The Strongest Talent Tree

Hearing this, Yao Ying didn’t know whether to laugh or get angry. Utterly exasperated, she said, "Who asked you for a salary? I couldn’t care less about that measly bit of money!"

"Is that so? Well, thank God for that," Feng Hao sneered. "Don’t let the door hit you on your way out."

"You... you bastard!" Humiliated and furious, Yao Ying was suddenly overwhelmed by a sense of being wronged.

"Heh! You trying to make me get rough with you? When I start throwing punches, I don’t care if you’re a man or a woman. You should know that better than anyone," Feng Hao said, his face darkening.

At his words, Yao Ying’s mind flashed back to the time he had beaten her senseless. That, in turn, reminded her of her true purpose for getting close to him. In that instant, the hatred she had suppressed in her heart surged once more.

And so, to Feng Hao’s utter astonishment, Yao Ying’s demeanor shifted back to her usual seductive charm. She swayed gracefully over to him, her eyes practically smoldering as she said, "Darling, it’s barely been any time at all. Why are you being so cold to little ol’ me?"

"What the fuck, are you insane?!" Feng Hao exclaimed, his eyes wary.

Yao Ying simply gazed at him with a bashful look, her breath ghosting across his face as she whispered, "You brute... Say things like that and you’ll break my heart."

"Break your heart my ass!" Feng Hao swore. "Get the hell out of here, or I’ll have no problem carving an ’X’ on that pretty face of yours!"

"Then do it. To die at the hands of the one I love... I would have no regrets," Yao Ying said, her expression resolute as she closed her eyes.

"..." Feng Hao was left speechless, an inexplicable rage surging through him. ’She doesn’t believe me, does she?’ "Fine! Today, I’m going to show you a world of pain!"

With that, he drew back his fist and threw a punch right at her exquisitely beautiful face.

But, to his utter disbelief, Yao Ying showed no intention of dodging.

"Fuck, are you out of your goddamn mind?!" Feng Hao snarled, snatching his fist back at the last second. Exasperated, he demanded, "Fine, just say it. What the hell do you want?"

A little while ago, he would have landed that punch without a second thought. But now... well, Yao Ying had been hanging around him for a few days. He couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Yao Ying slowly opened her eyes, a slight tremor in her gaze. "I knew you wouldn’t be able to go through with it."

"Cut the crap. What is it you really want?" Feng Hao demanded, his voice low.

"Hee hee." Yao Ying giggled, covering her mouth as her beautiful eyes casually drifted to the stage beside them. "It’s nothing, really. I just want you to give me a few pointers on my dance arts. I’ll be a very good girl, I promise~!"

Her flirtatious act sent a wave of goosebumps over Feng Hao’s skin. He flatly refused, "I don’t have time for this. Go ask someone else!"

"But I only want *you* to teach me!" Yao Ying whined, putting on a pitiable expression.

"Damn it, you just don’t quit, do you? Have a taste of this!" Feng Hao had finally had enough. He launched himself into a flying kick aimed right at her, holding nothing back this time.

BAM!

Yao Ying had no time to react. She was sent flying backwards, landing perfectly just outside the door.

"You bastard, I’m not done with you!" Yao Ying roared hysterically as she staggered to her feet. She charged at Feng Hao with reckless abandon, crimson light flaring around her as the phantom of a blade shot toward his chest.

Meanwhile, Xu Zhenzhen and Li Ting were already standing on the stage, utterly dumbfounded.

Feng Hao hadn’t expected Yao Ying to counterattack like a madwoman. He hastily drew a dagger and used a shadow-strike to dodge out of the crimson light’s range, then smoothly flung out the [Poisonous Chain], easily binding her.

"Let go of me! I’m going to kill you!" Yao Ying screamed, struggling hysterically.

"Can you just shut the hell up for a second," Feng Hao sneered, a corner of his mouth twitching. "Didn’t you just say you’d have no regrets if you died by my hand?"

Yao Ying’s body shuddered, and her senses slowly returned. She stared at the face she thought of day and night, tears beginning to stream down her cheeks. "You’re a shameless, despicable bastard! I could never love you in a million years!"

