Chapter Eighty-Two: Yun Ranran of the Jiuzhou Academy

At the morning assembly, Scholar Huaiyuan clarified the division of the new students, and Chong Li became Yun Ranran’s sole disciple, just as she had hoped. Zitan already had her closed-door disciple, Tang Tang, and was no longer considering taking Luonan Shu, but occasionally, she still shared insights with the two.

Since Chong Li was Yun Ranran’s only student, he naturally enjoyed all the privileges; that afternoon, he moved from a double dormitory to a single room—the only such case in the entire school.

Yun Ranran, finally getting what she wanted, resumed her long-awaited master-disciple life with Chong Li, though, as always, she was thoroughly outmatched by him.

Yun Ranran had utmost faith in Chong Li’s abilities. Each day, she lived in carefree delight, unburdened by teaching duties. The school could easily spare one elder, and one mentor less wouldn’t make a difference.

Another day of drizzle. Perhaps the Dragon God had been unwell lately, for it rained every day.

Last night’s thunder rattled nerves and left people on edge. Yun Ranran sat by the window, listening to the rain, savoring hot tea and Chong Li’s beauty; life couldn’t be more comfortable.

“Chong Li, what was our relationship in our previous lives?” she suddenly asked.

Chong Li’s brows furrowed. “What relationship?”

“My former self was called Chong Lian, and you’re Chong Li… Could it be that we are siblings separated for centuries?” Yun Ranran was startled by her own speculation. The thought that she might once have harbored affection for her “brother” unsettled her, as though she would be struck by lightning for it.

Could it be that enduring the Ninefold Heavenly Tribulation was punishment for offending my brother, and the Dao of Heaven couldn’t bear it, so it killed me?

Yun Ranran felt enlightened.

Her expression was especially animated. “Lianbao, what nonsense fills that little head of yours? If I were your brother, wouldn’t I know?”

Yun Ranran retorted stubbornly, “What if you were reincarnated too?”

Chong Li was amused, the teardrop at the corner of his eye gleaming wickedly with his smile. “So, you think we look alike?”

Yun Ranran shook her head. She never lost a beauty contest with others, but against Chong Li, she was utterly defeated.

It was baffling how such a delicate beauty could assemble into a man, but at least he was pleasing to the eye.

“So you still think we’re siblings?”

Chong Li suddenly leaned in, making Yun Ranran’s heart flutter wildly, her pulse racing as if eager to reincarnate. Her eyes blinked rapidly:

Damn! Chong Li, you’re actually using a beauty trap! Cursed, I’ve fallen for it!

Suddenly, Yun Ranran shut her eyes and puckered her lips, her rosy mouth moving toward Chong Li’s lips!

Chong Li was so startled he retreated, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed nervously. Lianbao’s sudden approach made his heart skip a beat; she was too impulsive.

Once he regained his composure, Chong Li forced a smile, but inside, a fire had been lit: What was he about to do? He nearly… nearly did it again…

Last time, giving medicine had already resulted in a kiss, but that was because… because…

Chong Li couldn’t fathom why, with so many methods, he’d chosen the most extreme—mouth-to-mouth.

Yun Ranran pointed at him and laughed without restraint: “Hahaha! Chong Li, look at you—such timidity! How did you ever dare to get near me?”

Chong Li thought to himself: Hah, if not for holding back, would you still be sitting here unharmed?

“Chong Li, do you realize how disheveled you just looked? Nothing like your usual ethereal self. Have you fallen from the heavens into the mortal realm?”

Yun Ranran had no sense of the gravity of the situation and kept provoking his nerves.

Chong Li laughed in exasperation, “Heh.”

This was all because of her. Gods, after all, have emotions and desires—especially after living together for over two hundred years. This little girl understood nothing!

Seeing Chong Li ignore her for so long, Yun Ranran poked and prodded closer. “Are you angry?”

She was as mischievous as could be.

“No, I won’t get angry with you,” Chong Li finally replied after a long pause.

“Oh, really! If you won’t get angry, why are you so far from me?”

“Well, your hair smells!”

Unconsciously, Yun Ranran had crawled onto him again.

Lianbao, you truly don’t treat me as an outsider. Do you really think my self-control is that good?

Yun Ranran grabbed a lock of her hair, sniffed it, and declared, “It doesn’t smell! Try it, it’s fragrant!” She placed it near Chong Li’s nose.

Chong Li was utterly flustered, his thoughts in complete disarray. “Lian! You really think you can do whatever you want just because I’ve become smaller?!”

A brief silence lingered in the air. The koala clinging to him quietly climbed down, saying nothing.

Chong Li regretted the harshness in his tone, but it was too late to repent. The scene shifted.

He walked to Yun Ranran’s side, rubbing her hair. “I didn’t mean to scold you. You haven’t changed your quail-like habits in all these years.”

The gesture was a bit odd—a man shorter than Yun Ranran was comforting her, stroking her hair, with a calm, mature tone.

The person beneath him seemed to be sobbing, and Chong Li grew anxious:

“I mean, it’s alright for you to treat me like that, but between men and women, there should be boundaries. If you act like that with other men, it’s inappropriate. With me, it’s fine—do you understand?”

The sobbing intensified. “Lianbao, your master was wrong. I apologize. But do you know how serious it is to kiss a stranger?”

Chong Li had to make her understand the seriousness. Letting her read those storybooks for two hundred years had clearly been a mistake—look at what his precious disciple had become!

Yun Ranran wiped away nonexistent tears from her eyes. “But Chong Li isn’t a stranger.” She ended with a deliberate hiccup, her eyes rimmed red.

Chong Li’s heart softened. “Alright, alright, I’m not a stranger. But except for Chong Li, you can’t act like that with anyone else!”

Beneath her aggrieved expression was a hint of cunning. “Then, Chong Li, what exactly do you mean by ‘act like that’?”

Chong Li’s mind was ablaze; faced with her pitiful look, his reasoning evaporated. “I mean kissing, hugging, and lifting you up—understand?!”

Yun Ranran sniffled, “Yes, Lianbao understands.”

Lianbao was the affectionate name Chong Li used for her.

Finally hearing the words “I understand,” Chong Li breathed a sigh of relief. “Good, as long as you understand. I’ll go get your meal.”

His departing figure lacked its usual uprightness, a bit crooked, even somewhat bedraggled.

Watching him leave, Yun Ranran crossed her legs, humming, her lips curling in triumph.

Her two hundred years of reading storybooks had not been in vain. She had tested whether Chong Li had feelings for her, not expecting much. Yet, with a gentle probe, she realized that her place in Chong Li’s heart was undeniable.

Leaving Yun Ranran’s room, Chong Li felt muddled, as if his head was filled with paste. Only after the cold wind hit him did he feel somewhat restored.

His body inexplicably feverish, he didn’t head straight to the dining hall but returned to his room. Filling the bath with two buckets of cold water, he submerged himself, finally regaining clarity.