"Lin Jie… you… you're so bad… I…"
Xiao Wu's voice faltered, unable to finish. She realized the posture between her and Lin Jie was far too shameful.
She couldn't help but think—if Zhu Zhuqing knew about this, would she cut ties with me as sisters? Strangely, Tang San didn't even cross her mind in that moment.
Lin Jie gently brushed his fingers over the faint bite mark, his voice soft:
"Xiao Wu, this mark is my promise to you. I will definitely help you."
At his touch, Xiao Wu's slender brows quivered, her eyes half-closed with a dazed expression, breath growing heavy. She didn't dare look at him, only gave a small nod.
Lin Jie smiled faintly.
"Then I'll go back now. Rest well."
With light steps, he returned to his own room, leaving behind a conflicted Xiao Wu.
When Lin Jie left, Xiao Wu's hurried breathing finally eased. As her mind cleared, she looked down at her half-open clothes and the faintly revealed curves of her body. Her face, already red, burned even hotter, like she had just drunk wine.
She quickly scrambled to put her clothes back in order. Yet when her hand brushed against the faint, still-warm bite mark on her chest, Lin Jie's kiss flashed unbidden through her mind, sending a flush of heat through her body once again.
Shaking her head hard, she tried to drive away the dangerous thoughts. But her gaze soon drifted toward Lin Jie's room, her mind sinking into confusion.
What's wrong with me? Why didn't I resist him just now? I even closed my eyes… as if I wanted him to continue.
A strange thought rose in her heart—Could it be that I… like Lin Jie?
No… impossible. The one I like should be Tang San. How could I like Lin Jie?
But when she thought of Tang San, Xiao Wu realized something shocking: over the months with Lin Jie, her longing for Tang San had grown fainter. Tang San, after learning her true identity as a transformed spirit beast, hadn't once come to find her.
But Lin Jie? Despite the danger, he had come into the Star Dou Great Forest just to look for her.
Could it be… that I really do like him?
Yet the image of Zhu Zhuqing surfaced, and guilt stabbed her heart. She had seen with her own eyes the closeness between Zhu Zhuqing and Lin Jie. How can I face her after this?
Her frustration boiled over into blame. Yes, it's all Lin Jie's fault. He's too bad…
But even as she scolded him inwardly, her hand unconsciously touched the bite mark again, leaving her heart in turmoil.
Back in his own room, Lin Jie felt a thrill of excitement. He knew he was becoming "worse," but he couldn't deny the faint exhilaration in his chest. If Tang San ever found out what I did with Xiao Wu… what would happen?
Neither Lin Jie nor Xiao Wu slept much that night. Each lay awake, tangled in restless thoughts—Lin Jie and Tang San's figures endlessly overlapping in Xiao Wu's mind.
The next day, when Lin Jie told Er Ming he was leaving, the Titan Giant Ape grew visibly reluctant. Over these past months, Lin Jie had brought so many new things into its life. Deep down, Er Ming had come to like him.
And of course, even the simple-minded ape could see that something was going on between Lin Jie and Xiao Wu. Their closeness was too obvious.
When Lin Jie was about to leave, Da Ming even surfaced briefly from the lake, gave Lin Jie a long look, then sank back into the depths. After half a year of silent observation, the Sky Blue Bull Python was convinced Lin Jie harbored no ill will toward Xiao Wu. Besides, if even Er Ming had noticed the closeness between them, how could Da Ming not?
At the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest, Lin Jie prepared to part ways.
"Alright, Xiao Wu, I'm leaving now. You must train hard here. I'll visit when I can. And Er Ming—you must protect her well."
"Roar. Got it." Er Ming's growl was deep but affirming.
"Xiao Wu, take care of yourself."
"Mhm. You too, Lin Jie…" Xiao Wu's eyes brimmed with reluctance.
Lin Jie leaned in and lightly brushed her lips with his own before turning to leave.
Xiao Wu touched her lips with trembling fingers, watching his figure fade into the distance, her gaze full of complex emotions.
Er Ming had clearly seen the kiss. With human-like intelligence, he understood perfectly what it meant. Just as I thought. Sister Xiao Wu and Lin Jie… really do have something going on.
