Chapter 110: Testing the Waters

Chapter 110: Testing the Waters

Luo Ning and Kong Yu's place was right next door to the Sharp Blade Squad's. Xiao Hua and Su Mo walked there as if they knew the way like the back of their hands.

The door was slightly ajar, so Xiao Hua reached for the doorknob, ready to knock before going in.

Before she had the chance to knock, sounds of an argument could be heard from inside. Through the slight opening, Xiao Hua and Su Mo could see the scene inside the room.

Luo Ning was standing in the living room, carrying a basin of laundry, ready to take it to the balcony to dry.

The door of a secondary bedroom across the way opened, and a girl walked out of the room.

As soon as the girl saw Luo Ning, she eyed her like she was something repulsive and snorted contemptuously. She then strode up to Luo Ning and deliberately bumped into her.

Luo Ning stumbled from the impact, nearly dropping the basin of laundry. She steadied herself, silently stepping aside.

Xiao Hua frowned immediately, wondering when Luo Ning had started being bullied like this. Wasn't Kong Yu supposed to look out for her?

Before she could think further, the girl looked at Luo Ning with disdain and spoke up, "Why isn't Kong Yu here today?"

Luo Ning pressed her lips together and ignored her.

The girl gave Luo Ning a once-over and gave a knowing smile. "Did he get bored and dump you?"

"He's not that kind of person!" Luo Ning's tone was agitated, unable to stand hearing Kong Yu being slandered like that. "And we're not that kind of relationship."

The girl scoffed, her eyes filled with malice as she looked at Luo Ning. "You sleep in the same room every day, and yet you're playing the innocent?"

She couldn't help but feel envious as she looked at Luo Ning's smooth face and neat clothes.

"A waste who doesn't even have powers, what else are you good for besides being a tramp?"

The girl's words cut deep, each one stinging like a blade. Just as she was about to continue insulting Luo Ning, there was a loud noise from the door.

"Bang!" The door was flung open with a loud bang. Xiao Hua walked in, her face a mask of icy indifference.

The girl was visibly startled by the sudden intrusion. When she saw that it was Xiao Hua and Su Mo, her face turned pale, and she was terrified.

In this apocalyptic world, the strong ruled. Xiao Hua and Su Mo were not people she could afford to provoke. The only reason she had dared to mock Luo Ning was because Luo Ning had no powers. With Kong Yu not around, there was no one to back her up.

Now that Xiao Hua and Su Mo were here, the girl immediately wilted, her eyes darting nervously. "I... I have something to do. I'm leaving."

Su Mo couldn't help but let out a soft "humph" as the girl passed by her, making it clear who it was directed at.

The girl quickened her pace, as if there were some terrifying beast chasing her.

Suddenly, an ice prison materialized out of thin air, landing exactly where the girl was about to pass, trapping her inside.

Xiao Hua slowly turned to look at her, her expression calm but her voice cold. "Apologize."

The girl was already scared from being trapped, and seeing Xiao Hua's cold expression made her legs weak.

She glanced behind her at Luo Ning, who was being comforted by Su Mo. Her eyes were filled with resentment, jealousy, and unwillingness. But with Xiao Hua standing there, she had no choice but to quickly mutter three words.

"I'm sorry."

Xiao Hua turned back and saw that Luo Ning had no intention of seeking revenge. With a wave of her hand, Xiao Hua dismissed the girl.

After all, she wasn't staying here long-term and could only protect Luo Ning for so long. It would be better for Kong Yu to handle it.

Luo Ning saw that Xiao Hua and Su Mo had come to her defense and breathed a sigh of relief, smiling again. "What brings you here?"

"We came to chat," Xiao Hua said, not bringing up the incident that just occurred, and gave a small smile. She was the first to enter Luo Ning's room.

Once all three were inside, and the door was closed, Su Mo's anger boiled over at the memory of how Luo Ning had been targeted and humiliated.

"Ningning, why didn't you fight back just now? Why let her talk trash about you like that?"

Luo Ning sat on the edge of the bed and fidgeted with her fingers. "I really am useless and just a burden to Kong Yu. I can't blame others for thinking that."

Su Mo: "..."

Xiao Hua, leaning against the cabinet with her arms crossed, asked, "Does Kong Yu think that too?"

"No way! He would never think like that!" Luo Ning hurriedly defended.

"Exactly." Xiao Hua shrugged, not understanding why Luo Ning would even think that. "If Kong Yu doesn't mind, what right do they have?"

Luo Ning stopped fidgeting with her fingers and started twisting the bedsheet instead. "But what if Kong Yu actually does mind?"

Xiao Hua paused, then pressed on, "How long have you known each other?"

"Fifteen years."

Xiao Hua: "..."

Su Mo exclaimed, "Holy cow, that long? Like childhood sweethearts?"

Luo Ning nodded.

Xiao Hua and Su Mo exchanged glances, their eyes mirroring a shared sense of exasperation.

Xiao Hua sighed, "You've known him for so long. Don't you know what kind of person he is?"

"Of course I do, but..." Luo Ning hesitated.

Xiao Hua looked at her quietly, waiting for her to organize her thoughts.

"There are several girls here who like him, including the one just now," Luo Ning paused again, continuing, "Does holding him back make sense?"

Holding him back? What kind of logic is that?

Xiao Hua was momentarily speechless.

Su Mo, picking up on the crucial point, cautiously asked, "Ningning, why do you think Kong Yu takes care of you?"

"Because we grew up together, and he sees me as a little sister," Luo Ning said, her dark eyes wide. "He's always taken care of me."

Xiao Hua covered her twitching mouth with her hand, thinking, God, as if Kong Yu wouldn't cry his heart out if he heard that.

Su Mo was also at a loss for words and looked at Xiao Hua with her eyes signaling frantically: What now?

They had come to sound Luo Ning out on Kong Yu's behalf, but after this conversation, she felt the chances of Kong Yu confessing successfully were close to zero.

Xiao Hua calmed herself and, deciding to cut to the chase, went straight to the point. "So, do you see him as an older brother?"

"I used to."