...
"Cough cough cough!!"
Xuan Hao blushed deeply, nearly choking on his own saliva, and quickly covered Na'er's mouth:
"Why are you speaking such obvious truths!"
"That's called being eager to find talent!
That's called recruiting talent! What do you mean by kidnapping?
Can the affairs of Soul Masters be called kidnapping?"
Listening to the conversation between the two siblings, Ning Rongrong's face grew increasingly dark, her brows furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly.
"Wait a moment!"
Ning Rongrong abruptly interrupted Xuan Hao's sophistry, grasping the key point:
"Three years ago? In Xingluo City?"
"You...when did you secretly go to Xingluo City to watch the game?!"
Ning Rongrong's eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief and grievance:
"Why didn't I know?! Why weren't you taking me?!"
They actually went to that fun event, that grand gathering that spans the entire continent, behind her back?!
"Well..."
Xuan Hao's expression stiffened, and he guiltily looked away.
"Um... Rongrong, let me explain."
"I really wanted to take you with me!"
"But think about it, how old were you back then?
And you were in seclusion at the time, trying to break through the bottleneck of your soul power, which was the most crucial time for you."
"And I mentioned this to your father, but he said that Xingluo City is too far away, and it is the capital of the Xingluo Empire.
The situation is complicated and it is not safe."
"In addition, that trip was actually arranged by Hu Liena.
She is a member of the Spirit Hall, and her identity is sensitive.
When your father heard that you were going with people from the Spirit Hall, he refused on your behalf to avoid suspicion and for your safety."
"I...I..."
Ning Rongrong was so aggrieved that tears were about to well up in her eyes.
"Excuses! They're all just excuses!"
"Besides Hu Liena and Na'er, who else went?"
"Well..."
Xuan Hao's eyes darted around as he counted on his fingers:
"There weren't many people, just... just Na'er, Yanzi, and Ye Lingling..."
"The few of us spent about a month there..."
"What?!"
This time, Ning Rongrong completely broke down.
Tears streamed down her face instantly, a picture of tearful beauty, a picture of utter grief and indignation.
"Wow—!! You're bullying me!!"
"Dugu Yan is gone!
Ye Lingling is gone too! Even that vixen is gone!"
"You're all here! You've been having a blast over there for a month!
Eating, drinking, and watching the games!"
"I'm the only one who didn't know! I'm the only one foolishly cultivating at home!"
"You guys went on a team-building trip and didn't include me!!"
"Xuanhao, you big jerk!
You still say you weren't hiding from me!
You guys never invite me to these kinds of good things! Waaah..."
Seeing Ning Rongrong burst into tears again, Xuan Hao felt a chill run down his spine.
It's over.
This time it's a real battleground.
This time it seems... there's really no way to shift the blame to His Highness the Crown Prince!
Seeing Ning Rongrong crying so heartbreakingly, as if she had been abandoned by the whole world, Xuan Hao was completely at a loss.
He's good at fighting and good at fooling people, but when it comes to coaxing this little brat who's angry and actually in the right, he's really at a loss.
He could only look to Na'er beside him for help, frantically signaling with his eyes:
"Sis, have I been spoiling you for nothing? Hurry up and save the day!"
Na'er sighed helplessly.
Although she felt that her brother had a lot of romantic entanglements, what could she do?
She was a brother-obsessed person.
She stepped forward, stretched out her small hand, and without caring about Ning Rongrong's tears and snot, forcibly pulled her aside, wiping her face while explaining very earnestly:
"Rongrong, don't cry. This really isn't your brother's fault."
"We really did go to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School to pick you up.
But… your father personally blocked the door and refused to let us see you no matter what."
"Think about it, you were at a crucial moment in your seclusion at that time.
If you had known that we were going to Star Luo City for fun, and that we were going with the Spirit Hall people..."
"Given your temper, would you obediently stay home and cultivate?
Or would you throw a tantrum and threaten suicide to insist on going with me?"
Ning Rongrong sobbed and paused for a moment.
She thought back to herself at that time...
If she knows everyone else has gone out to play, why is she left alone at home in seclusion?
Even if they have to tear the roof off, she has to go with them!
"So...so..." Ning Rongrong lowered her head guiltily, "Dad did it for my own good?"
"Yes."
Na'er nodded. "Uncle Ning was afraid you'd cause trouble, that's why he kept it from you.
My brother had no choice; he couldn't just force his way into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and snatch someone away, could he?"
Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong felt much less aggrieved, but she was still somewhat unwilling, and asked with red eyes:
"Then...then why didn't you tell me you were back? Why did you keep it from me all this time?"
Why keep it a secret?
Na'er looked at Ning Rongrong with a strange expression, as if she were looking at a fool:
"Rongrong, think about it."
"If we just got back and told you, 'Oh, we all went on a month-long trip together and had a great time, but we didn't include you...'"
What would you do?
"I will…" Ning Rongrong clenched her fists instinctively, "I will tear the house apart!"
"Isn't that settled?"
Na'er shrugged. "Brother was afraid you'd destroy the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, that's why he didn't dare tell you."
"Then...what about the gift?"
Ning Rongrong was speechless and could only find another excuse:
"Since you went to Xingluo City, why didn't you bring me a gift?
Even just some local specialties would have been nice! I've never been to Xingluo City before..."
"Bring a gift?"
Na'er's expression grew increasingly strange.
"Are you stupid?"
"If I bring you specialties from Xingluo City, wouldn't that be like writing 'we've been to Xingluo City' all over our faces?"
"What's the difference between this and telling you directly, 'We went out to play behind your back'?
Aren't we just waiting for you to wreak havoc on the house?"
"..."
Ning Rongrong was completely speechless.
A perfectly logical closed loop! Flawless!
So all this group of people kept it from her and didn't bring her any gifts, all to protect the safety of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's buildings?
Although the logic is sound, but...
"Wow... I don't care! I don't care!"
Ning Rongrong stomped her feet in anger.
Although she had stopped crying, the feeling of being isolated and wronged still made her very uncomfortable.
"It's all your fault! Everyone else went, but I didn't! I'm like the one who's superfluous!"
"I want to go to Star Luo City too!
I want to watch the Soul Master Competition!"
Seeing Ning Rongrong about to throw another tantrum, Na'er quickly stepped forward and grabbed her arm, solemnly promising:
"Okay, okay, don't be angry."
"Didn't your brother say that the purpose of this trip to Soto City was to show you around?"
"And I promise you, if there's any fun group activity next time, we'll definitely invite you right away.
We'll even tie you up if we have to, we'll make sure you're not left out, okay?"
"Really?" Ning Rongrong sniffed.
"Really! Pinky promise!"
After Na'er comforted her, Ning Rongrong's emotions finally stabilized.
Xuan Hao watched from the side, wiping away cold sweat.
Thankfully, Na'er was there, otherwise things would have been really difficult to handle today.
"that..."
Seeing that the two had finished talking, Xuan Hao pointed in the direction of the girls' dormitory where Zhu Zhuqing had disappeared and tentatively said:
"Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, shall I... go and see that Zhu Zhuqing?"
"She ran so fast just now, it seemed like she was in some trouble.
Should I go and check on her?"
"no!"
Before he could even take a step, Ning Rongrong, as if triggering an alarm radar, grabbed his arm tightly, her eyes instantly turning wary and sharp:
You are not allowed to go!
"Why?" Xuan Hao asked helplessly.
"You must have a crush on her, right?!"
Ning Rongrong pointed over there, her face full of jealousy:
"Don't tell me it was just a brief encounter! I think you're just lusting after her!"
"That Zhu Zhuqing may have a sour face, but her figure... her figure is so good!
You must have had ulterior motives!"
"..."
Xuan Hao glanced down at Ning Rongrong's figure, which, although well-developed, was indeed somewhat immature compared to Zhu Zhuqing's, and wisely chose to keep quiet.
If you dare to nod at this point, you're asking for death.
You're overthinking it.
Xuan Hao sighed and said with a righteous expression:
"Am I that kind of person?
I'm truly doing this for the development of the academy and for the growth of the Self-Improvement Association!"
"If you don't believe me, shall we go together?"
Xuan Hao shrugged:
"But with so many of us, isn't it a bit... too conspicuous to just walk into the girls' dormitory and ambush them?
What if it causes any misunderstanding and people think we're there to bully the new students?
That wouldn't be good."
"I don't care!"
Ning Rongrong ignored all of that, clinging tightly to Xuan Hao's arm, chin raised, her face radiating fearlessness.
"If you're going, let's go together!"
"So what if it's a misunderstanding! Do you think I'm afraid of that?"
"With you around, who dares to say we're bullying?
I want to see what's so great about that big-breasted girl that you've been thinking about her for so many years!"
"..."
Seeing that he was completely unmoved by reason, Xuan Hao could only shake his head helplessly.
"Okay, okay, let's go together."
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