A Puzzled Jiang Lan

It's true that Soul Power increases rapidly, but the side effects are also real.

"Let's not practice for now," Dai Mubai decided. "We'll wait until the Grandmaster has clarified the subsequent deductions."

"Then you'll fall behind." Ma Hongjun's tone carried a hint of regret. "I'll practice first, so don't blame me for not waiting for you at the competition."

Dai Mubai stood up and said, "Alright, let's go buy some women's clothing."

Ma Xiaohong, Ao Xiaoya, Dai Xiaomu left Shrek Academy and headed to the busiest commercial street in Heaven Dou City.

After searching for a long time, they finally found a clothing shop in the east of the city. The shop was small, with a few sample garments hanging at the entrance. The owner was a woman in her forties who greeted the three "girls" with a smile as they walked in.

"Ladies, what would you like to see? The new fabrics are all very vibrant in color."

Ma Xiaohong was the first to approach, pointing to a light red ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) on the shelf. "Boss, take that one down so I can take a look."

Dai Xiaomu stood at the door without moving, while Ao Xiaoya hesitated for a moment before also moving closer to the shelves to browse.

"This one's too bright." Ao Xiaoya picked up a pale yellow one and held it up in front of her. "Does this color suit me?"

"That suits you well. The girl has fair skin, and the pale yellow looks beautiful on her." The shopkeeper smiled, his eyes crinkling.

Dai Xiaomu stood to the side, arms crossed, her face growing increasingly grim.

"Xiao Mu, why don't you pick one out too?" Ma Xiaohong called to him as she turned around.

"I'm not picky." Dai Xiaomu turned her face away.

"You can't not pick one out! Your clothes are too tight, they look like they're about to burst." Ma Xiaohong walked over, grabbed his arm, and pulled him towards the shelf. "Come on, look at this light blue one, it's simple and clean, it suits you."

Dai Xiaomu was pulled to the shelf, glanced down at the light blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), and remained silent for three seconds.

"Too girly," he said.

"What are you wearing now that doesn't look feminine?" Ma Xiaohong retorted.

Dai Xiaomu opened her mouth, but found that she couldn't find a way to refute it.

Half an hour later, the three men came out of the shop, all wearing new clothes.

Ma Xiaohong wore a light red, narrow-sleeved dress with a pale yellow belt tied around her waist. As she walked, the hem of her dress swayed gently. She seemed quite pleased with herself, occasionally glancing down at her waist and nodding in satisfaction.

Ao Xiaoya wore a pale yellow dress, and her hair was tied up with a simple hairpin. She did look much more energetic than before.

Dai Xiaomu was the most awkward. He tried on that light blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) for a long time before he was willing to wear it. After leaving the shop, he kept tugging at the cuffs, as if he always felt that the sleeves were not long enough.

"Um?"

Just then, a voice rang out.

Upon hearing the sound, the three looked in the direction of the sound and froze.

Because they saw familiar faces: Jiang Lan, Doro, and Xiao Wu.

The three of them thought to themselves, "We're doomed."

Jiang Lan jogged up to the three of them, looking puzzled, and said, "Strange, I feel like I've seen you somewhere before?"

Ma Xiaohong was the first to react, and her smile widened even more than usual.

"No, no, you've mistaken me for someone else." Ma Xiaohong waved her hand, trying to keep her voice even, but it still carried a lingering softness. "This is our first time in Heaven Dou City, our first time going out shopping, how could we possibly have met before?"

Ao Xiaoya nodded along, her head bobbing like a chick pecking at rice, and softly echoed, "Yes, yes, you've mistaken us for someone else. We're from out of town, and this is our first time in the city."

Dai Xiaomu stood at the very back, her lips pressed into a thin line, her face slightly turned to the side, trying her best to prevent Jiang Lan from seeing her face clearly.

Jiang Lan stood in front of them, tilting her head, her short hands behind her back, her large, clear eyes scanning the three of them twice.

"Is this your first time in Heaven Dou City?" Jiang Lan repeated, his gaze lingering on Ma Xiaohong's face.

"Yes, the first time." Ma Xiaohong nodded.

"First time going out shopping?"

"Yes, the first time."

"Then why did you take the road to the Shrek Academy?" Jiang Lan asked. "That road leads to the back gate of the Shrek Academy, and out-of-town travelers usually don't go that way."

Ma Xiaohong's smile froze for a moment.

"We... took the wrong turn," Ma Xiaohong quickly added. "We were going to the shopping street, but we turned the wrong way and it took us ages to find our way out."

Ao Xiaoya nodded frantically beside her, "Yes, yes, we went the wrong way, we don't know the way."

Jiang Lan tilted her head, her gaze shifting from Ma Xiaohong's face to Ao Xiaoya's, and then to Dai Xiaomu's.

Dai Xiaomu turned her face away too obviously, her entire profile facing Jiang Lan, not daring to even look at him directly.

"That lady," Jiang Lan gestured with her chin towards Dai Xiaomu, "Doesn't your neck hurt?"

Dai Xiaomu's body stiffened for a moment.

"Not sour." Dai Xiaomu squeezed out the two words through her teeth, trying to make her voice as deep as possible, but it still sounded almost as loud as a normal female voice, with a strange androgynous tone.

Jiang Lan narrowed her eyes.

"Sister, your voice is quite unique." Jiang Lan took half a step forward.

"I have a naturally deep voice." Dai Xiaomu took another half step back.

"Then why are you always turning your face to the side?"

"My neck is twisted."

"Didn't you just say your neck wasn't sore?"

Dai Xiaomu's lips moved, but she remained silent.

Seeing the situation was turning sour, Ma Xiaohong quickly stepped forward, blocking Dai Xiaomu's path, her smile so bright it seemed to glow, "Um, little brother, we're really in a hurry, we have an appointment, we have to go now. Take your time having fun."

After saying that, she Ao Xiaoya with one hand and pulled Dai Xiaomu with the other, then turned to leave.

"Wait a minute," Jiang Lan said.

All three people froze in place.

"I don't even know your names yet," Jiang Lan said. "Since we've run into each other, let's get to know each other. My name is Jiang Lan, and what's yours?"

With her back to Jiang Lan, Ma Xiaohong's expression twisted for a moment before quickly returning to her bright smile. She turned around and said, "My surname is Ma, and my name is Ma Xiaohong."

"Ma Xiaohong." Jiang Lan read it aloud, then shifted her gaze to Ao Xiaoya.

"My surname is Ao, and my name is Ao Xiaoya." Ao Xiaoya's voice grew softer and softer.

Jiang Lan nodded, then turned her gaze to Dai Xiaomu.

Where is this lady?

"Dai... Dai Xiaomu." Dai Xiaomu squeezed out the fake name through gritted teeth, feeling ashamed as soon as she said it.

Jiang Lan repeated the three names to herself.

"Ma Xiaohong, Ao Xiaoya, Dai Xiaomu." After he finished reading, the expression on his little face suddenly became subtle. "Ma, Ao, Dai."

All three of them felt their hearts leap into their throats.

"What's wrong?" Ma Xiaohong asked with a forced laugh.

"It's nothing," Jiang Lan shook her head. "I just think these three surnames are quite coincidental. I used to know three people with the surnames Ma, Ao, and Dai."

"There are plenty of people in the world with the surnames Ma, Ao, and Dai," Ma Xiaohong said quickly. "What a coincidence."

"Hmm, what a coincidence." Jiang Lan nodded, her expression unreadable. "Well, you three sisters have appointments, so I won't keep you any longer."

The three of them breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.