"Xiao Xiao?!" Huo Yuhao was very surprised, momentarily dazed.
Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi, however, had strange expressions and exchanged glances. Clearly, they were not aware of the information Zhu Ziyang revealed beforehand, but this did not hinder their enthusiasm for gossip. So, both of them looked at Huo Yuhao with curiosity, awaiting his reaction.
As for He Caitou, he could only completely suppress the slight romantic notion in his heart. Unrequited love was destined to yield no results.
"This, that, I..." Huo Yuhao was extremely confused now, feeling as if he had been attacked by his own Spirit Ability. He didn't know how to express himself and finally just blurted out, "Doesn't Xiao Xiao like Wang Dong?"
Young Huo Yuhao only had one thought now: he was utterly bewildered. It was like a childhood sweetheart suddenly telling him that she didn't like the other boy they grew up with, but him instead. He felt incredibly confused, and his powerful mental force seemed insufficient.
When Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi saw Huo Yuhao's reaction, they didn't know whether to laugh or not. They were trying their best to hold it in.
"That was when she was a child," Zhu Ziyang reached out and patted Huo Yuhao's shoulder, saying, "Xiao Xiao told Sister Nannan herself, so it can't be false. In short, prepare yourself, put in some effort, and don't let us look down on you!"
Saying that, Zhu Ziyang laughed, and Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi also smiled. To be honest, they were even more excited for tomorrow's Sea God's Fate Blind Date Event, not for anything else, but to be on the front lines of the gossip.
"Mm!" Huo Yuhao nodded blankly. He really wanted to find Wang Dong and ask him, but after two days back, he hadn't seen any trace of Wang Dong, which left him a bit speechless. He asked, "Senior Brother, will Wang Dong participate?"
"He will!" Hearing Huo Yuhao still asking about Wang Dong, Zhu Ziyang instinctively felt that Wang Dong wouldn't even need to revert to her female form to have a firm grasp on this young Huo Yuhao. He said with a tone of disappointment, "All Inner Courtyard Disciples will participate. Don't keep thinking about Wang Dong!"
"Got it." Huo Yuhao scratched his head a little sheepishly and said.
"Yu Hao, you're not… bent, are you?" Xu Sanshi showed a mischievous smile and said to Huo Yuhao.
"Bent? What does that mean?" Huo Yuhao looked confused.
"Uh… never mind, it's nothing!" Xu Sanshi had teased in vain and felt it was pointless. He could only raise his wine glass and say, "Drink, drink. After tomorrow, we might not be able to drink as freely as this."
Zhu Ziyang and Bei Bei chuckled at his words, also raised their wine glasses filled with red wine, and drank.
— —
The Sea God's Fate Blind Date Event arrived as scheduled. As one of Shrek Academy's few truly grand events, although the Sea God's Fate was a carnival for Inner Courtyard Disciples, it still attracted many Outer Courtyard students to stand by Sea God Lake to watch. While they might not necessarily see everything, it was good to soak in the atmosphere and boost their own motivation.
Sea God Lake and Tian Yuan Pavilion had already been decorated very festively. A large wooden boat, the largest ferry on Sea God Lake, sailed onto the water. The boat was brightly lit, and Zhu Ziyang and the elders of Sea God Pavilion stood at the bow.
"Ziyang, you go. You can leave this boat to us old fellows." Xuan Zi gently pushed Zhu Ziyang, who was standing in front, and said with a smile.
"Yes, yes, I'm going!" Zhu Ziyang responded somewhat helplessly. Then, his figure flickered, disappearing from the boat. Laughter erupted from the elders on the boat. Zhu Ziyang reappeared on the shore where the male disciples had gathered.
This year's Sea God's Fate Blind Date Event had a total of sixty-three Inner Courtyard Disciples participating, either actually single or nominally single. Among them, there were forty-two male disciples and twenty-one female disciples. With more monks than porridge, it was no wonder the male compatriots of the Inner Courtyard were so excited, each one looking like a starving wolf who hadn't eaten for three or four months.
However, the scarcity of women was not the main difficulty faced by the male disciples. Although the Sea God's Fate was a blind date event, it was, after all, a blind date event for Shrek Academy's Inner Courtyard, and all participants were prodigies. Therefore, it could not fall into clichés.
To better showcase the strength of the Inner Courtyard Disciples and to make the event more exciting, the Sea God's Fate Blind Date Event was divided into five segments, each with different rules.
