Professor Shen’s Needy Little Lover - Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Shen Zaiqing went downstairs and found Liu Qingyuan playing with two little dragon cubs near the door on the first floor.

They were running and frolicking about, but as soon as they saw Shen Zaiqing approaching, they stopped in unison and craned their heads to look at her.

“Pretty Sister, these are my new friends.” Little Qingyuan ran over to grab Shen Zaiqing’s hand and brought her before the two little dragon cubs.

“Her name is Long Yao, and her name is Long Pei; they are sisters,” Liu Qingyuan introduced to Shen Zaiqing, her tender voice sounding quite serious.

The two little dragon cubs, upon hearing their names, suddenly stopped moving. They widened their eyes and stiffened their bodies while looking at Shen Zaiqing, appearing somewhat restrained.

Long Xin had also been restrained when she first arrived at Building No. 3, but her restraint was born of an adult’s mindset, whereas these two little dragon cubs looked far more immature; their gazes were timid and shy.

It was just like the helplessness children feel when encountering a stranger.

Shen Zaiqing greeted them with a smile, patted each of their heads, and said gently, “Hello, Long Yao and Long Pei.”

“Did you two come from Building No. 3 as well?”

Long Yao and Long Pei didn’t know what Building No. 3 was and shook their heads together, but they understood Shen Zaiqing’s question and pointed to the mountain scenery outside the door: “We came from over there.”

Regardless of the species of dragon, the dragon cub form looks roughly the same; inattentive adopters often mix up their own dragon cub with someone else’s.

Shen Zaiqing wouldn’t make such a mistake; she saw the differences between Long Yao and Long Pei at a glance.

Of course, being biological sisters, they shared many similarities and a level of rapport that outsiders couldn’t match. From time to time, Shen Zaiqing was charmed by the duplicated movements of these two little dragon cubs.

Who wouldn’t like a gentle and beautiful sister? After a few words of conversation, the two little dragon cubs couldn’t take their eyes off Shen Zaiqing. One clung to her arm and the other tugged at her clothes, jumping and bouncing in front of her, both wanting to become her “accessories.”

Long Xin was talking with Long Yin in the courtyard when she suddenly noticed the commotion at the door and cast her gaze over.

Then, she watched as Shen Zaiqing squatted down; one of these little dragon cubs wouldn’t let go of the Professor’s arm, while the other was desperately trying to burrow into the Professor’s embrace.

What the hell?

She was the Professor’s dragon, yet she had never hugged the Professor’s arm like that, nor had she ever tried to burrow into the Professor’s embrace.

These two little dragons were really too much!

“I suggest you return to Longya Mountain, but it’s only a suggestion; you have to think it through for yourselves. Let’s not talk about this for now my adopter has come down, and I need to go tell her about what happened last night.”

Long Xin suddenly quickened her speech, hurriedly ending the conversation with Long Yin, and strode toward Shen Zaiqing on her long legs.

Shen Zaiqing had originally intended to go find Long Xin, but before she even reached the door, her steps were hindered by the two little dragon cubs.

These two were clingier and more enthusiastic than Long Xin, but they weren’t as obedient or self-aware. Shen Zaiqing told them several times to sit or stand properly, but they wouldn’t listen to her.

Shen Zaiqing still felt that her own dragon was better.

Just as Shen Zaiqing was being made dizzy by the two little cubs, Long Xin suddenly walked over. Grabbing one in each hand, she lifted the two little dragon cubs from behind and tossed them aside.

This was a movement Shen Zaiqing often performed on Long Xin; she hadn’t expected to see her own dragon lifting other dragon cubs like that today.

“You two go play in the courtyard.”

Long Xin had been fierce toward the sisters last night, leaving a deep impression, so they didn’t dare act up in front of her.

Long Yao and Long Pei stiffened their bodies and responded loudly: “Yes!”

Then, with a skip and a jump, they ran out to the courtyard. Liu Qingyuan chased after them, bringing out some trinkets Liu Mao had made for her to play with them.

“You know these two little dragon cubs?” Shen Zaiqing stood up and asked Long Xin.

Long Xin gave her an honest account of what happened last night.

“Long Xin, if there is such an urgent matter in the future, you must wake me up and let me go with you,” Shen Zaiqing said after understanding the sequence of events.

