Chapter 12 – Yan yan's Meltdown and Lingling's Quiet Realization
Ryuga returned to the manor where his mother stayed, just as he had promised her before joining the academy.
He pushed open the door and called out softly, "Mom, I'm home."
Eliza, already in the kitchen preparing his favorite dishes, immediately rushed to him and wrapped him in a tight embrace.
She held him for a long moment, savoring his warmth like she always did.
Ryuga leaned into her quietly, enjoying the peaceful comfort she offered so freely.
"How was class, son?" she asked, brushing his hair gently.
The entire weekend passed like that — playing, eating, walking through Heaven Dou City together, training quietly at night, and refining his formless cultivation method.
He cherished every moment with her before school resumed on Monday.
When he returned to class, he took his usual seat beside Lingling, settling in as though the spot had been made for him alone.
He stared at her with that calm, gentle smile that ignored the teacher completely.
And like always, Yan yan fumed in silence.
The days slipped by in a quiet, predictable rhythm.
Ryuga teased Lingling every chance he got.
Yan yan's jaw clenched tighter with each passing hour.
Lingling, however, had begun responding more often.
Sometimes with a nod, sometimes a quiet word — just enough to show she was opening up.
Just enough to make Yan yan's irritation spike to dangerous levels.
Yan yan was at her breaking point.
She loved Lingling like a sister.
She knew the pain Lingling carried — the price of awakening the Nine-Heart Begonia, the loss of her grandmother, the burden of a martial soul that doomed one user in every generation.
She had been Lingling's only friend since they met at Lingling's family clinic years ago.
To see Lingling speaking to someone else — especially this annoying brat — filled her with a strange, gnawing discomfort she couldn't understand.
And Ryuga made it worse.
Every compliment, every smile, every soft "Sister Lingling"—
All of it was like knives to her pride.
Because for the first time in her life…
someone ignored her.
Everyone she'd ever met admired her beauty, praised her talent, flattered her because of her grandfather, the Poison Douluo.
Everyone except Ryuga.
He talked only to Lingling.
Only complimented Lingling.
Only invited Lingling everywhere.
Lingling's hair is pretty. Lingling's dress is beautiful. Lingling's scent is nice.
Yan yan muttered under her breath as she walked beside them, "My hair smells good too… and my dress is beautiful… and I'm cute too…"
"Yan yan," Lingling murmured, turning her head slightly. "Did you say something?"
"No! Nothing!" Yan yan snapped, like a cat caught stealing fish.
But the more Ryuga ignored her, the more she found herself waking up early to dress properly, styling her hair carefully, choosing prettier clothes — all for a boy she claimed to hate.
And Ryuga didn't even glance at her once.
Today, she snapped.
The three of them were walking through the academy's training grounds like they had for the past two weeks.
Ryuga was teasing Lingling again, and Lingling listened quietly as always.
Yan yan finally exploded.
"That's it! You've done it now, brat!" she shouted so loudly birds flew from nearby trees.
Ryuga and Lingling both turned at the same time.
Ryuga blinked, genuinely confused about what he'd done to set her off.
Lingling simply stared, her expression unreadable.
Yan yan felt their combined silence like a slap.
"Brat, you've been ignoring me from the start!" she yelled, pointing at him like accusing a criminal.
"Do you even know who I am?! Do you know who my grandfather is?!"
That finally made Ryuga look at her properly.
"Yes. You're dugu Yan . And your grandfather is the Poison Douluo, right?"
The moment Ryuga's eyes met hers, Yan yan froze.
A strange shock ran through her chest, her heart beating far too fast.
Her face flushed instantly.
He knew.
He knew exactly who she was — and still ignored her.
No one had ever treated her like that.
People always approached her because of her grandfather.
Everyone except Lingling.
Everyone except this infuriating boy.
Her thoughts tangled and twisted with unfamiliar emotions.
Why does it bother me so much?
Why do I want him to notice me?
Why do I feel upset when he only praises Lingling?
The truth hit her like lightning.
Why… why do I want him to compliment me too? Why am I doing all this just to be noticed by him? Why am I putting more effort for him than even my grandfather?
Her heart trembled, and she couldn't answer herself.
Before she could sort out the chaos in her chest, their class teacher approached.
"Ryuga, the three Vice Deans returned. They're asking for you. Please go to the private training grounds."
Ryuga nodded and turned to go.
But he paused to say, "Lingling, I'll be busy with the Vice Deans. If you miss me, you can come find me."
Lingling gave a soft nod.
Yan yan, lost in her own emotional storm, muttered only one word.
"Nothing."
Ryuga disappeared down the path without looking back.
Lingling then turned toward Yan yan, watching her closely.
"Yan yan," she said softly. "Why are you acting so strange lately?"
Yan yan stiffened.
She avoided Lingling's gaze.
"I… I don't know."
"You get angry at Ryuga for no reason," Lingling added.
"I don't know why," Yanyan whispered.
"But when he calls you pretty… or talks to only you… and ignores me… it irritates me."
She froze as soon as the words left her mouth.
It sounded wrong.
It sounded jealous.
It sounded like she wanted Lingling's… something.
Yan yan stood there, horrified at what she might have implied.
She dared not look up.
But Lingling's expression wasn't angry.
Something flickered in her eyes, something warm and quiet and impossible to name.
Whatever they said next remained only between the two girls.
No one else heard their conversation.
But when they finished, something subtle had changed between them — something fragile, something new.
And together, they walked slowly in the direction Ryuga had gone, their steps light and uncertain.
Written by: Ashborn_
Edited by: Chat GPT