Chapter 430: Chapter 428: But None of Them Are You
Light!
With the mechanical ladder making a stuck sound, Le Yu walked out of it carrying a chair. After much thought, he realized having just one chair was really inconvenient, so he went to the first floor to steal one of Xie Liting’s chairs, giving Ming Shuiyun some time to buffer her emotions in the process.
Ever since activating the ’Ice Blood Physique’, Le Yu no longer knew what embarrassment was. Embarrassment is actually a negative reaction to difficult and awkward situations, confused and at a loss, which besides hindering emotional expression, has no other significance.
For example, the former Le Yu would only dare to quietly say, "I like looking at aesthetic photos of beautiful girls."
Whereas the current Le Yu boldly declares, "I want to see erotic pictures!"
Though he wouldn’t be embarrassed, he knew when others might feel embarrassed. Like after Ming Shuiyun went through the process of crying openly but sulking secretly, she would surely feel awkward and at a loss because she showed a completely different girl-like demeanor from usual, so after he handed her a wet towel, he used the excuse of moving a chair to give her some private space.
Despite being beaten several times by Le Yu, Ming Shuiyun’s skin is still so thin, the growth potential of this card is really poor.
But then again, what’s done is done, the draw is already made, so all he can do is continue nurturing and playing with it.
Moreover...
Le Yu moved the chair and sat down opposite Ming Shuiyun, looking at her tear-stained red cheeks, he couldn’t help but chuckle.
Although quite childish.
Her words just now truly moved Le Yu.
"You should explain well to your friends later, otherwise they might think I did something to you."
"Humph!" Ming Shuiyun rolled her eyes at him and turned her head away, ignoring him.
In the past, Le Yu would surely have been delighted with Ming Shuiyun’s attitude. But after the ’heartfelt dialogue’ just now, for Ming Shuiyun to show such a demeanor only proved one thing — she no longer cared about both sides’ status in front of Qin Leyin, no longer restraining herself, instead choosing to open up, expressing her true character and feelings.
In simple terms, her favorability towards Qin Leyin has increased, unlocking more... attitudes.
If Le Yu was uncertain before, now he is almost sure that Ming Shuiyun has fallen for him.
Compared to a confession, a girl blushing is more than enough.
With someone else it might be fine, but Ming Shuiyun’s feelings are the hardest for him to handle. First, Ming Shuiyun is the Sword Master, he can’t sever contact with her; second, even if he outright states he doesn’t engage in office romance, Ming Shuiyun would nod on the surface but continue to secretly have a crush on him.
Teenage love is the purest and also the most irrational, the more others want to tear it apart, the more obstinately they cling to it.
So, accept it?
Even more impossible.
Setting aside Qing Lan, Le Yu’s moral purity also doesn’t allow him to do such things — his moral purity isn’t ’can’t have a harem’, but ’can’t develop feelings that surpass the teacher-student relationship’.
Currently, to Qing Lan, Le Yu is more than just a mentor but a role that blends teacher, father, brother, and friend, and he also has a charming yet wild and unruly handsome face. Never mind if Ming Shuiyun is a young girl, even if she were a young man, she would bow down at the iron heels of Le Yu’s steel boots.
Their status is completely unequal; there simply can’t be any talk of love. Initially, Qing Lan dared to confess to him, but that was after achieving something as the editor-in-chief of the newspaper, before that she didn’t even dare to look Zhenwei in the eye while speaking.
Only those who are evenly matched can potentially have love.
The reason Le Yu kept reducing contact with Ming Shuiyun, always speaking sarcastically, was to prevent such situations.
Now it seems, all of Le Yu’s plans have ended in failure.
However, Le Yu wasn’t too worried.
After all, he has been young before, he knows that teenage feelings are like a tornado; today a secret crush on this handsome guy, tomorrow admiration for that top student, and the day after liking that campus heartthrob, all these are very common occurrences. Besides, others may have to secretly harbor crushes, but Ming Shuiyun almost reigns supreme in the Imperial Academy now, dominating as the overlord among students with power, wealth, and a promising future.
If she fancies any student, as long as that student is single, regardless of gender, nine out of ten would likely be willing to join Shuiyun Palace — who can refuse the temptation of being chosen by the future queen?
Perhaps she might meet some good-looking guy after leaving Platinum Tower and immediately forget about Qin Leyin.
What Le Yu needs to do now is to just watch and guide Ming Shuiyun to study well and progress daily, as for the rest, time will help resolve it.
And try his best to erase his ’male’ traits, not letting Ming Shuiyun realize he is male but instead see him as a sheath, as a teacher, as a father.
For example, Le Yu should reduce interactions with other adult women. As the saying goes, trophies with rivals have the value of conquest, if Ming Shuiyun finds that Qin Leyin has other admirers or a fiancée, it will undoubtedly ignite her fighting spirit, possibly turning a secret crush into a charge, all to prove her charm — like how peacocks fan out their feathers for courtship, it’s human nature.
"Speaking of which."
Ming Shuiyun said while wiping her face with a towel: "Is this your towel?"