If her dragon encountered danger outside while she remained completely unaware, Shen Zaiqing would feel that something had gone wrong with her guardianship and would blame herself.

“Okay,” Long Xin responded obediently.

Combining this with what Long Xin had said earlier, the woman who had hugged Long Xin was Long Yin, the mother of Long Yao and Long Pei. Had she pounced forward to hug Long Xin out of gratitude?

This was something Shen Zaiqing couldn’t ask directly, so she could only find a reasonable explanation for the behavior in her own mind.

“Uncle Liu, let me help you.”

“Good, good, good. You help me sort the vegetables.”

While Long Xin was speaking with Shen Zaiqing, Long Yin also entered from the courtyard, passed them, and went to the hearth to help Liu Mao.

When passing Shen Zaiqing, Long Yin gave her a slight nod.

Shen Zaiqing also smiled back at her.

“They fled to Tiandai Mountain to escape trouble and were then rescued by Uncle Liu?” Shen Zaiqing asked.

Long Xin shared the content of her conversation with Long Yin: “Yes. They are Azure Dragons like me. Their family members indeed committed errors and were arrested and imprisoned. The White Dragons deliberated that the guilt should be shared, so they issued an arrest warrant for Long Yin. Long Yin refused to submit and fled; she was already pregnant at that time.”

“Later, she hid in Tiandai Mountain, living off wild fruits and game. Eventually, Uncle Liu discovered them while he was up the mountain cutting wood, and he would periodically bring them some daily necessities.”

The rechargeable desk lamps and flashlights in Long Yin’s cave were all brought to them by Liu Mao.

Tiandai Mountain has a protective layer installed, which provides excellent shelter for dragons. Long Yin and her two children hiding here was safer than being fugitives outside.

However, six months ago, after using every possible method and still being unable to hatch her children, Long Yin’s state deteriorated. She began refusing the supplies Liu Mao brought and frequently went on hunger strikes, her health declining until yesterday, when Long Xin rescued her two children and her heart was truly set at ease.

She came down the mountain today firstly to thank Liu Mao for his long-term assistance, and secondly to ask Long Xin for guidance on where the three of them mother and daughters should go from here.

“You suggested they return to Longya Mountain?” Shen Zaiqing pondered: “But isn’t that walking into a trap?”

“With the White Dragons targeting the Azure Dragons so aggressively, won’t the situation become worse if they go back?”

Long Xin gave a light smile: “It was the Professor who taught me that one must learn to face and solve things. Actually, the situation is improving every year; the conditions seven years ago are different from the conditions now.”

“Long Sheng is soft-eared (easily swayed); that has its disadvantages but also its advantages. If they want to return to Longya Mountain, they must first go to Long Sheng and obtain his protection. Once he steps forward, the White Dragons below won’t dare act recklessly.”

“Moreover, the laws of the Dragon Clan have been redrafted. During a trial, human intervention is now required, which will be fairer to Azure Dragons.”

Speaking of Long Sheng, Shen Zaiqing remembered the phone call he had made to her. She found it hard to have a good impression of the man, nor could she generate trust: “Long Xin, but how can you be sure Long Sheng will stand on the side of you Azure Dragons?”

Long Xin curled the corners of her mouth, her expression very relaxed, lacking Shen Zaiqing’s worry: “I have already taught Long Yin a method. I know where Long Sheng’s weakness lies.”

“Using that to trade with Long Sheng will at least secure an opportunity for a fair dialogue.”

Seeing that Long Xin had no intention of expanding on the topic, Shen Zaiqing felt a bit of regret and simply replied: “Oh.”

Her dragon could certainly keep her own privacy, but she felt a strange twinge in her heart.

“Long Xin, Professor Shen.” After finishing her help at the hearth, Long Yin walked toward the two of them, primarily because she saw their conversation had paused and she had a few more words for Long Xin.

Facing Long Xin, she said: “I discussed it with Uncle Liu just now, and he also suggests we return to Longya Mountain. He said that if given the chance, I must send Long Yao and Long Pei to Building No. 3 for the benefit of their growth and development. I want to go back and have a proper talk with Long Sheng.”

Long Xin nodded. She also felt this was the correct course of action and said with a beaming smile: “I heard that your dragon cave was destroyed and repairing it will take time. I have two side-chambers; you three can stay there for now.”

