DEM Chapter 34: I’m the Hero Here!

"Grandfather, I..."

Before Chen Nuoyi could finish, the middle-aged man cut her off.

"Nuoyi, I’ve seen everything you’ve been doing these past few days."

"To think that after leaving the Chen family, you’ve fallen so far. Not only are you neglecting your cultivation, but you’re also hanging out with some random boy after school every day!"

"Mixing with someone like that, do you even resemble a Chen family heiress anymore? Come home with me now."

Chen Nuoyi’s grandfather said, his tone heavy with disappointment.

Su Yuan: "..."

Normally, after such an insult, shouldn’t he fire back with something like, "Thirty years east, thirty years west, don’t underestimate a young man’s potential"?

But why didn’t he feel angry at all? Why did he even feel a bit guilty?

Could it be because he really had, in just a few days, caused his granddaughter to fall completely, with her Saint’s Fall progress hitting 100%?

In that sense, Chen Nuoyi’s grandfather’s words seemed... entirely accurate?

Chen Nuoyi, however, was visibly upset. She lifted her pretty face, facing the overwhelming pressure of her elder, and said earnestly, "I’ve learned a lot from Su Yuan. I don’t think being with him is falling."

"And Grandfather, do you know how hard it is for ordinary people to make money? If I hadn’t learned money-making skills from Su Yuan, how could I have become independent from the Chen family?"

The more she spoke, the smoother her words flowed, her tone growing firm and resolute, "I won’t return to the Chen family. I can live well on my own. Please go back, Grandfather."

Su Yuan silently gave Chen Nuoyi a thumbs-up.

Well said! As expected of the righteous saintess, my first follower.

But clearly, Chen Nuoyi’s grandfather wasn’t ready to let it go. He said impatiently, "Nuoyi, I can indulge your momentary rebelliousness. Even if you want to be independent, I won’t stop you."

"But as a Chen family heiress, there are things you must do. During the college entrance exam, you must apply to Xinghe Dao Sect, one of the top ten immortal academies."

Chen Nuoyi froze, her delicate brows furrowing, "Why?"

Her grandfather replied calmly, "The Li family’s Li Zhengxing has been pre-admitted to Xinghe Dao Sect, and the Li family intends to form a marriage alliance with our Chen family. You two should spend time building a relationship once you’re at Xinghe Dao Sect."

He then shot a sidelong glance at Su Yuan, "In short, you can’t keep associating with this shady character."

Su Yuan: "..."

Here it comes, the classic trope.

The family elder not only wants to tear apart a young couple’s private commitment but also throws in a rich young master from a powerful family as the big bad villain.

So, the main storyline is set, huh? Before the college entrance exam, he’d have to dominate heaven, earth, and air, crushing this Li Zhengxing, the elite scion, underfoot and slapping both the Chen and Li families in the face.

Then, in college, the Chen and Li families, along with Li Zhengxing, would harbor grudges, using all sorts of overt and covert tactics to suppress and target him, only to be obliterated by him, the cheat-code protagonist.

But since the Chen family was Chen Nuoyi’s family, maybe they’d get a redemption arc halfway through.

Like hell! This kind of brain-dead plot went out of style a hundred thousand years ago!

Su Yuan felt too drained to even complain.

Why didn’t he awaken a snark system instead? He’d have taken off in minutes!

And anyway, he and Chen Nuoyi didn’t even have any romantic progress. They were just master and apprentice, nothing more.

Though, there were stories where the male and female leads had no real relationship, just a couple of interactions due to minor events, and still got targeted by a jealous villain.

Still so cliché!

"I don’t agree!" Chen Nuoyi was clearly furious at this arrangement, protesting loudly.

Her grandfather remained unmoved, saying calmly, "When it’s time to fill out your college applications, I’ll come back."

With that, he closed the flying boat’s window, and the vessel shot into the sky.

Chen Nuoyi and Su Yuan were left disheveled in the wind.

Chen Nuoyi clenched her fists, silently staring in the direction the black flying boat had gone. After a long pause, she said softly, "This is another reason I don’t want to return to the Chen family. Su Yuan, I’m sorry my grandfather insulted you. I apologize on his behalf."