"It’s my first day working at the Platinum Tower, and this towel was already hung in the washroom from the start," Le Yu said: "Logically, it should be Cha Huan’s towel."
Ming Shuiyun silently put down the towel.
"The towels are neatly folded in the cabinet, unused, don’t worry," Le Yin said with a smile. "If Cha Huan saw, he’d definitely scold you, ’Old man doesn’t mind, yet you, little girl, actually mind!?’"
Ming Shuiyun chuckled and looked at the towel, saying, "Since that’s the case, I’ve only used this towel once, it’d be too wasteful to throw it away... So many people outside can’t even use a towel! Don’t waste it, you know, Le Yin!"
Le Yin amusedly looked at Ming Shuiyun’s wandering eyes and said, "Got it. Also, even when we’re in private it’s fine, but if there are others present, you should call me Qin Teacher—calling a teacher by their name is very rude."
"I didn’t treat you as a teacher," Ming Shuiyun said, eyes shimmering.
① "Then what do you see me as?"
② Change the topic.
Choosing ① might directly unlock the ’Sixth Floor CG’ and start Ming Shuiyun’s personal storyline. Unfortunately, there’s no save-load function, so Le Yin chose ②: "I understand your desire to repay me, but my plans don’t need your company. Your skill is really insufficient to protect yourself; your involvement will only increase the risk."
Talking about serious matters, Ming Shuiyun got serious and asked unwillingly, "Can’t I really help you in any way?"
"You’ve already helped me," Le Yin said. "Your encouragement is the greatest support. In my lifetime, you’re the third girl willing to live and die with me, just this means I won’t waste Le Yin’s life easily on this boring assassination."
Ming Shuiyun raised an eyebrow, sharply capturing the key point: "The third one...?"
Though he couldn’t interact with other women, Le Yin also needed to plant a thorn in Ming Shuiyun’s heart—nothing needs to be said, just letting her know that Le Yin’s past wasn’t innocent.
"It’s about time for afternoon classes, you should go," Le Yin stood up.
Ming Shuiyun also stood up but didn’t move her feet: "Le Yin, I’ve been attending classes very diligently lately, managed the Unparalleled Kill Research Society well, and maintained Shuiyun Palace’s image properly. Everyone thinks I’ve done great, and Shuangli even finally sees me as a formal opponent."
"Hmm, I know."
Ming Shuiyun tilted her head, looking at Le Yin. Le Yin also tilted his head, looking at her.
Ming Shuiyun said, "Don’t you have anything else to say to me?"
Le Yin spread his hands: "Nothing, what do you want me to say? Please write an application form, and I’ll reply within five business days."
"Praise me!" Ming Shuiyun lifted her chin and said, "I’ve done so well, why don’t you praise me?"
"Haven’t others praised you? Lin Xue and the others’ recognition, classmates’ admiration, teachers’ appreciation, aren’t those the best praises for you?"
"But they’re not you!"
Le Yin suddenly thought it might’ve been easier just to agree to Ming Shuiyun’s ’Sword Master Bait Plan’ and then find a way to trick her into leaving the ambush spot.
This version of Ming Shuiyun is a bit difficult to handle.
Just as Le Yin was having a hard time, the Mechanical Ladder suddenly made a sliding sound.
Ming Shuiyun instantly became obedient, and Le Yin also looked over—did Cha Huan know he was in trouble and specially came to help?
Lights!
With the sound of the Mechanical Ladder stopping, a pair of long, beautiful legs stepped onto the sixth floor.
Her graceful figure approached Le Yin like the wind. She intimately held Le Yin’s hands and said sweetly, "Qin Teacher, Principal Cha sent me to be your assistant, to help accomplish your plan, I will do as you instruct, please feel free to use me."
Le Yin was momentarily stunned, "Yan Teacher?"
This unexpected intruder into the sixth floor was exactly Yan Yi, a mentor in the Tianhui Department!
"Wait!"
Ming Shuiyun quickly intervened between the two, asking, "Yan Teacher, aren’t you usually very busy with lots of mentor work? How come you’re here to help Qin Teacher?"
"Yes, my teaching duties are quite busy," Yan Yi smiled. "But this is Principal Cha’s directive, I can’t refuse, and also..."
She looked at Le Yin affectionately, "Qin Teacher’s erudition and reputation precede him, I’ve long wanted to engage with Qin Teacher. Now with such a rare opportunity, I naturally won’t miss it."
Listening to this made Le Yin’s eyebrow twitch. He secretly glanced at Ming Shuiyun and found her expressionless, instantly knowing things were not good.
Ming Shuiyun ultra evolution → [Silver Blood Witch] Shuiyun Palace!
But compared to Ming Shuiyun’s change, Le Yin was more concerned about why Yan Yi would actively approach him—he knew Yan Yi’s orange secret! Even Cha Huan’s order couldn’t explain Yan Yi’s enthusiastic posture!
As for why Yan Yi appeared on the sixth floor, this matter actually started from last night when Ming Shuangli met Yan Yi...