Xue Ke's Plan

In the end, after Ma Hongjun pestered him relentlessly, Qin Ming finally relented and told him Xue Ke's address.

That day, Ma Hongjun got up very early. Usually careless about his appearance, he had, for the first time in his life, begun paying attention to his personal image in order to pursue Xue Ke.

Ma Hongjun meticulously washed his round, ball-like face, styled his fiery red hair into a mohawk in front of the mirror, shaved his beard clean, and put on a simple shirt beneath a black leather jacket adorned with exquisite fiery red patterns at the cuffs and collar.

Ma Hongjun smiled at his reflection in satisfaction and walked out of the dormitory, only to run into Dai Mubai, who had gotten up for morning training.

"Holy shit! Is this really the brothel Grass Chicken I know?"

Dai Mubai had to admit that after this careful grooming, Ma Hongjun looked much more handsome than before.

"Say that again. I'm a phoenix, not a Grass Chicken!" Ma Hongjun corrected him with some displeasure.

Dai Mubai ran over and draped an arm across Ma Hongjun's shoulder. With a somewhat lecherous grin, he said, "Tell me, all dressed up like this, which girl from some village or brothel have you set your sights on this time?"

Ma Hongjun slapped Dai Mubai's hand away in disgust and said seriously, "This time, I'm going to properly pursue a girl. If you're my brother, cooperate with me from now on and don't mess things up for me."

"Oh? Who are you pursuing?" Dai Mubai asked in confusion.

"Princess Xue Ke of the Imperial Fighting Team." As he spoke, Ma Hongjun's eyes filled with infatuation.

"???" Dai Mubai's long golden hair, flowing down his back, was left utterly disheveled in the wind.

I hope he survives. Dai Mubai silently prayed for Ma Hongjun.

Suotuo City, outside the hotel where the Imperial Fighting Team was staying.

The high-spirited Ma Hongjun was about to enter the hotel when he ran into Dugu Yan, who was heading out to buy something.

"Well, if it isn't that little fatty from the Shrek Team. What, still unhappy about losing and here to cause us trouble?" Dugu Yan, the "snake spirit," looked Ma Hongjun up and down and teased him.

"Hello, Sister Dugu Yan. I'm here to see Princess Xue Ke from your team." Ma Hongjun took a step back, putting some distance between himself and Dugu Yan.

"Oh?" Dugu Yan's emerald eyes shifted as she took in Ma Hongjun's appearance, seeming to understand something.

"Little Sister Xue Ke's room is 209. Little brother, I'm rooting for you!" Dugu Yan walked over, patted Ma Hongjun on the shoulder, and gave him a teasing smile.

"Thanks!" Ma Hongjun hurriedly escaped Dugu Yan's entanglement and went off in search of Xue Ke's room.

"Hehehe!" Looking as though she were about to watch a good show, Dugu Yan trailed after Ma Hongjun.

Knock, knock, knock! Ma Hongjun lightly knocked on the door, his heart filled with anxiety as he rehearsed what he was about to say.

"Who is it? Sister Yan, is that you?" Xue Ke casually tossed the Sunflower Scripture in her hands onto the bed and opened the door in a cool light-purple short-sleeved nightdress.

"Hm?" The sight of Ma Hongjun's fat face made Xue Ke want to punch it, but she ultimately forced herself to hold back.

"What do you want with me?" Xue Ke asked, appearing calm out of politeness.

"Uh... Little Sister Xue Ke, I... I want to ask you to be my girlfriend. It was love at first sight when I saw you at the Spirit Fighting Arena that day. I hope you can give me a chance to pursue you. Okay?"

After saying that, Ma Hongjun fought to keep himself from getting a nosebleed. He took out a bouquet of fresh flowers he had bought that morning from his Storage Ring and offered it to Xue Ke, gazing at her affectionately with an expression that clearly said, Hurry up and agree.

Xue Ke felt her stomach churn, nearly vomiting up her breakfast. But when she thought of her plan for the Shrek Seven Devils, she had no choice but to put the bigger picture first.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not planning to get a boyfriend at the moment. However, I can give you a chance. You may pursue me. As long as you can move me, I'll agree to be your girlfriend." After holding it in for a long while, Xue Ke finally squeezed those words out through clenched teeth.

Hearing Xue Ke's seemingly rejecting yet not entirely rejecting answer, Ma Hongjun was suddenly overjoyed. There's a chance! Looking at Xue Ke before him, whose figure was unremarkable yet delicate and pretty, Ma Hongjun's eyes nearly burst into flames.

Xue Ke felt a chill run down her spine and said impatiently, "All right, if there's nothing else, go back first. I don't want the flowers. Tomorrow morning, I want to visit your academy. You can come to the hotel and take me there."

"Okay, okay, okay!" Ma Hongjun agreed at once and happily left with the flowers in hand.

After closing the door, Xue Ke quickly poured herself a cup of hot tea and drained it in one gulp. Her stomach immediately felt much better.

Glancing at the Sunflower Scripture on the bed, Xue Ke sighed and frowned in thought. "How can I get this revised version of the Sunflower Scripture into Tang San's hands without arousing suspicion?"

"Perhaps I can use Ma Hongjun to casually reveal the secret of the Sunflower Scripture, drawing Tang San or Yu Xiaogang's attention. I refuse to believe that after that Spirit Fighting match, they would have no interest whatsoever in my secrets—especially my soul ring configuration. Yu Xiaogang must be utterly baffled by it."

Just when she had been feeling sleepy, someone delivered a pillow. Xue Ke had been worrying about finding a reason to approach Shrek Academy, and Ma Hongjun had eagerly come running to her.

Xue Ke was not entirely inexperienced in dealing with bootlickers like Ma Hongjun. After all, she had many admirers at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. She could not be bothered to think about what motives those admirers had, because no matter what, Xue Ke could never accept them in her heart.

Knock, knock, knock! The sound of knocking rang out again.

"Little Sister Xue Ke, open the door! It's me!" Dugu Yan called from outside.

Xue Ke opened the door, and Dugu Yan slipped inside in a flash. Looking teasingly at Xue Ke, whose eyes were slightly unfocused, she joked, "Little sister, tell your sister honestly. Have you taken a liking to that little fatty? You didn't reject him outright. In all the time I've known you, this is the first time I've ever seen something like this!"

Seeing Dugu Yan's eager-to-watch-a-show expression, Xue Ke immediately realized what had happened. She reached out and grabbed Dugu Yan by the neck with both hands, demanding fiercely, "Tell me! Was it you who gave that Fat Bastard my room number? Otherwise, how could he have found me?"

"Cough, cough, cough! Don't be angry, little sister! Wasn't your sister thinking of your lifelong happiness? Sooner or later, you'll have to get married. Wasn't I helping you pick out a suitable candidate? How can you not understand your sister's good intentions?" Dugu Yan put on a heartbroken act. Anyone unaware of the truth might have thought Xue Ke had done something utterly unforgivable to her.

Xue Ke did not know whether to laugh or cry. Slowly releasing her hands from Dugu Yan's neck, she said with a hint of warning, "Sister Yan, don't meddle in this matter. I have my own plans. You only need to know one thing: it's impossible for me to like that Fat Bastard."