Tang Wutong: I'm going to explode with you!

On the other side of Shrek Square, unlike the leisurely atmosphere of Class Nine, the mood in Class One was far more severe.

"A bunch of trash!"

An old woman with graying hair stood before several dozen students, her brows knitted in a scowl, her spittle nearly spraying onto the faces of the students in the front row.

"Running a mere hundred laps has you looking like this? Where is even a shred of the 'monster' spirit in you!"

"Tang Shan, Xiao Wu, Yu Xiaogang... you few, step forward!"

Under her cold bark, several students stepped out timidly, their faces deathly pale, looking like eggplants withered by frost.

"You can get lost!"

Zhou Yi sneered.

The few opened their mouths, wanting to offer an excuse.

But the next moment, six soul rings rose from Zhou Yi's body, and her overwhelming aura stifled the words right back into their throats.

"Don't think that the few laps you snuck out of went unnoticed. Shrek does not harbor those who cut corners!"

Under the suppression of Zhou Yi's aura, the few dared to be angry but dared not speak, and could only slink away in defeat.

The remaining students of Class One also wore grave expressions, not daring to even breathe loudly.

This old hag is too harsh... at this rate, how many people will be left in the class?

"Those who do not follow my rules meet this very end!"

Zhou Yi looked at the expressions of the crowd and nodded in satisfaction, a trace of smugness flashing through her cloudy, aged eyes.

Then, she waved her hand and announced:

"Next class, I will eliminate three more! Class dismissed!"

As her voice fell, Zhou Yi left without looking back, completely indifferent to the hateful gazes directed at her back.

As the students of Class One dispersed, three girls with distinct styles walked together toward the statue in the square.

"I really can't stand it—"

Tang Wutong walked at the front, pouting, her powder-blue long hair swinging behind her like a pufferfish about to explode.

As the dignified daughter of the God King and an original shareholder of Shrek, when had she ever been scolded like this?

"Forget it, Big Sister Wutong!"

Xiao Xiao shook Tang Wutong's arm, comforting her in a soft voice.

"Just endure it and it will pass; we'll be re-sorted into new classes in a year."

Under Zhou Yi's high-pressure policy, having a common target for their complaints, the two acquaintances naturally gravitated toward each other.

As for Huo Yutong, it was purely Tang Wutong's "money power" that allowed her to realize the deep bond between the two sisters.

The three had temporarily formed a small clique in Class One, though whether it was a "plastic" friendship... that remained to be seen.

Regardless, Tang Wutong was quite satisfied; she had finally become a big sister, and the God Realm was nowhere near this much fun.

"Let's hurry, let's not keep Jiang Yi waiting too long over there."

Huo Yutong reminded her.

They had an appointment to have lunch with Jiang Yi, and since Zhou Yi had run over the class time, Jiang Yi had likely been waiting for quite a while.

"Fine~"

Tang Wutong sighed and followed their pace.

She secretly comforted herself in her heart: Shrek is full of perverts, perhaps Jiang Yi's situation is even more miserable?

Her own gloom was certainly unpleasant, but Jiang Yi's suffering was delightful.

Thinking of it this way, her mood inexplicably improved quite a bit.

When the three arrived, Tang Wutong saw a figure from afar, leisurely leaning against the foot of her mother's statue.

"Jiang Yi!"

Xiao Xiao trotted forward, her face full of joy. This was the first friend she had made at Shrek Academy.

"Xiao Xiao, you're here!"

Jiang Yi waved his hand.

Originally, he hadn't intended to keep the appointment, but he couldn't withstand Xiao Xiao's persistent pestering and didn't have the heart to refuse her.

Out of the traditional Chinese virtue of respecting the old and cherishing the young, he had always had little resistance to lolis.

He liked those with white hair and youthful faces best.

"Sorry, the teacher ran over time, we're late."

Huo Yutong walked up, looking at Jiang Yi with a hint of apology.

Tang Wutong, standing to the side, glanced at Jiang Yi, opened her mouth, but then thought of something else, huffed, and turned her head away.

How could she speak first?

It was too demeaning!

She had to wait for Little Jiang to greet her!

She crossed her arms, chin held high, her pink-blue eyes fixed on the sky, adopting an "I'm too good to talk to you" pose.

But her gaze kept darting towards Jiang Yi, like a kitten waiting to be fed.

However--

Jiang Yi merely glanced at her indifferently, then, as if he hadn't seen her, walked directly to Xiao Xiao and Huo Yutong.

"It's fine, let's go then."

He chuckled, took Xiao Xiao's small hand, beckoned Huo Yutong, and headed towards the distant cafeteria.

The backs of the three figures receded into the distance.

