Heartbroken Clown Xu Sanshi

It was already evening.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled across the earth and over this forest.

Zhang Lexuan and Lin Ming sat beside a campfire.

After finishing the stir-fried Rock Bull meat, Lin Ming had built the fire.

Several grass carp were roasting over it.

Lin Ming watched the fish intently to keep them from burning, focusing completely as he pursued the perfect heat.

Zhang Lexuan sat beside him, propping her cheeks up with both hands as she watched Lin Ming.

The setting sun's glow fell across Lin Ming's profile, dyeing a few strands of hair before his forehead gold.

Staring at that handsome side profile, Zhang Lexuan became somewhat dazed.

Without realizing it, she reached out her right hand, wanting to touch Lin Ming's cheek.

But just as her hand reached his face, Zhang Lexuan suddenly came to her senses. A blush flashed across her cheeks, and she fiercely pinched Lin Ming's cheek.

"Ow, Sister Lexuan, what are you doing?"

Lin Ming had been seriously grilling the fish when his cheek was suddenly pinched, and it hurt like hell.

Embarrassment flashed across Zhang Lexuan's face before she put on a perfectly justified expression. "Why are you making such a fuss? Can't I pinch you if I want to?!"

Though she said that aloud, another voice spoke in her heart: Damn Lin Ming, who told you to be so handsome? You made me lose focus. You deserved that pinch!

If Lin Ming could hear her thoughts, he would definitely cry out in grievance.

So being too handsome was a mistake too!

That night, with nothing better to do, Lin Ming went to the snack street east of Shrek City, intending to patronize the stalls run by the pretty senior girls!

From far away, a warm voice called out, "Lin Ming, over here!"

The voice belonged to Tang Ya.

As expected, Lao Bei was beside her too.

However, there were no longer just two of them this time, but three.

Standing on Tang Ya's other side was a girl with long golden hair: Jiang Nannan.

It turned out that after that day's Freshman Assessment, Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya had become close friends.

After being talked into it by Tang Ya, Jiang Nannan, who had no backing, successfully joined the Tang Sect and became one of its so-called core members.

In truth, the Tang Sect currently consisted of only the two of them.

Beibei and Lin Ming could at most be considered friendly sponsors. One had clearly stated that he would not join the Tang Sect, while the other had been forbidden from joining.

Lin Ming walked over with a smile and joined the three of them.

"Lin Ming, why didn't you go see your Sister Lexuan today?" Tang Ya teased.

"Ahem, Sister Lexuan is an Inner Court disciple and a member of the Shrek Inspectorate. She's very busy, okay?"

Lin Ming said somewhat awkwardly, then shot Beibei a fierce glare as he shouted inwardly, Lao Bei, you're finished! Just wait and see how I deal with you tonight!

Anyone could guess that Tang Ya only knew about Zhang Lexuan because Beibei had told her.

"Alright, enough of that. What do you want to eat or drink? My treat, okay?" Lin Ming hurriedly changed the subject, giving Beibei a look that said, You're finished.

Beibei chose to ignore him and turned to the two girls. "Tang Ya, Nannan, what do you want? Lao Ming said he's treating, so eat whatever you like."

Lin Ming, who had been feeling somewhat annoyed, instantly perked up when he heard how Beibei addressed Jiang Nannan. Oh? Something's going on with Lao Bei!

Lin Ming pondered inwardly and continued observing their reactions, but the result ultimately disappointed him somewhat.

Beibei and Jiang Nannan did not seem to be developing in that direction. They seemed more like... close girlfriends?

"Lao Bei, you're hopeless!"

In the original story, after Jiang Nannan went through that incident, she developed an instinctive disgust toward men. Other than a few people from the Tang Sect, she hardly gave any other men a pleasant look.

Now that Beibei had finally gotten along fairly well with her, they were actually close girlfriends!

Lin Ming looked around and, sure enough, spotted Xu Sanshi sitting at a stall some distance away.

He held up a newspaper to cover his face.

Lin Ming activated his Purple Demon Eye and clearly saw two holes in the newspaper. Xu Sanshi was peering through them at this side—or, more precisely, at Jiang Nannan. Lin Ming could clearly sense that this lovesick lapdog had not noticed he was being watched.

A scheme naturally formed in Lin Ming's mind.

The four of them walked over to a stall selling egg waffles.

The stall owners were two pretty senior girls who appeared to be upper-year students from Shrek's Outer Court.

"Junior brothers and sisters, what would you like?"

One of the senior girls enthusiastically introduced their egg waffles.

The stall happened to offer four flavors: original, matcha, chocolate, and strawberry.

Lin Ming was a chocolate fanatic, so he ordered chocolate.

Beibei ordered original.

Tang Ya ordered matcha.

Jiang Nannan ordered strawberry.

Lin Ming handed the strawberry one to Jiang Nannan. "Sorry, Nannan. I hurt you during the match that day. If there's anything else you want to eat, just say the word. My treat!"

Jiang Nannan smiled and accepted the egg waffle from Lin Ming. "It's fine, Classmate Lin Ming. How could anyone compete without getting hurt? I should be the one apologizing. That guy didn't cause you any trouble, did he?"

The guy Jiang Nannan referred to was naturally Xu Sanshi.

Lin Ming shook his head indifferently. "He doesn't have the ability to cause me trouble."

At that moment, Xu Sanshi, who had been spying on them, felt as if his heart were about to shatter.

Nannan had actually smiled at him...

The newspaper in his clenched fist crumpled, conveying his current feelings.

After noticing Xu Sanshi's reaction, Lin Ming decided to add more fuel to the fire.

He first went to Beibei and snatched the original egg waffle from his hand. "Lao Bei, let me try yours!"

Then he shamelessly went to ask for Tang Ya's matcha egg waffle.

Tang Ya did not mind. She broke off a piece and handed it to Lin Ming.

Finally, Lin Ming moved closer to Jiang Nannan. "Nannan, let me try yours too!"

Jiang Nannan hesitated somewhat, but seeing Lin Ming's sincere gaze and remembering that he had paid for it, she ultimately nodded. She broke off a piece from an untouched part and gave it to him.

Just then, Lin Ming heard a faint sound coming from Xu Sanshi's direction.

He activated his Purple Demon Eye and glanced over from the corner of his eye, only to discover that the newspaper in Xu Sanshi's hands had been torn into shreds.

"Damn it! Damn it!!!"

Watching Lin Ming and Jiang Nannan eat the same egg waffle, Xu Sanshi felt like he was about to explode.

"He actually... he actually ate the same egg waffle as Nannan!!! Damn it!!!"

Xu Sanshi's face had already turned liver-red, and he looked ready to start smoking.

Watching this scene, Lin Ming felt indescribably delighted as he laughed wildly inwardly. You damn lapdog, you deserve it! If it hurts, then suffer through it! Hahaha!

The four continued wandering around, chatting and laughing. From time to time, Lin Ming struck up conversations with Jiang Nannan to provoke Xu Sanshi.

(Not taking Jiang Nannan in, just using her to mess with Xu Sanshi. Xu Sanshi will be dealt with later.)