Harem, a Long Road Ahead

Zu Zong took a deep breath. He did not want to lie to Zhu Zhuqing, so he said solemnly, "Xiao Wu is family to me."

Zhu Zhuqing frowned slightly. Zu Zong's answer was far too ambiguous, and she was clearly dissatisfied.

Family? Brothers and sisters could be called family, and a wife could also be called family. Which kind was she?

"Then do you have romantic feelings for her?"

Look, contestant Zhu Zhuqing had thrown a straight ball, putting him in check.

Xiao Wu, hiding outside the Tea Shop's door, felt her heart leap into her throat. She was very happy that Zu Zong had called her family. No matter what, after spending so many years by his side day and night, it had all been worth it. He had acknowledged her.

As for taking things a step further? Hehe, becoming even closer family would be even more wonderful. She had been craving his body for ages.

Ye Lingling beside her was breathing a little faster as well. She certainly had some favorable feelings toward Zu Zong, but they had not reached the point of love between a man and a woman. Compared to that, she was more interested in the gossip. It seemed that both girls liked Zu Zong!

No, it should be said that Zu Zong was two-timing. How infuriating ╰_╯.

Just as Zu Zong made up his mind to answer "yes," he noticed Xiao Wu and Ye Lingling sneaking around outside the door. No! If I answer like that, won't that old rabbit fly right up to heaven?

With that thought, Zu Zong kneaded the tea wrapping paper into a paper ball and threw it at Xiao Wu's forehead.

The next moment, Xiao Wu's carefree voice rang out. "Ow, ow, ow! That hurts!"

Zu Zong rolled his eyes. "Rabbit, Lingling, if you want tea, come in. Why are you hiding outside?"

Nice one, Rabbit—now I can successfully change the subject.

"Hehe." Xiao Wu knew she had been discovered.

She immediately tried to act adorably on purpose, attempting to muddle through. Her little face was bright red and exceptionally cute. Even Ye Lingling had been led astray, giving them an apologetic look.

Under Zu Zong and Zhu Zhuqing's gazes, the two girls entered the Tea Shop and sat down.

Zhu Zhuqing glared at Zu Zong and said coldly, "Stop changing the subject. Hurry up and answer."

Hearing that, Xiao Wu no longer cared about being embarrassed. She raised her right hand and shouted openly, "I want to know too! I want to know too!"

Even Ye Lingling looked at him expectantly.

With everyone's eyes on him, Zu Zong felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. While silently lamenting inwardly, he could not help admiring those senior transmigrators. How exactly had they kept their harems harmonious? The female leads even helped them build their harems. Could they teach this Little Brother?

Whatever, death was death! Taking a deep breath, Zu Zong said solemnly, "Yes."

The moment those words came out, the three girls all reacted differently.

Ye Lingling revealed an expression that said she had known it. The way she looked at Zu Zong changed, turning from previous warmth into contempt. Zu Zong had worn that very expression before—the one he had when looking at Dai Mubai.

Just as Zu Zong had expected, Xiao Wu's little face turned crimson. Even her neck was tinted pink. While feeling pleased with herself, she did not forget to provoke Zhu Zhuqing, that "wild woman." "Well? Well? Looks like Sister Xiao Wu won after all, right?"

Then she completely immersed herself in her fantasy world—please refer to Chapter Eighteen for details.

As for Zhu Zhuqing, she completely ignored Xiao Wu's provocation. She was very calm, and even the confrontational look in her eyes from earlier had vanished.

Xiao Wu and Ye Lingling's reactions were within Zu Zong's expectations. Zhu Zhuqing's reaction, however, left him utterly confused.

"You're not angry?" Zu Zong asked tentatively. He had even prepared himself to be beaten up by Zhu Zhuqing.

Zhu Zhuqing first shook her head, then nodded again. With a sigh, she said, "Angry? Of course I'm angry. Any woman would be angry if her boyfriend had someone else in his heart."

