Versatile Mage c1-2021, page 161
Zhejiang Institute had the same dull-gray color. More fallen leaves were waiting to be cleaned up every day. They were like the clothes that women dumped as the seasons changed, not worth being sentimentally attached to.
The female students still retained the usual trend of wearing short skirts and black stockings. The outfit was deemed the all-around outfit among the girls, regardless of the season, and it would never be described as out-of-fashion, either. It was like Nippon Lily, retaining the radiance of spring at all times... {TL Note: Fun fact, the radiance of spring is sometimes referring to a slight glimpse of something s.e.xy or e.r.o.t.i.c *wink*}
In comparison, the most popular outfit among the men was the combination of sandals and jerseys. In the south, this outfit was good enough to last three and a half seasons. Those who were not bothered about trifles would wear it during all seasons, not because they would simply wear an outer layer of down-coat in the cold seasons, but because they did not need to rely on extra warmth from clothing due to their Fire or Ice Elements.
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Speaking of the perks of having those Elements...
Zhejiang Institute had a small lake to its west, and at its center stood a pavilion.
The pavilion was left unattended for quite some time. Even the wooden bridge connecting the pavilion had collapsed to the bottom of the lake, as if it serving as a sign telling the students not to hang around the lake.
Unfortunately, everyone there was a Magician, thus the bridge would not make a difference at all.
A handsome man with perfectly set hair stood by the lake and said with a smile. "I'll push you there, it's nothing worth mentioning."
The calm surface of the clean lake reflected his rather tall figure. The gentle, yet masculine movement and tone implied that he had come from a fairly educated background.
He reached out his hand and swept it across the lake.
The weeds at the shore were gradually covered by a layer of ice. The ice rapidly spread to the water, making a crackling noise.
The surface of the lake froze. The thin layer of ice gradually thickened, as the icy energy continued to spread across it. It looked like an ice bridge was slowly extending across the surface of the lake, resulting in a magical view.
"It's the Prince of Ice, Liu Yilin. Not only is he handsome, his control of the Ice Element is very impressive too. As expected of someone ranked on our school's leaderboard!" Some girls nearby screamed at the top of their lungs.
The Prince of Ice was a complimentary title that Zhejiang Institute had given to Liu Yilin. He had conquered the entire school with his Ice Element not long after coming here. Together with his outstanding appearance and cool demeanor, he quickly captured many girls' hearts.
Wasn't a man like him the reason why they had worked so hard trying to secure a spot in the powerhouse institutes?
"Sigh, he's with that girl again. I don't understand, what good does a girl who can't even walk properly have?" a female student with a perfect mid-split hairstyle blurted out in envy.
In terms of appearance, many girls could easily outmatch her.
"I bet he's just pitying her. I hate people who act like they are pitiful the most. Grumbling when someone has merely stepped on an ant. Ah, I can't walk, please push me around. Ah, I'm having a slight headache, I think I've caught a cold. Everyone knows how to pretend to be weak. Humph!" Chen Yunqi snapped.
Her mimic was on point, which prompted her friends nearby to bust out laughing. The laughter echoed in the path lined up with trees...
The Prince of Ice, Liu Yilin, glanced back at the girls who he used to hang out with. He smiled gently and slightly lowered his head, "Don't mind them, they are only jealous because I'm spending my time with you. Come, let's go to the pavilion."
"I want to have some time alone, sorry." Xinxia raised her head. There was no other emotion in her clear eyes apart from the calm.
She rolled her wheelchair with her skinny arms. She did not take the frozen path, but approached the lakeside instead.
Liu Yilin tapped his nose as he uttered a self-mocking laugh.
Meanwhile, Chen Yuqi's rather annoying voice appeared, "Yo, acting like a noble, pretending to keep a distance in order to grasp him better, how impressive..."
"Well, Yunqi, you can't say that, maybe someone is really not interested in the Prince of Ice. Maybe someone has already occupied her heart," said the girl with the mid-split.
