Silly Doudou, Someone Already Ate That

Before long, it was nearly noon.

Chen Doudou remembered what Bibi Dong had said yesterday and was just about to go see her.

Jiang Nannan suddenly emerged from the crowd and grabbed his arm, chattering away. "Doudou, come on, let's go get lunch!"

"I heard the academy cafeteria has special meat buns today. If we're late, they'll be gone."

Chen Doudou smiled. He could only temporarily suppress his longing to see Bibi Dong.

He had just started toward the cafeteria with Jiang Nannan when a rich, smoky aroma mingled with spices drifted over on the breeze.

"That smells amazing!"

"It's grilled fish! You can smell it from all the way over here."

"How come someone's selling grilled fish on campus? Come on, let's go take a look!"

The crowd stirred. The aroma made plenty of students' mouths water, and they surged toward its source.

Chen Doudou and Jiang Nannan followed the flow of people to the entrance of the academy cafeteria.

A makeshift stall stood on the open space in front of the entrance.

A large iron pan sat atop a hastily assembled stove. Glowing red coals burned inside, and several cleaned fish sizzled on a wire rack, their golden skins bubbling.

When they saw that Huo Yuhao was running the stall, some students who knew him from class were taken aback.

"Huh, why is it Huo Yuhao? Doesn't he only have half a level of innate Soul Power? Instead of focusing on his cultivation, why's he selling grilled fish?"

"Still, you have to admit, his grilled fish smells incredible."

As for how Huo Yuhao had managed to get a stall, it was actually quite simple.

The academy didn't mind poor students running small businesses to help cover their living expenses. As long as the business didn't interfere with the academy's work, all they had to do was apply to Director Wang Yan to get approval.

Huo Yuhao had only learned about the policy from a teacher after the afternoon's physical fitness assessment.

"Doudou, do you want some grilled fish?"

Jiang Nannan swallowed and stared fixedly at the golden fish, asking in a hushed voice.

Seeing the longing in her eyes, Chen Doudou gave her an exasperated look. "Nannan, I think you're the one who wants some."

"Hehe."

Caught out, Jiang Nannan felt a little embarrassed, and her cheeks flushed faintly.

The girl had always been shy, and now that he'd called her out, she wanted nothing more than to crawl into a crack in the ground.

"Then let's get a few. I want to try some too."

Chen Doudou was curious, too. Just what did the grilled fish that had captivated so many girls in the original story taste like?

"Okay, I'll go buy some."

Jiang Nannan nodded and hurried over.

"Boss, how much for one grilled fish?"

Huo Yuhao was focused on turning the fish, head bowed. Hearing her, he replied without thinking, "Five Copper Soul Coins each. Same price for young and old."

Jiang Nannan's brows immediately knitted together, and she looked a little pained. "Five Copper Soul Coins? That's a bit expensive."

She counted on her fingers. "The fish itself costs one Copper Soul Coin each, and the coals and seasoning cost another. You'd still make a profit selling them for three Copper Soul Coins, wouldn't you?"

It wasn't that she was short on money.

Ever since she'd come to Spirit Hall, she'd received a large allowance yesterday because her teacher was Bibi Dong. Even if she spent lavishly every day, she probably wouldn't run out of money in her whole life.

But a person's nature was hard to change in a short time.

Could the frugal habits she'd developed as a child really be changed just because she'd suddenly gotten rich?

Huo Yuhao froze. He hadn't expected anyone to haggle over five Copper Soul Coins. Was this girl even poorer than he was?

When he looked up and saw Jiang Nannan, he recognized her at once.

She was Chen Doudou's older sister. He'd heard people talking about her.

Huo Yuhao set down his spatula and spoke earnestly. "Senior, if I sell you grilled fish for three Copper Soul Coins each from now on, could you do me a favor?"

"What favor?"

Curiosity showed in Jiang Nannan's eyes.

It was only the first day of classes. Why was someone already asking her for help?

When she noticed Huo Yuhao's clothes, faded from washing and covered in patches, her guard instinctively relaxed.

"Uh, it's nothing major."

Huo Yuhao remembered how easily Chen Doudou had used his Soul Skill.

This favor shouldn't be too hard, right?

Just then, Chen Doudou walked over.

He handed over fifteen Copper Soul Coins, interrupting Huo Yuhao.

"No need. Five Copper Soul Coins is fine. We'll take three grilled fish."

"Oh, Doudou, what are you doing? The boss just said he'd sell them for three Copper Soul Coins each."

Watching him pay without a second thought, Jiang Nannan felt even more distressed.

Huo Yuhao looked a little disappointed, but he swiftly wrapped up the three grilled fish and handed them to Chen Doudou.

Chen Doudou took the fish, and his keen eyes noticed what was going on.

He casually remarked, "You weren't just giving Nannan a discount. But unfortunately for you, you picked the wrong person to scheme against."

Only then did Jiang Nannan finally realize what had happened.

So she'd been played by this seemingly honest boy.

In an instant, her curiosity toward Huo Yuhao gave way to wariness.

Huo Yuhao hurried to explain. "It's not like that! I just wanted you to help treat my mother. Her health is very poor, and your Soul Skill today gave me a lot of hope..."

Chen Doudou frowned. "If you want treatment, you can come talk to me on your own. We can discuss it. But I don't like you going about it this way."

Huo Yuhao's heart had nearly sunk, but hearing the rest of Chen Doudou's words rekindled his hope. He bowed again and again in gratitude. "I... Thank you, thank you!"

Chen Doudou paid him no further attention.

Jiang Nannan took his hand and led him away. The two of them found a quiet set of steps and sat down.

The golden grilled fish was still steaming, its aroma wafting around them.

"Doudou, I'm sorry."

Jiang Nannan lowered her head and apologized guiltily, not daring to look at him. "I really didn't expect that boy, who looked so honest, to..."

"But I don't think he's a bad person. He was just desperate to save his mother and took a wrong turn."

Perhaps because her own mother was seriously ill, Jiang Nannan felt a measure of sympathy for Huo Yuhao.

"Nannan, I know. I'm not holding it against you."

Chen Doudou gave her a gentle smile to reassure her.

He didn't have any particular feelings about Huo Yuhao. He just really disliked this kind of thing.

They weren't related, and it was the first day of classes. He'd offered everyone else the regular price, but singled her out for a discount—and then asked for a favor.

It was obviously a trap.

Jiang Nannan nodded, then took a bite of the grilled fish.

The fish was tender, crispy on the outside and soft inside. The seasoning had seeped perfectly into every strand of flesh.

Her eyes lit up like two dazzling stars.

She eagerly held the fish out to Chen Doudou. "Doudou, this grilled fish is so good! Try some!"

Only after he took a bite did Jiang Nannan realize what she'd done.

He was eating the same fish she'd already bitten.

Chen Doudou didn't seem to notice. He kept devouring it bite after bite, praising it as he went. "It really is good."

Now he understood why so many people in the original story liked it. This grilled fish really was something special.

But he didn't notice the faint blush that had suddenly appeared on Jiang Nannan's cheeks beside him.

The flush spread from her ears down to her neck, like a ripe peach.

It wasn't because she was embarrassed, but because...

She'd already taken a bite of that fish!

They'd indirectly kissed!

She watched Chen Doudou eat the fish she'd bitten without a care in the world, and her heart began to race.

Silly Doudou...

Someone already ate that...