Wang Dong fell silent.
She had never expected her perfect disguise to fail over this detail.
Huo Yutong's eyes widened. She had not expected her roommate to be a girl disguised as a boy as well.
"She is too?"
Wang Dong'er looked toward the petite figure.
"Mm."
An Zhen gently pushed Huo Yutong forward.
"What is the relationship between you two?"
Wang Dong'er asked suspiciously, her gaze landing on Huo Yutong's washed-out clothing and An Zhen's fine fabrics.
Could he be some young master with his little maid in tow?
"Don't misunderstand."
An Zhen raised both hands. "We only met today. I'm an orphan myself, and I just helped her because she wasn't doing well."
An orphan?
Huo Yutong raised her little face and looked at An Zhen in confusion.
"Your clothes aren't convincing at all." With her hands on her hips, Wang Dong'er glared at An Zhen.
"Who says orphans can't eat well and dress well? Besides, I receive support from the city lord of the main city where I used to live." The youth who freely squandered his aid spoke with righteous indignation.
Wang Dong'er: ...
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. I don't know why you two are disguising yourselves as boys, but since fate assigned us to the same dormitory, we shouldn't waste it. Let's get along well."
Leaving the girls some space, An Zhen slipped away before they could say or ask anything.
He was going to find his old man.
"Old man!"
A level ninety-nine Ultimate Douluo had randomly spawned at the entrance of the freshmen dormitory building.
"Old man, you've been at this academy for many years, haven't you?" The well-behaved-looking youth sidled up to the elderly man basking in the sun and asked.
"Many years? It has indeed been many years."
His tone seemed both puzzled and wistful.
His dim eyes opened, as though those bygone days had already passed long ago.
"Then do you know the Taotie Douluo?"
"Do you think an old man like me knows a Title Douluo?" The elder looked at An Zhen with an amused smile.
"Haven't you been at this academy for many years?" An Zhen looked at the big shot expectantly.
The big shot did not answer.
"I heard the Taotie Douluo is an excellent eater. I'm planning to open a beverage shop, and I was wondering whether I could ask him for some advice and have him try the drinks."
If any other Title Douluo or Shrek teacher had been present, they would probably have kicked this ignorant brat to the ground. A level ninety-eight Title Douluo, second only to one and above tens of thousands, one of the world's foremost powerhouses, and this boy wanted to invite him to taste drinks for his shop.
"This old man doesn't know, but if he truly is as you say, that Title Douluo who loves to eat might be interested." The elder spoke slowly. "But with the freshmen registering recently, you shouldn't be short of taste testers."
"Oh, this stuff is a little unhealthy. It would be bad if it harmed those delicate young buds." An Zhen spoke seriously.
Mu En: ...
For a moment, the scene seemed to freeze.
Syrup, milk, water...
The recipe for milk tea was not complicated.
Pretty packaging, all kinds of flavors.
Unfortunately, without specialized packaging machinery, he could only use plastic lids.
Property in Shrek City was really expensive.
After asking around, An Zhen gave up. He still had some money on him, but it was obviously nowhere near enough—unless he found himself a rich woman to support him.
Afternoon.
After working for half the day and restoring his fatigue meter, An Zhen dragged two small carts over to find his old man.
"Old man, do you know any gentle, understanding, beautiful women with great figures, who are willing to spend money on men, emotionally devoted, powerful, and wealthy? Older sisters, young girls, or lolis are all fine too."
Creating a reclining chair, the exhausted youth lay down on it. His body was no longer tired, but his heart was.
"Kid, I heard you wanted me to try some unhealthy drinks?"
An aged voice sounded out. Hearing it, An Zhen turned over and looked in its direction.
It was an elderly man covered in grease, with messy hair. His long robe, which should have been white, had been dyed grayish-brown by all sorts of grime. Only a faint trace of its original color remained around the collar.
At that moment, he was biting into a chicken drumstick.
It was him!
A Super Douluo!
A member of Shrek's Sea God Pavilion!
An honorary Supreme Elder of the Holy Spirit Cult!
"That's right."
Not the slightest bit intimidated by the Title Douluo's reputation, An Zhen reached over and pulled the cart beside him closer.
"There's Pearl Milk Tea, chocolate milk tea, original-flavor milk tea, grape fruit tea, watermelon ice drink, and lemonade."
"What would you like to try?"
"One of each."
"Alright."
The handsome youth opened the cabinet beneath the cart. Inside were several enormous jars, each fitted with a tap.
Very soon, six transparent plastic cups decorated with flowers and girls were filled with drinks.
"Old man, would you like a cup too?"
"I'll have an original-flavor one."
"Great-Grandfather Xuan!"
A gentle voice rang out, carrying a trace of urgency.
Only then did An Zhen notice that a woman was standing behind the elder.
She was so quiet that she stood perfectly still, like a sculpture. Her jet-black hair fell to her waist, and her exquisite face was serene and flawless. Her fitted academy uniform outlined her alluring curves, and she was as tranquil as a silver moon high in the night sky.
Zhang Lexuan.
Only Zhang Lexuan and Beibei could address Mu En that way.
"Get this child a Pearl Milk Tea."
"Alright."
A trembling hand took the milk tea, and An Zhen passed the other cup over.
Zhang Lexuan did not drink. The girl stood there like a sculpture.
"A good child listens to her elders."
An Zhen directly stuffed the milk tea into her hand.
Drink it or don't.
"If you served this sugary drink at a high-end banquet, kid, it could absolutely be called industrial waste." Xuan Zi gave his evaluation.
"What if it were sold alongside street barbecue?"
"It would sweep through the academy."
A cup of milk tea and a chicken drumstick.
Xuan Zi felt that this stuff was simply the perfect match for chicken drumsticks.
"What price do you think would be appropriate?"
"A price? One Gold Soul Coin?" Big shots never lacked money.
An Zhen closed his eyes, then opened them.
Two huge promotional posters instantly appeared on the two carts.
"Certified by Taotie Douluo Elder Xuan. Pricing."
"Thirty percent off everything."
With those two signs, not only would they create a celebrity effect, but there would be no issue with the price either. Even using relatively good ingredients and including labor costs, each cup only cost one Silver Soul Coin.
Most importantly, this was Shrek City. Anyone who wanted to imitate him could see whether they dared sell it here.
"As long as I open for business, you'll have as much as you want. How about it?"
The obedient-looking youth gazed at the big shot expectantly.
"When are you opening?"
"In a moment."
"Fine."
An Zhen entered the dormitory. He had prepared work for Xiao Yutong, and he had to serve the young lady well. His cultivation depended entirely on Huo Yutong.
"Creating things from nothing."
The scruffy elder took a sip of milk tea. Recalling the wooden boards that had appeared out of thin air just moments ago without even him noticing, his once-dim eyes now resembled a ferocious beast awakening from slumber. "Is this kid's martial soul really the world?"
"Do whatever you want, whether driven purely by passion or following your own wishes. Lexuan, that is youth." The elderly man, frail with age, spoke in persuasion.
"Great-Grandfather Xuan, protecting the academy is what Lexuan wants to do." Like a cool silver moon, the gentle woman had always been so tranquil, always so alone.
"I have wronged you, child."
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