Chapter 20: Don’t Embarrass Me

While chatting with Ou Jinjue, Ou Xinlai and the others had already arrived at the gates of Fengyun Academy. Gazing upon the academy, Ou Xinlai wrinkled her nose in disdain. She was no longer truly a girl of fifteen, yet she had to blend in with these children who had yet to grow up, to study alongside them—a thought that filled her with a sense of revulsion.

Remembering how her miserly father had arranged for her to be placed in the lowest class, every hair on Ou Xinlai’s body stood on end. No, she absolutely could not accept this. To share a classroom with a bunch of immature brats would surely drive her insane.

“Don’t wander off. You don’t know your way around—I’ll take you,” Ou Jinjue said, catching sight of the unfriendly glances others were casting toward Ou Xinlai. His brows furrowed in displeasure, the air around him growing heavy. If he left her to fend for herself, these people would certainly seize any chance to bully her. “Don’t misunderstand. By age, I’m your elder brother. It’s only right that I look after you.”

Ou Xinlai smiled; if Ou Jinjue hadn’t said as much, she wouldn’t have thought him older than herself.

“Fine, you lead the way,” she replied. As for the hostility in others’ eyes, Ou Xinlai was no fool—she could sense it clearly. Naturally, she wouldn’t go looking for trouble—she was far more adept at creating it.

Entering Fengyun Academy, she took in the staggered arrangement of its buildings and the ancient, unadorned air, reminiscent of Beijing’s Forbidden City. Yet, unlike the red walls and green tiles of the palace, Fengyun Academy’s primary hues were white and gold, lending it a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

The academy was divided into two main departments: the Department of Abilities and the Department of Skills. Anyone who had awakened their supernatural talent could enter the Department of Abilities, where they would train and receive guidance from instructors. Those who had not awakened any abilities, however, would join the Department of Skills.

The curriculum in the Department of Skills was far broader than that of the Department of Abilities. The nation of Xuanwu was relatively enlightened, understanding that a country’s strength did not rest solely upon those with supernatural powers. For a nation to function, it required talents of all kinds.

Thus, the Department of Skills was specifically established to meet this need. It covered external martial arts, medicine, and commerce—skills essential for survival—as well as pursuits for cultivating one’s character, such as poetry, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

Originally, Ou Chenfeng had had no intention of sending Ou Xinlai to Fengyun Academy. Even if he meant to cultivate her, he would have arranged for private tutors to teach her in seclusion.

It could be said that Ou Xinlai had lived almost entirely isolated within the Ou family. No one could quite fathom why Ou Chenfeng had arranged things so; was it out of true affection for Ou Xinlai, or did he harbor darker motives?

Perhaps it was this inscrutable attitude of Ou Chenfeng’s that left the entire Ou family in uncertainty and made Ou Xinlai’s position within the household awkward—neither high nor low, often the subject of mockery. Even when Xuan Ye had injured her, all he did was send a gift by way of apology, nothing more.

Therefore, when Ou Chenfeng’s behavior suddenly changed, it left not only Ou Xinlai puzzled but prompted the whole family to reassess her. Some speculated that the reason Ou Chenfeng had kept Ou Xinlai secluded was to have her concentrate fully on mastering a particular skill.

For a time, the once-dismissed and overlooked Ou Xinlai became shrouded in mystery.

In such a vast academy, the student body numbered in the thousands. Not far ahead, a crowd was gathered, mostly youthful girls in the bloom of adolescence, their chatter filled with excitement.

“Prince Xuan!” “It’s true—Prince Xuan is so handsome!” “We’re so lucky to see him today!” Their words revolved around none other than Prince Xuan.

To the sounds of their not-so-hushed discussions, Ou Xinlai remained utterly unmoved, as if deaf to it all.

The young man at the center of the crowd shifted slightly, prompting the surrounding girls to hurriedly make way. As they parted, a striking figure came into view—a man as cold and pure as frost under the moon. It was as if the moon was his very soul, frost his breath, ice his heart, and crystal his form. He exuded an unmistakable chill from head to toe.

Clad in robes of pale, crescent white, the color suited him so perfectly it seemed made solely for him. One could not tell if the white enhanced his beauty, or he exalted the white. At first glance, he was like the bright moon surrounded by stars—impossible to ignore, making all else fade into the background.

This was none other than the first son of Xuanwu, Ou Xinlai’s fiancé, Prince Xuan Ye.

Looking at the unattractive girl to whom he was betrothed, Xuan Ye once again felt a surge of impatience. Given Ou Chenfeng’s previous attitude toward her, Xuan Ye had always believed their engagement would never come to fruition. Perhaps Ou Chenfeng also considered Ou Xinlai unworthy of him, and so treated her neither warmly nor coldly.

But then, Xuan Ye suddenly learned that Ou Chenfeng had sent Ou Xinlai to Fengyun Academy. Even though the academy was large and their chances of running into each other were slim, Xuan Ye was deeply unsettled. He fervently hoped that Ou Xinlai would drop out and leave the academy, sparing him any embarrassment.

So, when he saw Ou Xinlai approaching, he tried to signal her with his eyes, hoping she would turn away. But to his surprise, Ou Xinlai, utterly indifferent, walked straight toward him—then passed him by without so much as a pause.

Xuan Ye was momentarily stunned, his heart constricting. In Ou Xinlai’s eyes, he no longer existed at all!