Chapter 52: The Naturally Familiar Ning Rongrong
Technically, today was the first time the two had met. But perhaps due to their blood relation, or maybe because Ye Cheng closely resembled their father, she felt an innate sense of familiarity with him. Ning Rongrong was completely at ease in front of Ye Cheng, eating without the slightest bit of embarrassment.
After they finished their meal, the waiter came over to clear the dishes and brought two beverages.
They sat there, casually chatting.
For the most part, it was the naturally talkative Ning Rongrong asking questions while Ye Cheng answered. The dynamic between the two siblings was incredibly harmonious, nothing like a first meeting. Instead, it felt as if they had known each other for a long time. Ning Rongrong called him "Brother" so naturally that anyone unaware of their situation would assume they had grown up together.
…
Night fell.
At Shrek Academy's main training ground, the four eyed cat eagle, Dean Flender, stood observing the six students before him. Dai Mubai, Tang San, Ma Hongjun, and the cold yet disciplined Zhu Zhuqing were all prepared for their nighttime lesson, looking energetic and ready.
However, Flender's focus wasn't on them but rather on two specific students.
"Oscar, have you finished your twenty laps?" Flender's sharp gaze made it difficult to meet his eyes.
Oscar coughed lightly, nodded, and said, "Dean, I've finished."
Flender let out a cold snort. "I asked if you all finished, not just you."
Oscar turned to look at Ning Rongrong, who was also looking at him, her beautiful eyes full of innocence.
Gritting his teeth, Oscar nodded and said, "Yes, we both finished."
Flender smiled a scheming, triumphant smile.
"Very well, Oscar, I didn't expect you to be so compassionate. Since that's the case, go run another twenty laps. Let me see just how deep your compassion runs. If you don't finish, you don't eat. Go on."
Oscar didn't say anything. He simply nodded silently, turned, and started running again.
Flender then shifted his gaze to Dai Mubai, Tang San, and the others. "Do you all not understand why I'm doing this? Why I'm making him keep running?"
Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, well acquainted with Flender's temperament, remained silent. Zhu Zhuqing, naturally cold and detached, simply looked at him indifferently. But Tang San, instinctively, nodded. He truly didn't understand Flender's reasoning.
Flender's eerie smile remained. "Because he lied. Even if it was out of compassion or some other reason, a lie is still a lie. You are all still children, and lying is one of the worst traits you can have. I want you to understand that."
As he spoke, his gaze shifted from Tang San and the others to Ning Rongrong, who looked innocent and pitiful. "Tell me, did you complete the training I assigned this morning?"
Ning Rongrong shook her head honestly. "I didn't. The distance was too long, I was hungry, and I couldn't keep going."
Flender smiled faintly. "So, instead, you ran off to Soto City alone and only recently came back to find Oscar, didn't you?"
Ning Rongrong widened her beautiful eyes. "You were spying on me?"
Flender's expression immediately turned cold. "As the dean, I am responsible for every student in this academy. If Oscar's lie was excusable because he didn't want you to be punished, then your actions are utterly unforgivable. Leaving the academy without permission, disobeying academy rules, making a senior cover for you each of these is a mistake no excellent soul master should ever make. If this were a battlefield, your only outcome would be military punishment death."
Ning Rongrong frowned, her gentle demeanor fading as a trace of disdain and scorn appeared on her face. "This isn't a battlefield. It's just an academy."
She saw through it clearly Flender was twisting the facts. Obviously, this despicable man was deliberately making things difficult for her, yet he made it sound as if she were the one in the wrong. What kind of absurd logic was this?
Flender nodded. "That's right, this is just an academy. But it's my Shrek Academy. Now, I give you two choices. One, pack your things and leave immediately. You are unworthy of being part of this academy. The other, prove to me that you deserve to stay and show your determination not to break the rules again."
At this, Ning Rongrong laughed. So, this was just a power play. Calling him "Dean" was already giving him enough face, wasn't it?
"Flender, who do you think you are? Just a measly Soul Sage."
The moment these words left her mouth, Tang San and the others were all stunned. They never expected that this seemingly gentle girl could say something so disrespectful to a teacher.
At this moment, the softness on Ning Rongrong's face was gone. Being bullied like this no matter how good someone's temper was, they wouldn't be able to tolerate it. Let alone Ning Rongrong, who was never one to compromise.
"And you say I don't deserve to be here?"
"You think I care about wasting my time in this trash academy?"
Having already seen through Shrek Academy's tricks, Ning Rongrong had no regard for the place at all. Her gaze toward Flender was filled with utter disdain.
With Shrek Academy's admission standards, every student who got in was essentially a genius among geniuses. No matter which academy they went to, they would undoubtedly receive the best treatment.
Whatever Shrek Academy could offer, other academies could offer as well if not more.
This so called academy was nothing more than a gimmick, using the title of "only accepting monsters" and strict admission rules to lure students in through sheer curiosity.
Ning Rongrong had long since seen through it all.
(End of chapter)
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