Chapter 12
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Chapter 12: No Title
“Why did you suddenly go quiet? Weren’t you just full of energy?”
Nalan Xia stepped into the restroom, arms crossed over her chest, her fingers tapping rhythmically on her arm, like the ominous tolling of a bell before hell arrived.
Her cold black eyes bore straight into Qian Zexing.
An invisible pressure filled the room. This commanding, coldly beautiful woman truly was a terrifying creature.
“Uhm, w-well, I just happened to run into Yu Li here while I was on my way to the restroom. Don’t get the wrong idea, I really, really wasn’t trying to run away.”
The little blonde girl was trembling, clutching my sleeve tightly, instinctively leaning toward me for a sense of safety. It was clear she was terrified of Nalan Xia.
“Is that so? Do you think everyone’s as foolish as you? I’ll give you 3 seconds. Get over here!”
Her cold voice held a trace of anger, which seemed to ignite courage in Qian Zexing. When cornered, even a rabbit will leap, and Qian Zexing was no ordinary rabbit.
“Nalan Xia! I-I’ve put up with you for long enough! Who do you think you are, ordering me around like this? If you keep acting this unreasonable, I—I’ll call the police on you!”
Though Qian Zexing’s words sounded tough, her voice was laced with a sobbing tone. She clung to my waist, peering out with pleading blue eyes that shot Nalan Xia a look of pure resentment.
“Oh? And what gives me the right? Hmph, just the fact that you’re my fiancée, my possession! You haven’t forgotten, have you? Your parents promised you to me long ago.”
“What nonsense are you talking about? My parents would never have me marry a woman as overbearing as you! Get lost!”
“Qian! Ze! Xing! It seems I still need to teach you a proper lesson in manners!”
Nalan Xia’s voice was tight with anger, her elegant features contorted in fury, her dark eyes glinting with a predatory gleam as she took slow, menacing steps forward.
“D-don’t come any closer! Second brother, please, save me! Help me get her out of here, I’m begging you!”
Qian Zexing’s desperate plea came as her body trembled behind me. Even with my patience, seeing my good brother being bullied like this stirred anger within me.
I stepped forward, shielding Qian Zexing from Nalan Xia’s icy glare, and forced myself to speak,
“It’s the modern age. No matter what, you can’t force her to do anything against her will. Please leave.”
“Move aside.”
Nalan Xia’s tall, voluptuous frame loomed over me, pressing down with her gaze.
“I’ll give you one last chance. Move, or don’t blame me if you get hurt.”
“…I—I won’t move!”
At that, Nalan Xia grabbed my wrist and flung me aside. My frail body lost balance, falling backward—yet, instead of pain, I felt something soft beneath me.
Huh? Wasn’t I supposed to have hit the floor? Why did it feel… soft and warm, even comforting? I shifted slightly, only to hear a gentle gasp.
“Mmhmm~ Xiao Li, you’re such a flirt.”
“S-sorry! I didn’t mean to!”
I scrambled off Le Ya, who had caught me just in time before I hit the ground, though the impact had made her lose her balance, and we both ended up on the floor.
“It’s okay. The important thing is you’re not hurt, right?”
She looked at me with concern.
Since I’d had a cushion, I was unharmed. Le Ya, however, had taken the brunt of my fall.
“I’m fine. I just hope you weren’t hurt by my landing, Sister Le Ya.”
I apologized, feeling guilty.
“Mhm~ Knowing you’re concerned makes me happy.”
Le Ya gave me a gentle smile, reaching out to stroke my hair.
Oh no, here it was again—that incredible feeling of comfort mixed with embarrassment. I could stay under her touch forever. What kind of magic was this?
As I was lost in her warmth, I realized that Nalan Xia had already grabbed hold of Qian Zexing.
The little blonde girl trembled, her arm firmly gripped by Nalan Xia, tears slipping down her cheeks one by one, making her look like a helpless kitten.
Nalan Xia started dragging Qian Zexing toward the door. Though Qian Zexing tried to resist, her strength was no match for Nalan Xia’s. She could only be passively pulled toward the exit.
I was about to step in when Le Ya spoke up before I could.
“I believe you’re the campus belle from the medical school, Nalan Xia, right? I wasn’t planning on getting involved, but since you hurt Xiao Li, I can’t let this slide.”
Le Ya’s gentle demeanor shifted to one of cool indifference. In that moment, she reminded me of her high school self—an untouchable beauty, like a snow lotus atop an icy mountain.
“Oh? What do you plan to do about it?”
Nalan Xia narrowed her eyes.
“Apologize to Xiao Li.”
Nalan Xia was taken aback, glancing at me. She then bent down and said,
“I apologize. I got too emotional earlier and hurt you two. I hope you won’t hold it against me.”
“O-oh.”
I hadn’t expected such a haughty person like Nalan Xia to apologize so sincerely, and for a moment, I was stunned.
After apologizing, she shot Le Ya a meaningful look and said something strange,
“So you’re the same as me. Good luck to you.”
With that, she turned and left, dragging Qian Zexing with her.
This entire incident had gone far beyond what I’d expected. Though I wanted to help the third brother, I was powerless in my current weakened state, let alone stop Nalan Xia, who had extremely high martial arts skills.
I could only silently hope that Qian Zexing would make it through the night safely.
One more thing bothered me, though: Nalan Xia had called Qian Zexing her fiancée. Judging by her tone, she didn’t seem to be joking. But the third brother had never mentioned anything about an arranged marriage before.
It seemed that in this transformed world, things were indeed different from before—even third brother’s relationships had shifted.
As I pondered this, a soft hand intertwined with mine, our fingers lacing together. I looked up to see Le Ya, smiling gently.
“That Nalan Xia seems to really like your roommate.”
“Does she? But her way of showing it is a little… intense.”
“Sometimes, possessiveness is a form of affection too. After all, the more precious something is, the more you fear losing it, don’t you think?”
Le Ya winked playfully at me.