The corner of Feng Hao’s mouth twitched. ’What the hell is going through this woman’s head?’

But seeing her beautiful, tear-stained face, Feng Hao’s heart softened. He sighed and released the chain. "Forget it. Just go."

Yao Ying gave Feng Hao one last, complicated look before wiping her tears and slowly walking away.

After sending Yao Ying off, Feng Hao let out a sigh of relief. He turned to the two girls who were still gaping at him. "What are you two spacing out for? Get back to rehearsing!"

"Oh." The two of them snapped out of their daze. Xu Zhenzhen had a strange look on her face as she asked, "Senior, what exactly is your relationship with Senior Sister Yao Ying?"

"What relationship? I don’t have any damn relationship with her," Feng Hao snorted irritably.

"Really? But she seems to treat you... specially," Xu Zhenzhen said, her tone full of meaning.

"Does she? I hadn’t noticed," Feng Hao said with a confused frown.

Xu Zhenzhen nodded thoughtfully, then broke into a small smile. "By the way, Senior, why not let Senior Sister Yao Ying join us? You know, her proficiency in dance arts is incredibly high, plus she’s gorgeous."

Feng Hao froze, then slapped his thigh. "Shit, why didn’t you say so earlier?!"

With that, he turned and dashed out the door.

"Aren’t we supposed to be rehearsing? Where are you going?" Li Ting called out in confusion.

"What do you think I’m doing? I’m going to get her back!" Feng Hao snapped back, disappearing from the rehearsal room in an instant.

But when he burst out the door, he found Yao Ying hadn’t left. She was standing there blankly, her eyes empty and lifeless, all the color drained from her beautiful face.

Feng Hao skidded to a halt and asked awkwardly, "Uh, you’re still here?"

"Huh?" Yao Ying snapped out of her despondent state. When she saw Feng Hao, a spark of delighted surprise lit up her hollow eyes. "You... you came looking for me?"

"Yeah," Feng Hao nodded awkwardly. "I was out of line earlier. If you’re still mad, go on, kick me. I promise I won’t fight back."

Yao Ying froze for a moment, her eyes shining with an unprecedented light. A faint blush appeared on her cheeks. "Just hearing you say that is enough to make me happy."

"Er." Feng Hao’s heart skipped a beat as he finally sensed something was off. ’Oh, hell. She doesn’t actually have feelings for me, does she?’

"By the way, why did you come after me?" Yao Ying asked, wiping the tears from her face, her expression blossoming into a radiant smile.

Feng Hao pushed down the strange feeling in his heart and put on a serious expression. "I’ve got an opportunity to make some money. Interested?"

"I’ll do it," Yao Ying said without a second thought.

Feng Hao was taken aback. "Aren’t you going to ask what it is?"

"There’s no need." Yao Ying beamed, her eyes sparkling. She was known as the biggest flirt in the Five States, but right now, there wasn’t a hint of seduction in her expression.

Feng Hao snapped out of his stupor, suddenly realizing that Yao Ying wasn’t so bad after all. "Alright, then. Come with me."

And just like that, under the shocked and bewildered gazes of Xu Zhenzhen and Li Ting, Yao Ying returned to the rehearsal room and officially joined the girl group project.

...

As it turned out, Yao Ying’s skill in the dance arts was truly exceptional. In just one hour, she had effortlessly mastered the dance routine from the Crystal Card, leaving everyone speechless.

"As expected of someone from a family of master dancers! That was amazing!" Feng Hao said with a light laugh, giving her a thumbs-up. He was secretly glad he’d brought her back.

Yao Ying smiled graciously. "You two are also very talented."

"Oh, don’t be so modest, Sister Yao Ying! Your presence and the whole mood you created just now were a real eye-opener," Li Ting chimed in with a giggle.

Watching the three of them chatting and laughing together, Feng Hao felt a swell of satisfaction. "From this day forward, the three of you are a single unit. And I will lead you to conquer the world... and then the universe!"