Chapter 212: Don't Try to Guess a Girl's Heart

Seeing everyone staring at him, Dongfang Xi confidently declared, "With my plan, we won't have to worry about Ye Mo escaping into the forest."

Silence fell. After a long moment, Song Qiming asked, "But do you know Ye Mo's current location?"

Dongfang Xi smiled. "Song Family leader underestimates North Sand. Unless Ye Mo intentionally hides, we'll locate him soon. I believe he won't hide."

"Even if that's true," Song Qishen countered, "Nie Shuangshuang is just a student. Even if she's pretty, so what? You're asking a naive student to trick Ye Mo. He might notice something before she even speaks."

Song Yuanyi nodded in agreement.

"I know Nie Shuangshuang," Song Hai added. "She's shy and, despite being called the school's prettiest girl, is not good at socializing. Plus, a girl's first time is... significant. I doubt she can pull this off." He trailed off, his doubts evident.

Dongfang Xi interrupted, "You misunderstand Nie Shuangshuang. Many women are beautiful, but I chose her because she and Ye Ling attend Qing University. More importantly, she's not what she seems. We investigated her; she's from a semi-hidden sect—the Four States and Nine Moons Temple."

He continued, "She practices a dark cultivation method, draining the yang essence of men. She's caused considerable harm, undetected."

"A semi-hidden sect? Practicing such an evil art?" Song Yuanyi was shocked. "A girl like that, hiding in high school?"

Song Hai, equally surprised, considered Ye Mo's personality. "In that case, Nie Shuangshuang is experienced and Ye Mo probably won't be attracted to her…"

Dongfang Xi sneered. "He'll find out soon enough. If Nie Shuangshuang succeeds, we've won. Also, she's met Ye Mo before. If he sees her in danger, he might help."

Song Qiming's enthusiasm waned. "Ye Mo isn't easily tricked. Since Nie Shuangshuang has met him, he likely knows who she is."

Dongfang Xi remained calm. "You don't understand the temple's rules. If a female student reveals her identity, she must kill the witness, or report it—the sect will kill them. Concealing the revelation? Boiling in oil is a lenient punishment.

"Ye Mo saw her but isn't in danger, meaning he only knows she's a Hua University student, not her background. If their identities were easily discovered, they wouldn't be a semi-hidden sect. We paid a hefty price for this information."

The Song family members gasped, astonished by North Sand's power.

"If Nie Shuangshuang didn't report it," Song Hai worried, "the plan is a joke."

Dongfang Xi scoffed. "First, there are the consequences. Even lovers wouldn't risk it. Second, the temple is a branch of a Daoist sect—the Nine Moons Emotion Severance Temple, a branch of the Heavenly Emotion Severance Sect. Their disciples are devoid of emotion. Nie Shuangshuang is one of their top students. She wouldn't do that for someone she's met once."

However, Dongfang Xi's calculations failed to account for Ye Mo's spiritual sense. Upon seeing Nie Shuangshuang, he sensed something was amiss. Dongfang Xi, misunderstanding women's hearts, didn't foresee Nie Shuangshuang's failure to report.

Two mistakes proved fatal. Had he heard the adage, "Don't guess a girl's heart," perhaps he wouldn't have made the second. But the first was unavoidable.

Song Qiming stood, bowing. "Mr. Dongfang, you possess remarkable capabilities. Leave Nie Shuangshuang to the Song family; we'll ensure success."

Dongfang Xi shook his head. "Getting her cooperation isn't easy. Luckily, she craves yang essence. I hear the Song family possesses a high-level artifact, the Jade Woman Plate. That might motivate her."

Upon hearing "Jade Woman Plate," Song Yuanyi stood, staring intently at Dongfang Xi, who remained unfazed. Song Yuanyi sighed, reseating himself, North Sand, he realized, was terrifying.

…

Su Jingwen arrived at the meeting place to find Ning Qingxue already there.

"Qingxue, you've changed. You returned from that dangerous place?" Su Jingwen immediately noticed Ning Qingxue's improved health and happier demeanor, a stark contrast to her previous depression. This puzzled Su Jingwen.

"Mhm," Ning Qingxue replied, her smile radiant.

Even Su Jingwen was captivated. Though confident in her own beauty, she admitted Ning Qingxue sometimes surpassed her.

"Where did you go? You seem so different. A dangerous place, but it changed you for the better? I need to go somewhere dangerous too," Su Jingwen joked.

Ning Qingxue ordered coffee, nodding. "Those days were the happiest of my life. The fear of death was present, but the happiness made it worthwhile. I don't regret it. I'm thanking you today; you saved my life."

Su Jingwen's eyes widened. When had she saved Ning Qingxue's life?

"This is for you. Thank you for the three beads. This bracelet is a gift." Ning Qingxue presented a bracelet.

"It's beautiful," Su Jingwen admitted, recognizing its value. The twelve beads emitted a subtle, comforting aura.

"Where did you buy it?" While knowing it couldn't compare to the beads she'd given Ning Qingxue, Su Jingwen loved the bracelet.

Ning Qingxue shook her head. "I didn't buy it. I asked Ye Mo to make it for you, using the three beads you gave me."

"What?" Su Jingwen's hand trembled, nearly dropping the bracelet.

The serene feeling was familiar—Ye Mo's craftsmanship. The bracelet was far more valuable than the three beads.

Yet, Su Jingwen felt conflicted. Though more valuable, something felt amiss.

When Ning Qingxue left, she'd suggested Ye Mo make her a bracelet. Now, possessing it, something felt lacking.

The three beads, though rough, were a birthday gift from Ye Mo. This bracelet, also from Ye Mo, lacked the same joy. Perhaps it was because Ning Qingxue had commissioned it.

"Jingwen?" Ning Qingxue noticed Su Jingwen's pensive state.

"Oh…" Su Jingwen recovered, placing the bracelet on her other wrist, keeping her two-bead bracelet. Smiling, she asked, "Thank you, Qingxue. Did you see Ye Mo?"

Ning Qingxue's face lit up. "Yes, I found him. I was with him yesterday; he'll return soon."

Su Jingwen hesitated. "If he returns, could you bring him to my house? My mother wants to thank her savior…"

Ning Qingxue readily agreed. "Sure, I'll ask him, but I'm sure he'll agree."

"How do you know? Ye Mo has his own judgment. He's not easily swayed," Su Jingwen stated, knowing more about Ye Mo than Ning Qingxue did before her Shen Nong Jia trip. She knew their relationship wasn't as it seemed.

Ning Qingxue's eyes softened. "Because I know he won't refuse me."