57: The Chosen One! Ma Yifei

"Where did you learn to be so smooth-talking!" Xia Mo chided with feigned annoyance, yet she still accepted the rose that, though long overdue, was stunning enough to captivate her.

The rose has always been the most vivid symbol of love.

"I love you, and that has never changed." Ling Xian gazed at her, his tone utterly serious.

Unexpectedly, Xia Mo raised her hand and threw the rose condensed from the Undead Divine Fire onto the ground, its ghostly blue petals vanishing like smoke in an instant.

"It's just a love symbol packaged by capitalism; I don't care for it," she said flatly. "Walk with me for a while."

Ling Xian had always been obedient to Xia Mo.

This girl, who had once been willing to completely sever ties with her family for him, deserved all his accommodation and tenderness.

"Let's go."

The two walked side by side across the campus, where every blade of grass and tree along the way stirred countless memories of the past.

Arriving at a secluded tree-lined path, Xia Mo's footsteps paused slightly, her tone carrying a hint of barely detectable heaviness: "I heard you pursued Leng Yunyan for a long time, and even got engaged to her?"

"Who told you such nonsense? It's all false," Ling Xian hurriedly refuted, his voice urgent.

"It better be false," Xia Mo glanced at him sideways, her gaze cool. "If it were true, you'd better never appear before me again in this lifetime."

As they were talking, enjoying this rare moment of tranquility, Ling Xian's phone suddenly vibrated, and a message notification popped up.

His heart skipped a beat as he suddenly remembered he had promised Wu Yueyue to wait for her downstairs; he was supposed to accompany her to the Freshman Party tonight.

Damn, this is trouble!

"What's wrong? You don't look so good," Xia Mo keenly noticed his unusual demeanor and asked.

"It's nothing... I'll tell you the truth, but don't get angry." Ling Xian knew Xia Mo's temperament all too well. Being honest might only annoy her a little, but if he hid it and she found out, it would be much worse.

Moreover, Wu Yueyue and Xia Mo had a teacher-student relationship, so this matter couldn't be hidden for long anyway.

"Go ahead, I won't get angry," Xia Mo raised an eyebrow, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes.

"I promised Wu Yueyue that I'd accompany her to the Freshman Party tonight and pretend to be her boyfriend..." Ling Xian concisely outlined the gist of the matter, deliberately omitting many details. Words that were half-truth and half-lie were often the hardest to see through.

"Fine," Xia Mo replied flatly, her tone betraying no emotion. "You know my nature; I've never been one to nitpick."

She paused, deliberately emphasizing her words, "But this Wu Yueyue... I'll have to pay more attention to her from now on."

"Thank you, Sister Xia Mo. I knew you were the best!"

Overcome with excitement, Ling Xian couldn't help but lean down and plant a gentle kiss on Xia Mo's cheek.

Xia Mo instantly froze, her eyes filled with disbelief.

The Ling Xian of the past was insecure and awkward, blushing even at holding hands. How could he possibly initiate such an intimate gesture?

After all, their first kiss had been initiated by her.

"You've changed so much..." she murmured softly, yet a smile rippled in her eyes. "But you're still the Little Xian I like."

After bidding farewell to Xia Mo, Ling Xian hurriedly made his way to the Jiangnan Grand Hotel.

It was a five-star hotel. Just the party venue alone showed that the host came from a well-off family.

He had just arrived at the private room door when Wu Yueyue, who was waiting there, pulled him inside. The young girl chattered away with endless complaints, forming a stark contrast with the quiet and composed Ling Xian beside her.

"Brother Ling Xian, you're really something."

The words sounded like praise, but between the lines, there was a hint of sourness laced with barbs.

"I hadn't been upstairs for long before you were busy charming a newly-met beautiful sister and even performed such a stunning magic trick in public. Now the entire Freshman Forum is abuzz."

Anyone could see the little girl was jealous.

