ABFMV Chapter 27 Part 2

The Xu family wouldn’t fall. Helena would marry Xu Gongyu and live out her days in joy.

Of course, that was only Xu Linyang’s wishful thinking. Reality often turned out far crueler.

But it didn’t change the fact that, in her heart, she already considered Helena her sister-in-law.

Xu Linlang looked straight at Lu Xiao and said seriously, “I was just giving an example. It doesn’t mean you actually have to like Helena.”

In her heart, Lu Xiao could never measure up to Helena—that was her future sister-in-law.

But Lu Xiao didn’t look offended in the slightest. “I understand. And lastly, congratulations on being taken in as Elder Jiang’s disciple. That’s really impressive.”

“Thank you.”

Everyone’s eyes followed Lu Xiao as he left, their minds filling in a whole soap-opera-style love-hate backstory. Some even had imaginary background music looping ‘Unforgivable’.

The once-overlooked girl had suddenly risen to the top, and now there were new choices around her. It was straight out of a melodramatic primetime TV drama.

Only Yao Mo kept her face stiff, quietly slipping out of the auditorium while everyone’s attention was elsewhere.

A few classmates only noticed afterward that she had left. Realizing there was no more drama to watch, they all went over to greet Xu Linlang.

After all, Xu Linlang was now Elder Jiang’s disciple—her future was limitless.

Better to establish some familiarity early if they could.

Xu Linlang responded to each of them. Building good relationships with classmates was also the first step in repairing her reputation.

On the way back to the dorm, Qi Ye walked beside her, making Xu Linlang feel a little awkward.

In the end, she politely thanked him. “Thanks for stepping in for me today. But honestly, you didn’t have to say all that. It might really affect your future relationships.”

Qi Ye tilted his head slightly. “It doesn’t matter to me.”

Xu Linlang muttered, “But you’re so outstanding. If you’ve been chasing me this whole time and couldn’t win me over, wouldn’t that scare off anyone else who likes me in the future?”

She was genuinely worried about that.

Most people, knowing they had to compete against someone as strong as Qi Ye, would think twice—and if even Qi Ye couldn’t succeed, others might not dare to try.

Besides, across the whole Empire, there weren’t many of their generation who could compare to Qi Ye.

Qi Ye’s lips curved into a smile. “If someone’s intimidated just because of me, then they don’t deserve to be with you.”

That… actually made sense.

If a future suitor gave up just because of Qi Ye, then it meant they didn’t like her enough to begin with.

Seeing her tacit agreement, Qi Ye’s eyes carried a faint smile. “Haven’t fairy tales always gone like this? The dragon takes away the princess. Countless knights try to rescue her and all fail, until finally the prince comes along, defeats the dragon, and lives happily ever after with the princess.”

Xu Linlang shot him a sideways glance. “Who compares themselves to the dragon? And besides, the fairy tales never explain why the dragon took the princess. Maybe it was just a lonely dragon who wanted someone to talk to. If that’s the case, why should it be beaten by countless knights and killed by the prince in the end? That’s way too tragic for the dragon.”

Qi Ye’s heart skipped a beat.

He had always believed that no matter what she said, the girl was right. But this time, she was wrong.

The dragon wasn’t that innocent. It wanted to possess the princess, to make her belong only to it. And yet, contradictorily, it didn’t want her to be sad.

So it pretended to be indifferent, accepting the challenges of knights one after another, mercilessly dealing with everyone who coveted its most precious treasure.

Even if the prince truly came in the end, it wouldn’t give its blessing. It would fight to the death.

He could never stand by and watch her live happily with someone else.

But he had never imagined she would say, “The dragon was just lonely.”

Qi Ye suddenly recalled that night in the dark cave, when the girl had gently bandaged his wounds—even after seeing his hideous, monstrous form.

The kind of form that would send anyone else screaming and fleeing at a glance.

He had long since stopped hoping that anyone could treat him kindly. But when he met Xu Linlang, he couldn’t help wanting to get closer—a little bit, then a little more.

His greed was growing.

Even though he knew he could never be worthy of her.

He shouldn’t get close. Yet he couldn’t stop his heart from reaching for someone he was never supposed to touch.

If not for Xu Linlang, he might have long ago died miserably in the mud and dust. She had already become the meaning of his survival.

He had to become stronger—only then could he protect her, only then could he be worthy of her.

If laws or the powerful stood in his way, then he would destroy every obstacle and rewrite the rules himself.

——————————

Once the final admission list was released, the entire Mecha Academy exploded with chatter. The liveliest place of all was the Mecha Repair Department’s office.

Several professors checked the list again and again, rubbed their eyes, and still couldn’t believe it.

Finally, the youngest professor whispered, “We weren’t mistaken. Elder Jiang really did accept Xu Linlang into the Manufacturing Department.”

The Repair Department’s head frowned. “But I clearly remember the Marshal’s wife had always wanted her in Repair. Why would she apply to Manufacturing instead? And how did she actually get admitted by Elder Jiang?”