If you want to survive after transmigrating, become the male protagonist's new mother.

Oli's temples were bulging with veins.

He gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing with fury: "You—"

Claude's lips slowly curved upwards.

Seeing this, Lin Huaijin quickly pulled the person back: "Calm down, he's trying to provoke you."

He whispered, "Given the current situation, we can't take action against him at the academy."

"..."

Ollie turned his face away.

Pei Yuening, who was in front, chuckled.

Here we go again, a classic case of shifting the focus.

He shook his head: "Your Highness is right, there's nothing to worry about if one more person appreciates Ryan. But appreciation and pursuit are two different things."

"Admiration is watching from afar, while pursuit is knowing that someone is already in a relationship, yet still going up to them to send flowers, ask them out, and tell them in front of their partner that you want to make a chance."

"Your Highness is a wise man and should be able to distinguish between the two."

He looked at Claude, his smile fading for a moment before returning to normal: "As for fairness... when it comes to feelings, while there's no absolute right or wrong, there should at least be some moral and ethical considerations."

"What kind of aristocratic decorum is it to steal from others?" Pei Yuening glanced at Ollie, then turned back. "Don't you agree?"

Ryan remained silent.

He stood beside Ollie, looking down at the ground.

He finally raised his head only after Pei Yuening finished speaking.

“Your Highness Claude,” Ryan said, “thank you for your kindness. But the relationship between Ollie and me is not the kind of ‘not yet engaged’ that you’re talking about.”

"We've already decided we're meant to be. So no matter what you give me or what you say, I won't change my mind."

The smile on Crow's face did not disappear.

"I see." He nodded. "Excuse me for being frank, but I don't understand. You're just a commoner. If you're with me, you'll become the princess of Rekea in the future."

"Considering status, position, and future prospects, you should be able to see which choice is wiser."

His gaze swept over Ollie: "You clearly have the potential to become royalty, so why are you tying yourself to an adopted son?"

Ollie's breath hitched, and Lin Huaijin frowned.

Pei Yuening's expression changed, but before he could speak, Ryan spoke first.

"I've never thought about any of what Your Highness is saying."

Ryan stated firmly, "I never needed to be royalty, nor do I find being an adopted son particularly shameful."

"Oli's biological parents are heroes of the empire, and Duke Luo has always treated him as his own son. Your words are too hurtful to others."

He tightened his grip on Ollie's hand and continued, "Besides, my future isn't given to me by others; it's my own choice."

"I love Ollie, and even if he takes me back to the North in the future, I will follow him every step of the way."

Four pairs of eyes all fell on Claude.

He remained calm and composed, merely lowering his eyes and smiling upon hearing this.

"Okay, I understand. You really are a very good person."

He took a step forward, pausing for a moment as he passed Ryan: "However, Ryan."

"I'm really looking forward to your performance in the Three Schools Cup."

He smiled and walked away unhurriedly.

Pei Yuening stood there, watching Claude disappear at the end of the corridor, her mind going blank again.

"What did he mean by his last sentence?" Pei Yuening laughed in exasperation. "So all I just said was just a waste of breath?"

Ryan tugged at his sleeve: "Yue Ning, don't be angry. I'll find a chance to explain everything clearly later."

Pei Yuening sighed and reached out to rub his head: "I know. Anyway, don't feel pressured. If he comes close to you again, just yell back or call for help."

"Let him be arrogant. If he dares to be disrespectful, I'll complain to His Majesty."

Ryan nodded.

Lin Huaijin glanced at Ollie's expression, then tactfully turned to Ryan and said, "Let's go back and eat cake."

"it is good."

Ryan followed Lin Huaijin back a few steps, while Pei Yuening and Ollie lagged behind.

Ollie kept his head down and didn't speak, but his eyes in the shadows seemed to be glistening with tears.

Pei Yuening wasn't suited to comforting him, so she cleverly changed the subject: "When did you tell your father that you wanted to marry Ryan after graduation?"

Upon hearing this, Ollie paused in his tracks, his ears quickly turning red: "...I've wanted to say this for a long time."

"Why didn't you say so?"

“Ryan won’t allow it.” Ollie turned his face away. “He gets very embarrassed every time I bring it up.”

Pei Yuening nodded thoughtfully: "Okay, I'll find an opportunity to talk to him after the Three Schools Cup is over."

Ollie fell silent.

"……Thanks."

"uh-huh."

The two returned to the classroom, where Lin Huaijin was stuffing the last piece of cake into her mouth.

Upon seeing the person enter, he casually remarked, "I packed up my mother's portion and took it home."

Pei Yuening nodded: "Okay."

"If she gets to eat this, she'll probably be so happy she'll turn her dressing table up again."

Poor Pei Yuening hadn't taken Lin Huaijin's words to heart yet.

Not long after he got home from school, a servant from the Prince's mansion delivered a second letter.

Xin Tong wrote it herself, a long three-page essay praising the cake to the skies.

The letter also included an exquisite box. When Pei Yuening opened it, the box of shiny, oily pearls almost blinded him.

Pei Yuening was so frightened that she made another three-tiered cake on the spot—with buttercream frosting, fruit fillings, and frosting decorations, both exquisite and substantial.

After he finished cooking, he didn't let Gao Gao and the others touch a single bite. He had the steward personally deliver it to the Prince's Mansion and repeatedly instructed them to make sure to explain everything clearly to Xin Tong.

The gist of it is that she's happy with it, but there's really no need to reciprocate; otherwise, it would be too embarrassing.

Xin Tong has quieted down, but then said that after the Three Schools Cup ends, he'll bring his mouth over for a free meal.

Pei Yuening was both amused and exasperated.

This whole ordeal lasted until late at night.

Pei Yuening returned to her room, washed up, lay down on the bed, and took out the quill pen from beside her pillow.

The pen emitted a faint warm light. He closed his eyes, and soon Luo Ren's presence filled his mind.

"Your Majesty the Duke?"

"Yes," Luo Ren chuckled softly, "How are you today?"

"Yes... something did happen."

Luo Ren frowned slightly: "What's wrong?"

Pei Yuening briefly recounted what had happened in the corridor.

How Claude sends flowers, how he publicly declares his intention to pursue Ryan, and how he uses the words "adopted son" to stab Ollie.

He didn't embellish the story; he simply presented the facts.

"Oli didn't say anything, but I think he must be feeling pretty bad."

Pei Yuening concluded, then added, "Sir, would you like to find some time to talk to him later?"

Luo Ren was silent for a moment, then said, "I understand."

"Then you should get some rest early, don't stay up until midnight again," Pei Yuening said with a smile.

"The same to you."

Goodnight~

"Good night."

The light from the quill pen slowly faded.

In the study on the other side, Luo Ren turned around by the window and said to the door, "Someone come in."

The butler pushed open the door and bowed: "Yes, Your Highness."

"Have Ollie come over here."

"clear."

Not long after, Ollie pushed open the door and walked in.

He stood before the desk, bowed, and said, "Father, you wanted to see me."

"Hmm," Luo Ren looked down and flipped through a page of the documents on the table, "What happened at school today?"