“I have infused that place with special magic; the White Dragons won’t dare cause trouble there.”

“Thank you so much!” Long Yin was moved to tears of gratitude toward Long Xin, her gaze filled with a few more points of reverence.

Shen Zaiqing once again saw a different side of Long Xin.

Her dragon was very steady in handling matters; her way of thinking and her attitude toward solving problems had improved significantly. Most importantly, she possessed a kind heart.

Shen Zaiqing felt this was a very precious quality; to face the light while dwelling in darkness is no easy feat.

From Long Yin’s admiring gaze, it was clear that Long Xin was indeed, as she had said before, a standout among the Dragon Clan in terms of magic and deterrent power. Once fully awakened, she would definitely arouse the wariness of the White Dragons.

But speaking of which, there was one thing Shen Zaiqing really wanted to poke fun at.

That was: why was the Dragon Clan’s method of handing over keys so peculiar?

Instead of a physical key, they used a “talisman” to open doors?

Shen Zaiqing watched as Long Xin used her finger to write and draw on Long Yin’s palm for a full two minutes.

Since Long Xin was lending her both side-chambers, she had to draw two talismans; after finishing on the left hand, she switched to the right. The two of them had to stay pressed together for four minutes to draw the talismans.

This was… far too inconvenient.

Shen Zaiqing looked away, feeling she wasn’t needed there, and went to the hearth to see if there was anything she could do to help.

Aunt Liu’s braised fish was ready to be plated. Since there were many people, she had cooked several; Shen Zaiqing helped bring the finished fish to the table.

Long Xin explained the usage of these “keys” to Long Yin and informed her of the distribution of water sources and crops near her cave.

Long Yin thanked her repeatedly and, after much consideration, said to Long Xin: “Actually, Azure Dragons are not inferior to White Dragons in any aspect. It’s just that the atmosphere within the clan is indeed poor. At a time like this, if there were a leader to clear away this foul atmosphere and rebuild the prestige of the Azure Dragon clan, I think the White Dragons would never dare to be so arrogant in front of us again.”

Long Xin gave a faint smile and concurred: “I think so too.”

Long Yin added: “Long Xin, I think you are very suitable to be such a leader.”

But Long Xin said: “My heart is no longer in Longya Mountain. I want to stay in human society. There is a person here who is very important to me, and I have my ideals; I want to stay here.”

Long Yin gave a knowing smile, her gaze drifting toward Shen Zaiqing: “That person you mentioned is Professor Shen, isn’t it?”

Her thoughts being hit squarely, Long Xin’s ears turned red instantly, and she appeared very flustered: “Don’t go around talking nonsense about that.”

Long Yin, being someone who had been through it all, understood her heart and comforted her: “Don’t worry. I’m one of your own; of course I’ll stand on your side and won’t talk nonsense in front of her.”

“However,” Long Yin looked toward Shen Zaiqing thoughtfully. While serving the dishes, Shen Zaiqing was intentionally or not always looking in their direction, paying extra attention to Long Xin and the woman beside her. Long Yin felt that things weren’t that simple.

Shifting her tone, Long Yin added: “Based on the intuition of someone who’s been there, I don’t think it’s unrequited love. Your Professor Shen seems to have a bit of ‘interest’ in you as well.”

At these words, Long Xin’s heart leaped into her throat. She asked Long Yin: “What do you mean by ‘interest’?”

Long Yin shook her head with a smile, fearing that the more she meddled, the worse she would make things: “Experience it for yourself. In matters of the heart, you must let nature take its course.”

The seed planted in the depths of Long Xin’s heart showed signs of breaking through its shell again upon Long Yin’s mention, but it was suppressed by a voice in her mind.

That voice told her: The Professor’s liking for her was not “that” kind of liking. The Professor’s kindness to her was not exclusive to her; if the Professor had a different little dragon, she would treat that dragon just as well.

This rational voice frequently appeared in Long Xin’s mind. Whenever she felt she had improper thoughts about the Professor, she would bring it out to warn herself and extinguish such notions as soon as possible.

But for some reason, when she thought of these words this time, she had a very strange feeling.

She always felt that she had spoken these words somewhere before. As she mulled it over carefully, blurred images flashed through her mind.

Those images seemed to be of her biting someone, and the person she bit seemed to be the Professor…

Support Professor Shen’s Needy Little Lover