CHAPTER 160: CHAPTER 160 GUILTY CONSCIENCE MASS RELEASE (6/10)

Tong Dongnuan was extremely envious that Xia Liang was able to learn martial arts secrets, but there was nothing she could do about it. "Sigh... why can’t that teacher of yours just adapt the techniques so women can practice them too?"

Unfortunately, even though Xia Liang wanted to pass the martial arts on to the women, the System hadn’t actually taught it to him. It was as if the knowledge was innate and simply couldn’t be taught to others. Seeing Tong Dongnuan’s profound disappointment, Xia Liang could only try to comfort her.

"If I find another one next time, I’ll give it to you."

"Really?" Upon hearing this, Tong Dongnuan’s eyes lit up as she looked at him.

"Really. When have I ever lied to you?" Xia Liang promised without hesitation.

Worst-case scenario, I’ll see if I can get a reward from a hidden quest later. If not, I’ll just buy one.

Tong Dongnuan thought about it and realized it was true. Xia Liang had never once tricked her in all the years they’d known each other.

"Alright, I’m off to take a shower. You..." As he spoke, Xia Liang arched an eyebrow. "You did promise me, you know."

"I know." Tong Dongnuan pinched Xia Liang’s waist.

Although it didn’t hurt, Xia Liang was still a bit surprised. This girl is getting more and more feminine. She’s even learned how to pinch a guy’s waist now.

Seeing that Xia Liang was completely unfazed, Tong Dongnuan finally realized. Right, Xia Liang is a martial arts expert. How could a little trick like this possibly hurt him?

She immediately rolled her eyes at him. "Boring."

"Hehe! It’ll get interesting later," he retorted. Whistling, Xia Liang headed upstairs.

Remembering her promise to Xia Liang, Tong Dongnuan blushed and went upstairs to change into the outfit she’d agreed to wear.

Ten minutes later, Xia Liang emerged with a well-built, muscular body and a chiseled six-pack. It was the first time Tong Dongnuan had ever gotten a real look at his physique.

*(The following scene has been omitted, as readers probably don’t enjoy it anyway.)*

...

After a night of passion, the two didn’t leave their room until noon the next day. They were in high spirits, and Tong Dongnuan seemed to have grown even more womanly. The moment they left the room, she linked her arm through Xia Liang’s.

In the elevator, Xia Liang couldn’t help but feel a little puzzled by her transformation. "Dongnuan, this change seems a bit sudden, don’t you think?"

"Does it?" Tong Dongnuan tossed her hair back and said with a smile, "I’ve always been like this."

She was right. Perhaps this was the true nature of girls who always acted strong; they just had reasons to hide it. They all longed to wear pretty dresses and stop pretending to be someone they weren’t. Tong Dongnuan had been just like that. She was in love with Xia Liang but was afraid that confessing would ruin their friendship. She feared that the slightest change in her demeanor would cause him to reject her. She had maintained this facade for years.

But thanks to a strange twist of fate, her wish had finally come true. Now she had someone to lean on and could be with Xia Liang without any reservations.

After they ate, Xia Liang drove Tong Dongnuan to the entertainment center’s parking lot.

This had set them back another day. After all, Tong Dongnuan was the owner of a milk tea chain she had started as an entrepreneur in her junior year of college. She naturally had to get back to her business, on top of attending her classes. Her milk tea shops weren’t in Qingyun City, however. They were in Jingqu City, a four-hour drive away.

As she got into her car, a Mercedes, Xia Liang waved at her. "Drive safely, and don’t forget what you promised me."

"I know." Tong Dongnuan rolled her eyes at him.

What Xia Liang was referring to, of course, was for her to sever ties with her female companion. Now that Tong Dongnuan is my woman, her heart belongs to me too. I can’t tolerate her having feelings for anyone else—not even another woman.

Seeing her agree, Xia Liang nodded in satisfaction and pulled a bank card from his pocket. "You also need capital for your business. This card has ten million Yuan on it. Consider it my investment."

He knew Tong Dongnuan had a great deal of pride. They had both been that way in high school. If Xia Liang bought her a drink one day, she would be sure to bring him breakfast the next. Love was a two-way street, not a one-sided cycle of giving or taking. Even though he was her boyfriend now, he knew she wouldn’t accept this money as a simple gift.

Sure enough, when Xia Liang first took out the bank card, Tong Dongnuan’s brow furrowed in displeasure. Although she did need the money, she wasn’t willing to just accept it from him like that.

Only after he finished speaking did her frown disappear. She took the card with a grin. "Then it’s a deal! Congratulations on your successful investment, dear! You are now the majority shareholder of the Encounter Milk Tea Shop, holding fifty-one percent of the shares."

It sounded like a casual, joking verbal agreement, but Xia Liang knew that as soon as she got back, she would genuinely add his name to the company’s registration.

"Mm, be careful on the road." Waving, Xia Liang said his goodbyes.

But Tong Dongnuan clearly wasn’t ready to leave. She just pointed to her lips.

"Hmm?"

"Heh..." Xia Liang chuckled, leaning down to give her a quick kiss. "Satisfied now?"

"Mhm." Only then did Tong Dongnuan nod happily. "I’m heading back. Remember to come visit me when you have time, okay?"

Xia Liang readily agreed. "No problem."

After all, I didn’t promise exactly when I’d visit.

"And you’re not allowed to flirt with any other girls."

"Alright."

Besides, if other girls hit on me, that’s not something I can control.

Seeing him agree to all her demands, Tong Dongnuan finally nodded, satisfied. "Then I’m really going. Bye-bye!"

With that, she drove away, though she seemed reluctant to leave.

Watching her depart, Xia Liang got into his own car and drove off.

As Tong Dongnuan drove away, her mind replayed the events with Xia Liang, and her heart swelled with joy. But that feeling didn’t last long. Her phone rang.

Looking at the caller ID, her heart sank. Here comes trouble...

With a pang of guilt, Tong Dongnuan answered the call. "Hello, darling."

Before, she wouldn’t have thought twice about the greeting. But hearing it now, after being with Xia Liang, made Tong Dongnuan feel incredibly awkward. She had to suppress that feeling. "Um... Ling’er, what’s up? Why are you calling?"

The girl named Ling’er on the other end was clearly unhappy. "Do I need a reason to call you?"

Tong Dongnuan quickly tried to smooth things over. "Hehe... of course not."

At that moment, Tong Dongnuan finally understood how cheating characters in TV dramas must feel.

"Hmph!" The woman on the phone scoffed. "Why didn’t you answer my calls all day yesterday? You didn’t reply to my messages either."

Yesterday? Yesterday, I was wrapped up in a sweet daze with Xia Liang. I was in the middle of... things... when the calls came in. There was simply no time to answer.

Of course, she couldn’t say that out loud. Even though she planned to end things, she felt it had to be done in person. Breaking up over the phone felt deeply irresponsible to her. So, to prevent Ling’er from suspecting anything, she took a deep breath, steadied her guilty conscience, and spoke.