Dai Mubai with a Woman on Each Arm, Zhu Zhuqing's Heart Turned to Ash

On the carriage, Xiao Wu asked curiously, "Zhuqing, what are you going to Suotuo City for?"

"Me?" Zhu Zhuqing replied calmly, "I'm going to find someone."

"I see. I thought you were going to Shrek Academy like us."

"Shrek Academy?" Zhu Zhuqing's heart stirred.

Because she remembered that Dai Mubai attended an academy called Shrek in Suotuo City.

Driven by curiosity, Zhu Zhuqing asked, "Is Shrek Academy that good?"

"Even geniuses like you want to study there?"

Xiao Wu shook her head. "A friend recommended it to us. We haven't decided whether to join Shrek Academy yet. We'll take a look first."

"I see!" Zhu Zhuqing murmured, but she thought to herself, Xiao Wu is so strong. Her friend must not be weak either.

An academy recommended by her friend could not be too bad.

At that thought, Zhu Zhuqing could not help but feel a great deal of hope rise in her heart.

Perhaps Dai Mubai was also striving to improve at Shrek Academy, hoping that one day he could resist the cruel fate imposed by the Star Luo Imperial Family together with her?

After this thought arose, Zhu Zhuqing immediately felt much better. She even wanted to see her fiancé as soon as possible.

The two chatted on and off, and before they knew it, the conversation turned to Qi Lin.

Zhu Zhuqing asked curiously, "Xiao Wu, what is your relationship with Qi Lin?"

"Are you a couple?"

At the word "couple," Xiao Wu's pretty face instantly flushed crimson. Subconsciously, she pressed harder on the accelerator, causing the off-road vehicle to suddenly surge forward.

Yet Xiao Wu seemed completely unaware of it and shouted somewhat hurriedly, "Brother Qi Lin and I aren't a couple yet."

After saying that, she seemed to feel something was wrong and hurriedly added another sentence.

"Not yet, anyway!"

As she spoke, her gaze secretly darted toward Qi Lin.

At that moment, Qi Lin had been spacing out. Hearing himself mentioned, he had just come back to his senses when he met Xiao Wu's slightly shy expression, and he could not help but pause.

As they said, a girl's blush was sweeter than all the love words in the world.

Only then did Qi Lin realize that Xiao Wu really seemed to have grown up.

From the back seat, Zhu Zhuqing watched Xiao Wu and Qi Lin and inexplicably felt a trace of envy.

She secretly thought, Will Dai Mubai and I ever be like them one day?

Time passed in a flash, and Xiao Wu soon drove the car to the southern part of Suotuo City.

After the three got out, Qi Lin stored the car in his Storage Bracelet.

The Storage Bracelet Bibi Dong had given him was extremely spacious, with dozens of cubic meters of space. It had more than enough room for an off-road vehicle.

Qi Lin said, "Let's go. We'll head into the city and find a place to stay first. We can visit Shrek Academy tomorrow."

Xiao Wu nodded, then said to Zhu Zhuqing, "Zhuqing, didn't you say the person you're looking for is also at Shrek Academy?"

"Why not hold off on going to Shrek for now? We can go together tomorrow."

Xiao Wu was talkative and energetic. She was especially warm toward girls, particularly those she took a liking to.

So after only a short ride, she and Zhu Zhuqing had already become fairly good friends.

Zhu Zhuqing thought about it, and a faint smile appeared on her somewhat cold-looking face.

"Sure!"

With that settled, the three entered Suotuo City together.

Suotuo City was one of the Balak Kingdom's two great cities. Not only was it vast, but it was also exceptionally prosperous.

Pedestrians filled the streets, hurrying along in a constant stream. Shops lined both sides, and cries from vendors rang out without end.

Xiao Wu took Zhu Zhuqing by the hand and walked ahead. Whenever she saw a clothing store or food shop, she would go in for a look.

Walking with Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing felt even the repression in her heart ease considerably.

Qi Lin lazily trailed behind them. However, whenever Xiao Wu changed into an outfit and asked for his opinion, he always gave a very serious evaluation, emphasizing how beautiful Xiao Wu looked while also pointing out a small flaw or two.

It had to be said that women truly possessed extraordinary talent when it came to shopping.

Even after shopping for one or two hours, they remained full of energy. Even Zhu Zhuqing, who looked so cold and aloof, was infected by Xiao Wu's enthusiasm and began trying on clothes she liked.

After browsing for a while longer, just as they were preparing to enter an upscale women's clothing store, they spotted a tall blond man in the distance. With a woman on each arm, he held two twin sisters who looked very much alike and gestured grandly inside the shop.

At the same time, the voices of the two women and the man drifted out.

"Young Master Dai, you're so good to us sisters."

"Sister, how do you think we should repay Young Master Dai?"

"Isn't that simple? Tonight, the two of us can serve Young Master Dai together and make him feel good. Wouldn't that be the best repayment?"

"Oh, Sister, keep your voice down. I'm embarrassed."

"You little minx, now you're acting shy? Why didn't I see you being shy last night?"

The twin sisters were not actually speaking very loudly. After all, they were in a shop and still cared about appearances.

But Qi Lin's group had just reached the entrance, and all three were soul masters. They could hear every word clearly.

At that moment, the tall blond man curled his lips into a wicked smile, and the hand around the two women's waists involuntarily slid lower.

"Haha, I'll remember every word you said. Don't back out when the time comes tonight."

As he spoke, he gave the saleswoman beside him a faint smile and declared domineeringly, "Pack up every outfit these two ladies tried on just now. I'll take them all."

Upon hearing this, the saleswoman's eyes immediately lit up with excitement.

"As expected of Young Master Dai—so generous!"

At the shop entrance, Zhu Zhuqing froze in place the instant she clearly saw Young Master Dai's face.

Golden hair, mismatched eyes—the Star Luo Dai Family!

He was Dai Mubai!

In an instant, Zhu Zhuqing felt as though she had fallen into an icy abyss!

Every beautiful fantasy she had held before coming here shattered into bubbles at this moment.

Looking at Dai Mubai's playboy appearance, Zhu Zhuqing seemed to see only a walking corpse that had willingly sunk into depravity.

During all these years Dai Mubai had been away from the imperial capital, had he never once thought about fighting against fate?

Then what had all the hardships she endured and the thousands of miles she crossed to find him been for?

At that moment, despair rose in Zhu Zhuqing's heart.

Even Dai Mubai had given up and fallen into depravity. How was she supposed to stand against her sister and Dai Weisi alone?

Zhu Zhuqing only felt as though her heart was being gripped viciously, and her legs went weak without her realizing it.

However, just as her limp body began to topple to one side, a large hand suddenly caught her.

A clean, fresh, fair face came into view.

"Are you all right?"

That voice was like warm sunlight, suddenly shining into Zhu Zhuqing's heart that had fallen into an icy abyss.

Looking at Qi Lin's slightly concerned face, Zhu Zhuqing responded softly.

"I'm fine!"

"Thank you!"