Su Yuan shook his head and asked, "So, Class Leader, what’s your plan? Are you going to apply to Xinghe Dao Sect?"

Chen Nuoyi shook her head vigorously, "Absolutely not! I’ve barely met Li Zhengxing a few times. Going to Xinghe Dao Sect to ‘build a relationship’ with him is not in my plans."

Su Yuan nodded and said, "In that case, you should work harder to improve yourself."

"If you can get a special admission to one of the other nine top immortal academies, you might be able to lock in your college choice before your grandfather can interfere."

Chen Nuoyi paused, then turned to look at Su Yuan.

A faint blush colored her bright, sparkling eyes, and a radiant smile slowly spread across her face, "You’re right, Su Yuan."

"So, what about you? Have you thought about which of the top ten immortal academies you want to apply to?"

Su Yuan thought for a moment and shook his head, "I haven’t decided yet, but Xinghe Dao Sect is definitely off the list."

No way. In novels, rich young masters were notoriously vengeful. Even if he and Chen Nuoyi had nothing going on, that guy would still hold a grudge against him.

Going to Xinghe Dao Sect would be asking for trouble.

But Chen Nuoyi clearly didn’t think that far. She seemed to misinterpret something, her pretty face flushing slightly as she said sincerely, "Coach, please guide me to make more money in the future. Let’s both get into the top ten academies together."

Su Yuan didn’t notice the change in her expression and was about to nod in agreement when a sharp whistle suddenly pierced the sky.

The next moment, a sleek, performance-oriented flying boat adorned with star emblems landed in front of them.

This flying boat wasn’t built for luxury but for performance, yet its price was undoubtedly no less than the one Chen Nuoyi’s grandfather had ridden.

The moment he saw it, Su Yuan had a sinking feeling.

Sure enough, the next second, the flying boat’s door slid open, and a tall, dashing young man in lavish clothing stepped out, instantly drawing the gazes of nearly every woman nearby.

Su Yuan rolled his eyes.

No need to guess, this had to be Li Zhengxing.

Chen Nuoyi’s grandfather had just left, and now the villainous young master was here to stir up trouble. Could he be any more impatient?

At that moment, a crisp ding-dong sounded in Su Yuan’s mind.

It’s finally happening?

[The righteous prodigy who adores the saintess has discovered that the saintess, whom he cherishes and fears to see hurt, has been sneaking out of the sect, staying out all night, acting intimately with some unknown man, even serving and being humiliated by him!]

[“I’m already his, so please stop looking for me!” The righteous prodigy even imagines the saintess saying this to him coldly.]

[Thus, the righteous prodigy, filled with pity for the saintess, decides to take action, eliminating you, the demon, to save her from dire straits. As a generation’s demon lord, how will you respond?]

[Demon Lord Task Triggered]

[Task: Tragic Prodigy (In Progress)]

[The righteous prodigy and the demonic overlord are finally set for a world-shaking battle! Thoroughly defeat the righteous prodigy and keep the saintess firmly in your grasp.]

[Task Progress: Defeat the Righteous Prodigy (0/1)]

[Task Reward: Change Fate *1]

Su Yuan: "..."

Damn it, system, you just had to stir things up now?

And in this plot, I’m clearly the hero! This rich young master is the villain!

Why are you painting him as some tragic hero? Your bias is showing, you lousy thing!

While Su Yuan raged internally, Li Zhengxing was already walking toward him and Chen Nuoyi.

Facing this unexpected guest, Chen Nuoyi seemed a bit nervous, her gaze heavy as she instinctively leaned closer to Su Yuan.

Su Yuan grew wary.

Though he really didn’t want to get involved, with a system task and being caught with Chen Nuoyi, it was too late to back out.

But the arrogant, brainless villain he’d imagined didn’t appear.

After sizing them up, Li Zhengxing’s eyes lit up, and he zipped over like a gust of wind... right to Su Yuan.

Before Su Yuan could react, Li Zhengxing grabbed his hand excitedly, "Are you Chen Nuoyi’s boyfriend? A pleasure, a pleasure, such a pleasure! I’m thrilled to meet you!"

Su Yuan: "???"

Chen Nuoyi: "???"

[NEXT CHAPTER]