Chapter 51 — "ON THE WAY TO THE TURTLE"
The courtyard was quiet.
Too quiet.
Bai Qianlan stood there, hands clasped behind her back, eyes fixed on Ling Yifan, waiting.
Chen Wulian held his breath dramatically. Long Hao crossed his arms. Ouyang Xue’er watched with open curiosity.
Ling Yifan exhaled slowly.
Then—
"If you’re okay," he said, voice steady but sincere,"with a guy like me..."
He looked directly at Bai Qianlan.
"...then I’d be happy too."
~Author - How Cute, such a cutie patootie.
For half a second—
Silence.
Then Bai blinked.
"...That’s it?"
Ling Yifan frowned slightly.
"...That’s honest."
She laughed.
A real laugh.
"You’re the one who’s Mr. Perfectionist," she teased. "Did you forget?"
The tension shattered instantly.
Chen threw his arms into the air.
"HOOOOORAY—!!"
Ouyang joined in without hesitation.
"CONGRATULATIONS!"
Ling Yifan stiffened.
"...You don’t need to shout."
Too late.
Chen grinned like a demon.
And looked to Ling Yifan and Long Hao.
"So," he said loudly,"when’s the wedding?"
Ling Yifan froze.
Long Hao turned slowly.
"...What."
Chen pointed dramatically.
"You two!"
Ling Yifan and Long Hao looked at each other at the same time.
Then spoke together—
"We are NOT like you, Chen." "We don’t swing that way."
The entire courtyard exploded with laughter.
Ouyang nearly bent over.
Bai covered her mouth, shoulders shaking.
Chen clutched his chest.
"OUCH. Rejected by two men at once."
Long Hao sighed.
"...You walked into that."
Chen waved his hand dismissively.
"Not like that," he said."I mean—"
He pointed.
"Ling Yifan marrying Bai."
Then turned sharply.
"And Long Hao marrying Ouyang Xue’er."
Silence.
Then—
Bai Qianlan turned red.
Ouyang Xue’er froze.
Long Hao blinked.
"...Excuse me?"
Ouyang snapped.
"WHO SAID THAT?!"
Her ears were bright red.
Ling Yifan finally cracked a smile.
"Oh?" he said lightly, looking at Long Hao."You didn’t deny it immediately."
Long Hao’s lips twitched.
"...You’re enjoying this too much."
Chen clapped happily.
"YES!NOW WE’RE GETTING SOMEWHERE!"
Ouyang turned away sharply.
"Don’t listen to him."
But she didn’t move away.
That night—
The courtyard was lit with soft spirit lanterns.
Food was spread across long tables. Music played quietly.Laughter echoed freely.
No rankings. No monsters. No expectations.
Just them.
Chen raised a cup.
"To surviving impossible odds!"
Everyone echoed.
"To survival!"
Ling Yifan sat beside Bai Qianlan.
Not touching.
Not distant.
Just... comfortable.
She leaned slightly closer.
"...You’re smiling," she noted.
"...Don’t get used to it," he replied.
She smiled wider.
Long Hao watched them briefly—then looked away, a faint smile on his face.
Ouyang stood beside him.
"...So," she said casually,"Stage Two tomorrow."
"Yes," Long Hao replied.
Chen jumped onto a table.
"LISTEN UP!"
Everyone groaned.
"We’re not stopping at surviving," he declared. "We win Stage Two."
Ling Yifan stood.
"And Stage Three."
Bai nodded.
"We place first."
Ouyang crossed her arms, smirking.
"And take the whole championship."
Long Hao looked at them all.
"...Then it’s settled."
The lanterns flickered gently in the night.
Friendship. Trust. Something new beginning.
"Alright," Chen laughed, raising his cup again. "Tomorrow—Stage Two."
Ling Yifan’s eyes sharpened.
"...We win everything."
And this time—
They meant it.
__
The Call came early in the morning.
Long Hao was in the recovery courtyard, stretching slowly, when his communicator vibrated in his hand.
The caller ID made him pause.
"...Mom."
He accepted the call immediately.
"Hao’er!" his mother’s voice came through instantly, strained with worry."Are you okay?! Are you really okay?!"
Long Hao blinked.
