Buying Things X, Date √

The tsundere girl had fallen out of the meta.

If he hadn't had anything else to do today, he might have gone after her. But now that they had plans, he couldn't stand her up. Besides, the most important thing was Xiao Lu. Otherwise, who knew what might happen tonight?

So for now, all he could do was nothing. He wouldn't go after her.

Chu Mo sighed and left the Freshman Dormitory.

Under a tree by the entrance to the outer courtyard girls' dormitory, Jiang Nannan stood holding Xiao Lu. The morning breeze brushed through her golden hair, as tenderly as a mother stroking her child.

She stood tall and graceful, seeming to belong to a different world from everyone passing by. She was simply too perfect.

When she saw Chu Mo arrive, a smile rose on her cool face. With the look of someone whose scheme had succeeded, she said, "Heh, I knew you'd come if Xiao Lu was here. And you're even early."

Without Xiao Lu, Jiang Nannan was sure he would have dragged things out until noon, or even the afternoon.

"Gurgle, gurgle! Gurgle, gurgle!"

The moment Xiao Lu saw him, it began thrashing wildly. The weight perched on its head rose and fell along with it, bobbing up and down. Its agitated reaction made it clear that it was cursing him out.

"Uh..."

Chu Mo felt a little embarrassed and didn't dare look at Xiao Lu.

It wasn't just guilt. More importantly, he'd felt Xiao Lu's feelings last night.

The embrace had been deep—and warm.

"Haha, I just wanted to get going early. How's your aunt doing lately?"

At that, Jiang Nannan got a little annoyed. She pinched Xiao Lu in her arms and replied with displeasure, "Heh, she talks about you every day. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were her son. I'm not her daughter—I was adopted!"

Chu Mo hadn't meant that. He was asking about her condition.

"Heh, your aunt was just thanking me. Is her condition all right?"

"She's better now, but her body is still a little weak after what happened before. There's no danger, though."

Hearing that, Chu Mo recalled the mature woman who looked almost exactly like Jiang Nannan. She had a frail, sickly air about her that easily stirred a desire to protect her, and he was no exception.

It had been over a year since he'd last seen her, and he found himself missing the gentle woman a little. She was also an excellent cook.

"Good. As long as she's out of danger. Before we set off, give Xiao Lu back to me."

Jiang Nannan had already held Xiao Lu all night, even sleeping with it, so she didn't feel right asking for anything more. She handed it back.

Chu Mo opened his arms to receive Xiao Lu, but it broke free and slammed straight into his chest.

"Whoa!"

Chu Mo stumbled back several steps.

"Xiao Mo!"

Jiang Nannan didn't know which of them to help. All she could do was make sure neither was hurt.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. Let's go."

Chu Mo hurriedly waved it off, then sent Xiao Lu into his Martial Soul Space.

"Fine. You two really get along."

Jiang Nannan touched her cherry-red lips, her eyes smiling mischievously.

As they walked together, they even heard the rumor that had spread the night before.

Xu Sanshi had been pursuing Jiang Nannan, but she'd firmly rejected him, saying she liked someone else. He still wouldn't give up, and it had become an outer courtyard legend.

Xu Sanshi had been beaten up yesterday, and then seen Jiang Nannan standing with some junior student. Naturally, people had started talking.

Rumors were still just rumors, but some people always read too much into them. Jiang Nannan was used to it by now, but she worried that the person she thought about day and night might take them seriously.

"Heh, he's like a piece of sticky plaster. I've never paid him any attention, and I've turned him down clearly. Don't overthink it, Xiao Mo."

"Besides, whether it's the outer courtyard or the freshmen, people are always gossiping. They've got nothing better to do than spread false rumors instead of cultivating."

Chu Mo nodded. He knew that, of course.

"Yeah, they're just rumors."

"Good. I was afraid you'd overthink it."

Jiang Nannan nodded sweetly and took his hand.

The two of them soon reached Shrek City. It was less like shopping for things and more like a date.

Once they were outside Shrek Academy, the gossip and backbiting clearly died down, nearly disappearing altogether.

"Big brother, you came so early, so you probably haven't had breakfast. And you haven't gone to class yet. Let me treat you to breakfast today."

As they passed a food stall, Jiang Nannan suddenly suggested it, gazing at Chu Mo with hopeful eyes.

"Uh, all right."

Once he agreed, Jiang Nannan went over to buy breakfast.

Watching her walk away, Chu Mo shook his head helplessly. Did she really want to treat him to breakfast? It was obvious she was hungry herself.

"Come on, come on, try a takoyaki ball! It's my favorite."

Jiang Nannan held one out on a wooden skewer, her face full of anticipation. She looked like a child sharing her favorite snack.

"Sure."

Chu Mo didn't stand on ceremony. He ate it, thought it tasted pretty good, and kept eating his own. He even had one more. Hehe!

Jiang Nannan froze. "That's it? Nothing else?"

"Whut?"

Chu Mo was hungry and eating quickly. His mouth was already stuffed, so he just looked up and asked casually.

His nonchalant attitude made Jiang Nannan stomp her foot in frustration.

"Why are you such a blockhead? Weren't you supposed to feed me one too?"

"Ah. Oh, right, right."

Seeing her furious expression, Chu Mo couldn't very well disagree. He picked up the last takoyaki ball in his box with his skewer.

Only then did Jiang Nannan nod in satisfaction. She bent down as her soft lips drew closer, then opened her mouth, revealing the tip of her tongue. It looked like she was biting the ball, but instead her tongue curled around it, drawing it into her mouth between her soft lips.

Neither of them noticed that someone beside a nearby stall had been watching them the whole time!

Crack—

Wang Dong'er, back in her girl's clothes, crouched beside a stall and pretended to browse while secretly watching them. Seeing the sweet scene of them feeding each other, she lost control of her hands and crushed a piece of fruit.

"Hey, girl, what are you doing? If you're not buying anything, don't go wrecking my stuff!"

The stall owner's eyes widened at the sight. He gripped his stick tightly, glaring angrily. If she hadn't been a Soul Master, he would've whacked her already!

Only when the fruit juice got on her hands did Wang Dong'er come out of her furious daze. She felt no embarrassment, only anger.

"Shut up!"

When the stall owner still didn't react, she flicked a small bag of gold coins out of her storage Soul Tool. It was heavy, worth at least several hundred coins—enough to buy the entire stall.

"I'm buying the whole stall. Don't say another word. If anyone finds out I'm here, you're dead!"

Wang Dong'er wasn't short on money. She was more worried that the man would interrupt them or draw someone's attention and let Chu Mo and Jiang Nannan discover her spying.

The stall owner's expression changed like a chameleon's, going from anger to fury and then to a broad smile. A wise man knew how to read the situation.

"Of course, miss. I won't disturb you."

Anyone who could get into Shrek Academy was either rich or influential. The recommendation letter alone was enough to deter most ordinary people. She'd paid him, too, so he'd keep his mouth shut. Besides, he'd made a fortune today.

Curious, the stall owner followed her gaze. He saw a loving young couple, then looked at Wang Dong'er again. In an instant, he imagined a whole tragic romance full of tangled relationships.