“I only said that I would protect this group of five. With another addition to the group, I’m afraid that I lack both the interest and the means to do so.” Si Mobai did not beat around the bush. If Lan’er objected to Lin Suyin joining, then he would object to it even more!
Lin Suyin’s eyebrows creased a little at being rejected outright. However, she still smiled gracefully and answered earnestly, “I see. I apologize for being overly excited about making friends. I lacked consideration for all of you. Please, don’t mind me. I will go and ask the other teams if they would like me to join them.”
Seeing how sincere she was, it was hard to turn her down. Luo Yunzhu apologized awkwardly, “I’m sorry. It’s just that we already have our team…”
Maybe she’d been wrong about Lin Suyin? Luo Yunzhu wondered if she was too guarded. She might very well be harmless, unlike Tu Xiupei.
Lin Suyin was very understanding about the whole situation and replied politely, “I was the one who was abrupt, and I apologize for that.”
Seeing how these young people resisted the idea of a new member, it was hard for Luo Yuanjie to make them accept Lin Suyin into the group. He had no choice but to lead Lin Suyin to another team.
Luo Yunzhu snuck between Feng Tianlan’s elbows and locked herself there. Then, she peered over to look at Si Mobai. Trying to act like a good matchmaker, she added, “Haha! We know all about you and His Highness. Now, all that’s left is for the two of you to get to know each other better. I hope you won’t mind us third-wheeling for the whole journey!”
She was proud of how she had prevented Lin Suyin, the love rival, from joining their team. Without Lin Suyin, the young couple could now focus on spending some quality time together. There would be all kinds of opportunities for courtship.
Si Mobai’s gaze was fixed on the girls’ interlocked arms. He frowned slightly. Why were they so close?
“Wh-what…” Luo Yunzhu felt a chill down her spine as Si Mobai shot her with an icy glare with his peach flower eyes. Goosebumps made her move her hands away from Feng Tianlan. She whispered, “His Highness gets very jealous too easily. I am not a man, you know.”
This was not the legendary Demon Wargod she’d heard about from the people.
Feng Tianlan saw the Si Mobai’s darkened face and nudged him a little with her shoulder. “Hmm? Aren’t you afraid of him? How can you speak about him behind his back when he is standing right beside us? Aren’t you afraid that he’ll hear all your teasing?”
Luo Yunzhu hurriedly covered her mouth as she realized how unwise it was to shoot off. This was a man of power, someone who could effortlessly crush her to bits. Even so, she couldn’t help but joke, “Well, there’s no reason to be afraid. With you around, I am in good hands. You will always be his soft spot.”
“Stop messing around. We should be on our way,” Feng Tianlan rebuked.
Si Mobai, whose mood had darkened just moments earlier, suddenly felt his displeasure cease. Although this was the first time someone had ever teased him like that, he had to admit that he quite enjoyed it. After all, Luo Yunzhu wasn’t wrong. Lan’er was his soft spot, so he could only yield to their lightheartedness.
Within moments, Lin Suyin was offered multiple olive branches. As a noble by birth, even if she were weak, many would still die to have her on their team.
“Sister Lin, aren’t you supposed to be on a team with Feng Tianlan? Why…”
Lin Suyin smiled awkwardly. “Oh, I think I would have inconvenienced them …”
“What? Did she reject you? She thinks too highly of herself. Doesn’t she have eyes? Out of everyone, she rejected Sister Lin? What a fool!”
“Well, didn’t you see? She has the Wargod on her team. There have been some rumors lately that she is in love with him. I’m sure that she sees this as an opportunity to make her move!”
“She…”
Lin Suyin frowned disapprovingly then cut the others off in all seriousness, “Please don’t speak ill of her. It was me who interrupted them without any invitation after their team had already formed. Please, put a stop to all your inconsiderate words.”
Her stern words silenced those who were trying to get into her good books. They were shocked and distraught by how righteous Lin Suyin was. Perhaps she was a nice person, unlike Tu Xiupei?
Naturally, Lin Suyin became the leader of her group, a bunch of girls who just wanted to please her. She gazed at Si Mobai from afar, trying to make out this man who was so familiar yet so estranged. Sure, he seemed cold and distant, as always. But one thing was for sure, he was no longer the man she’d once known.
