Chapter 36 - 36: Dog Eat Dog

Sadness crossed An Rong's face as she watched the two people dancing. "Only someone as perfect as Ling Xue could ever be a match for Prince Leng, haa…"

"Pfff… cough cough cough…" Ning Shu nearly choked on her fruit. She turned to An Rong, impressed by her mentality.

The women around the female lead were a mixed bag; some fought over men and spare tires, while others, like An Rong, were so cowed by Ling Xue that they'd willingly yield the men they liked.

In the end, though, their fates were the same: all cannon fodder. One group died in body, the other in spirit.

On the dance floor, Leng Ao looked like he was about to ascend to heaven after dancing with the girl he liked, his innocent demeanor radiating sheer bliss.

Ling Xue, however, was unfazed by the dance. She casually grabbed a glass of red wine from a passing waiter, taking a sip. The wine here was no match for what she was used to in the cultivation world; it lacked any spiritual energy and, ironically, drinking more of it could even contaminate the body.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed An Rong sitting with Ning Shu, and a flicker of displeasure crossed her face. An Rong was supposed to be one of her people, yet here she was, mingling with Lin Jiajia.

Feeling betrayed, Ling Xue approached with an air of superiority. "Are you feeling better?"

An Rong quickly stood up. "Much better," she said, though deep down, she felt a pang of unhappiness. If Ling Xue truly cared, why hadn't she ever checked on her? Besides, wasn't Ling Xue the cause of her injury?

Ling Xue's gaze narrowed at Ning Shu's outfit. "While clothes don't define a person, they reflect basic etiquette."

Ning Shu was almost swayed by Ling Xue's words but replied, "You know I'm an orphan. I can't afford nice clothes. But your outfit is really pretty!" She even reached out to touch it.

Ling Xue instinctively moved back, a look of disgust on her face. How could a woman lack such basic self-respect?

Ning Shu shrugged, thinking that in the face of adversity, even integrity could be tossed aside.

Even An Rong found Ning Shu's behavior hard to watch. "Ling Xue, Prince Leng is looking at you. He probably wants to talk!" she urged.

Ling Xue's expression darkened upon hearing An Rong defend Ning Shu. "Are you really planning to associate with someone like her?"

An Rong was taken aback by Ling Xue's bluntness. "What do you mean? I would never hang out with a lower-class person like this!"

"Lower-class person." The term stung. It echoed what Leng Ao had said earlier. Clearly, in Ling Xue's eyes, An Rong had some status, but Ning Shu was simply beneath them both.

Ling Xue, satisfied, nodded arrogantly and walked away, leaving An Rong with a gloomy expression as she watched her go.

Ning Shu raised an eyebrow at An Rong, surprised that she'd actually stood up for her. Was she perhaps starting to question Ling Xue?

Probably not taken over, just feeling a bit resentful after Ling Xue's previous actions.

Ling Xue was the kind of person who thought, "I can bully anyone I want, and I'll eliminate anyone who dares to betray me." An Rong, you'd better watch your back!

But An Rong had spoken up for her, which complicated things. The original host had wanted revenge on An Rong. Maybe it was best if the female lead dealt with her instead. The drama of a dog-eat-dog scenario sounded perfect. But still… An Rong had defended her.