However, before these activity segments, the primary goal was, of course, entry! The so-called Sea God's Fate on Sea God Lake meant that the blind date event was held on the surface of the lake. Both male and female disciples needed to stand on the lotus leaves of the water lilies on Sea God Lake.
The only difference was that while female disciples received a lotus leaf upon entry, male disciples needed to act on their own. Although there were enough lotus leaves, the closer positions offered a greater advantage.
Additionally, it's worth noting that once on a lotus leaf, falling into the water, whether voluntarily or not, would be considered a forfeiture, and one would no longer be able to participate in the subsequent segments.
On the calm lake, apart from the ferry carrying the elders, there was only a patch of specially arranged water lilies. The male disciples were already eager to try, but the female disciples were nowhere to be seen.
"Senior Brother, why aren't there any girls?" After scanning the area and not finding Wang Dong, Huo Yuhao felt a bit disappointed, but he was still more interested in the upcoming activities. So, he leaned over to Zhu Ziyang and asked curiously.
Just as Huo Yuhao's words fell, twenty-one golden light pillars suddenly rose from the surface of Sea God Lake. The light pillars attracted everyone's gaze. Under the shimmering light, one alluring figure after another appeared on the lake. Their attire was identical: all wore white long dresses and straw hats, from which white veils hung, completely obscuring their faces, making them difficult to discern.
Undoubtedly, these were the female disciples of this Sea God's Fate Blind Date Event. They lined up, facing the male students on the shore.
With the appearance of the female disciples, the emotions of the male students on the shore were already stirred. Even the steady Bei Bei was now somewhat unnaturally flexing his fists, not to mention the naturally boisterous Xu Sanshi, whose excited demeanor truly looked like he was about to shout out loud.
Looking at him, Zhu Ziyang almost thought he was genuinely single.
At this moment, two even stronger beams of light appeared, followed by the appearance of a man and a woman before everyone. Their appearance surprised Zhu Ziyang; it was actually Dai Yueheng and Zhang Weiwei. When did they get together?
The Sea God's Fate Blind Date Event had hosts, and there was an unwritten rule for choosing them: one man and one woman, and they must be a married couple or in a relationship. This was why Zhu Ziyang was so surprised to see Dai Yueheng and Zhang Weiwei appear together.
To be fair, he was genuinely surprised that Dai Yueheng and Zhang Weiwei got together. These two, one arrogant and one aloof, it was hard to imagine how they interacted daily. Of course, it was also possible that both had another side Zhu Ziyang wasn't aware of, for example, the arrogant CEO instantly turning into a puppy? The aloof big sister actually being a soft girl?
No, no, he couldn't bear to look at it online. Zhu Ziyang shook his head, casting the strange thoughts aside, while Dai Yueheng and Zhang Weiwei over there began to speak.
Dai Yueheng said with a smile: "Sea God's Fate on Sea God Lake, ten thousand years of Shrek, a moment to find love. Welcome everyone to gather by Sea God Lake on this beautiful night.
The annual Sea God's Fate Blind Date Event is about to begin. As the hosts of this grand event, on behalf of my partner and myself, I wish all the senior brothers, senior sisters, junior brothers, and junior sisters participating in today's Sea God's Fate Blind Date Event to find their beloved partner."
Zhang Weiwei took over, continuing: "At the same time, we also welcome all the elders and teachers of Tian Yuan Pavilion who are here to observe today.
Here, on behalf of the students, I also express our sincere gratitude to all the teachers. Without your patient guidance and help, we would not have achieved what we have today."
After the opening remarks, it was time for the main event to begin.
"Next, please prepare yourselves, senior brothers and junior brothers.
Soon, forty-two light pillars will appear in the lake. The people closest to us Sea God Fairies will proceed first in the first segment, while those in the back might not be able to secure a suitable ranking in the first segment.
So, brothers, pay attention! No matter what method you use, as long as you land on the lotus leaf where a light pillar is located, you will have secured a position. But remember, absolutely do not fall into the water, as that will disqualify you from continuing to participate in this Sea God's Fate Blind Date Event."
Zhu Ziyang clearly felt that after Dai Yueheng's words fell, the atmosphere around them became tense, and spirit power fluctuations began to rise and fall. He smiled faintly at this, not minding it.