"1 + 1 equals 11!"
"1 + 2 equals 111!"
"1 + 3 equals 1111!"
Shell Girl lay sprawled across a children's book, her little legs kicking lazily as she tapped the page with one finger and read aloud with a serious expression.
Beside her, Chen Shouyi practiced the Thirty-Six Forms of Hardening, pretending not to hear a thing!
He had long since despaired of Shell Girl's bizarre, one-track way of thinking.
He'd given up trying to fix her.
For half a month, ever since his Strength, Constitution, and Agility had each struggled up to 18.4, he hadn't made the slightest progress. It was as if he'd ground to a complete halt—even though he was supplementing his training by eating vast quantities of Demigod Meat.
At least I won't have to wait much longer. By tonight, I'll be able to optimize the Thirty-Six Forms of Hardening again! Chen Shouyi thought.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
A knock came from outside.
"Brother, someone's here to see you," Chen Xingyue called from beyond the door.
Chen Shouyi gave a brief "Mm," finished the full set he was doing, and, bare-chested, went to open the door without bothering to put on any clothes.
She'd been looking a little dejected these past few days. When she saw Chen Shouyi, her ears nearly drooped.
He couldn't help smiling. Just a few days ago, she'd been full of confidence and unconvinced, thinking she could master the Thirty-Six Body Tempering Forms he'd published in one go. She'd even taken a few days off to practice. One look at her now told him how that had gone!
"Who is it?"
Chen Xingyue turned her head away, not wanting to look at her brother's smug face. Every gesture and expression of his practically screamed that he was gloating.
There were still