The calmer Zhu Zhuqing was, the more panicked Zu Zong became. The calm before the storm was both the most terrifying and the most intriguing. "Zhuqing, then why don't you—"

Before he could finish, Zhu Zhuqing interrupted, "Why don't I beat you up, is that it?"

Zu Zong nodded.

"At least you didn't lie to me. A cute Young Girl who has stayed by your side since childhood—there are almost no men who wouldn't be tempted. If you had answered no, perhaps I would have been happy, but I would have been even more disappointed in you."

At that point, Zhu Zhuqing fell silent. Although she had expected it long ago, it still did not feel good.

Zu Zong stood up, pulled Zhu Zhuqing into his arms, and stroked her forehead.

With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for?

Things were more or less settled on Zhu Zhuqing's side, but Xiao Wu was unhappy. After Ye Lingling reminded her, she had just emerged from her fantasy world, only to see Zu Zong hugging that "wild woman."

Xiao Wu said, "Xiao Zong, what are you doing? Shameless."

Damn! I almost forgot there was a rabbit in heat here. Just thinking about it gave Zu Zong a headache.

Zu Zong instinctively wanted to release Zhu Zhuqing, but then he heard her icy voice. "Don't let go. If you let go now, don't even think about hugging me again for the rest of your life."

As she spoke, Zhu Zhuqing hugged him even tighter. Hmph! Serves you right. Let's see if you dare to be unfaithful again.

Damn, so the Kitten was still angry!

That night, the Royal Fight team, including Zu Zong and Xiao Wu, gathered at the Great Soul Arena in Suotuo City.

Everyone sat in a private room, chatting and laughing. Strangely, Xiao Wu, who usually loved sticking close to Zu Zong, was deliberately avoiding him.

Xiao Wu was furious, and the consequences were severe. Who would have thought that the blockhead who had kept himself pure for six years would suddenly get enlightened? The key was that someone else had gotten there first.

If Zu Zong had not said that he liked her, she probably would have been heartbroken to death.

Therefore, Xiao Wu decided not to speak to Zu Zong for three days. No, half a day.

Sitting beside Dugu Yan, Xiao Wu said in a low voice, "Sister Yan Zi, team up with me for a two-person soul battle tonight!"

Hearing this, Dugu Yan showed a surprised expression. "Why not go find your little boyfriend?"

Dugu Yan had originally planned to team up with her boyfriend Yu Tianheng. It was not that she could not team up with Xiao Wu, but shouldn't Xiao Wu's partner have been her little boyfriend, Zu Zong?

Xiao Wu snorted. "Who wants to team up with that fickle radish?"

It seemed this young couple had been having a conflict these past two days. Thinking that, Dugu Yan nodded. "Mm, sure! I'll tell Tian Heng later."

"Thanks, Sister Yan Zi!"

Zu Zong, sitting not far away, listened to Xiao Wu and Dugu Yan's exchange and smiled bitterly. Looks like Xiao Wu is really angry this time.

Zu Zong could not understand why so many things had happened in just one or two days.

First, he had finally met many characters from the original Douluo Continent story.

Then he discovered that Zhu Zhuqing was the "Zhuqing" he had not seen for two years. The two recognized each other and confirmed their feelings.

Having possessed Su Yuntao Martial Soul in two lifetimes, Zu Zong had successfully gotten a girlfriend. She was even Zhu Zhuqing, one of the most beautiful girls in Douluo Continent. This should have been something to celebrate.

Yet the very next day, he had crashed headfirst into trouble. Zhu Zhuqing caught him being intimate with Xiao Wu, setting off a brutal Asura battlefield between his girlfriend and his childhood sweetheart.

Raising his head to look at the ceiling, Zu Zong saw dazzling, colorful lights reflected in his eyes and fell into deep thought.

A harem really was a long and arduous road ahead!

PS: Next, the story will basically enter the original plot. Also, a small adjustment will be made to the Stealing System's settings. Regarding stealing Soul Rings, aside from Soul Rings during sacrifices, undispersed Soul Rings and the Soul Rings of those on the verge of death can also be stolen in the future.

Warning: a hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor Soul Ring!