Outside the inner courtyard office belonging to Zhang Lexuan, the prospective master of the Sea God Pavilion in Shrek Academy.
Han Ruoruo and Wu Ming simultaneously looked toward the tightly shut solid wood door, then briefly exchanged glances, both sighing in relief.
"Sister Lexuan finally decided to rest." Wu Ming patted her chest, still feeling lingering fear. "Processing official business non-stop for three months straight, I truly thought she was made of iron."
Han Ruoruo nodded lightly, a trace of fatigue and relief also showing on her beautiful face. "Yes, she wouldn't listen to anyone who advised her, acting as if she were holding a grudge against someone. If this continues, even if she is a Spirit Douluo, her body and spirit won't be able to handle it."
Over the past three months, Zhang Lexuan had thrown herself into Shrek's mountain of accumulated affairs with an almost self-destructive fervor.
Rectifying discipline, settling old accounts, liaising with the Mingmeng Chamber of Commerce, and preparing for the upcoming public entrance examination
she handled everything personally, like a tireless machine.
The two of them, serving as her left and right arms, had continuously urged her to rest, yet Zhang Lexuan never listened.
It wasn't until just now that Zhang Lexuan finally showed signs of exhaustion and told them she needed a temporary rest, which allowed their taut nerves to relax slightly.
"Sister Ruoruo, let's hurry up and deal with everything we can handle first." Wu Ming braced herself, her eyes burning with motivation.
"Let's try to finish more before Sister Lexuan is fully rested, so she can have an easier time."
Han Ruoruo nodded slightly.
Since Zhang Lexuan had only recently taken command, there were few trustworthy people available, forcing them to handle many matters personally.
Furthermore, the public opening of this new student examination, besides the obvious tasks, involved plans they were preparing to execute simultaneously. With the two combined, their workload doubled, and they could only grit their teeth and continue processing the affairs.
The two turned and walked toward the adjacent secretarial office, continuing to bury themselves in stacks of documents to handle the business.
However, before entering the secretarial office, Han Ruoruo unconsciously cast her gaze once more toward the tightly shut door.
Was it an illusion?
Separated by the heavy door panel, she seemed to hear an extremely faint sound, like metal chains lightly dragging across the floor.
It was very soft and very brief, as if it were just a hallucination... Inside the office, the scene was completely different from the quiet rest Han Ruoruo and the others outside had imagined.
Zhang Lexuan was not lying on the bed in the lounge; instead, she was sitting, leaning against the edge of the large desk.
Her well-tailored black uniform was slightly disheveled, and her previously immaculate long hair was loosely scattered, sticking casually to her slightly sweat-dampened temples and cheeks.
She was breathing lightly, a trace of dissatisfaction and stubbornness furrowing her cool brows. Leaning against Kong Mingan, she was reaching out for the segment of blood-red chain held in his hand.
"Give. It. To me." Her voice carried the weakness of physical exhaustion but contained an undeniable persistence.
Kong Mingan shook his head, his tone carrying an unnegotiable firmness. "No. Your current condition is poor. I can't let you act recklessly."
He only realized something was wrong after Zhang Lexuan's near-uncontrolled "attack."
Just a kiss, and she was already in this state. This was completely different from the usual Zhang Lexuan, who could stay with him from midnight until dawn.
Clearly, her condition was far worse than she outwardly showed.
Only after he questioned her closely did she reluctantly mention that she had been working non-stop for the past three months.
Zhang Lexuan raised her eyes, and a dark current seemed to surge deep within them. She stared at Kong Mingan, her tone carrying a hint of accusation. "Essentially, this is your fault, since you broke your promise."
Kong Mingan was speechless. He was indeed in the wrong regarding this matter and couldn't argue back.
He sighed, his gaze falling upon her undeniably haggard face. His tone softened slightly, carrying serious admonition. "Even so, there was no need for you to work for three months in such a self-destructive manner.
"Last time, you only rested once I arrived. This time, I didn't come for three months, so you didn't rest for three months. What if next time I'm delayed by something and don't come for a year?
"Are you telling me you wouldn't rest for an entire year? Your body will break down."
Zhang Lexuan blinked. A somewhat mesmerizing smile, tinged with a morbid sense of satisfaction, suddenly bloomed on her pale face. "Are you worried about me?"
Kong Mingan was helpless. "I am serious."
Zhang Lexuan chuckled softly, no longer insisting on snatching the chain. Instead, as if she had lost all strength, she leaned forward, resting her forehead against Kong Mingan's shoulder and wrapping her arms around him.
She took a deep breath, as if trying to draw some kind of calming Qi from him.
After a long while, she finally raised her head. The madness in her eyes had slightly receded, but the underlying obsession remained clearly visible.
"I don't want to stop," she said softly, her tone calm, yet inexplicably carrying a hint of deathly silence. "As long as I don't stop, I won't overthink things, and I won't want to kill people."
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze seemingly penetrating the wall, seeing the people and events that disgusted and repulsed her.
"Do you know? When Ju Zi placed that evidence in front of me, I only had one thought
to go directly to their homes and kill all those parasites and scum."
Her voice was still calm, but Kong Mingan could clearly see the killing intent and madness flashing in the depths of her eyes.
"These vermin have no value in existence; their presence is a waste. And those who tolerated them, ignored them, or were associated with them. Kill them all, leave none behind, settle everything once and for all. How clean that would be."
Her words were morbid and obsessive, causing Kong Mingan to subconsciously glance at the asura god ring within his body to ensure she hadn't been influenced, before refocusing his attention on her.
But the next moment, Zhang Lexuan's tone suddenly became calm again.
"But I know I can't do that. Among those people, perhaps some were innocently implicated, and some whose crimes don't warrant death."
"Most importantly, while direct slaughter is efficient, it is the least effective and most foolish method for reshaping Shrek."
"If I want to completely control Shrek, I must genuinely win over people's hearts and integrate forces. Simple massacre is absolutely unacceptable."
She refocused her gaze on Kong Mingan's face, staring at him blankly, and answered his question again.
"That's why I can't be idle. The moment I stop, I want to kill people; even when I sleep, I have these thoughts. Only when you are here can I be slightly calmer."
Kong Mingan paused slightly, having generally reached a conclusion in his heart.
For Zhang Lexuan, he had essentially become an anchor point maintaining her sanity, and likely the only, unchangeable anchor point.
Silently, he raised his hand and gently brushed away the strands of hair stuck to her cheek by sweat. His voice was calm. "What you need most right now is genuine rest, not another form of indulgence."
Zhang Lexuan tilted her head, her eyes staring straight at him. "Is that an order?"
Kong Mingan paused slightly, then nodded.
"Yes."
"Then," a seductive curve appeared on Zhang Lexuan's pale lips, "will you stay with me?"
"I will."
This time, his reply held no hesitation whatsoever.
(End of Chapter)
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