Shui Bing'er's Invitation

She had said there would be delicious food, so they could reluctantly forgive her.

"Fine." Jiang Lan straightened his hat and looked up at Shui Yue'er. "Then I want the most expensive thing!"

"The most expensive?" Jiang Lan's attempt to look composed despite clearly wanting it badly amused Shui Yue'er to no end. She reached out and ruffled his head. "Alright, big sis will splurge today and treat you to the most expensive, most delicious food on this street!"

Shui Yue'er stood up and waved at her sisters behind her. "Let's go! Sisters, today we're treating this little cutie to a proper feast!"

The girls from Skywater Academy cheered and crowded around Jiang Lan and Doro as they headed deeper into the snack street.

Surrounded by a group of youthful, beautiful girls, Jiang Lan had Xue Wu holding his left hand and Yu Hairou pulling his right. Shui Yue'er cleared the way ahead, while the other girls followed behind, occasionally poking the back of his head or tugging on the tail of his penguin suit.

Jiang Lan felt less like he had come out for a meal and more like he was being escorted under guard.

But he soon had no time to worry about that, because Shui Yue'er truly brought him to the most expensive restaurant on the snack street.

"This is it! Sea Flavor Pavilion!" Shui Yue'er pointed at the three-story restaurant before them.

Three large characters were written across the signboard in flamboyant strokes, while two strings of red lanterns hung by the entrance. The place looked incredibly imposing.

"Their signature dish is steamed bluefin tuna. One fish costs five Gold Soul Coins! Big sis is treating you today!"

Jiang Lan looked up at the sign, then lowered his head and touched the nine Gold Soul Coins in his pocket, silently doing the math.

The prize money he had worked so hard to win from one match could not even buy two fish here.

His little face immediately fell, but it quickly brightened again when he remembered that Shui Yue'er had said she was paying, so he would not have to spend any money.

"Then I won't hold back, quack!" Jiang Lan spread his short little legs and scampered through the restaurant doors.

When the lobby manager of Sea Flavor Pavilion saw a chubby little ball in a penguin suit rush inside, he froze for a moment. Then he spotted the seven girls behind Jiang Lan, dressed in Skywater Academy battle skirts, and immediately put on a professional smile as he approached them. "Honored guests, do you have a reservation?"

"No. Arrange a private room for us, and make it a large table." Shui Yue'er skillfully took out a purple crystal card and waved it before the manager.

The manager's eyes immediately went wide. He bowed twice as deeply as before, repeatedly calling them honored guests and personally leading them to the most luxurious private room on the third floor.

Inside was a large round table that could seat more than ten people. The window faced the harbor, offering a view of the sea beneath the setting sun and fishing boats returning to port.

Jiang Lan was seated at the head of the table, but the chair was too high for him to climb onto. Xue Wu and Yu Hairou each took one side and lifted him up, then stuffed three cushions beneath his butt before he could barely reach the tabletop.

Doro was placed on the chair beside him with two cushions as well, leaving half her little head exposed—just enough for her to see the dishes on the table.

Shui Yue'er took the menu and ordered seven or eight dishes in one breath. Jiang Lan's eyes brightened a little more with every dish she named.

The dishes arrived one after another, each one an exquisite creation of color, aroma, and flavor.

Jiang Lan picked up a bite with his chopsticks and stuffed it into his mouth. His whole body went rigid as though he had been struck by lightning, then his eyes flew open. His cheeks worked frantically as he chewed, and he let out a muffled, earth-shaking cry.

"Guh-quack... delicious!"

Then Jiang Lan activated his unique big-eater mode.

He swept through the food like a hurricane, leaving nothing but empty plates and bowls in his wake.

The girls of Skywater Academy had initially intended to dine elegantly, but after seeing Jiang Lan eat, everyone's chopsticks unconsciously sped up.

For no other reason than that the child ate at an astonishing speed. If they did not fight for it, they would not even get a second bite.

"This salt-and-pepper mantis shrimp is mine!"

"You still have three in your bowl!"

"I was saving those for last!"

"Doro, you stole my scallop again! I saw your little hand reaching over!"

Everyone ate with great delight, and the private room was filled with laughter and the sounds of squabbling over food.

By the end, Jiang Lan was leaning against the back of his chair, the belly portion of his penguin suit bulging into a round curve.

Jiang Lan patted his belly in satisfaction and let out a long sigh. "This is the fullest I've eaten since leaving Sea God Island..."

Shui Yue'er rested her chin in her hand and watched his satisfied little expression. The more she looked, the more she liked him, and she could not help reaching out to poke his puffed-up cheek again.

After resting for a while, Jiang Lan started eating again.

"Jiang Lan, you said earlier that you came from Sea God Island." Shui Bing'er set down her chopsticks. "Are you alone?"

Jiang Lan was battling the last salt-and-pepper mantis shrimp without even lifting his head. "Yeah, it's just Doro and me."

Shui Yue'er and Xue Wu exchanged a glance, while Yu Hairou also stopped eating.

The seven girls' gazes all fell on the little one still wrestling with the mantis shrimp. The lively atmosphere in the private room suddenly quieted somewhat.

A six-year-old child had left Sea God Island alone, crossed the ocean, and come to Vast Sea City without an adult accompanying him. To them, that was nearly unimaginable.

Shui Bing'er fell silent for three seconds.

She had seen quite a few geniuses, but this was the first time she had seen a genius who had set out to travel alone at the age of six.

Shui Bing'er put on her gentle smile again, reached out, and lightly pressed down Jiang Lan's finger as it continued battling the shrimp shell. She helped him peel it, then placed the intact shrimp meat into his bowl.

"Where are you going? Are you really alone?"

"Heaven Dou City." Jiang Lan stuffed the shrimp meat into his mouth, one cheek puffing out. "I'm going to Heaven Dou City to handle something very important."

"Heaven Dou City?" Xue Wu's eyes lit up. "We're heading back to Skywater Academy today. We can send you there on the way."

"Really?" Jiang Lan raised his head. Bits of shrimp shell still clung to the corners of his mouth, but his eyes shone brightly.

"Really." Shui Bing'er nodded and used a handkerchief to wipe the crumbs from the corner of his mouth. "It's still a long way from here to Heaven Dou City, and it's too dangerous for you to travel alone. Since we're going the same way, why don't we go together? We can look after each other on the road. Surely you're not afraid we'll eat all your oranges?"

Jiang Lan blinked and looked at Shui Bing'er's gentle smile, then at Shui Yue'er beside her, who was secretly stroking Doro's belly, and at Xue Wu and Yu Hairou, who were watching him expectantly.

He lowered his head to look at Doro. Shui Yue'er was rubbing her so comfortably that her eyes had narrowed into slits, and she let out a soft, sweet "Doro."

That probably meant someone would provide food, drinks, and oranges. What was there to hesitate over?

"Alright!" Jiang Lan nodded heavily, his hat slipping back a little with the motion. "Then I'll be troubling you, quack!"