"Then maybe her sweetheart prefers to go out with someone whom he can hold hands with while browsing the streets, someone like us who will not require him to push a wheelchair."
"I bet you've been reading too many of those romance novels. Hehe~"
Liu Yilin frowned. In his opinion, Chen Yunqi and her friends had gone too far. How could they keep on talking about someone's physical defects? It would just highlight how uneducated they were.
The girls continued to exchange disdainful remarks on their own. Liu Yilin finally ran out of patience and blurted out, "Aren't you going a bit too far with that?"
"Too far? I don't think so, we're just saying what we want to say, and doing what we want to do. We don't like girls who like to put up an act. Frankly speaking, she's still acting as if she were a saintess after being mocked by us, pretending that she isn't angry at us. I bet she's cursing us in her heart," said Chen Yunqi in a mocking tone.
"That's right, we make it clear who we don't like. We dare to spit it out when we dislike the white lotus."
"Those who put up an act are the most disgusting."
The girls left Liu Yilin speechless with their reasoning.
Liu Yilin was clueless about what to do. He glanced at the lonely back of the person sitting on a wheelchair. He had no idea how he could comfort her.
While he was feeling lost, a man wearing a black short-sleeve shirt walked past him. Judging from his outfit, he had most likely come from the south. No one would wear clothes like him due to the cold temperature.
The man had a fierce presence. His body was wrapped inside a unique shadow, which resulted in huge contrast with his bright, eye-grabbing aura. He even looked like a hooligan with how his c.h.e.s.t was exposed from the three loosened buttons.
"Bitches like you should just stay in the water," the man said to Chen Yunqi and the girls who were still talking non-stop.
The man definitely lacked a tender heart toward females. His kicks landed accurately on three different body parts of the girls.
Chen Yunqi, the girl with the mid-split, and the other one wearing glasses were taken by surprise, and were knocked right into the icy lake. The splashes were exceedingly obvious along the path. It quickly attracted the attention of the crowd nearby.
None of the girls possessed the Water Element. Their bodies were soaked, and the water was cold, too. Their clothing, hair, makeup were utterly messed up by the water!
Liu Yilin was stunned. He stared at the man in disbelief.
Why would a man be acting so rough against women? Even though he had pictured himself kicking the girls into the lake a few times, his inner conscience from living a noble life would never allow him to perform such a disgraceful act!
Chapter 348 - She's a Brocon and I'm a Siscon
"Which jerk dares to kick me into the water, I'll crush you!"
"It's that guy in the black shirt, it's him!"
"Sisters, let's peel his skin off! Teach him that the prettiest three sisters of Zhejiang Institute are not someone he would want to mess with."
The mid-split...Uhh, the girl with her hair soaked wet had turned into a crazy woman. She totally ignored the icy water and started showing her Stars.
The girl called Chen Yunqi was even crazier. A Star Pattern was drawn slowly under her feet. However, her body shivered from the cold and following a sneeze, it instantly interrupted the casting of the magic, leaving her really angry.
"Bitches like you who only know how to abuse people with words dare to fight against me?" The man wearing the black shirt whistled and stared at the wet clothing on the girls, "One has a thick waist, one a flat c.h.e.s.t, and one with wide-opened legs. I'm not surprised that you would be jealous of the others!"
The three girls went crazy when the shameless man pointed out the parts that they were embarrassed of. They totally forgot about the rules where the students were not allowed to duel outside of the training grounds and summoned their Nebula and Star Patterns.
"Lightning Strike: Electric Field!"
Mo Fan adeptly cast the Lightning Magic. Dense lightning arcs sprang forward following his wave.
The lightning arcs flew through the air, a few of them spreading rapidly across the ground. The lightning arcs soon formed an electric field with a circ.u.mference of twenty meters around the girls.
The lightning arcs cracked rapidly as they were conducted toward the girls. The water made it easier to conduct electricity. The Basic Level Spells they finally managed to cast were shattered instantly. They began to dance wildly as if they were in a fire pit from the shocks.
