The Crown Prince Mansion.
When Qian Renxue saw that she was the lucky audience member again, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. It seemed that even her miserable life could finally be redeemed!
But...
As more and more people acquired diary copies, Qian Renxue could no longer ask about things in the diary.
How was she supposed to use it now?
Lying on the bed, Qian Renxue tossed and turned, her graceful figure shifting restlessly. What should she ask about tomorrow?
Since it wasn't about her this time, the best way to use it was to mention someone by name. The more often that person's name appeared, the more likely they were to receive a Thousand-Year Soul Ring upgrade the next day.
There was no way she could benefit from it herself.
But...
She had asked about that person last time. Could she write about her again?
Qian Renxue pondered for a long time before finally settling on the topic: Hu Liena!
Each question brought a reward, but Qian Renxue couldn't claim this one herself. She could give it to Bibi Dong, but Bibi Dong had already been written about once, and Qian Renxue wasn't sure whether she could write about her again. This time, she would give the reward to Hu Liena.
Meanwhile...
On the road from Holy Soul Village to Suotuo City, Xiao Wu suddenly sprang up from the hotel bed, utterly bewildered!
What?
What?
Everyone else got a one-level increase in Soul Power. Why was I the one who got a whole box of Honey Glazed Carrots?
Damn it!
Why did it feel like I was being singled out? How could a box of Honey Glazed Carrots possibly be better than a one-level increase in Soul Power?
Xiao Wu was fuming!
She claimed her reward from the diary copy and looked at the enormous box of carrot sticks, her heart full of disdain.
Even if Sister Xiao Wu starved to death, even if I jumped out the window, I still wouldn't eat this food that was clearly meant to spite me.
However...
As the sweet aroma wafted through the air, drool slowly trickled from the corner of Xiao Wu's mouth, and she couldn't help thinking in astonishment:
Good heavens!
How could these carrots taste so sweet?
Maybe I should try just one?
The next moment...
Xiao Wu sat on the bed, pulling carrot sticks from the box with both hands and stuffing them into her mouth. As she ate, she mumbled:
"Oh my, this is delicious!"
I could cultivate one more level of Soul Power anytime, but there would never be another carrot this delicious in the whole world.
The next day.
Tang San came out of the room next door and walked over to Xiao Wu's door. He knocked and called from outside:
"Xiao Wu, are you up? We need to get back on the road."
"Coming, coming."
Xiao Wu opened the door and stepped out, rubbing her slightly rounded belly.
"You... Xiao Wu???"
Tang San was horrified. Had he somehow, without realizing it, been cuckolded?
Damn it!
I hadn't even made a move, and someone had beaten me to it?
Xiao Wu looked smug.
"What are you looking at? Sister Xiao Wu just ate too much yesterday. It hasn't all digested yet."
Good heavens!
Those carrots yesterday had been unbelievably delicious. She'd eaten a whole box, and she was so stuffed she could barely walk.
Tang San immediately relaxed and said calmly, "All right! Eat less at night. Let's get back on the road."
Xiao Wu nodded, then hesitated for a long while before speaking. "Tang San, are we really going to Shrek? I... I don't want to be around a lot of people. Maybe we should go back to Holy Soul Village?"
Tang San gave Xiao Wu a curious look. She had brought this up many times already, but he explained again:
"It's all right. My teacher said Shrek is in a village. It's an academy that only accepts monsters, so there aren't many people there."
Xiao Wu sighed and said nothing more.
She understood, really. The only place she could go now was the Star Dou Great Forest. Anywhere else, she could be found.
Sunset Forest.
Su Chen and his companions set off.
[Today is a great day!]
[Yesterday, I went to Heaven Dou Academy to see Dugu Yan and unexpectedly ran into Ye Lingling. She's the perfect wife, so I pursued her without hesitation.]
[Then I ran into Liu Erlong. That short-tempered little she-dragon got beaten up by me on the spot. My Heaven Frost Fist put out her fire in an instant.]
[So today I've come to Sunset Forest to start clearing the grass. I'm in a great mood. Once I'm done here, I'll go back and see Hu Liena. I hope Nana won't be sad.]
Heaven Dou City's Spirit Branch Hall.
Hu Liena was completely dumbfounded when she read this.
Seriously?
We've only been apart for an afternoon. We've only been together for a day, and I'm already not your one and only?
At least you could've waited until later tonight to give me one last little moment of being special, couldn't you?
Waaah—!
Su Chen, you jerk! Just wait until you get back. I'll bite you to death!
Hu Liena was still fuming when she read what Su Chen wrote next. Her feelings turned complicated, and her heart ached for him.
[As a transmigrator, I was an orphan to begin with. The moment I awakened my memories, I became the loneliest person in this world. I had no relatives or friends here, yet I'd gained another homeland in my heart.]
[Alone in a foreign land, a stranger among strangers; at every festive season, I miss my family all the more. I know my brothers are climbing high together, each wearing a sprig of dogwood—there's one person missing.]
[If I remember correctly, my memories from before I transmigrated stopped just after the New Year. So in my old world, everyone was celebrating the holiday with their families, while I got blown sky-high when some brat threw a firecracker into a manhole cover.]
[Whenever I think of that, my heart aches. So my goal is to marry several wives and have several children. I want a big family, a warm place to lean on.]
[Hmm, today's diary entry should be about Hu Liena???]
(A friendly reminder: The New Year is coming, so never throw firecrackers into manhole covers or sewers. They can cause huge explosions. Stay safe!)
As Su Chen was filling the diary with words, he suddenly realized that today's entry had taken an interesting turn.
Just then...
Ye Lingling suddenly took Su Chen's hand, while Dugu Yan, up ahead, turned back and gave him a tender look.
Spirit Hall.
As Bibi Dong read Su Chen's diary, something about it felt a little off.
I want a home, a place that doesn't need to be very big. But you! Why do you want a big family?
Loneliness and longing for your homeland...
Was that your excuse for being a flirt?
Bibi Dong had a feeling that Su Chen was using this as an excuse to build his harem with a clear conscience.
But she had no proof.
The Crown Prince Mansion.
Qian Renxue murmured to herself:
"Alone in a foreign land, a stranger among strangers; at every festive season, I miss my family all the more."
"Su Chen, perhaps I'm the only one who understands you, the only one who understands the loneliness of being far from home—especially whenever an important day comes around."
Qian Renxue sighed. She didn't know when she would finally be able to put an end to all this, return to Spirit Hall, and go back to her Grandfather's side.
Spirit Branch Hall.
Hu Liena felt sorry for Su Chen as she read this.
That was true!
Su Chen had no relatives or friends in this world to begin with, yet he carried another homeland in his heart.
For a moment...
Hu Liena remembered what Su Chen had said at Spirit Academy: "Hu Liena, you're my first friend here." A happy smile appeared on her face.
I'm his first friend.
I'm his first girlfriend.
Wait?
Wasn't yesterday's lucky audience member Xiao Xue?
Why was today's diary topic about me? Oh no! I'm doomed. Su Chen the jerk said right from the start that I was a white-eyed wolf. I'm done for today.
Hu Liena panicked.
Teacher, believe me.