Becoming Skywater Academy's Substitute

After the excitement subsided, Shui Bing'er asked everyone to sit down and inquired about Jiang Lan's recent situation.

Jiang Lan gave a general account of opening branch stores, building robots, and recruiting Xiao Wu and the others as taste testers Shui Yue'er listened with surprise and occasionally interjected with comments like, "Why didn't you tell me sooner? I want to come and drink every day! I want to be a taste tester too!"

After Jiang Lan finished speaking, Shui Bing'er said softly, "We haven't decided on our accommodations yet since we came to Heaven Dou City to participate in the competition. Would it be convenient for us to stay here for a few days?"

Jiang Lan glanced at the group of girls, then at the two remaining empty rooms in her backyard. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end, she just sighed, "There aren't enough rooms, so we'll have to sleep on the floor."

"I'll sleep on the floor!" Shui Yue'er was the first to jump up, clinging to Jiang Lan's arm and refusing to let go. "I'll sleep in your room, I'll even sleep on the floor!"

"If you sleep in my room, where am I supposed to sleep?!" Jiang Lan struggled to pull her arm away.

"Let's sleep together, it's not like we haven't slept together before." Shui Yue'er blinked and smiled mischievously.

Jiang Lan's face flushed instantly. He recalled those two months in the carriage. Although they didn't actually share a bed, he had been held by them for several nights, which was even more torturous than sharing a bed.

"We'll stay in the room on the west side." Jiang Lan pointed to the west wing, trying to steer the conversation back on track. "I'll have Doro and the robot get ready."

"Little Guga, you're making me think you're shy." Xue Wu chuckled and ruffled his hair.

"I'm not shy!" Jiang Lan retorted angrily.

Upon seeing this, all the women couldn't help but laugh.

Shui Bing'er asked Jiang Lan curiously, "Little Guga, what level are you now?"

Jiang Lan put her hands on her hips and said, "I've reached level 43 now, isn't that amazing!"

"Level 43?!" Shui Yue'er exclaimed first, her eyes wide with surprise. "The last time I saw you, you were only level 19! It's only been a few months! Did you grow up eating Soul Ring?"

Xue Wu also looked surprised, sizing up Jiang Lan as if he were some rare Soul Beast.

Although Shui Bing'er's expression wasn't as exaggerated, there was a clear hint of contemplation in her icy blue eyes.

Several other female students from the Skywater Academy surrounded them, bombarding them with questions.

"You're really level 43?"

"You're only six and a half years old, right?"

"A six-year-old reaching level 43? That's unprecedented in the history of mainland China!"

What do you eat every day? Can I have some too?

Jiang Lan was surrounded by them. The hood of her Penguin Suit had been put on her head by someone else, covering half of her face, leaving only her bright eyes showing.

He straightened his chest, trying to appear more composed, but the red marks Shui Yue'er had just pinched his cheeks still lingered on them, making him look like a steamed glutinous rice ball.

"I train very hard, okay?" Jiang Lan pushed her hat up with her hand and said seriously, "And I made a lot of delicious food. When I'm in a good mood during training, I advance faster."

"Then I'll stay longer." Shui Yue'er immediately grasped the key point, "If I eat your cooking every day, I might break through to level 40 after the competition."

"Yeah, yeah, we want some too!" The other girls chimed in, and the atmosphere instantly became lively again.

Shui Bing'er suddenly spoke up, "Jiang Lan, would you be interested in being a substitute player for our Skywater Academy?"

"A substitute?" Jiang Lan tilted her head. "I'm not from your college, how can I play?"

"Yes, that's fine." Shui Bing'er nodded. "The Elite Tournament rules allow academies to register one foreign substitute during registration. You're young, but your Soul Power already surpasses that of many regular team members, so you're perfectly qualified."

"Yes, yes! That way you can play with us!" Shui Yue'er was incredibly excited, squatting down to grab Jiang Lan's hand. "Just imagine, when the opposing team sees a kid in a Penguin Suit coming on as a substitute, they'll definitely laugh three times first, and then you'll punch them all, looking incredibly cool!"

"Yue'er, don't give bad advice." Shui Bing'er glanced at her helplessly, but a smile also appeared on her lips. "However, Jiang Lan is indeed suitable as a surprise weapon, as long as the rules are not broken."

"Oh..." Jiang Lan thought for a moment, and it seemed that she didn't have any reason to refuse.

Anyway, he wanted to experience the All-Continent Soul Master Tournament and compete with the girls from the Skywater Academy. It would be more interesting than being a capitalist in Milk Tea Shop all by himself.

Jiang Lan thought for a moment and said, "If I help you advance, you'll have to treat me to a big meal!"

"No problem! We'll treat you to whatever you want to eat!" Shui Yue'er agreed readily, her eyes crinkling into slits with laughter. "The most expensive restaurant in Heaven Dou City, order whatever you want, and we'll see if you can bankrupt us!"

"Yue'er, have you thought this through? He can eat half a boat by himself," Xue Wu added coolly from the side.

Shui Yue'er's smile froze for a moment, then she waved her hand dismissively. "What's there to be afraid of? Can't the seven of us afford to raise a Little Penguin? Besides, he can help us in competitions, it's worth it!"

"Then it's settled." Jiang Lan stretched out one hand, her five fingers spread wide.

Shui Yue'er was stunned for a moment, then reacted and reached out to give him a high five. The crisp sound was particularly clear in the afternoon courtyard.

"But let me make this clear first: you're substitutes, but you'll still have to follow my instructions during the game." Jiang Lan put his hands on his hips, striking a pose like a seasoned captain.

Unfortunately, he was too short, and with that round Penguin Suit, he looked like a little kid playing around.

"Sure, Captain Jiang," Shui Bing'er replied with a smile. "You can decide on the formation and how to fight."

Jiang Lan was overjoyed, his tail practically wagging in the air. He had lived two lives and had never been called captain before.

He decided to rush to make himself a new tactical vest tonight, with the words "Little Guga" written on it in big letters, and then have Doro sew him a matching cape.

In the evening, Jiang Lan had the Guga Robot set up a large table in the courtyard and invited the girls from the Skywater Academy to have hot pot.

The soup base was a combination of spicy and tomato, and dozens of side dishes were laid out, including fatty lamb rolls, fresh shrimp, and mushrooms bought from the Heaven Dou City, as well as shrimp paste and fish balls made by Jiang Lan himself. The aroma wafted far and wide.

"You can make these too?" Shui Yue'er picked up a piece of fatty beef roll with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth. She was panting from the spiciness, but she still couldn't help but pick up another piece.

"I can also make milk tea, grilled fish, and braised sea cucumber." Jiang Lan sat cross-legged on a raised stool, with two plates of tripe in front of her, her cheeks bulging from eating. "I can open a hot pot restaurant someday, and I'll call it Guga Hot Pot."

"I'll invest," Shui Bing'er suddenly said.

Jiang Lan was taken aback and looked up at her.

Shui Bing'er picked up a slice of tomato and put it in her bowl. "Anyway, if Milk Tea Shop can open in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, a hot pot restaurant shouldn't be much different. I'll go back and discuss it with my family to see if we can open one in Skywater City first."