Professor Shen’s Needy Little Lover - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

When Long Xin arrived at Building No. 3 in the Dragon Management Bureau’s car this morning, she had anticipated that something like this would happen. If she wanted to enter human society, she couldn’t bypass their scrutiny.

This pack of “jumping clowns” couldn’t stand to see her doing well and would find any way to make things difficult for her. Today was merely an appetizer.

The internal management of the Dragon Clan and the evaluators of the Dragon Management Bureau were all selected from the White Dragons. Since the disappearance of the Gold Dragons, the White Dragons held the highest status and the most authority within the clan. Humans also viewed them as a bridge for communication and had granted them a certain level of power.

The White Dragons viewed the Green Dragons as mortal enemies and would not stop until they were wiped out. This was something etched into their very bones. Now that “equality and harmony” were promoted, they couldn’t touch Long Xin openly, so they resorted to petty, underhanded tricks in the shadows.

Just like now—seizing the moment the Professor left to bully her, only to tuck tail and run once she returned. One face for the public, another behind their backs; Long Xin had seen through them long ago.

But Long Xin would never yield. That, too, was etched into her bones.

“Long Xu, if you love giving zeros, then give them. You don’t need to come and notify me.”

“Don’t you know that a specialized evaluator like you isn’t supposed to communicate with me privately?”

Long Xin jumped onto the bank, using her internal fire to dry the moisture on her body, staring coldly at her specialized evaluator Long Xu.

Her palms were burning; a layer of flame floated atop her skin. Long Xu really didn’t choose his spot well to provoke her right next to a “venting point.” Using magic here wouldn’t be detected by the security office. If Long Xu made a move, she would absolutely give him an eye for an eye.

“Long Xin, your temper is still as foul as ever, and your mouth as stubborn as always. Truly disgusting.”

“Do you really not care about the score? I doubt it. You put so much effort into getting close to Shen Zaiqing. If you woke up tomorrow only to be sent away, wouldn’t you feel a single bit of sadness?”

“I don’t believe you.”

“This is your last chance to get close to her.”

Long Xu stood before Long Xin looking “man-and-dragon-like,” a Dragon Management Bureau badge hanging on his chest, hair slicked back with gel, and small leather shoes on his feet. He squinted down at her, his gaze filled with disdain and arrogance.

“The purpose of having two evaluators is precisely to prevent petty people like you from abusing their power for personal vendettas,” Long Xin spat. “Long Xu, this isn’t Dragon Cliff Mountain. This isn’t a place where you can cover the sky with one hand.”

Long Xu fanned himself with the evaluation form in his hand, saying nonchalantly: “Alone, I indeed cannot send you away immediately. But what if your Professor Shen… is also standing on our side?”

Long Xu paused deliberately, making sure the point he was driving into Long Xin’s heart was clear.

Long Xin’s expression shifted. Her skin turned from green to red, and her whole body was plated in a layer of fiery light. Her sharp teeth were bared, and even her brow bones flickered with flames.

Long Xu was delighted that he had stepped on Long Xin’s sore spot. He truly couldn’t stand a little green dragon daring to be insolent in front of him.

Long Xu was about to say more when his ears twitched, keenly capturing the sound of footsteps approaching from a distance. Shen Zaiqing was returning, and her pace was hurried; in one more turn, he would be seen.

Long Xu shifted his feet toward the riverbank. Even as he left, he didn’t forget to kick her while she was down: “Just you wait. We’ll meet again at the Bureau tomorrow. When that time comes, I’ll treat you to tea—as a little dragon who has been returned.”

Long Xu vanished from Long Xin’s sight, but his annoying laughter echoed in her ears, sounding unsatiated. If Shen Zaiqing hadn’t returned so quickly, he certainly would have voiced every mockery he had stored up.

People like him seemed to live only to humiliate Long Xin. Did Green Dragons truly deserve no respect at all?

“Long Xin.” A moment later, Shen Zaiqing walked over carrying the paddles, calling out softly. The wind had tousled her hair, and she reached out with her pinky to hook a strand back.

Long Xin had her back turned; her expression was hidden, but from her posture alone, she seemed to be in a very bad state.

Shen Zaiqing felt a pang in her heart. She pressed a cold, chilled object against Long Xin’s face. She had sensed Long Xin’s anger from afar—that fiery red body had looked like a glowing piece of charcoal in a furnace. Just how angry did she have to be to look like that?

