How about... finding a chance to resume my female form? (4.6k words)

Tang Ya seemed long accustomed to being the center of attention. Her beautiful eyes swept across the surroundings, finally settling precisely on Su Chen beneath the tree.

Upon seeing a "young man" with short powder-blue hair and an equally outstanding appearance standing beside Su Chen, a flash of surprise and... faint displeasure crossed her eyes, though it was quickly masked by a gentle smile.

Under the gaze of the surrounding crowd and the somewhat stunned look of Wang Dong, Tang Ya actually quickened her pace, a bright and charming smile blooming on her face, and then—she lunged forward!

She threw herself directly into Su Chen's arms! Her arms wrapped naturally around his waist, and she pressed her face gently against his chest, letting out a satisfied, slightly coquettish hum.

"Su Chen~ have you been waiting long?" Her voice was soft and sweet, laced with tenderness.

"!!!" Wang Dong, standing nearby, was completely dumbfounded. Her powder-blue eyes widened, her small mouth parted slightly, and her mind went blank.

Didn't Su Chen tell me they were just ordinary friends?! That they only helped each other out in the Star Dou Great Forest?!

How is this behavior of yours... any different from a pair of long-separated lovers finally reuniting?! All this hugging and holding! Isn't it a bit too natural?!

Su Chen was also slightly stiffened by Tang Ya's sudden, enthusiastic embrace, but he quickly relaxed, patted her back gently, and said helplessly, "Tang Ya, that's enough, there are a lot of people watching."

Only then did Tang Ya seem to notice the surrounding gazes and the existence of Wang Dong, the "bright lightbulb." She pulled away from Su Chen's arms somewhat reluctantly, though one hand still held his quite naturally.

She then formally cast her gaze toward Wang Dong. Her smile remained, but her eyes held a hint of scrutiny and subtle reproach, her tone gentle yet sharp:

"Su Chen, who is this...? I remember telling you this morning that it would just be the two of us, right?"

She specifically emphasized "just the two of us."

Su Chen scratched his head in embarrassment, momentarily unsure how to explain this "tag-along."

Wang Dong had also recovered by now. The sour feeling in her heart grew heavier, but she put on a brilliant smile and took a proactive step forward, introducing herself:

"Hello, Senior! My name is Wang Dong, I'm Su Chen's roommate!"

"I insisted on sticking to him so he'd bring me out to see Shrek City! You don't mind, do you, Senior?"

Though she said "you don't mind," her eyes and posture clearly carried a small, provocative hint of "I'm here, what are you going to do about it?"

Tang Ya's smile remained sweet, but the hand holding Su Chen's tightened slightly. She looked Wang Dong up and down, lingering for a moment on the other's overly handsome face, before speaking with a sour tone:

"Junior 'Wang Dong,' is it? Hello, I'm Tang Ya, Su Chen's... well, a very close female friend."

She also specifically added emphasis to "female friend."

"Since you're here, let's go together." Tang Ya ultimately maintained the grace of a senior and didn't chase Wang Dong away, though her enthusiasm was clearly dampened.

Caught between the two, Su Chen felt the subtle, tense atmosphere and decided that silence was golden.

The journey was quiet as the three walked side-by-side out of the east gate of Shrek Academy.

The roadsides outside the gate were at their liveliest. Crowded with vendors, the area was brightly lit, filled with the sounds of hawking, haggling, and the aroma of food—a scene brimming with the essence of daily life.

There were stalls selling grilled skewers, sugar figurines, local snacks, and all sorts of trinkets, clearly targeting the massive consumer base of Shrek Academy students.

Now, with Bei Bei absent, Tang Ya was even more "unrestrained." She held Su Chen's hand tightly, as if afraid he might get lost or be snatched away by that "excessively handsome junior" beside them. From time to time, she would point to a snack stall and look up to ask if Su Chen wanted to eat, her tone intimate.

Meanwhile, Wang Dong followed behind them, watching Tang Ya hold Su Chen's hand tightly. Seeing them so close, whispering to each other, and seeing that bright smile on Tang Ya's face... her little mouth pouted involuntarily, enough to hang an oil bottle on, her heart bubbling with sourness.

Hmph! What's with the hand-holding! Can't you walk on your own?! Wang Dong complained frantically in her heart.

She looked at her own empty hand, then at the hand Su Chen had held by Tang Ya, and suddenly felt a tiny bit... of wanting to hold it too.

But... thinking about her current public identity as "Wang Dong," a "boy"... two men holding hands on the street?

The image was too beautiful for Wang Dong to contemplate. It would likely become the center of attention immediately, and tomorrow's academy headline might be: "Shock! Two handsome freshmen hold hands in the street, is it friendship or..."

How about... finding a chance to restore my female form? This thought suddenly popped into Wang Dong's mind. If she were a girl, could she naturally get close to Su Chen like Tang Ya, hold his hand, or even...

But as soon as the thought emerged, she quickly dismissed it.