Their hair was scorched black while their wet clothes were toasted dry. The girls that were relatively good-looking a few moments ago now looked uglier than ghouls.
Mo Fan had already controlled the power of the Lightning Strike to avoid inflicting any damage to them. Otherwise, he could guarantee that they would have had an even greater time!
"The Lightning Strike..." Liu Yilin was startled.
Chen Yunqi was an Intermediate Magician, and the other two girls were not weak either, halfway into the Intermediate Level. However, not only their opponent had managed to cast his magic way earlier, they could not even do anything against a mere Basic Spell!
The Magician using the Lightning Strike clearly knew how to control his energy, only trying to teach them a lesson instead of hurting them. The passersby burst into laughter when they saw the miserable appearance of the girls.
"You...you just wait!"
"Tell us your name if you have the guts. I, Chen Yunqi will definitely make you pay!" Chen Yunqi burst out cursing while coughing up smoke.
The man in the black shirt blurted out with an evil grin, "I'm one that has never bothered using a false identity, Shen Mingxiao from Pearl Institute!"
"Shen Mingxiao… very well, you shall wait!"
Chen Yunqi quickly left after uttering the threat. As a woman, she still wanted to protect her own image. The trio did not want to stay any further and be the crowd's laughing stock.
The man in the black shirt chuckled when he saw the three girls fleeing. He went up to Xinxia.
On the wheelchair, Xinxia whose eyes were glistening had her mouth slightly open. Her face was filled with joy and surprise...
Soon, her eyes turned wet and red. Following a blink, her eyelashes were soaked with tears.
"Stupid girl, what are you crying for? Didn't I tell you that I'm still alive?" Mo Fan stood in front of Xinxia with his hands in his pockets. He half-bent forward while staring at Xinxia's cheeks, as if he were acting cool.
However, when he saw her tears bursting out from her eyes, he panicked and drew out his hands. His fingers swiped across her chubby face to get rid of the tears rolling down her cheeks.
Xinxia could not hold her tears when she heard the words. She opened her arms and wrapped around Mo Fan's neck, sticking her face close to his...
Mo Fan was slightly startled. He could feel the tenderness and the heat from the girl's face. His heart, which was still feeling rather indifferent, immediately melted. His squinted eyes showed how relieved he felt, while his mouth, which usually portrayed arrogance and evil intentions, slowly curled upward into a relieved smile.
A girl sitting on a wheelchair, and a boy half-bending forward while enjoying the hug, the crowd, despite its number, had somehow turned into the background together with the path with trees lined up on both sides. It was a peaceful afternoon, with steady and gentle breathing, and tears of joy...
"Do you still remember the story I told you? Once upon a time, a king had two daughters. They were born pretty, and had a unique ability. Their tears would turn into pearls instantly. The king then let her eldest daughter marry a prince from another kingdom. The prince always hurt her, thus making her cry. The pearls she made were enough to wrap around the Earth twice... The younger daughter married a farmer. The king was confused, as a single drop of tears could let them live a luxurious life, but they stayed poor instead. However, the king soon realized that the farmer is not willing to let his daughter shed a single drop of tears. The king said to the farmer with relief, you're a good husband, unlike the other prince who only cared about producing more pearls with his daughter's tears..." Mo Fan slowly told the classic story.
Xinxia nodded heavily. She had already heard the story before, and not just once.
Her heart rippled as she blushed slightly. Did Mo Fan just hint that they were like husband and wife?
"The farmer fell silent for a moment hearing the king's words, before he blurted out..." Mo Fan saw there were still tears on Xinxia's cheeks, thus he pretended to be the farmer and said, "My king, I bet you've forgotten. She is only fond of me after she went blind..."
Hearing this, Xinxia instantly felt the atmosphere crumbling. She clenched her little fists and threw punches at Mo Fan's shoulder...
This asshole is trying to destroy the fairy tales again. Most of them have already fallen victim to his hands. Can't he just finish them with a happy ending!?
