Chapter 114 - Love … Square?!

Guanyu's gaze zeroed in on Xiao Dong and her heart leaped up and down. This … Who was this godly looking boy? Jing Yi, whom she had single-mindedly pursued for the last few months, was cute but this boy … he was beautiful but a little rough on the edges with a cold, condescending gaze that sent chills down her back while still making her blush.

This … If Jing Yi was Prince Charming then this boy was the evil demon king from stories who would make respectable maidens fall head over heels for him just to leave them with a broken heart, endlessly pining for him!

She … had just fallen in love again!

Guanyu smiled her most bashful smile and slowly made her way over trying to show off her best side.

Xiao Dong frowned, though, and looked at his mother, his eyes clearly asking: This ugly looking child couldn't be the one His Majesty wants me to seduce, could it?

Ai Hua looked at Guanyu and frowned. This child was really … Ah, her poor son! He would lose out so much if that was the child His Majesty was talking about! His Majesty should definitely compensate them for this!

She patted Xiao Dong's shoulder, her eyes clearly stating 'think of how you'll help His Majesty and no sacrifice will be too large'. Xiao Dong curled his lips.

This was what he had been afraid of. His mother had warned him often enough that dragons could only fall in love once. What if he got careless while he complied with their king's command and actually fell in love with such an ugly thing?! He wouldn't be able to show his face in the dragon realm anymore!

Madam Zhong watched the children's interaction with a smile. It seemed like her son didn't have to worry about Guanyu anymore. Ah, children. Sometimes just a little bit of time would solve their problems.

Unfortunately, the opposite of Madam Zhong's thoughts was true, too: Just a little bit of time could create new problems. One was even on its way to the teahouse.

Xiao Dong had just brought himself to force a smile in front of Guanyu when light steps sounded from the entrance. Everyone — except for Guanyu who was still bewitched by her 'evil demon king' and couldn't take her eyes off him — looked up just in time to see two young boys enter the teahouse.

Madam Zhong smiled. "Jing'er, Ah Hai, you're here. Come here. Sit down. I'll get the two of you a cup of tea."

"Thank you, mommy!" Jing Yi cut loose from Shao Hai and ran over to his mother, hugging her tightly.

Yes, even though Shao Hai had managed to wrest the place of second most favorite person from a certain dragon king, he still hadn't been able to find a solution for the biggest issue: Whenever Jing Yi's mother was around everyone else practically became air. Considering that Shao Hai was thinking of taking both Jing Yi and Madam Zhong in that wasn't good. He wouldn't want to be ignored by his bride at home every day, would he?

While Shao Hai was silently suffering, Ai Hua and Xiao Dong's eyes widened and started to sparkle as soon as they saw Jing Yi. They followed his every move, intent on not missing even one second.

So this is the mortal reincarnation of His Majesty's beloved! Ai Hua was ecstatic and couldn't help getting up and hurrying over. She even extended her hands to pinch those lovely cheeks but just before touching him she retracted her hands as if she had been burned.

Uh … This wasn't such a good idea, was it? In regards to this child she knew she should always ask herself one question first: Would you do what you are about to do to the crown prince of the nine heavens? If the answer was no then she'd better refrain from doing it. And in this case, the answer was a big, fat no that someone had even circled to make sure it couldn't be missed.

It wasn't even that she wouldn't dare pinch the cheeks of the heavenly emperor's son. After all, their king would stand up for her, wouldn't he? No, instead she was terrified of what her king would do should he find out someone else touched his beloved.

Especially pinching his cheeks, she thought. Yi Zan had once told her that their king always seemed serious when in front of the crown prince. He had probably never pinched his cheeks because he was afraid it might harm the impeccable image he had cultivated in front of the crown prince. No, no, she definitely couldn't take a first time with the crown prince from His Majesty!

Xiao Dong was fixing Jing Yi with a stare, too. How cute! If that is the child His Majesty was talking about I don't mind this assignment. He, too, got down from his chair and walked over. He didn't have as many inhibitions as his mother, though. He looked at Jing Yi, reached over and pulled him into an embrace. He buried his face quite naturally in Jing Yi's neck and ran his fingers through his hair. "Mn … I like you!", he said, just to make sure the message was really driven home.

Jing Yi froze. Some strange boy was hugging him … He looked up at his mother but Madam Zhong only smiled and went into the kitchen to get the tea. Jing Yi relaxed. Oh, so he didn't have to worry about this boy.

Seeing Jing Yi relax, Shao Hai got angry. What's with this?! Some stupid boy came out of nowhere and dared to hug his bride? He'd show him!

"You!" Shao Hai grabbed Xiao Dong's shoulder and tried to pry him of Jing Yi. But of course, that was futile. Who in the mortal realm would be able to move a dragon that didn't want to be moved?

Xiao Dong just smiled and hugged Jing Yi a bit tighter, even going so far as to rubbing their cheeks together. He felt quite smug. Look at this! The king's task won't be difficult for me at all!

Just when he wanted to go in for the kill and actually kiss the cute boy he was hugging, someone grabbed the back of his collar and lifted him up, carrying him some steps away before putting him down. Xiao Dong wanted to protest but found himself in front of his mother's serious face when he turned around. The complaint got stuck in his throat.

Ai Hua whacked his forehead. "What were you doing just now? You got the wrong child! You nearly kissed the king's beloved!"

Xiao Dong's eyes went wide. The cute boy was His Majesty's beloved?! Oh no! What if the king found out he hugged him?! He'd be dead meat!

While the normally coolheaded Xiao Dong was freaking out, Shao Hai wasn't faring much better. He hurried over to Jing Yi and furiously rubbed his cheek. How dare that strange brat hug his bride? He'd make him pay later on! Now, he had to claim his Xiao Yi back, though.

He hugged him offhandedly and just like Xiao Dong he buried his head in Jing Yi's neck. Mn, this was his Xiao Yi! He wouldn't let anyone else hug him!

Meanwhile, Ai Hua was still advising her son: "The one His Majesty asked you to seduce must be the other one."

Xiao Dong's expression fell even more. "That ugly girl?"

"No, the ugly boy."

Ah, one cannot fault them for these evaluations of Guanyu and Shao Hai. They were dragons, part of a race that paid attention to looks by nature and it got only worse after the new king turned out to be so vain. They just had very high standards.

Xiao Dong pursed his lips. He didn't want to. But His Majesty had given the command. With a gloomy face, he made his way back over to where Jing Yi and Shao Hai stood, letting the completely forgotten Guanyu's heart leap once again. Xiao Dong still didn't pay her any mind, though. He gave Jing Yi's face a regretful look and then concentrated on Shao Hai.

Noticing that the strange boy had returned, Shao Hai turned around to him and narrowed his eyes, warning him not to take another step toward his bride-to-be. Xiao Dong didn't seem to notice the warning, though. He still took another step and smiled brightly at Shao Hai, though if one looked a bit closer it was obviously strained.

Shao Hai got angry, thinking that Xiao Dong wanted to make a move on his Xiao Yi again. He clenched his fists and punched him right on the nose. Then, he screamed.

Yeah, punching a dragon isn't such a good idea.