No, no! Restoring my female attire is too much trouble! And... and how would I explain it? Suddenly turning from a boy into a girl? It would definitely arouse suspicion! Thinking of this, Wang Dong felt deflated.

For the first time, she felt that her cross-dressing had dug a massive hole for herself, and she was now in a dilemma.

Consequently, she could only sulk alone in the back, her cheeks puffed out, stepping harder than necessary in an attempt to draw the attention of the two in front—I'm unhappy! Come look at me!

Unfortunately, Su Chen was being pulled along by Tang Ya, busy handling her questions and small gestures while trying not to get separated, and he didn't notice Wang Dong's little inner turmoil at all.

As for Tang Ya? She wasn't intentionally ignoring Wang Dong; it was purely because this "date" was something she had meticulously prepared for Su Chen to grow closer to him, and having a third wheel crash the party would sour anyone's mood. That she could maintain surface-level politeness was already a testament to her breeding.

After passing an intersection, Tang Ya pointed to a stall nearby emitting an alluring aroma and said, "Su Chen, look over there! That grilled fish is exceptionally delicious, the taste is one of a kind! I'll treat you today, you must try it!"

She was full of excitement, wanting only to share her favorite food with Su Chen and spend a pleasant evening.

Wang Dong, "left out" to the side, continued to pout, her powder-blue eyes filled with unhappiness, her footsteps dragging as she followed them like a child ignored by their parents.

Just as Tang Ya was pulling Su Chen toward the grilled fish stall, Su Chen's gaze swept casually and suddenly paused on the busy, thin figure behind the stall, a trace of imperceptible surprise flashing in his eyes.

Huo Yuhao?

How could he be here selling grilled fish?

That's not right... Su Chen pondered quickly. According to the original trajectory, Huo Yuhao should have relied on the opportunities provided by the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and Electrolux to demonstrate sufficient spiritual talent, and combined with his status as a special invitee to the Tang Sect, only then would he have entered Shrek Academy. But now, both the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and Electrolux were with him; with Huo Yuhao's greatest cheats gone, how could he possibly...

Tang Ya noticed Su Chen's gaze, followed it, and also saw Huo Yuhao, who was busy grilling fish. A smile appeared on her face, and she pulled Su Chen over quickly, explaining, "Su Chen, this is my newly accepted disciple, Huo Yuhao."

"A disciple?" Su Chen looked at Tang Ya, somewhat puzzled.

"Yes!" Tang Ya nodded, her tone carrying a hint of relief and pride. "It's quite a coincidence. After we parted ways a few days ago, Bei Bei and I happened to run into him on our way to the advancement assessment. He had been eliminated in the freshman assessment because his Soul Power Level was too low, and he was feeling quite dejected."

She paused, then continued, "I saw that he had perseverance and a good temperament. Although his martial soul is just an ordinary Spirit Eye, his spiritual power seems a bit special."

"Thinking that the Tang Sect is currently in dire need of fresh blood, I asked him if he would be willing to join. As a special invitee of the Tang Sect, he could bypass the entrance examination."

So that was it... Su Chen realized. Without the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, although Huo Yuhao's Spirit Eye martial soul had a slightly stronger foundation of spiritual power than the average person, it was truly unremarkable and nearly led to his elimination. Tang Ya's appearance and the quota for a Tang Sect special invitee became the key to his entry into Shrek Academy. Fate, it seems, truly stitched its trajectory back together in a different way.

"Yuhao!" Tang Ya called out toward the stall.

Huo Yuhao, who was focused on flipping the grilled fish, looked up at the sound. Seeing Tang Ya, a respectful and happy smile immediately appeared on his face: "Teacher Xiao Ya!" Immediately after, he also saw Su Chen and Wang Dong standing beside her.

Su Chen took the opportunity to size up the Huo Yuhao before him. He looked much more spirited than when he was unconscious in the Star Dou Forest, yet he remained thin and small, wearing old, washed-out clothes. His deep blue eyes were clear and resolute, currently looking at them with curiosity and a hint of awkwardness.

"Yuhao, let me introduce you." Tang Ya pointed at Su Chen, her tone intimate, "This is Su Chen, my... well, a very important friend. The one next to him is his roommate, Wang Dong."

Huo Yuhao quickly bowed slightly to Su Chen and Wang Dong, his attitude sincere: "Hello, Brother Su Chen. Hello, classmate Wang Dong. My name is Huo Yuhao, and I am a disciple of Teacher Xiao Ya."

Su Chen nodded at him, his expression calm: "Hello, Huo Yuhao." He noticed the soul power fluctuations on Huo Yuhao, which were around level twelve. He had indeed just broken through to become a Soul Master, and his foundation seemed a bit more unstable than in the original story, lacking the nourishment and marrow-cleansing properties of the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's vast spiritual origin.

Wang Dong also reluctantly put away her displeasure and gave a simple response to Huo Yuhao: "Hello." She had no interest in Huo Yuhao; her attention was mostly on the fact that Tang Ya was holding Su Chen's hand.

