When Lin Jie heard Dai Mubai's threat, he nearly laughed out loud on the spot.
Threaten me? Who do you think you are?
Lin Jie genuinely considered giving Dai Mubai a good Chidori straight through the heart—maybe even a poetic "piercing cold to the soul."
But after a moment's thought, he realized—what did it matter if he was close to Zhu Zhuqing? How was that Dai Mubai's concern?
Sure, Zhu Zhuqing might technically be Dai Mubai's fiancée… for now.
But what does that have to do with me, Lin Jie? Haven't you heard? If your shovel skills are sharp enough, there's no corner that can't be dug out!
And besides, calling Dai Mubai a "corner" was already giving him too much credit. A guy who abandoned his own fiancée and ran off to another kingdom—what right did he have to talk about qualifications?
In Lin Jie's eyes, Dai Mubai was nothing but a waste.
Without saying a word, Lin Jie simply shut the door with a sharp bang in his face.
Inside his dorm, the layout was simple: two single beds about 1.2 meters wide and a desk by the window. Since there weren't many new students, Lin Jie had the room to himself—more convenient that way.
He sat cross-legged on the bed and began restoring his soul power. Outside, the sky gradually darkened into dusk.
After some quiet cultivation, Lin Jie's mind started to wander. Maybe I should go visit Zhu Zhuqing…
They'd gotten closer today. She didn't resist when he held her, even let him carry her. And that warning from Dai Mubai? That just made Lin Jie all the more determined.
With that thought, cultivation was thrown aside.
He got up, pushed open the door, and slipped out into the Shrek Academy grounds. The sky was already dimming into evening as he made his way—memory guiding him—toward Zhu Zhuqing's dormitory.
Soon, he stood before her door. He glanced at the rooms nearby—those should be Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong's. Without calling out, he raised his hand and knocked softly.
Knock knock knock.
Inside, Zhu Zhuqing had been meditating. Hearing the knock, she rose and went to the door. When it opened and she saw Lin Jie, her expression shifted slightly.
"Lin Jie? Why are you here?"
She had assumed it would be Xiao Wu or Ning Rongrong at this hour, not him.
Lin Jie noticed her subtle hesitation to let him in, so without a word, he stepped past her and walked straight into the room. Before she could react, he shut the door behind them and sat down on her bed.
The dorm setup was similar to his own—simple and plain. In fact, it reminded him a bit of the budget hotels from his previous life.
Shrek Academy really must be broke, he thought.
Zhu Zhuqing crossed her arms and walked over, giving him a faint glare. "This is the girls' dormitory. What are you doing here?"
"I was worried," Lin Jie replied. "You got hurt today—I came to check on you."
Of course, was that all he came for?
"I'm fine," she said simply.
"Since you're fine, let me help you refine your body again. After intense combat, soul power refinement is more effective. And this kind of refinement has to be consistent to show results."
At the mention of "refinement," Zhu Zhuqing's face reddened slightly. Her mind flashed back to the previous night—how he'd held her, how close they'd been.
Then she remembered her defeat against Zhao Wuji—how easily she'd been knocked unconscious. Gritting her teeth, she gave a soft hum of agreement.
She began to undress, removing her outer garment. Only her underclothes remained, wrapping her snowy, graceful figure. Perhaps because it was the second time, she was less shy this time. She didn't even tell him to close his eyes.
Lin Jie's gaze trailed over her figure as she approached, and though his heart pounded with rising desire, he kept his expression composed.
Of course, he wasn't about to admit what he was really thinking.
Zhu Zhuqing sat down on the bed with her back to him. When Lin Jie didn't move, she asked softly, "Can we start?"
Snapping out of his daze, Lin Jie nodded. He raised his hands, channeling a layer of lightning soul power around his palms and gently pressed them against her bare back.
Zhu Zhuqing shivered slightly as the electric tingling spread through her body.
Lin Jie increased the intensity, letting the lightning course through her meridians. Arcs of electricity crackled and sizzled in the air.
The initial numbness slowly turned into a mixture of pain and pleasure. Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help but let out a few soft gasps. Had she not been suppressing them, she might've moaned louder.
Time passed slowly.
After more than half an hour, her forehead was dotted with sweat. Her body trembled slightly, clearly nearing her limit.
Lin Jie noticed and quickly pulled back, retracting the lightning from her body.
And the moment he did, Zhu Zhuqing collapsed backward—right into his arms.
This wasn't coincidence. Lin Jie had controlled the lightning's intensity just enough to push her to the edge. And with her soul power already depleted from fighting Zhao Wuji, she simply couldn't hold on any longer.
So when the refinement ended, she naturally fell—and he naturally caught her.
Cradling her in his arms, Lin Jie whispered, "You okay? If you couldn't take it, you should've said something."
Zhu Zhuqing opened her mouth to reply, but when she tried to move, she realized her limbs were still numb. "My body feels… stiff," she murmured.
"That's normal," Lin Jie said, smirking. "It'll wear off in a bit."
He gently shifted his arms, holding her a little higher around the waist. The way they leaned into each other—one sitting, one resting—looked very much like a couple cuddling.
Zhu Zhuqing tried to move, but Lin Jie tightened his grip just slightly, keeping her close.
He stared at her profile for a moment, then said gently, "Don't move."
He repositioned her in his arms so that their eyes met. She looked into his gaze—startled but unmoving.
"I think…" Lin Jie said softly, "I'm starting to like you even more."
Just as Zhu Zhuqing parted her lips to speak, Lin Jie leaned in and kissed her.
She let out a faint "Mmm—" in surprise, instinctively trying to resist. But her body was still weak, and Lin Jie was simply too assertive. Before she knew it, she was kissing him back.
By the time their lips parted, her pale cheeks had turned a deep rosy red.
The soft light from the window illuminated her face like a brushstroke of sunset across jade, painting her with an ethereal glow.
"…Are you satisfied now?" she asked quietly, face still flushed.
"Nope," Lin Jie grinned, stealing one more quick kiss. "I'll be satisfied the day you become my girlfriend."
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes flickered with emotion. She hesitated, then changed the subject with a slightly trembling voice:
"I feel like… I can move again. You can let go of me now."
"Hmm?" Lin Jie raised a brow, hugging her a little tighter. "I don't think you've recovered. You're still lying in my arms."
"Could it be… you want me to keep holding you?" he teased.
Her cheeks reddened even further.
She wriggled slightly and eventually managed to sit up on her own. Lin Jie didn't stop her.
He gently took her hand and asked, "How do you feel now?"
"I'm fine."
Seeing that she truly was okay, Lin Jie released her and stood.
He offered a few final words of advice before turning to leave.
If he didn't walk away now, he wasn't sure he'd be able to restrain himself much longer.
After Lin Jie left, Zhu Zhuqing took her black outfit—lined with violet trim along the arms—and stepped into the bathroom.