Chapter 111: With a Bang

Shi Feng thought to himself that his guess was correct; the thing that Zhuo Yuqing desperately wanted was none other than the pure and innocent Luo Chen.

Luo Chen did not quite understand Zhuo Yuqing's meaning, but after a moment of thought, he said, "It depends on what the thing is. My mother told me that one should be content with what one has. Therefore, if the difficulty of obtaining this thing is too great and fraught with obstacles, I would choose to give it up."

Upon hearing this, Zhuo Yuqing’s expression dimmed. Was even this naive boy thinking the same way? However, Luo Chen continued, "But, if that thing is very, very important to me—so important that I cannot lose it—then no matter how difficult it is, I will move toward it with unwavering determination!"

Zhuo Yuqing’s spirit lifted. "But what if, to obtain this thing, you have to pay a very heavy price?"

"That’s simple, isn't it? You have to weigh it for yourself: which is more important, the price you pay or the thing you desire?"

Zhuo Yuqing pressed on, "What if this thing is as difficult to attain as reaching the heavens, nearly impossible to acquire, and all your efforts might end up being in vain? Luo Chen, if it were you, what would you do?"

Luo Chen smiled. "No, I don’t think so. My mother also said something else: when you desire something but fail to get it, it is not because it is too hard to obtain, but because your efforts were not enough!"

Upon hearing Luo Chen's words, Zhuo Yuqing suddenly trembled, as if her heart had been struck by something. She muttered to herself, "When you desire something but fail to get it, it is not because it is too hard to obtain, but because your efforts were not enough!"

A glimmer of light appeared in the previously pitch-black path ahead, like a lighthouse. In that instant, everything became clear to Zhuo Yuqing. Although she had previously believed she had exhausted every method to fight against the "old fogies" without success, she had been despondent. Yet, Luo Chen's words infused her with new courage.

Yes, the reason I haven't obtained my freedom is that I haven't put forth enough effort; I haven't had the resolve to burn my bridges!

Shi Feng was quite puzzled, thinking to himself, *Zhuo Yuqing, aren't you just trying to seduce the innocent Luo Chen? Why are you making it sound like you're about to save humanity or the planet?*

"Ah, alright, Zhuo Yuqing," Luo Chen said as he stood up. "I have things to attend to. If you don't have any other questions, I'll be heading off now!"

"Alright, Luo Chen, thank you for your answer. I know what I must do!" Zhuo Yuqing's gloomy mood was swept away. Because she had once again found a direction after being so lost—and this time the path was so clear—she decided to walk it with unwavering resolve, no matter how many obstacles she might encounter on the way.

*Old fogies, you want me to submit, don't you? Then let me put on a spectacular show. I don't want your damn two-month 'favor'; what I need is eternal freedom! From this day forward, I, Zhuo Yuqing, am the real Zhuo Yuqing, not a tool, a machine, or a pathetic experimental subject!*

At this moment, Sara and Lulu, girls from the same dormitory as Zhuo Yuqing in Class One, walked over. Surprised, they asked, "Yuqing, you didn't return to the dorm all night. Where did you go? You had us so worried!"

"Oh, last night? I went to Luo Chen's place!" Having made up her mind, Zhuo Yuqing had regained her spirited demeanor. Her beautiful eyes narrowed. *Luo Chen, oh Luo Chen, since you encouraged me to fight for what I want, then help me to the end. Let me use you one more time, hee hee...*

"Last night? I went to Luo Chen's place," Zhuo Yuqing paused and then added, "Well, his bed was a bit hard, which made me feel a little uncomfortable!"

The round-faced girl who admired Kevin spat out the food she was eating and, ignoring her decorum, shouted loudly, "What?! Yuqing, you slept in Luo Chen's bed?!"

She was so shocked that she didn't bother to lower her voice. This sentence hit like a thunderbolt, causing several nearby boys to spray their food onto their companions' faces. Then, the news spread from ten to a hundred, and the "animals" of the entire academy began spraying food at each other.

Too shocked to wipe the rice grains from their faces, the students stood with mouths agape, filled with disbelief. The expressions on their faces were surely no less dramatic than seeing a pig—no, a herd of pigs—flying in the sky.

*That kid, Luo Chen, actually managed to get his hands on Zhuo Yuqing? No, no, no, it was Zhuo Yuqing who delivered herself to his door! What exactly happened on that stormy night?* Almost every student was jealous to the point of insanity. Why did that kid, Luo Chen, have such good luck that even the top campus beauty could be snatched up by him?

Zhuo Yuqing smiled secretly to herself. *I did indeed sleep on Luo Chen's bed for the night; I didn't lie. Anything else, well, that wasn't me saying it.*

At night, in the Maple Forest of Blue Emperor Academy.

Zhuo Yuqing walked quietly, accompanied only by the rustling sound of her feet stepping on fallen leaves.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the darkness. The figure was silent and soundless; many would have taken it for a ghost, but Zhuo Yuqing was not surprised, as if she had expected it all along.

It was the hunchbacked old man she had met in the Maple Forest that morning, the Holy Servant Shawn. Zhuo Yuqing smiled sweetly and said, "Good evening, Shawn."

The old man remained expressionless. "The old servant is not well at all, because the masters asked me to watch over you, Miss, yet I have failed in my duty. Miss, it seems you did not take my words from this morning to heart, did you?"

Zhuo Yuqing played dumb. "What words? My memory has never been very good; perhaps I forgot."

"Very well, then the old servant will remind you again. Although the masters agreed to let you stay outside for two months to relax, you should still exercise some self-discipline."

Zhuo Yuqing looked aggrieved. "Shawn, I'm not disciplined? Where am I lacking?"

"Miss, must you force the old servant to be so explicit?" Shawn sighed. "The masters have said countless times that you should not associate with any boys. This is absolutely forbidden!"

"Oh, you mean Luo Chen?" Zhuo Yuqing looked suddenly enlightened. "Shawn, what about Luo Chen and me?"

"You are being far too intimate. The old servant cannot stand by and watch you make a mistake. Therefore, Miss, from today on, it would be best for you to stay away from that boy."

"Luo Chen is my friend," Zhuo Yuqing countered. "Does that mean the old fogies have to control who I make friends with?"

"But your actions have already crossed the line of ordinary friendship. Miss, arguing further is useless. Regardless, please listen to the old servant's advice."

Zhuo Yuqing narrowed her eyes. "And if I say no? What will the old fogies do to me?"

Shawn maintained his unhurried tone. "Miss, the masters naturally would not do anything to you. However, that boy named Luo Chen might not be so fortunate."

The old man paused. "I have already investigated; he is an orphan with no background. Even though his good friend is a descendant of the Shi family of the Star Continent, and the Shi family holds great influence, the Shi family would absolutely not step forward to protect Luo Chen, because no one is willing to oppose the masters for the sake of a small nobody. You should understand this. Therefore, if you continue like this, Luo Chen could disappear from this world at any moment!"

It had only been a few days, yet he had already dug up Luo Chen's information, and even the mysterious background of Shi Feng had been exposed. This clearly demonstrated the old man's efficiency and his powerful background.