"Zhuqing, don't worry!"
"Isn't Rongrong still here?"
"It's only a hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins. Rongrong will pay it for you!"
As Ning Rongrong spoke, she took out a Soul Tool inlaid with sapphires. Just as she was about to inject Soul Power into it and retrieve her Gold Soul Coin savings card, Zhu Zhuqing gently pressed down her hand.
Zhu Zhuqing parted her crimson lips slightly.
"Rongrong, thank you for your kindness, but I can't accept it."
"I want to gather this money through my own efforts. Even if it takes longer, that's fine. I can't keep relying on others, whether it's you or... that coward Dai Mubai."
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head, her eyes filled with stubborn resolve.
She was not stupid.
Once she accepted Ning Rongrong's aid, that favor would become an invisible shackle, leaving her unable to hold her head high in this friendship.
She did not want their bond to be tainted by the scent of money.
If she accepted Ning Rongrong's kindness today, she might be asked to repay it in another way someday. And Zhu Zhuqing was least skilled at owing favors.
Besides, Ning Rongrong's spoiled tone just now, as well as the invisible "price" behind this sponsorship, kept her on edge.
Ning Rongrong's feelings for Li Xiaoyao, along with the way he had called her "Sister Zhuqing" just now, made her vaguely sense that something was wrong.
Li Xiaoyao was an unfathomable man, while Ning Rongrong had always been full of schemes. With those two together, who knew whether this "aid" was another trap meant to bind her?
She had escaped from the Star Luo Empire to break free from her family's control and her future fate of death. If she attached herself to others now for a hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins, then wouldn't her past rejection of Zhu Zhuyun's humiliating proposal that the two sisters serve Dai Weisi together become a self-deceiving joke?
"Hey! Sister Zhuqing! You really are too stubborn!"
"Since you've said that, then forget it!"
"Sister Zhuqing, if you really can't handle this money, remember to come find me. This young lady's door will always be open for you!"
Ning Rongrong pursed her lips and helplessly put away the sapphire-inlaid Soul Tool, while inwardly complaining about Zhu Zhuqing even more.
Did she really think stubbornness could put food on the table? A hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins were not roadside weeds she could pluck whenever she wanted!
Zhu Zhuqing, who had fled from the Star Luo Empire, was merely a level twenty-seven Soul Grandmaster with no one to rely on. She had neither her family's protection nor the support of powerful experts. Trying to earn a hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins on her own was simply a fantasy!
Besides, it was not as though Ning Rongrong wanted Zhu Zhuqing to do anything particularly difficult—she only wanted her to become Brother Xiaoyao's concubine and call her "Elder Sister" from then on.
Her Brother Xiaoyao was so outstanding—gentle and caring, with strength and talent in a league of his own. Even his family background was unfathomable.
With their two families backing her, Zhu Zhuqing would never again need to worry about the Star Luo Empire or her family's rules restricting her.
By following her and Brother Xiaoyao, Zhu Zhuqing would not only live without worries about food or clothing, but could also rapidly increase her Soul Power using their resources. She might even have a chance to reach Titled Douluo—a perfect future that was impossible to find even with a lantern!
Yet Zhu Zhuqing had flatly refused and kept talking about "relying on herself." What a blockhead!
The more Ning Rongrong thought about it, the more she felt Zhu Zhuqing did not appreciate her kindness.
Xiao Wu, who saw things differently from Ning Rongrong, nodded repeatedly nearby.
Xiao Wu reached out and draped an arm around Zhu Zhuqing's shoulders, speaking in wholehearted agreement.
"Zhuqing is right! Us girls need to stand on our own two feet. We absolutely can't let that Lecherous Tiger Dai Mubai look down on us girls!"
Ning Rongrong: (; -_-)
Zhu Zhuqing: ┐(─__─)┌
Seeing Xiao Wu's carefree expression—
The two of them parted their lips slightly, wanting to speak but stopping themselves.
Good grief, what a good grief!
So she did not know pain because the fire was not burning her, huh? She was truly talking big while standing on the sidelines!
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing rolled their eyes in perfect unison, silently complaining about Xiao Wu eight hundred times in their hearts!
Half an hour later, Zhu Zhuqing had finished composing herself.
She raised a hand to smooth the loose strands by her temple. All the turbulence in her eyes faded away, leaving only her usual cold indifference, as though Dai Mubai's "heartless abandonment" had never happened.
"Rongrong, Xiao Wu, it's getting late!"
"We should head back and eat!"
"Otherwise, your Brother Xiaoyao and Third Brother will start worrying that the two of you ran into some danger!"
With that, Zhu Zhuqing took the lead. Her voice was calm and unruffled, while her footsteps remained steady.
Ning Rongrong raised an eyebrow. Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing did not seem to be pretending, she said no more and simply followed. Zhu Zhuqing's ability to heal herself was stronger than she had imagined.
Xiao Wu noticed nothing at all. She skipped over and linked arms with Zhu Zhuqing, chattering away.
"Yes, yes! Let's go back and eat!"
"When we were outside the private room earlier, I could already smell the food."
"Third Brother definitely ordered food especially for me. There must be Honey Glazed Carrot Rolls, a specialty of the Star Dou Great Forest, Crispy Fried Carrot Strips, and Pulled Sugar Carrot Cubes coated in honey. We have to enjoy them properly!"
As Xiao Wu spoke, she shook Zhu Zhuqing's arm, her eyes sparkling as drool nearly spilled from her mouth.
"Hehe! Xiao Wu, you like carrots so much. You really are a Silly Rabbit!"
Ning Rongrong helplessly rubbed her forehead. Xiao Wu's carefree manner had amused her despite herself.
By the time the three of them returned to the private room amid playful chatter, several exquisite dishes had already been laid out on the table, their rising steam carrying an enticing fragrance.
"Sister Rongrong, you're back!"
Li Xiaoyao caught Ning Rongrong in his arms as she rushed over.
"Brother Xiaoyao, Rongrong is hungry!"
Ning Rongrong snuggled against Li Xiaoyao in his embrace.
Her voice was full of tenderness and coquettishness.
"Alright! Then let's eat!"
Li Xiaoyao said nothing further and carried Ning Rongrong to the seat beside him, his tone utterly doting.
"Sister Rongrong, you must be starving. Try this. I specially had the kitchen make Glazed Sugar Steamed Egg. It replenishes blood and energy while nourishing the stomach."
Ning Rongrong obediently sat down, picked up a piece of steamed egg, and placed it in her mouth. The sweet, soft flavor melted over her tongue.
Her eyes curved into crescents.
"Mmm! It's delicious! Brother Xiaoyao, you should have some too~"
As she spoke, she scooped up a spoonful and held it to Li Xiaoyao's lips.
The intimate exchange between the two made everyone present look at one another. In the end, it was the carefree Xiao Wu who broke the awkward silence.
Xiao Wu plopped down in a chair, picked up her chopsticks, grabbed a piece of carrot, and stuffed it into her mouth. She praised it indistinctly.
"Wow! It smells so good!"
"Third Brother, Zhuqing, come eat!"
On the other side, Tang San had already risen and walked to Xiao Wu's side. Seeing her eating so happily, his eyes were filled with a gentle smile.
He reached out and rubbed Xiao Wu's hair.
"Xiao Wu, eat slowly. There are plenty more carrot dishes you like. No one is going to fight you for them."
With her cheeks puffed out, Xiao Wu said,
"Mhm, mhm, mhm! Third Brother, Xiao Wu knows!"
Zhu Zhuqing secretly glanced at Li Xiaoyao and Ning Rongrong. Their loving appearance made a trace of envy flash through her eyes.
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