Chapter 293
Can I follow you?
Ning Rongrong's crying gradually weakened, eventually turning into soft sobs.
The head buried in Lin Xia's arms burrowed closer, and with a thick nasal tone, it spoke in a muffled yet incredibly clear voice, making a request that made both Lin Xia and Zhu Zhuqing raise their eyebrows slightly.
"Brother Lin Xia..."
She looked up, her face still flushed from tears, but her glassy eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, gleaming with an almost scorching light, filled with an unprecedented determination and longing.
"Can...can I follow you from now on?"
Lin Xia lowered her head slightly, meeting her eyes that seemed to be burning with flames.
"Follow me?"
Lin Xia repeated it, her tone devoid of emotion.
"Ok!"
Ning Rongrong nodded vigorously, as if afraid he wouldn't believe her, and began to explain urgently, her thoughts clearer than ever before.
"I feel... I feel like an idiot! I don't understand anything! This world isn't as simple as I thought! Pay and take the goods? Ha..."
Ning Rongrong gave a self-deprecating smile, tinged with bitterness.
"I was so naive! I had no idea how much of my father's hard work and strategic maneuvering was hidden behind the wealth of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School!"
Ning Rongrong gripped Lin Xia's clothes tightly, as if she were holding a key to the real world.
"I feel like there are still so many things I don't know! The rules of the world, the unpredictability of people's hearts, the power struggles, and... and how to deal with situations like the one just now..."
"I don't want to stand there trembling like a piece of trash like today, just waiting for others to give me handouts or... punish me!"
Ning Rongrong's tone turned resolute as she finished speaking.
"Brother Lin Xia, I know you're amazing! Even Dad and Grandpa Jian trust and value you so much! I want to follow you! I'm sure I can learn so much more by your side! Things I could never learn in a lifetime!"
"When I encounter something like this again in the future, I will definitely... I will definitely do better! I will not let my father down again, and I will not bring shame to the sect!"
Ning Rongrong tilted her little face up, her eyes filled with unwavering seriousness and stubbornness.
"Please! Let me learn from you!"
These words, spoken by a pampered, naive little princess, were hoarse from crying, yet each word was firm and resounding, filled with the determination to break free from her cocoon.
This is no longer about being coquettish or escaping, but rather a desire to actively seek transformation after experiencing profound setbacks.
Lin Xia looked at her quietly, his deep black eyes seeming to see into the depths of her soul, assessing the weight and resilience behind her determination.
He could sense the sincerity in her words and the intense thirst for knowledge that had been ignited by the harsh reality.
A moment of silence followed, the air seemed to freeze.
Ning Rongrong's heart pounded so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of her chest.
Finally, Lin Xia slowly and with very slight movements shook her head.
The light in Ning Rongrong's eyes dimmed instantly, a wave of immense disappointment washing over her. Her fingers, gripping Lin Xia's clothes, unconsciously loosened their hold, and her straightened back seemed to crumble again.
"I have no objection."
Lin Xia's cool and calm voice followed, like a drop of ice water, instantly stabilizing Ning Rongrong's wavering mind. Ning Rongrong looked up sharply, a spark of hope rekindled in her eyes, and stared at Lin Xia in confusion.
Lin Xia's gaze passed over her, as if looking in a certain direction far away from Soto City, or as if simply stating an objective reality.
His tone carried an undeniable sense of detachment, yet it also contained a respect for certain rules:
"But you still have to ask your father and grandfather about this."
Seeing Ning Rongrong's momentarily stunned expression, Lin Xia noticed the silver coin disappear from his fingertips. Instead, he casually slipped his hands back into his trench coat pockets, resuming his usual nonchalant, all-powerful demeanor, and added indifferently:
"The heir of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, the future sect leader, her whereabouts and training arrangements are not something I, an outsider, can decide on my own."
"Brother Ning, entrusting you to me to experience this lesson is already an exception. As for long-term follow-up and learning?"
A faint, knowing smile appeared on Lin Xia's lips.
"This is not only about your personal wishes, but also about the direction of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's successor training and the school's future strategic layout."
Lin Xia leaned down slightly, meeting Ning Rongrong's gaze at eye level, her tone carrying an undeniable reminder.
“Rongrong, you are now representing more than just yourself. Have you thought this through? Your identity, your responsibility. If you really want to go down this path, then show your commitment, first persuade the people you need to persuade, and get the permits you need.”
"Instead of doing this now, acting on impulse, hugging me and crying, and then wanting to settle things."
Lin Xia straightened up, her tone calm and even.
"Once you have truly won the approval of your father and Grandpa Jian, and they are willing to 'hand you over' to me for training, then come and talk to me about following me."
He deliberately emphasized the pronunciation of the word "交" (jiao), implying the solemn commitment and trust required behind that permission.
After saying that, Lin Xia stopped and turned to walk along the street, leaving Ning Rongrong with a tall and slightly aloof back view.
Zhu Zhuqing followed silently, but when she passed by Ning Rongrong, who was still frozen in place and somewhat dazed by Lin Xia's words, her cat-like eyes quickly swept over her with a complex and unfathomable look before finally falling silent.
Ning Rongrong stood there blankly, the cool scent of Lin Xia still lingering in her arms, the tear stains on her cheeks itching slightly in the sunlight.
Lin Xia's last words were like a cold wind, blowing away her surging passion and impulse, and making her instantly realize the weight of reality.
“Father…Grandfather…Sect…”
She murmured to herself, the initial confusion fading from her glassy eyes, replaced by an unprecedented calm and determination.
How to persuade them?
Yes, she has to convince them!
She is no longer the little princess who only knows how to enjoy life.
She knows her shortcomings, she knows what she wants, and she knows what responsibilities she has to bear!
She watched Lin Xia's figure disappear around the street corner, took a deep breath, forcefully wiped away the remaining tears on her face, and straightened her spine—this time, it wasn't out of spite or stubbornness, but stemmed from inner awareness and strength.
"Brother Lin Xia! Wait for me!"
Ning Rongrong's clear voice was slightly hoarse, yet full of unwavering strength. She took a step forward, no longer stumbling, but with a newfound tenacity, chasing after the figure ahead.
After strolling around for a while, Lin Xia and her companions did not linger. Following the familiar path, they quickly returned to the slightly dilapidated yet vibrant Shrek Academy.
As soon as I stepped onto the academy's iconic large sports field, a restless atmosphere, so different from the tranquility of the morning, hit me. (End of Chapter)