The Dean's Office.
Ming Zheng lounged on the sofa, propping her chin with one hand. Her waterfall-like black hair cascaded down, spilling onto her fair wrist and the white sofa.
The contrast between black and white was particularly striking.
She shot a glare at Mo Qiyu, "If you hadn't insisted on me coming, I wouldn't have run into that group of scum."
"But didn't we have a pretty satisfying face-slapping session today?" Mo Qiyu chuckled, grinning. "Especially when A'Xian showed up, it pushed the face-slapping atmosphere to its most exhilarating moment!"
He was ecstatic. "Just thinking about the Ming family members turning ashen-faced, utterly shocked, unable to stand me yet unable to do anything about it, makes me happy, makes me excited!"
"Especially that fake daughter, she probably won't dare to show her face for a long time to come!"
Ming Zheng: "..."
She couldn't comprehend the joy this airhead, who was obsessed with CEO romance novels and CEO face-slapping scenarios, found in it.
He felt thrilled.
She only felt exhausted.
She felt like a complete fool in her past life!
Moreover, Mo Qiyu had underestimated the Ming family's shamelessness.
He had also underestimated Ming Zhirou's hatred for her.
How could Ming Zhirou, after suffering such a great humiliation, be willing to let it go so easily?
However, Ming Zheng was too lazy to say this.
She didn't want this airhead to do anything earth-shattering.
Mo Qiyu brought a cup of coffee and placed it in front of her, then plopped down beside her. "Here, freshly ground, with milk and sugar."
Ming Zheng propped herself up and took a sip of the coffee.
It was rich and delicious.
It was her most familiar taste.
Ming Zheng put down the coffee cup, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Not bad, Xiao Yuzi. After all this time, you still remember my preferences. You're indeed a qualified little brother."
Mo Qiyu: "...If I hadn't lost a bet to you back then, why the hell would I be your little brother!"
He leaned back against the sofa, resting his feet on the coffee table, reverting to his usual slovenly demeanor. "While A'Xian is not here, let's discuss something."
"Since you've moved out of the Ming family now, why not stay at Imperial Capital Academy? On my turf, I can look after you better."
"I have no intention of joining Imperial Capital Academy," Ming Zheng glanced at Mo Qiyu's propped-up feet, then at the cup of... coffee by his feet.
Could this cup of coffee, infected with foot odor, still be drunk?
"Why won't you stay at Imperial Capital Academy?" Mo Qiyu quickly retracted his feet, turning to face Ming Zheng. "If you're bothered by people from the Ming family, I can directly expel those two from the Ming family!"
Ming Zheng glanced again at his retracted feet and her coffee, finally deciding to forgo that "foot-scented" coffee.
She slumped back lazily, too weary to even lift her eyelids. "I won't let a few scumbags affect me."
The Ming family's presence, wherever it was, wouldn't influence her decisions.
She simply had no interest in the academy.
After all, the system and regulations of Imperial Capital Academy were too restrictive for students.
She had previously confined herself to Ousheng's dilapidated academy just to appease the Ming family.
"Oh, baby~ Just do it for fun." Mo Qiyu nudged his head closer, his voice becoming syrupy as he started to act spoiled. "As long as you agree to join Imperial Capital Academy, you can do whatever you want. I'll delegate power to you, I'll make you the vice-dean!"
Ming Zheng: "..."
Was he that casual?
Mo Qiyu, like a large, loyal dog, nuzzled his head against Ming Zheng. "You came all the way to Xia Guo, and you're currently in Xiadu. Before you return to Mo Men, stay at Imperial Capital Academy and let me take care of you for once..."
Ming Zheng's hand, which had been about to push his head away, paused slightly.
Her eyelashes, long and dark like crow feathers, slowly lowered.
Returning to Mo Men...
Could she still go back?
Seeing Ming Zheng suddenly grow dejected and not even refuse his head-nuzzling, Mo Qiyu stopped, his brows furrowing. He placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Could it be you're reluctant to leave the Ming family and don't want to return to Mo Men?"
In front of her, Mo Qiyu uncharacteristically put on a stern face, his expression becoming exceptionally serious.
Ming Zheng raised her hand and pushed away the hands resting on her shoulders. "No."
See, everyone knew how deeply she was fixated on the Ming family.
Just a moment's hesitation,
And they would assume she was reluctant to leave the Ming family.
This was the fruit she had sown a year ago.
It also showed how resolutely, how heartbreakingly, she had left Mo Men.
"Then why? If the brothers of Mo Men knew you were returning, if your senior brothers knew you were returning, how happy would they be? Since you've already chosen to leave the Ming family, why are you unwilling to go back?"
Mo Qiyu was perplexed.
Ming Zheng pursed her lips.
She sank back into the soft sofa, looking up at the cool-toned ceiling.
After a long while.
She closed her eyes.
She raised her hand and placed it above her eyes.
"I am no longer qualified to return to Mo Men."
"Back then... it was me who gave up on Mo Men, me who gave up on my brothers and sisters, me who gave up on my senior brothers."
"How can I, after making my own wrong choice, after regretting it, shamelessly say I want to go back?"
Her departure back then was her own choice.
She had to bear the consequences of her choice.
Mo Qiyu remained silent.
He sat beside her quietly, watching her.
After a long, long time.
He sighed softly. "You..."
"You've always been this stubborn."
His hand slowly reached out, wrapping around her shoulders.
He gently pulled the girl, who seemed to be merging into the darkness, being engulfed by it, out, little by little.
He had never seen Ming Zheng like this before.
The Ming Zheng in his memory.
Was always radiant and unrestrained, arrogant and willful.
He would never forget.
When he had first joined Mo Men.
Because of his rebellious and unyielding nature, he was cornered and bullied by other factions.
It was Ming Zheng who stood in front of him.
A small figure, delicate and soft.
But filled with a power that brought peace.
She had protected him, with the absolute stance of a protector.
From that moment on.
He had decided...
He would spend the rest of his life protecting Ming Zheng.
This was unrelated to the so-called love between men and women.
It was a vow he had made to himself in his youth.
She had once pulled him back from the brink of a cliff.
Now, he wanted to use his strength to pull her out of the darkness.
"Why are you thinking so much?"
Mo Qiyu tried to make his voice sound lighter.
He smiled and spoke, "As I said, as long as you are willing to go back, everyone in Mo Men will be very happy. No one will think you are not qualified to return."
In this world... the person most qualified to be in Mo Men was Ming Zheng herself.
Mo Qiyu gently shook her shoulders. "Alright, stop overthinking those messy things. Tonight, I'll take you out to have some fun, relax, let loose, clear your head, and then you can properly consider what I've said."