"I’m fine, Mom."
"Don’t lie!" she snapped. "They only showed you on the broadcast for twenty minutes! Just twenty! Then the screen changed, and later I heard you were injured badly—!"
Her voice wavered.
"Your sister has been crying since yesterday."
Long Hao’s chest tightened.
"...She has?"
"Yes!" his mother said quickly."She keeps asking why Big Brother is bleeding on TV."
Long Hao exhaled slowly, then smiled gently.
"Mom, listen to me," he said calmly."I’m already recovered. I’m standing. I’m training. Nothing serious."
"...Really?"
"Really."
He glanced at his bandaged arm, then added lightly,"If anything, I’m stronger than before."
There was a pause.
Then—
"...Your sister wants to talk to you."
A soft sniffle came through the communicator.
"Big Brother... are you hurt...?"
Long Hao’s voice softened instantly.
"I’m okay," he said warmly."Completely okay."
"...You promise?"
"I promise."
Another sniff.
"...Then come back fast."
"I will," Long Hao replied. "And next time, I’ll bring you a souvenir from Dragon Turtle Academy."
"...A turtle?"
He laughed.
"Something like that."
The call ended.
Long Hao stared at the communicator for a moment longer.
Then—
"...Alright," he murmured."Stage Two."
The ten members of Azure Dragon Academy boarded the academy bus soon after.
The atmosphere was light.
Too light.
Chen Wulian chose chaos immediately.
As Ling Yifan sat down near the window, Bai Qianlan moved to sit beside Chen—
And Chen shoved her forward.
"WHOOPS."
Bai stumbled—
Straight into Ling Yifan’s lap.
Time stopped.
Ling Yifan froze completely.
"...Chen."
Bai’s face turned red instantly.
"I—I—!"
The bus exploded with laughter.
"OHHHH—!""DIRECT HIT!""CAPTAIN ASSIST!"
Ling Yifan gently steadied her shoulders.
"...Get up before this becomes a misunderstanding."
Chen wiped imaginary tears.
"Too late."
Bai scrambled upright, face burning.
"...You’re dead later."
She took one breath.
Then turned toward Long Hao.
"Long Hao."
He looked up.
"...Yeah?"
"Stand up."
The bus went silent.
"...Why?" Long Hao asked.
"Because, I’m sitting with Ling Yifan."
For half a second—
Silence.
Then—
"OOOOOOOOH—!!!"
Chen nearly fell off his seat.
Ouyang Xue’er covered her mouth, laughing.
Ling Yifan blinked.
"...You’ve become bolder."
Bai crossed her arms, trying very hard not to smile.
"Someone has to."
~Author - You go girl.
Long Hao stood up slowly.
"...Wow," he said, shaking his head dramatically."There goes my boyfriend."
Ling Yifan shot him a look.
"Shut up."
The bus erupted again.
Long Hao moved toward the back and sat beside Ouyang Xue’er.
Chen immediately leaned over the seat.
"Well, well," he grinned."Look at this."
He pointed dramatically.
"Two married couples."
Ouyang snapped.
"WE ARE NOT—!"
Long Hao smiled faintly.
"...Relax. He’s joking."
"...I know that," she muttered, ears red.
Ling Yifan glanced sideways at Bai Qianlan.
She was already settled beside him.
Their hands brushed.
Neither pulled away.
ARRIVAL —
Hours later—
The bus slowed.
Outside the windows rose Dragon Turtle Academy.
Massive stone structures shaped like ancient beasts.Training arenas layered like fortresses. A presence that radiated raw, physical dominance.
Chen whistled.
"...This place screams muscles."
The doors opened.
As the team stepped down—
Ling Yifan exited first.
Bai Qianlan followed.
And without hesitation—
She took his hand.
Not tightly.
Not nervously.
Just naturally.
Ling Yifan looked down.
Then laced his fingers with hers.
The teasing stopped.
Even Chen paused.
Long Hao watched them, a small smile on his face.
Ouyang Xue’er followed beside him.
"...Stage Two," she said.
"Yes," Long Hao replied.
Ahead of them—
Dragon Turtle Academy awaited.
And this time—
They weren’t just participants.
They were gladiators.
[Chapter ENDS]