The Ownership of the Egg

Hearing that saccharine voice, Zhu Ping'an's expression shifted.

The moment Yan Shubing, that green-tea bitch, lifted her ass, Zhu Ping'an knew exactly what she was up to. Knowing she was after his egg, he quickly stuffed the Fire Cicada Snake King Egg into Leng Tianjiao's hands.

"Classmate Leng, one doesn't accept rewards without merit. I didn't do anything—this egg is too valuable, I can't take it!"

Leng Tianjiao froze for a moment, then couldn't help asking.

"This is a Third-Tier Mutant Beast egg, worth at least ten million. Are you sure you don't want it?"

"No! The education I've received since childhood won't allow me to do this. Classmate Leng, you've misjudged me!" Zhu Ping'an shook his head firmly.

Leng Tianjiao found herself increasingly unable to read Zhu Ping'an. She had never met anyone who would turn down money.

"Ping'an Ge, who is she?" Yan Shubing arrived just then, casting a slightly hostile glance at Leng Tianjiao.

When she noticed that Leng Tianjiao's looks and figure both seemed to edge her out, the hostility in Yan Shubing's eyes deepened.

"Bingbing, let me introduce you. This is Classmate Leng Tianjiao. We happened to team up for a training trip outside the city." Zhu Ping'an explained in an extremely gentle tone, then let out a soft exclamation of surprise. "Bingbing, you've become a First-Rank Warrior?"

"That's right, Ping'an Ge. I ran into an opportunity outside the city. Actually, I have to thank Qingxian Ge for that." Yan Shubing lowered her head shyly.

A sharp glint flashed in Zhu Ping'an's eyes, but he didn't say much. The original story hadn't mentioned this part of Yan Shubing's trip outside the city, so it was probably the female lead's halo at work again.

Watching the two of them in this ambiguous scene—especially how Zhu Ping'an was always cold when talking to her but extremely gentle with Yan Shubing—Leng Tianjiao suddenly felt a twinge of jealousy.

"Zhu Ping'an, I, Leng Tianjiao, never take back what I've given. Take this egg."

As if out of spite, Leng Tianjiao shoved the Fire Cicada Snake King Egg back into Zhu Ping'an's hands.

Zhu Ping'an's scalp went numb. Sure enough, the moment he turned his head, he met Yan Shubing's eager gaze.

So because Yan Shubing wanted it, the thing was forced back onto him? Wasn't this plot too damn doggy?

"No! Classmate Leng! It's too valuable! I can't take it!"

Zhu Ping'an shoved the egg back again, his urgency as if the thing in his hands wasn't a Third-Tier Mutant Beast Egg but a red-hot potato.

As they pushed it back and forth, the Third-Tier Mutant Beast Egg emitted a cracking sound, and a fist-sized, round little head poked out.

Both Zhu Ping'an and Leng Tianjiao were stunned. No one had expected the Fire Cicada Snake King Egg to hatch right at that moment!

The little creature, once born, slowly opened its watery eyes and its first sight was Zhu Ping'an.

It stretched out its head and began nuzzling against Zhu Ping'an, clearly treating him as its parent.

"Zhu Ping'an, it seems this is fate." A sly smile curled at the corner of Leng Tianjiao's lips.

Once hatched, the value of the Third-Tier Mutant Beast Egg plummeted. Aside from Zhu Ping'an, it would be hard for this little one to recognize anyone else as its master.

"Classmate Leng... you..."

Zhu Ping'an forced a bitter smile on his face, but inwardly he was ecstatic. Ignoring Yan Shubing's face, which was as black as a pot bottom, he spoke to Leng Tianjiao.

"Since this little one has acknowledged me, then consider this—I, Zhu Ping'an, owe you a favor!"

"Good, you said it yourself. I'll collect that favor." Leng Tianjiao gave Zhu Ping'an a long, hard look, then turned and left.

Yan Shubing's teeth were nearly ground to dust beside him, and her gaze toward the newly hatched Fire Cicada Snake King grew more disgusted.

In her mind, if Zhu Ping'an had gotten the Third-Tier Mutant Beast Egg, he would definitely have turned around and given it to her—but the damn thing had to hatch right then.

"Ping'an Ge, can you stay away from that woman from now on? Bingbing doesn't like you getting too close to other girls."

Yan Shubing's voice was thick with tears, and her eyes quickly reddened.

"This..." Zhu Ping'an's expression turned troubled. "Bingbing, Classmate Leng and I are just ordinary friends. The only person I like is you. My sincerity is clear as the sun and moon!"

"I don't care! Just stay away from her, okay? If Ping'an Ge is willing to keep his distance, then Bingbing... Bingbing can secretly let you hold my hand."

After saying this, Yan Shubing blushed shyly and lowered her head like a quail.

Hearing this, the corner of Zhu Ping'an's mouth twitched involuntarily. Judging by Yan Shubing's reaction, anyone listening would think he was asking to grope her, not just hold her hand.

Her affected manner almost made Zhu Ping'an throw up. Even though Yan Shubing was very pretty, knowing from the original story what kind of person she really was, the more he looked at her, the more nauseating she became.

Disgusting as she was, Zhu Ping'an wasn't about to go against his own Golden Finger.

"Really, Bingbing? Can I really hold your hand?" Zhu Ping'an's face lit up with delight.

"Really, but you have to wear gloves." Yan Shubing playfully stuck out her little tongue.

"Fine! I agree!" Zhu Ping'an's eyes gleamed.

Even Gu Xuan and Pan Dahai, the two City Guard Commanders, were stunned by this scene. Could there really be such a pathetic simp in this world? Getting this excited over holding a hand through gloves?

What made it even more baffling was that Yan Shubing, right after being all lovey-dovey with Zhu Ping'an, skipped back and linked arms with Ye Qingxian, leaving Gu Xuan and Pan Dahai utterly confused.

Was this how young people played these days?

On the way back to the city, Gu Xuan couldn't help pulling Zhu Ping'an aside and quietly advising him.

"Zhu Ping'an, with talent like yours, what kind of woman can't you get? Why hang yourself on one tree?"

"Commander Gu, you don't understand! There are plenty of women, but there's only one Bingbing!" Zhu Ping'an shook his head.

"Can't you see? She's already arm-in-arm with that Ye Qingxian. For all you know, she's been stuffed full of cream puffs behind your back. Why are you still pining for her?"

Gu Xuan was getting anxious, trying to use blunt words to wake Zhu Ping'an up and make him see reason.

If it weren't for the fact that Zhu Ping'an was already a First-Rank Warrior at such a young age and surely had a bright future ahead, Gu Xuan wouldn't have bothered wasting his breath.

But instead of coming to his senses, Zhu Ping'an turned and scolded Gu Xuan.

"Commander Gu! Don't talk nonsense! Bingbing told me she and Ye Qingxian are just ordinary siblings without blood ties! Isn't it normal for siblings to link arms?"

"Who's the one spreading dirty rumors about girls? What a self-entitled loser. Tch!"