Shen Zaiqing had bought two bottles of “Fat Happy Water” (Coke) from a vending machine. The milk tea shop with watermelon juice was too far; going back and forth would have taken too much time. In her worry, she grabbed the sodas; if those didn’t work, they could go back for juice together later.

The sudden cold touch against her face made a “hissing” sound and released a puff of steam, like water being splashed on embers. Long Xin froze, and the fire throughout her body receded. The pleasant scent of Shen Zaiqing filled her nose. She actually didn’t want the Professor to see her in such a rage.

The temperature in her hands quickly cooled down; Shen Zaiqing even felt a bit of a chill. She knelt in front of Long Xin, holding the paddles in one arm and a can of Coke in the other. Currently, that can was pressed against Long Xin’s cheek.

Seeing the dragon’s anger subside, she withdrew the Coke. She didn’t stand up but remained kneeling as she asked: “What happened? Why such a big fire?”

“I’m not angry. I accidentally fell into the pond and was just using fire to dry my body,” Long Xin said softly, lowering her eyes. A petty person like Long Xu didn’t deserve to be mentioned in front of the Professor; Long Xin didn’t want to talk about him.

“I see. You must be more careful in the future. Any scratches?”

“No.”

Shen Zaiqing circled Long Xin to check her over. Once confirmed, she shook the Coke in front of Long Xin, asking if she wanted to drink. Long Xin would drink it even if Shen Zaiqing handed her poison.

“This is called ‘Coke.’ You pull the ring like this to open it. Give it a try.” Shen Zaiqing had another bottle tucked in her pocket; she used the one in her hand to demonstrate and handed the colder one from her pocket to Long Xin.

Long Xin needed something to distract her from the earlier unpleasantness, so she focused all her attention on the can. Holding the Coke and following Shen Zaiqing’s lead, she used her “stubby” claws to pop the tab.

The Coke suddenly made a “bang” sound, startling Long Xin. She stared blankly at the bubbles foaming out onto her hand. She was at a loss.

Shen Zaiqing apologized: “I didn’t settle it properly when I walked over. This Coke was jumping up and down in my pocket, so this happened. You shouldn’t shake sodas like Coke before drinking,” Shen Zaiqing explained in detail. “But these bubbles don’t matter; they’ll dissipate in a moment. It’s no problem.”

“Then, before we drink, we can clink glasses.” Shen Zaiqing clinked her Coke against Long Xin’s and took a sip.

Long Xin imitated her, bringing the opening to her mouth and tilting the can. She extended her tiny pink tongue and took a lick first. Finding the drink strangely refreshing, she raised the bottom of the can and took a big gulp.

The gulp was too vigorous; a burp surged up unexpectedly, leaving her dazed. But the burp from this drink was so unique a rush of refreshment straight to the head!

“Drink slowly. The taste isn’t bad, right?” Shen Zaiqing laughed.

Long Xin nodded. Her stomach felt icy and incredibly clear. And as the liquid slid over her tongue, there was a slight tingle that felt wonderful.

“Clink?” Long Xin raised her Coke again, moving it toward the one in Shen Zaiqing’s hand.

Shen Zaiqing blinked, then laughed. She extended her Coke to meet Long Xin’s with a “clink” and took another sip. Long Xin seemed to think “clinking” was a mandatory step for every sip.

Shen Zaiqing didn’t stop her. Whenever Long Xin clinked, she would hold her hand up very high and grin afterward, clearly enjoying the process.

What in this world is more important than being happy?

“It’s getting dark. It’s not very safe to practice now. Let’s come back tomorrow,” Shen Zaiqing said after they finished their drinks. The sky had dimmed, and she was still holding the paddles. She had already considered the darkness and arranged with the security office to borrow them for an extra day, returning them tomorrow evening. She had no classes all day tomorrow and could accompany the dragon back down.

“Okay,” Long Xin replied.

She loved the word “tomorrow” in Shen Zaiqing’s sentence. It was like a streetlamp suddenly lighting up; the dark path Long Xin was supposed to walk alone now had a light and a warm yellow glow, making it far less of an ordeal.

Standing in that glow, Long Xin felt she knew which direction to take. Many people were judging her, their voices noisier than a forest full of birds.

Long Xin felt that what they said didn’t count. The Professor would give her a fair evaluation.

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