Chapter 241: Xu Lizhi's Heart in Chaos
"Staying a few days? Or going back?"
"Back, of course back!"
One night was enough. Ye Xinglan wasn't afraid he'd force himself on her—she was more afraid she'd lose resolve and give in.
So she simply packed up and left.
That scoundrel really was a scoundrel.
Watching her stubborn, guarded expression, Jiang Chen could only sigh helplessly.
He really hadn't done anything.
"Then where did this red mark on my chest come from, you pervert?!"
"An accident! I told you, I took your clothes off with my eyes closed. I don't even know what I touched."
Jiang Chen's face was the picture of innocence. Ye Xinglan just snorted coldly and turned away.
Pervert.
Even though her body had recovered somewhat, she still felt sore all over. The medicinal bath had strengthened her physique, but it wasn't without lingering pain.
Lifting her arm still felt like moving a mountain. Jiang Chen couldn't figure out why.
"You sure you're okay? No problem with the sword inheritance?"
Ye Xinglan frowned thoughtfully for a moment before replying, "I could feel countless swords clashing within me. Every strand of sword intent attacked one another—that's what injured me."
Still, there was an upside—her mental power had soared, tempered by the torment of ten thousand blades.
"I'm fine. Let's just… go back to class."
She needed to leave this place immediately.
Jiang Chen shrugged. "You think watching over you all night was fun for me?"
He helped her stand, supporting her shoulder as they walked back toward the academy.
But just as they reached Douluo University's gates, Xu Lizhi—who had been anxiously waiting—froze in shock.
All his excitement at seeing Xinglan again turned to thunderstruck disbelief.
Why… why was his Xinglan walking out of a hotel… with a man?
Xu Lizhi's eyes widened. "..."
He rubbed his eyes hard, refusing to believe what he saw. Maybe it was hallucination.
But there she was—Ye Xinglan—being supported by an unfamiliar man.
That man's arm was around her waist.
Her pale legs trembled delicately beneath her skirt.
The sight shattered him.
No… impossible. Xinglan isn't like that!
It had only been a few days… how could this be happening?
Pain seared his chest like a blade twisting inside. Rage followed fast—he wanted to storm up to her, to demand an explanation!
But the moment he took a step, he stopped again.
His legs trembled. His heart hesitated.
"No… I can't. Not now."
What would he even say? What if he was wrong?
But if he wasn't wrong…
Then what?
If she truly had changed, their relationship would never go back to how it was.
He couldn't accept that.
Yet watching another man's arm around her waist, her leaning softly against him—it was pure agony.
His heart broke piece by piece.
Her trembling white legs—he couldn't stop imagining the worst.
No… no, this can't be real.
"Damn it! It's your fault!" he whispered bitterly, clenching his fists.
Meanwhile, Ye Xinglan could barely walk without Jiang Chen's help, her legs trembling like paper.
"I'm telling you," Jiang Chen said, half exasperated, half worried, "you should just stay put. You can't even walk properly—what'll you tell people if they ask where you were last night?"
Before she could protest, he scooped her up in a princess carry.
Her face flushed to her ears, heat rising from her neck.
"I—!"
She wanted to argue but couldn't. Deep down, she knew she wasn't in any condition to return yet.
Her mind was a whirlwind.
"Forget it," she mumbled. "Do what you want."
Jiang Chen just carried her straight toward the hotel entrance again.
"Wait! Maybe we should just go back to the hotel…" she finally admitted.
She wasn't worried about misunderstandings—she was terrified her plan to leave Shrek Academy for Douluo University would be discovered.
Though her status at Shrek had declined, she was still one of its promising students.
If they found out she intended to transfer to Douluo, they'd stop her at all costs.
And betraying the sword inheritance? Never. That wasn't her way.
"Fine," Jiang Chen said flatly. "Stay if you want. I have things to do."
Xu Lizhi: "???"
He watched from a distance, flames burning in his chest, as Jiang Chen—this stranger—carried Xinglan bridal-style back into the hotel.
At first, he'd consoled himself with nonsense—maybe it was a misunderstanding. Xinglan was pure, disciplined; she'd never get a boyfriend so soon, not in a few days at Douluo University.
And if she ever did… surely it would be a Shrek student!
Not a stranger from this place!
No, she had to have been tricked!
"Damn it!" he hissed.
After wrestling with himself a dozen times, Xu Lizhi couldn't take it anymore. He broke into a run.
"Excuse me! The two who just went upstairs—which room are they in?"
The receptionist smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, sir. We can't reveal guests' private information. If you know them, please contact them directly."
He froze.
Contact them? With what?
Star Luo didn't even have network access!
"Please… can't you make an exception?"
After some pleading, he finally figured out which floor they'd gone to.
Once Jiang Chen left, Xu Lizhi hurried to the door and started knocking frantically.
"Xinglan! It's me! Xinglan, open up!"
Inside the room, Ye Xinglan lay sprawled across the bed, exhausted.
Seeing Jiang Chen finally leave, she exhaled in relief.
He really was a good man.
Just… far too perverted.
And she didn't want to be involved in any more perversion.
Also... he was way too young.
That thought made her cheeks flush crimson before she pushed it aside and sank into sword meditation.
Unlike other inheritors Jiang Chen had met, who comprehended sword will gradually, she'd tried to force her way through all at once.
Like a computer overloaded with conflicting antivirus programs, her Sword Intents fought each other violently.
Her current strength wasn't enough to suppress them—it took all her focus just to keep them contained.
Fortunately, it was only pure sword will, not the attack of a Limit Douluo's divine power, or she'd have been obliterated.
Sweat drenched her body, and with Jiang Chen gone, tension finally escaped her.
A choked cry of pain slipped from her lips.
Xu Lizhi, standing outside, froze.
"Xinglan!? Are you okay? Did something happen?!"
"Open the door, please! It's me, Xiao Xu! Please, Xinglan—open up!!"
(END CHAPTER)
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