"She's my first love," Ling Xian explained helplessly. "If you're jealous, I'll leave right now."

Faced with Ling Xian's "threat," Wu Yueyue's eyes reddened, and tears of grievance instantly welled up, spilling over. Her tearful, pitiful appearance stirred feelings of tenderness.

"Alright, alright, don't cry," Ling Xian quickly raised his hand, gently wiping the tears from the corner of her eye. "I promise you, next time I'll perform a special show just for you, okay?"

He sighed softly, his tone serious. "Yueyue, there might be many people around me. If you can't accept that, leaving now is the best choice; it'll hurt you the least. You're too innocent. I don't want to deceive you."

After Ling Xian's candid words, the imagined 'battlefield' did not materialize.

She sniffled and raised her teary eyes: "You mean it? A special performance just for me?"

Ling Xian nodded.

Wu Yueyue immediately smiled through her tears, her charming and adorable appearance exceptionally captivating.

"Actually, I don't care how many people are around Brother Ling Xian," she stood on her tiptoes, gently hugging Ling Xian's arm, her voice soft yet firm. "You saved my life. As long as you can save a place for me in your heart, that's enough."

If any other woman had said these words, Ling Xian would have thought she was a scheming 'green tea' with ulterior motives.

But Wu Yueyue was different. She was too innocent and straightforward. Ling Xian could clearly feel the sincerity in her words.

His heart tightened sharply, and he felt an increasing sense of tenderness for this candid and adorable girl.

"Then, Brother Ling Xian, you'll be my boyfriend from now on, okay?" Wu Yueyue looked up at him, her little face full of anticipation.

"Alright," Ling Xian agreed with a smile.

As soon as the words left his mouth, he noticed a sly, hidden smile at the corner of Wu Yueyue's lips.

Only then did Ling Xian realize he had been outmaneuvered by this little girl.

She had used this 'pretend' scenario to turn fiction into reality.

"This girl Wu Yueyue definitely doesn't have this many tricks up her sleeve..." Ling Xian's thoughts raced, instantly guessing the mastermind behind it. "Chi Taohua, what a clever Chi Taohua. It seems I'll have to 'take good care' of you from now on. Hehe..."

As they talked, the two walked side by side into the private room.

Class Monitor Fang Xin, dressed in brand-name clothes and looking quite presentable, stood up enthusiastically upon seeing Wu Yueyue.

"Yueyue, you're finally here..."

His tone was exceptionally warm, but when his gaze fell on Ling Xian's arm, which Wu Yueyue was tightly holding, his face instantly darkened.

"I heard our Class Monitor has had his eye on Wu Yueyue, the class beauty, for a long time. This should be interesting."

"Wow, the guy next to Yueyue is so handsome, a hundred times better-looking than the Class Monitor!"

"Handsome is handsome, but it's a pity. In this society, good looks alone aren't enough; you need money. Look at his clothes—you can't even see a brand. Definitely can't compare to the Class Monitor."

"You can't say that. Look at his aura; he's definitely not an ordinary person. He might be a low-key big shot."

"I hope he and Yueyue aren't really a couple; then maybe I still have a chance."

Discussions rose and fell in the private room, with the girls in the class casting heated glances at Ling Xian.

Most of the boys wore unfriendly expressions, though some with more active minds didn't focus on this and just hoped the meal would start soon.

"Class Monitor, just call me by my full name," Wu Yueyue looked up at Fang Xin, her tone flat. "I'm afraid my boyfriend might misunderstand."

After saying this, she turned to face everyone in the room and introduced loudly: "Let me introduce everyone to my boyfriend, Ling Xian. This flower already has an owner!"

As she said this, Wu Yueyue subconsciously felt a bit nervous, her hand gripping Ling Xian's arm even tighter.

Ling Xian nodded gently to everyone in greeting. After saying hello, he took Wu Yueyue's hand and sat down with a smile in a corner seat.

[Ding! New Child of Destiny Ma Yifei detected!]