However, when she recalled Mo Fan's tone as he mimicked the farmer, she burst into tears of joy instead.
Thanks to this jerk for brainwashing her with dark fairy tales. Somehow, she would even laugh at such a bad punchline!
"Xinxia, is this your brother that you mentioned before?... Hi, I'm Liu Yilin, nice to meet you." Liu Yilin was never satisfied with just being a bystander. He soon went up to the two.
Mo Fan turned around at the hypocrite Liu Yilin and snapped, "Didn't you know it's impolite to disturb a couple making a public display of affection!"
"Public display of affection?" Liu Yilin was stunned, before he asked in a surprised tone, "Aren't you two siblings?"
"She's a Brocon, and I'm a Siscon, you have a problem with that?" said Mo Fan.
Chapter 349 - A Wife That I've Raised Up Since Young
The expression that the Prince of Ice, Liu Yilin was wearing was the pure definition of weird. Despite wearing a stiffened smile, he was having a dramatic monologue in his heart.
Why would Ye Xinxia have such a weird brother? Not only was he acting rough to girls, he even said stuff like Brocon, or Siscon, how lowly!
"If you have nothing else to say, please get out from my sight. Go wherever you should be going." Mo Fan pushed Xinxia's wheelchair and headed to the school's entrance.
There was no chance Liu Yilin would let them go just like that. His instincts were warning him about how unreliable this person was. Xinxia was already a weak girl who had impaired movement. It would be a disaster if she were taken away by this strange man!
Hence, Liu Yilin continued to wear a smile as he said, "Since you're Xinxia's friend, you are my friend, too. I believe you've just arrived here. Please, let me buy you a meal..."
"Dude, aren't you annoying? We're about to find someplace without people to share our love and do something that's not suitable for children. Can you please stop talking and step aside?" Mo Fan said impatiently.
Xinxia blushed when she heard the words.
What does he mean by sharing our love and do something that's not suitable for children? How embarrassing does that sound?
Liu Yilin's face turned blue and white rapidly. This guy was indeed having bad thoughts against Xinxia. She was too kind and gentle, she wouldn't even dare reject him.
No way, even if Xinxia weren't rejecting him, how could I just stand and watch her falling into the wolf's mouth? Liu Yilin decisively stepped forward and said with a stern face, "Friend, you're going too far with that. I've been looking after Xinxia for the past few months. I know how gentle she is. I will not let you abuse her personality and harass her as you wish. She might stay silent, but it doesn't mean I, Liu Yilin will allow it!"
Xinxia was about to say something, as she did not agree with Liu Yilin.
As a matter of fact, Xinxia had already made things clear to Liu Yilin, but this guy seemed to be just living in his own world!
However, Mo Fan stopped her. He squinted and glanced at Liu Yilin whose appearance and actions were hinting that he was a fairly well-behaved man. He asked with a smile, "Do you like her?"
"What are you trying to say..." said Liu Yilin.
"If so, I still think you're behaving reasonably. Otherwise, aren't you f**king caring too much about other people's business?" cursed Mo Fan.
Liu Yilin did not like anyone cursing at him. He frowned and glanced at Xinxia.
It's fine. He could use the chance to express his feelings. Otherwise, the woman he loved would be dragged away by this perverted wolf, staining the pure, naive woman he was fond of!
"So what if that's true!" Liu Yilin said with a stern look.
"So what if it's true? I was already disappointed when those girls were picking on her. If you're a man, you should have kicked them straight away instead of wasting your time arguing with them. And now, you're telling me you like her..." Mo Fan's smile had turned into a mocking grin.
"I was being considerate for Xinxia!" Liu Yilin explained himself with a dark face.
"Consider my ass! Listen up, she's my sister, and my wife that I've raised up since young. She's mine, you understand? Stop bothering her shamelessly like a fly. I'll beat the crap out of you so that your mum won't even recognize you!" Mo Fan snapped righteously.
Mo Fan's current appearance perfectly suited the expected behavior of an imposing CEO that the girls always fantasized about.
