Chapter 42: Ma Xiaotao — Don't Look! I'll Reward You When We're Home
Ma Xiaotao, kneeling over Ye Chen, first felt something strange under her—then she caught the heat of his gaze.
That's when she realized she was… showing a bit too much.
"Hmph. Well? Like what you see?" she huffed softly, tugging at her robe while blushing to the tips of her ears.
"Yeah. Beautiful," Ye Chen answered honestly.
"Hmph, fine. Since you've behaved yourself this time, I'll reward you when we get back."
Her voice was low, bashful, full of restrained warmth. She turned slightly away to hide her face, pink as a ripened peach.
She had already gone this far with Ye Chen—letting him admire for a bit wasn't a problem.
Besides, after everything he'd done for her, she owed him a little "benefit," didn't she?
"Tap, tap, tap—"
Suddenly, footsteps echoed outside.
Ma Xiaotao's eyes widened. Quickly, she buttoned up her robe and tried to get off Ye Chen.
Click!
"Junior Brother, how's Xiao Tao—"
The door swung open. Ling Luochen rushed in—only to freeze mid-step.
Ma Xiaotao, fully awake, was sitting on top of Ye Chen.
They were technically clothed… but to Ling Luochen's eyes, it might as well have been otherwise.
"Ah! You—you two…!"
Ling Luochen gasped, covering her mouth, eyes wide in shock.
Was Ma Xiaotao really that bold? Her wounds weren't even healed yet! And in the sickroom, of all places!?
"Ling Luochen! Wait—it's not what you think—"
But Ling Luochen cut her off instantly. "No need to explain! I didn't see anything. Continue~"
And with that, she spun around and shut the door.
"Ling Luochen! Are you insane!? Don't make up weird stories!"
Ma Xiaotao leapt to her feet, stormed out, and grabbed Ling Luochen by the collar—proceeding to give her a serious beating right outside.
Screams echoed through the corridor moments later.
...
...
A few minutes later, the three of them were eating breakfast quietly back in the room.
Ling Luochen sat stiffly, rubbing her sore backside and glaring at Ma Xiaotao with watery eyes.
That witch had hit hard.
All over a little misunderstanding! It wasn't like she was going to gossip.
Ma Xiaotao glared back. "What are you looking at? Ye Chen just fell accidentally, and I was helping him up!"
"Right, right…" Ling Luochen mumbled, barely holding back a smirk. Sure. Helping him up. Into your lap.
Even a fool wouldn't buy it.
If she hadn't barged in, those two would've definitely burned the whole hospital down from friction alone.
And yet—a faint twinge of envy flickered across her face. If only it had been me…
"Believe whatever you want, but if you dare spread rumors, I'll kill you!" Ma Xiaotao warned, cracking her knuckles.
"Okay, okay, my lips are sealed."
Ling Luochen slurped her noodles, completely unbothered—or at least pretending to be.
Ma Xiaotao ground her teeth but dropped the matter with a sigh.
Just then, Zhang Lexuan walked in.
"How's your injury, Xiao Tao?" she asked, having just returned from filing post-mission reports and official documentation.
The Overseer Corps wasn't only about killing—it had procedures, investigations, and paperwork too.
Ling Luochen, Ma Xiaotao, and Ye Chen weren't suited for that, so Zhang Lexuan had handled it herself. Upon hearing that Ma Xiaotao was awake, she came rushing back.
"I'm fine now, Senior Sister. Sorry for troubling you," Ma Xiaotao said, embarrassed.
The mission had gone poorly because she'd been too reckless. If she'd been more cautious, she wouldn't have been injured so badly.
"Next time, be less impulsive. Your safety comes first," Zhang Lexuan admonished firmly.
That fiery temper of hers was exactly why Shrek never let Ma Xiaotao take missions alone—too many close calls.
Still, with her overwhelming strength, most of her assignments ended in easy victories. Others only had to clean up after her.
"I know, I know…" Ma Xiaotao stuck her tongue out playfully but took the advice to heart.
"Good. I've handled the aftermath. Let's return to the academy. You'll need more treatment from our top healers anyway," Zhang Lexuan said, nodding.
She had examined Ma Xiaotao's wounds earlier—though healed on the surface, the inner tissue hadn't fully regenerated.
"Okay."
Ma Xiaotao nodded gently, then hesitated. "But Senior Sister, my wounds are already completely healed. I don't need treatment anymore."
"What? Already healed?" Zhang Lexuan's eyes widened.
She stepped forward quickly, placing her hand on Ma Xiaotao's bare back under the gown to check.
"Ah—"
"Don't make that sound," Zhang Lexuan warned flatly.
"O-okay…"
A moment later, her surprise deepened. The wounds were completely gone—tissue smooth, energy flow stable.
"How is this possible?"
"Senior Sister, Ye Chen gave me a miracle pill from his family. That's why I healed so quickly," Ma Xiaotao explained. The two had agreed beforehand not to hide it.
"You're such a good boy," Zhang Lexuan said approvingly, rubbing Ye Chen's hair affectionately.
Her sharp mind instantly pieced it together—the pill must have been unimaginably rare and powerful.
That Ye Chen had chosen to use it on Ma Xiaotao showed not only deep care but sincerity of heart.
A loyal disciple with compassion—that only made her more grateful to call him her godbrother.
...
After breakfast, they began their journey home.
By noon, the four returned to Shrek Academy.
Zhang Lexuan headed off to report the mission results and submit Ye Chen's evaluation—after all, this had also been his test.
The results would determine whether he'd be admitted early into the inner court.
Ling Luochen retired to rest; she'd spent the whole night wrapping up battlefield cleanup.
As for Ye Chen—he followed Ma Xiaotao home.
She had, after all, promised him a "reward." Of course he wasn't going to forget that.
"Well, thanks for last night. You should go rest," Ma Xiaotao said calmly as they entered her room.
"Sister Xiao Tao, you promised me a reward when we got back~" Ye Chen grinned, wrapping his arms around her from behind.
"W-What reward? I don't recall saying that…"
She stammered, face flushed, clearly trying to dodge.
Those were words spoken in a rush of emotion—she hadn't thought them through.
Now that things had calmed down, embarrassment sank in.
She wasn't good at being the bold one. If Ye Chen pushed a little harder, she wouldn't have the will to resist—but he always froze at key moments!
Didn't he care about her pride at all!?
No girl liked having to take the initiative every time!
"Come on, Sister Xiao Tao~ You can't break your promise."
Ye Chen held her tighter, refusing to let go, pressing closer.
"F-Fine… just let me go first… I'll change clothes and meet you in my room…"
She mumbled, stiff from flustered panic, but knowing there was no escape.
It's fine, she told herself. I'm not being forward… I'm just… keeping my word. That's all.
All Ye Chen's fault anyway.
(END CHAPTER)
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