Chapter 16: After Class, Come Into My Arms (14)

When Asi returned to the classroom, there were only a few minutes left before class began.

He Rose wasn't there yet. Although she was quick to run off after class, she was always punctual when it came to the start of lessons.

She arrived almost at the same time as the teacher.

When she came in, her face looked terrible, her eyes were swollen, and not just her eyes—even her lips were puffy.

"Rose, did you get into a fight with someone?"

For the moment, Asi had forgotten all about Lu Yu. Right now, all she could see was the pitiful face of her deskmate.

He Rose slumped over her desk, looking thoroughly miserable.

"You should have called me. If I'd been there, you wouldn't have gotten beaten up."

Asi wasn't exaggerating; she truly was quite formidable.

He Rose was warmed by the genuine concern she saw in Asi's eyes. She reached out and pinched the girl's fair, soft cheek, saying, "I'm fine..."

Asi looked at her skeptically.

Her black eyes were wet and glistening, and with her lips pressed together, her already adorable face seemed even more aggrieved.

He Rose's heart melted instantly. She covered her face and confessed, "Asi, I confessed to Su Jing today."

She and Su Jing were neighbors and had gone to and from school together since they were little.

Su Jing was good-looking, had a gentle temperament, and excelled academically. Naturally, at the age when feelings first blossom, He Rose fell for him. But Su Jing seemed interested only in studying...

Actually, whenever He Rose was with Su Jing, she seized every chance to confess her feelings.

After being rejected so many times, she had grown accustomed to it.

But today...

Asi looked at her knowingly and asked, "He turned you down again?"

Though it was a question, the certainty in the girl's tone made He Rose pinch her cheek once more.

"Of course not! I'm as beautiful as the moon hidden by clouds and as lovely as a flower, as graceful as a fish sinking and a bird falling—unless he's blind!" But as she spoke the last words, He Rose's bravado faded. "He said he'll agree if I make it into the top ten of the grade."

The top ten of the entire grade! Not just the class!

He Rose's academic level—Su Jing was well aware of it.

The demand was truly excessive.

Asi merely pressed her lips together and smiled, sincerely encouraging her, "Then do your best."

He Rose immediately collapsed onto her desk again, gazing pitifully at her adorable deskmate.

Asi glanced at her and said, "How can you get into the top ten if you don't pay attention in class?"

He Rose sat up, embarrassed, but after only a few minutes, sleepiness overcame her once more.

Asi, in truth, couldn't concentrate either; her mind was full of Lu Yu.

She recalled the dark red peach blossom pattern she had seen on the back of the young man's neck.

Her heart felt a surge of grievance.

She remembered that time when a fierce ghost from the underworld suddenly broke through the barrier and caused havoc among mortals.

At the time, she was free, wandering the mortal realm with Little White, and happened to encounter the evil spirit hurting people.

Without hesitation, Asi rushed into the fight. Unexpectedly, the ghost turned out to be the ghost emperor's beloved consort, and Asi ended up striking her so hard that her soul was almost lost.

Barely clinging to life, the ghost reported the incident to the ghost emperor.

The ghost emperor, unaware that Asi was the Destiny Immortal Lord from the Celestial Palace, was furious and struck with his palm.

The center of his palm contained the wrath of countless vengeful spirits from the underworld; a single blow could have cost Asi half her life.

It was Little White who suddenly leaped forward and took the blow for Asi.

It left an indelible scar at the nape of his neck.

Like a blazing peach blossom in full bloom—beautiful, yet it pained Asi for a long time.

During that period, Asi gave Little White everything he wished for; even when he burrowed into her clothes, she never pulled him out.