Only Tang Wutong was left standing alone beneath the statue, the breeze lifting her skirt and long hair, making her look like an abandoned peacock displaying its feathers.

Alone, and a little ridiculous!

"..."

Damn it.

He dared to ignore me!

She clenched her fists, glaring at Jiang Yi's retreating back through gritted teeth, wishing she could bite the back of his head.

But after a moment's thought, she quickly followed.

Trying to ditch me? No way!

She had finally managed to get two followers at Shrek Academy, she couldn't let anyone poach them.

A small eatery in Shrek City.

The group found a table in a corner. Xiao Xiao, transforming into a socially anxious loli, chattered incessantly.

"How's your Class Nine? We ran a hundred laps today, I'm exhausted... that teacher is inhuman~"

Sitting opposite Jiang Yi, Xiao Xiao chewed on a spicy rabbit head, complaining about the day's lessons.

Beside her, Huo Yutong was focused on eating, her face greasy, showing no ladylike decorum.

With the wealthy Tang Wutong around, she ate to her heart's content; this was the best meal she'd had in over a decade.

"It's okay! Our teacher only made us run twenty laps, then let us off early..."

Jiang Yi shrugged.

All three girls were sweating profusely, and Xiao Xiao, who was closer to him, even had a faint scent about her.

A little intoxicating...

"Only twenty laps?"

Tang Wutong, sitting one seat away, eavesdropped with pricked ears, but couldn't help herself upon hearing this.

They were all at Shrek, so why the vastly different treatment?

He hadn't even broken a sweat, while she was drenched and had been scolded.

"Yeah! The running training is just to pay tribute to the Sea God and the others back then... didn't you know?"

Jiang Yi blinked, a look of genuine surprise on his face.

"You didn't think running a few laps could actually improve our physique, did you?"

Running training at Shrek Academy was more of a public relations exercise, meant to foster the Shrek spirit.

Aside from Zhou Yi's personal quirks, the purpose of running training in other classes was actually to tell stories about the Sea God.

"..."

Tang Wutong remained silent, merely using her fork to stab at the fish on her plate.

The fish was mashed to a pulp, its juices splattering everywhere, a gruesome sight.

She had genuinely believed Zhou Yi when she said her father had gone through the same thing, which was why she had endured it all and been treated like a brute.

Damn it!

So all along, that old hag was using my father as an excuse?

The more Tang Wutong thought about it, the darker her expression became.

This is outrageous!

Next class, I'm definitely going to blow up at that old hag!

"Heh heh..."

Jiang Yi watched the darkening expression of the young lady Tang, chuckling inwardly as he picked up a piece of grilled meat and put it in his mouth.

It takes a villain to catch a villain.

It's best to make a big scene, so he can see if Tang Wutong has any backup from Tang San on her, which would help him make his move.

"Wow—it's her!"

"So beautiful... truly worthy of being the number one beauty of the outer court!"

"Those legs... hiss—"

A commotion suddenly erupted at the entrance, and countless gazes snapped towards the doorway.

It was a stunning girl of fourteen or fifteen, her wavy golden hair cascading like a dazzling waterfall, her skin as fair and smooth as snow.

Most eye-catching were her full, long legs, tightly encased in white stockings, hinting at a delicate pinkness that made one want to hold them in their hands and play with them.

She carried her tray, her steps unhurried, like an elegant swan gliding into a flock of ducks.

"Average."

Tang Wutong pouted, forcibly averting her gaze.

Not as pretty as me.

She was the daughter of the God King, with noble blood, naturally close to perfection. How could these mortals compare to her?

"Indeed, compared to Sister Wutong's spirit, she's still a little lacking."

Xiao Xiao nodded in agreement.

Having witnessed Tang Wutong's Radiant Goddess Butterfly, she still couldn't forget that breathtaking beauty, flawless, like a true goddess descending.

"But why is she walking towards us?"

Huo Yutong paused her chewing, taking a moment to glance up.

Under everyone's admiring gazes, the girl, carrying her tray, was walking towards this table in the corner.

"..."

Jiang Yi remained silent, continuing to devour his food.

The girl stopped in front of their table.

She looked down at Jiang Yi, who was frantically eating as if he were deaf, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly.

She placed her plate down, picked up a spoon, and gently tapped the table.

Clang, clang, clang—!!!

Three crisp sounds.

Then, she bent down, bringing her face close to Jiang Yi's, her golden hair falling, almost brushing his shoulder.

A faint, delicate fragrance wafted towards him.

"You came to Shrek."

She looked at Jiang Yi with a smile, her voice gentle, her expression kind, yet it inexplicably sent a chill down his spine.

"Why didn't you tell me?"