"Alright, Yuhao, is the fish ready yet? I specifically brought Su Chen here to taste your cooking; I've been craving it!" Tang Ya urged, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the sizzling, fragrant grilled fish on the rack.

"Ready, ready! Almost there!" Huo Yuhao replied quickly. With nimble hands, he took three golden, crispy fish sprinkled with secret seasoning off the rack and handed them to Tang Ya, Su Chen, and Wang Dong respectively.

"Teacher Xiao Ya, Brother Su Chen, classmate Wang Dong, please have a taste." Huo Yuhao smiled sheepishly, "My skills might be average, I hope you don't mind."

Wang Dong took the fish and thanked him. Su Chen also took one, and under Tang Ya's expectant gaze, he took a gentle bite.

The fish was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the heat controlled perfectly. The secret seasoning was savory with a hint of spice, which excellently brought out the freshness of the fish. It was truly delicious.

Even though Su Chen had eaten plenty of delicacies in his past life, he had to admit that Huo Yuhao's grilling skills were indeed impressive—at the very least, better than most of the grilled fish he had eaten at street stalls before he transmigrated.

"The taste is excellent." Su Chen gave an objective evaluation.

Hearing this, a happy smile appeared on Huo Yuhao's face; being recognized made him very glad.

Looking at Huo Yuhao's simple attire and the basic tools at his stall, Su Chen felt a stir in his heart. He casually took out a gleaming Gold Soul Coin and handed it to Huo Yuhao.

"Here, this is for the fish."

Huo Yuhao was startled and quickly waved his hands, stepping back: "No, no, no! Brother Su Chen, I'm treating you to this fish!"

"How can I take your money! Besides, this is too much! My grilled fish only costs five Copper Soul Coins each..."

Before he could finish, Su Chen had already stepped forward and, without room for argument, grabbed his hand and pressed the Gold Soul Coin into his palm.

"Take it." Su Chen's tone was flat, yet carried an undeniable weight, "Your craft is worth this price."

It was laughable; Su Chen now held the Saint Heaven Sect in his hands, backed by the resources of a super sect. A single Gold Soul Coin, let alone ten thousand, one hundred thousand, or a million, was merely a drop in the bucket for him. Giving the coin was both an affirmation of Huo Yuhao's skill and a casual gesture of goodwill.

Furthermore, Su Chen had complex feelings toward the character of Huo Yuhao. On one hand, he had indeed intercepted the other's greatest opportunity; on the other hand, he knew the various hardships Huo Yuhao had endured in the original plot.

But Huo Yuhao was completely stunned, clutching the hot Gold Soul Coin in his hand, at a loss. He truly didn't know how to do business. Originally, under Teacher Xiao Ya's suggestion, he had priced the grilled fish at five Copper Soul Coins each—high quality and inexpensive, aiming for small profits but quick turnover.

But with this move, Su Chen had directly raised the price to the astronomical figure of one Gold Soul Coin per fish! This massive discrepancy left his mind blank.

This scene was also seen by many passing students.

"My god! A Gold Soul Coin for a grilled fish?!"

"Isn't that Su Chen who defeated Teacher Zhou Yi on the field today?!"

"So handsome! And so generous with his money!"

"Is that grilled fish really that good? A whole Gold Soul Coin!"

"Let's go, let's go! Let's buy one to try! And see the handsome guy while we're at it!"

Su Chen's outstanding appearance, the fame brought by the incident on the field during the day, and this "throwing gold like dirt" act instantly attracted a large amount of attention. Many female students, in particular, had their eyes light up and swarmed over.

Their goal was clear—they wanted to taste if the fish worth a Gold Soul Coin was truly that good, but even more so, they wanted to get a close look at this legendary handsome freshman.

In an instant, a long line had formed in front of Huo Yuhao's small stall!

Huo Yuhao had never seen such a spectacle; he was flustered and could barely keep up with the grill. He apologized to the students gathering around the grill: "E-everyone, seniors, today is my first day in business, and I didn't prepare many fish—only thirty. Now... now there are only twelve left. Following the principle of first come, first served, those who didn't make it in line, please come back tomorrow."

Although panicked, he was organized. He collected money from the students in front and quickly sold the remaining twelve fish.

When the last fish was sold, Huo Yuhao counted the heavy money bag in his hand—besides a large amount of Copper and Silver Soul Coins, there were actually several Gold Soul Coins! A rough calculation showed he had earned nearly ten Gold Soul Coins and two Silver Soul Coins!

After deducting costs and the expenses for tomorrow's supplies, the remaining money was enough to last him a long time. He looked at Su Chen with gratitude; if not for the sensation caused by that Gold Soul Coin, the business wouldn't have been this good.

Just then, a purple silhouette emerged from the gates of Shrek Academy.

It was a female student wearing a purple school uniform, about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a tall figure and exquisite curves. Her appearance drew countless gazes, and the air itself seemed to grow quiet.

The young girl had long, golden hair cascading down her back in large waves. Her skin was as white as snow, her features were as beautiful as a painting, and her eyes were clear and moving.

Even more eye