
Qin Shaojun’s expression changed abruptly as his figure vanished, becoming a gust of wind frantically dodging along the street, drawing curious looks from passersby.
It wasn’t until a few soldiers carrying guns ran over quickly, “You two, fighting is strictly prohibited here! Did you hear that?”
Dong Qingxue exhaled deeply, her eyes flashing as she retracted all the hexagonal needles. Her pretty face remained calm. “Pardon us, we weren’t fighting, just sparring …”
“Yeah … yeah … just sparring …”
About five or six meters away, Qin Shaojun’s figure reappeared, bent over with his hands on his knees, drenched in sweat and panting like a dog.
The patrolling soldiers gave them a suspicious look but didn’t say more, issuing a stern warning instead, “If you want to spar, go to the combat training hall. This is a public street – what if you accidentally injure someone? You’re both veteran soldiers, how could you not understand such simple rules?”
As the soldiers left, Qin Shaojun raised his hands in surrender. “Big sis, I was wrong. I was just joking with you …” He walked back, holding his chest with an uncomfortable expression and wheezing, “I fully support you two getting together. What era is this? The age gap between you two is nothing. Hundred-plus-year-old martial masters marrying eighteen-year-old high school girls as wives is old news, it wouldn’t even make the top hundred trending topics … Honestly, you two are quite suited for each other. When Lu Sheng first joined the training camp, I already felt you two had a destined husband-wife chemistry …”
“Are you really asking to die, Qin Shaojun?”
“No no, I won’t say anything else …” Qin Shaojun’s face turned pale as he swiftly became serious again. “Do you want me to help probe Lu Sheng’s thoughts? I feel like he’s probably interested in you too. To be fair, there’s no young man in this world who hasn’t had a crush on their beautiful teacher!”
A glimmer flashed across Dong Qingxue’s beautiful eyes as she subconsciously reached for the silver pendant hanging around her neck.
Her expression seemed to waver for a moment, but she ultimately shook her head.
“Nevermind, it’s impossible.”
“How would you know without trying? Are you afraid of rejection? Losing face?”
Qin Shaojun thumped his chest loudly, “With me around, there’s no possibility of failure!”
“No.” Dong Qingxue calmly replied, “They won’t agree to me being with Lu Sheng.”
“They?” Qin Shaojun frowned in confusion, then seeming to realize something, his face turned unsightly. “You mean …your two brothers?”
Dong Qingxue didn’t respond, but her silence was answer enough.
Qin Shaojun sighed heavily, “Those two tyrants are really overprotective of you. I can understand being concerned for their little sister, but this is too much …”
He studied Dong Qingxue carefully, “Is that the only reason? Or is there something else?”
After a long pause, Dong Qingxue finally spoke in a low voice, “There are some things you don’t understand about our family …”
Qin Shaojun waited silently for her to continue.
Dong Qingxue glanced around carefully before leaning in and whispering something into his ear …
Qin Shaojun’s eyes widened in shock, “No way … your family actually …?”
Dong Qingxue nodded heavily, “That’s why it’s absolutely impossible for Lu Sheng and me …”
Qin Shaojun was stunned, unable to react for a good while. When he finally regained his wits, he grabbed Dong Qingxue’s shoulders tightly, “Qingxue, you have to get out of there! That kind of thing is way too dangerous …”
Dong Qingxue shook her head, a look of firm resolution on her face, “I can’t leave. That’s my duty, my responsibility that I’ll never forsake.”
“But that’s inhumane! Even illegal!” Qin Shaojun protested anxiously.
“Keep your voice down!” Dong Qingxue hushed him sternly. “I’ve made my choice. What’s done is done. Don’t meddle in affairs you don’t understand.”
Qin Shaojun opened his mouth to argue further, but seemed to think better of it and clamped his mouth shut, fists clenched tightly.
The two friends stood there in tense silence, the weight of Dong Qingxue’s revelations hanging heavily between them.
Finally, Qin Shaojun spoke up, “If that’s your decision, I can’t change your mind. But at least promise me one thing.”
Dong Qingxue looked at him warily.
“If you ever need help, any kind of help at all, come to me immediately. No matter what, I’ll do everything in my power to get you out of that situation. You’re my oldest friend – I won’t let anything happen to you.” Qin Shaojun’s expression was solemn and sincere.
After a long moment, Dong Qingxue gave a barely perceptible nod.
Qin Shaojun let out a relieved breath and forced a grin, “Alright, enough of the heavy stuff. I’m going to get cleaned up.” He took a few steps away before turning back, “Are you sure you don’t want to join Lu Sheng and me for dinner?”
Dong Qingxue shook her head wordlessly.
“Suit yourself,” Qin Shaojun shrugged. “But don’t be a stranger, okay? Despite everything … you’re still one of my closest friends.”
With that, he turned and headed off, leaving Dong Qingxue standing alone in the street, her expression conflicted as she stared after his retreating figure.