"Come, come, hurry and taste Auntie's cooking."
"Thank you, Auntie." Zhang Lexuan wore a gentle smile as she accepted the Flying Dragon Soup ladled out by Huo Yun'er.
Huo Yun'er certainly played no favorites, ladling a bowl of soup for both Ma Xiaotao and Long Qiu'er, who were sitting nearby, watching them with a beaming smile.
It was hard to say why friendship between girls could be so mysterious; these three, who looked ready to start a fight when they first met, were now actually chatting and laughing while eating and drinking.
However, Huo Yuhao could only bury his head and desperately shove rice into his mouth. He didn't dare look up at the dining table, feeling utterly depressed.
Don't those novels always write about how, during a meal, the heroine—out of jealousy—would suggestively stretch her leg between the protagonist's thighs and engage in some provocative movements?
Why is it that in my case...
Ma Xiaotao was stepping on his right foot while Zhang Lexuan stepped on his left, both grinding down viciously. The immense force made Huo Yuhao want to wail, but he didn't dare to, fearing he'd make a fool of himself.
Fine then, you brat. No wonder you were in such a hurry to get home; turns out you already found a sweetheart...
The meal passed safely amidst Huo Yuhao's trepidation. After Ma Xiaotao and Zhang Lexuan stated their intentions, Huo Yun'er expressed a warm welcome to the two of them staying at their home.
Especially regarding Zhang Lexuan; parents are always quite respectful toward visiting teachers.
In order not to delay her son's "life-long matters," Huo Yun'er decisively headed to the shop, leaving Huo Yuhao alone to face the three girls...
...
The three girls took turns bathing. By the time Huo Yuhao finished his shower and returned to the living room, it was already near dusk.
Ma Xiaotao and Zhang Lexuan sat on opposite sides of the sofa. The two had clearly come prepared, having changed into pre-packed pajamas and nightgowns, while Long Qiu'er sported a simple style of a short-sleeved shirt and shorts.
But in reality...
Long Qiu'er stared blankly at the nightgowns on the other two, looking down at her own short sleeves with a hint of regret. Having just arrived in the human world, she didn't know such a thing as a "nightgown" existed...
Only after Huo Yuhao brought out the washed fruit did the strange atmosphere between the three gradually dissipate.
After a moment of silence, Zhang Lexuan spoke up. "To be honest, I really couldn't have imagined that a martial soul as powerful as the Golden Dragon could still be passed down."
"By the way, Miss Long Qiu'er, are you interested in joining Shrek Academy? I can recommend you directly into the Inner Court—no assessment required."
Long Qiu'er instinctively locked eyes with Huo Yuhao and saw the rejection in his gaze.
"Thank you, but I don't have any plans to join an academy for the time being."
"Eh?" Ma Xiaotao looked at Huo Yuhao. "Then... how did you and Yuhao meet?"
"And honestly, Yuhao, you're too much. Why didn't you help Sister Lexuan try to convince her to stay?"
Huo Yuhao exhaled and shook his head. "I'm sorry, Teacher Lexuan, and Sister Xiaotao. I don't intend to stay at Shrek Academy forever."
"As for Miss Long Qiu'er, we... we've actually only known each other for a few days. She's staying at my house for some special reasons."
Neither Ma Xiaotao nor Zhang Lexuan paid attention to the phrase "special reasons," focusing instead on the first half of Huo Yuhao's sentence.
Zhang Lexuan crossed her legs, revealing snow-white thighs from beneath her blue-black nightgown. Her toes gripped her slippers, dangling them back and forth as she looked at Huo Yuhao meaningfully.
"Don't plan on staying at Shrek forever... I see. I actually noticed a long time ago that you don't have that much of an attachment to Shrek Academy. Is there a special reason?"
Huo Yuhao lowered his head slightly. "I'm sorry, Teacher Lexuan, Sister Xiaotao. Shrek Academy isn't suitable for me, and I have my own things to do."
On the other side, Long Qiu'er remained perfectly calm, showing no intention of explaining how she met Huo Yuhao.
Zhang Lexuan gave a frank smile and gently patted Huo Yuhao's head. "As a teacher, I won't interfere in a student's private affairs. But even if you don't continue studying at Shrek, aren't you still my student?"
Ma Xiaotao clenched her jade-like hands, asking somewhat nervously, "Then Little Yuhao, where do you plan to go after leaving Shrek Academy?"
Huo Yuhao hesitated for a moment, instinctively glancing at Long Qiu'er.
"I'm sorry, Sister Xiaotao. It's too early to say. I'll tell you when the time comes."
Ma Xiaotao's expression dimmed slightly, but fortunately, Zhang Lexuan clapped her hands just in time to end the topic.
"Alright, alright, it's getting late. Everyone should rest early. Tomorrow we'll have to trouble Yuhao to be our guide and take us around Star Net City."
...
In an era lacking entertainment, working at sunrise and resting at sunset was the norm, even for Soul Masters. Fortunately, Huo Yuhao's house was large enough with plenty of rooms, so having a few extra people sleep over wasn't an issue.
After wishing each other goodnight, Huo Yuhao returned to his room and climbed into bed.
A vacation is a vacation; one should relax when it's time to relax. The path of cultivation requires a balance of tension and release—a teaching from Baili du that he always kept in mind.
Just as his spirit was about to drift into the kingdom of sleep, a faint sound came from the door.
Click...
The bedroom door was gently opened from the outside.
Huo Yuhao looked toward the door in a daze as a figure calmly walked in and locked it. His sleepiness vanished instantly.
It was Long Qiu'er!
Her fair skin, exposed by the short sleeves and shorts, seemed to glow in the night. Huo Yuhao's gaze was involuntarily drawn to her.
Wait, wait, why is she coming here at this time?
She stood barefoot by the door, her bi-colored long hair falling naturally, giving her an aura of cold tenderness.
Thank goodness I'm wearing pajamas... Huo Yuhao, who usually slept naked, was relieved he hadn't made a fool of himself tonight. He propped himself up, his voice raspy from sleep.
"Miss Qiu'er, you are..."
Long Qiu'er's ruby-like eyes blinked, seemingly carrying a hint of a smile.
"I'm here to pay the rent."
"Huh?"
Then, she naturally walked to Huo Yuhao's bedside, lifted the quilt, nimbly slipped inside, and lay down beside him.
His brain stalled. It took a long while before Huo Yuhao could manage a complete sentence.
"Uh... Miss Qiu'er, I'm already very happy you can stay at my house. There's no need to pay rent or anything..."
Long Qiu'er didn't reply. She claimed half of the pillow, closed her red eyes, and adjusted her position to make herself more comfortable.
"This..."
This was the first time Huo Yuhao had appreciated Long Qiu'er's beauty from such a close distance. The impactful aesthetic made his head spin. His hand reached out almost uncontrollably, wanting to pull the beauty into his arms.
But he stopped himself. After a moment of inner conflict, he decided there was no need to go sleep on the floor, so he lay back down and closed his eyes.
His breath was filled with the leisurely fragrance of Long Qiu'er, and her warmth radiated within the blankets, allowing Huo Yuhao's spirit to relax naturally.
Even if he wanted to do something, at only 11 years old, how would he even know what to do?
Soon, he completely lost the ability to think as his consciousness sank into a warm sleep.
What he didn't know was that after they both fell asleep, a faint golden-red glow emanated from Long Qiu'er, while a deep blue light began to shine from Huo Yuhao, the two resonating with each other...