The Peerless Beauty Stuck With Me

"Like you? That was a long time ago."

Ling Er forced herself not to look into Tang Rao's eyes. She had confessed her feelings to Tang Rao before, once saying she liked him, and then saying she "used to like" him.

There's a big difference between liking and used to liking—one means you still do, and the other means you no longer do.

As for whether these feelings are true or false, only Ling Er knows. Tang Rao cannot fathom the mind of a woman.

Liking him was something from a long time ago, does it mean Ling Er no longer likes him?

Tang Rao felt like he was dreaming a very long dream about Ling Er; in the dream, this woman kept toying with him, saying all kinds of sweet words, but then hit him over the head, waking him up, and told him it was all a joke, and he should stop dreaming, probably something like that.

"Oh, well, let me first wish you a good life on the North Island. The Immortal Energy can be my gift to you."

Without even saying goodbye, Tang Rao turned and left. The little Ent quickly jumped onto Tang Rao's shoulder. Its master's anger had nothing to do with it; all it needed to do was eat well, drink well, rest well, and complete the tasks Tang Rao assigned to it. Everything else Tang Rao didn't need to worry about.

Ling Er was no longer tired, her wounds had improved and were almost healed. She attributed all the credit to Tang Rao and had planned to thank him with a meal. However, not only did the meal never happen, but they also ended up falling out. Anyone would find such a situation unbearable.

Seeing Tang Rao really leave, Ling Er squatted down and burst into tears. After all, he was a man, right? Her honor was at stake, and what was wrong with criticizing him a bit with harsh words? Yet he simply left without another word, clearly not caring about her at all.

It was a monumental mistake to have liked Tang Rao in the first place. If given another chance, Ling Er would never choose to like him. No matter what, if she says she doesn't like him, then she surely doesn't.

But who ever knows if the choices of the past were right or wrong; now there aren't as many regrets over what has been done.

"He's gone, what's there to be sad about?"

Standing beside Ling Er was Zhou Zhou. She arrived after Tang Rao had left and naturally didn't know what had happened earlier.

"He didn't try to stop you, or say anything about wanting you to stay, did he?"

Seeing Ling Er's swollen eyes from crying, Zhou Zhou wanted to ask about what had happened but feared it would upset Ling Er again.

"He wished me a good life on the North Island and then left."

The last sentence, whether it was a blessing or said out of spite, was up to personal interpretation. Ling Er took it as Tang Rao throwing a fit.

"Tang Rao was angry."

Zhou Zhou, compared to Ling Er, had slightly better emotional intelligence. Ling Er hadn't picked up on what Tang Rao meant, but just from Ling Er's recount, Zhou Zhou could guess that the conversation between Tang Rao and Ling Er earlier was definitely not just unpleasurable; it was more serious, like they had completely fallen out.

Could there be any hidden reasons behind two people who were never in a good relationship falling out?

"Ling Er, did you only exchange a few words earlier, with nothing unusual otherwise? Tang Rao may be arrogant, but he's not one to hold such a grudge."

"Tang Rao kissed me, and I mocked him a little."

Ling Er always knew Zhou Zhou also liked Tang Rao, ever since she said she was staying on the North Island, Ling Er understood Zhou Zhou's intentions.

A person who is naturally self-focused and another who always fears family reprimand, how could they so readily agree with Ling Er to stay on the North Island and do so many good deeds in Tang Rao's name?

The kiss from Tang Rao was something she intended to keep secret, as it wasn't a good name for a lady. However, keeping silent meant that she knew what happened but Zhou Zhou didn't. If Zhou Zhou found out from somewhere else, she might think Ling Er was harboring ulterior motives.

Having ulterior motives isn't scary; what's scary is having ulterior motives towards a close friend. After working so hard to be together, messing up one's name for a man seems hardly worthwhile.

So what if it's embarrassing? Losing face was worth it if it meant her friend continued to trust her, wasn't it?

"What, he kissed you?"

In a voice slightly too loud for comfort, Zhou Zhou was glad there was no one around. Seeing Ling Er nervously glancing about, Zhou Zhou sensibly lowered her voice a lot.

"You say you had a fight because Tang Rao kissed you?"

Such a fantastical thing; it was something out of legends. Firstly, Ling Er didn't even like Tang Rao that much, so why get so angry after a kiss? Secondly, Tang Rao never liked either of them—it is said that only two people who mutually like each other kiss, don't they?

Shameful to admit, these two had never seriously liked anyone before, and they still didn't completely understand things surpassing theoretical knowledge.

"Sort of, that's roughly what happened."

Ling Er felt more tangled with every word she said and eventually stopped trying to explain.

Being misunderstood happened no matter what, so the more she said, the deeper it got. Remaining silent seemed more pragmatic.

"I will go find him and settle this. Acting like that after kissing you—so irresponsible! Running into such people, we're really unfortunate."

Feeling unjust for Ling Er, Zhou Zhou talked, intending to go to the Kao Shan Sect to demand an explanation from Tang Rao for Ling Er.

"Never mind, Zhou Zhou, a fight is a fight. There's no more intersection between us; as for his kiss, I'll just pretend it never happened. I want to go back to Central Island."

Ling Er, who always wanted to stay on the North Island, having been hurt once by the one she liked the most, suddenly wanted to return to Central Island. How to describe such feelings in four words? Difficult to convey.

"Thinking of going back to Central Island? Ling Er, you're giving up just because of a little setback?"

No matter the opposition from family, Zhou Zhou was determined to stay on the North Island with Ling Er. Their efforts were immense, all for Tang Rao to notice them more. Even in her anger, she persisted. Yet now, the one still holding on was Zhou Zhou, while Ling Er, like a turtle, was retreating.

"What else? My being on the North Island was all because of Tang Rao. Without him, staying here only courts dislike. Going back allows me to start anew, isn't that better?"

Central Island is Ling Er's domain. Her father has power there, and with a father's backing, she can live without worry, no longer needing to mind others' opinions. Isn't such a life preferable?

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