Lin Jie himself was unaware of her expression—and even if he had seen it, he would only have smiled with satisfaction.
After leaving the forest, Lin Jie didn't linger. He set his course directly for Heaven Dou City.
It had been over half a year since he'd last seen Zhu Zhuqing. His heart ached with longing—not just for her, but also for Liu Erlong. He wondered how they were doing now. And of course, he thought of his family—his parents and his little sister Duo'er. How were they faring?
It took Lin Jie a full week of travel to return to Heaven Dou City.
His first stop was home. But his mother and Duo'er weren't there. He finally found them at the family shop.
The Lin Family Garments store had become well-known across Heaven Dou Empire. Lin Jie's designs were far ahead of their time—stylish, yet perfectly suited for this world. Their quality and appeal gave the Lin family a solid reputation.
When his mother saw him walk in, her face lit with joy. She hurried over, fussing over him, checking if he'd grown thinner. To her, half a year without seeing him felt like decades.
Duo'er and her sister, who were helping at the shop, were equally delighted. To them, Lin Jie wasn't just family—he was their savior, the one who had given them a home. Beneath their joy was also a quiet longing: Could he one day become our true family?
Lin Jie stayed to help at the shop for half a day. Later, the four of them returned home together, full of laughter.
After several days with his mother and Duo'er, Lin Jie learned that his younger sister was still at Shrek Academy. He bade them farewell and set off toward the academy.
After hours of travel, the gates of Shrek Academy came into view.
In just half a year, the academy had risen to become the number one academy in Heaven Dou Empire—at least in reputation, thanks to their championship victory. But compared to the Royal Academy or the elemental academies, their overall strength was still somewhat lacking.
Though Lin Jie hadn't returned for months, the grounds were still familiar. With ease, he made his way to the rear courtyard—to the secluded residence known as Youlin Pavilion.
Along the way, he observed the students. Perhaps inflated by Shrek's newfound fame, many of them seemed arrogant, though their actual strength was not impressive.
Now the academy even had standardized uniforms. Lin Jie, without one, immediately drew attention. Seeing him head straight for the back courtyard, many students exchanged looks as if watching a spectacle.
"I bet he won't last ten minutes before being thrown out."
"Ten minutes? I give him five."
Another chimed in:
"Last time, Senior Liu was thrown out in less than two minutes. And Senior Song, not even four. Now another fool dares enter the forbidden grounds. Who is he anyway?"
A blond youth suddenly spoke:
"Wait… he looks familiar. I think I've seen him before."
"Ning Zhongxia, are you serious? You've seen him?"
The blond boy's eyes widened as realization struck.
"I remember now—it's him! It has to be him!"
The others frowned in confusion, but Ning Zhongxia said no more. He turned and quickly left.
Lin Jie, unaware of the murmurs outside, stepped into the quiet grove. Ahead, the small wooden house of Youlin Pavilion came into view.
On the grass before the cabin, a familiar figure appeared in his sight.
Sitting cross-legged, Zhu Zhuqing was cultivating. She sensed someone approaching and frowned, assuming it was another bothersome student. Just as she was about to reprimand them, a wave of utterly familiar energy brushed her senses.
Her eyes flew open.
"Lin Jie."
In the next instant, she was in his arms.
Holding the girl he had longed for, inhaling her unique fragrance, Lin Jie whispered softly:
"Zhuqing, I'm back."
"Mhm."
Her simple reply carried deep emotion. Her embrace spoke louder than words.
"Did you miss me, Zhuqing?"
"Mhm."
Lin Jie gently cupped her delicate face.
"Let me see… half a year apart, has my Zhuqing changed? No. Still as beautiful as ever."
He smiled, then added:
"By the way, where's Erlong-jie? Tell me everything that's happened in these months. Shrek seems so different now—I barely recognized it."
Zhu Zhuqing replied softly:
"Erlong-jie isn't here. She returned to her clan for a time. And… she broke through to Spirit Douluo."
"She reached Spirit Douluo?" Lin Jie's eyes lit with joy—above all, happiness for Liu Erlong.