Ning Ze, Ah-Open Your Mouth!

Ning Rongrong arched a delicate brow, brushed her small hand over her Soul Tool, and pulled out several gold-glinting VIP stored-value cards, slapping them onto the counter with a crack.

"Look carefully!"

With her arms folded across her chest, she huffed imperiously:

"Today, this entire hotel belongs to me! Clear out every current guest, and I'll compensate them tenfold for their losses! Are these Gold Soul Coins enough to buy your whole hotel?!"

"Gasp—!"

Staring at the few gold cards from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's top-tier trading houses, each worth tens of thousands of Gold Soul Coins, the hotel manager's eyes nearly popped out of his head. He could not catch his breath for a long while.

This sudden bombardment of "money power" plunged the entire hall into dead silence.

Dai Mubai, who had been about to leave, stopped in his tracks. Tang San and Xiao Wu were stunned as well, turning their heads in unison.

But when everyone's eyes shifted away from Ning Rongrong and fell upon the young man in moon-white fitted attire beside her, the atmosphere in the lobby changed again.

Ning Ze was tall and slender, with a face as refined as jade. There was a gentle warmth in his brows that made others feel at ease.

With the passive enhancement of his [God of Love] Martial Soul, simply standing there made him more devastating than any soul skill.

"Wow..."

Xiao Wu's eyes widened. She instinctively covered her mouth, her face flushing bright red as her heart skipped a beat for no reason.

He's... he's so handsome! How could someone be prettier than a carrot?!

She felt as though her gaze had been drawn in by a magnet, unable to move away no matter what.

Feeling the gazes around him, as well as the sour look Ning Rongrong had begun to give him, Ning Ze silently cursed his bad luck. He stepped forward, neatly blocking Xiao Wu's line of sight, and smiled gently.

"Everyone, my apologies. My junior sister has been spoiled since childhood and is somewhat willful. Her words may have offended you."

His voice was warm and mild, and merely hearing it dispelled more than half the irritation in people's hearts.

His gaze swept across Dai Mubai, Tang San, and Xiao Wu. He cupped his hands in greeting.

"There is really no need to fight to the death over a room."

"If I am not mistaken, judging by your ages and bearing, you are also here for Shrek Academy outside the city, correct? We may very well become classmates in the future. Since fate has brought us together in Suotuo City, why ruin the harmony?"

At that, he turned to Ning Rongrong, whose cheeks were puffed up, reached out to rub her little head, and smiled.

"Rongrong, since you said you wanted to book the hotel, why not simply reserve the entire Rose Hotel? We can invite these friends to stay for free. Everyone can choose a suite they like, and we can consider this an early introduction. What do you think?"

Ning Rongrong had been about to flare up because Xiao Wu had looked at Ning Ze a few too many times. But with Ning Ze so gently rubbing her hair in front of outsiders, the sweetness in her heart instantly washed away more than half of her possessive irritation.

She proudly raised her chin and waved her small hand grandly.

"Hmph, since you've said so, Ning Ze, of course I have no objections!"

"Manager, did you hear that? The hotel is booked. Arrange the best luxury suite on the top floor for each of them, and put all the costs on my tab!"

At those words, the tense lobby immediately took on an entirely different mood.

Tang San and Dai Mubai looked at each other, while Xiao Wu's eyes shone as she stared at Ning Ze. All of them were stunned by the extravagant display of this "heavenly couple"...

Night fell, and the lights of Suotuo City lit up one by one.

On the open-air terrace atop the Rose Hotel, the breeze was light, and the air carried the scent of flowers.

Having received Ning Rongrong's Gold Soul Coins, the hotel manager served them with exceptional diligence, somehow setting up a proper candlelit dinner here.

"Tap, tap, tap..."

Steady footsteps arrived first, followed by a tall figure ascending the terrace. It was Dai Mubai.

Tonight, the Evil-Eyed White Tiger had clearly dressed himself up—his golden hair was neatly combed, and more importantly, the twin female companions who were always at his side were nowhere to be seen.

Having witnessed Ning Rongrong's beauty and wealth during the day, Dai Mubai found the mediocre women around him increasingly uninteresting. His heart had become entirely fixed on this willful little princess.

"Miss Rongrong, good evening. I am delighted to dine with you."

He put on what he believed was his most aristocratic smile and hurried forward to strike up a conversation.

Ning Rongrong, who was resting her chin on her hand and gazing dreamily at Ning Ze, did not even lift her eyelids. She merely let out a syllable through her nose.

"Mm."

She did not even turn her head.

Dai Mubai's smile froze on his face. His outstretched hand could neither retract nor lower, and he stood there as if rooted in place, the corner of his mouth twitching.

Fortunately, sounds soon came from the stairway, saving him from further embarrassment.

"Wow, it smells so good! Third Brother, hurry up!"

The crisp voice rang out as Tang San and Xiao Wu came up side by side.

Xiao Wu had changed into a pink short dress tonight. She bounced onto the terrace, but the instant her gaze landed on the young man seated at the head of the table, she abruptly froze, her face flushing bright red.

The night was hazy, but the moonlight illuminated Ning Ze's face with perfect clarity. His white clothes were pristine, and his brows and eyes were gentle.

The charm naturally carried by the God of Love Martial Soul wrapped him in a soft aura that made people want to draw close.

Thump... thump...

Xiao Wu felt her little heart begin pounding disobediently again, and the rabbit-ear headband atop her head trembled along with it.

Strange... Why does he look better the more I look at him? How could there be a boy in this world more tempting than a premium crisp red carrot? I really want to take a bite...

She patted her burning cheeks and shyly shuffled toward her seat.

Once everyone had arrived, Ning Ze smiled faintly and gestured to the waiter. "Manager, serve the dishes."

Delicacies from the Balak Kingdom and aged fruit wine were brought to the table one after another.

During the meal, Dai Mubai cut into his steak while casually bringing up his background, hoping to recover some face and make Ning Rongrong look at him a few more times.

"To be frank, although I am currently studying in the Balak Kingdom, I am actually a direct descendant of the Star Luo Empire's foremost imperial family."

"It is only because of certain internal family trials and competition that I have had to conceal my identity and travel about for experience."

After saying that, he lifted his chin slightly, self-satisfaction in his eyes as he secretly glanced at Ning Rongrong from the corner of his vision.

In his view, girls were most susceptible to the trope of a mysterious, down-on-his-luck prince stranded in a foreign land—noble, yet full of stories.

But after hearing him out, Ning Rongrong did not even spare him a glance from the corner of her eye.

The little witch of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was smiling as she peeled a purple jade grape, then naturally held it to Ning Ze's lips. Her voice was so sweet it was almost cloying.

"Ning Ze, ah—open your mouth! This grape is so sweet. Hurry and try it!"

"...I can do it myself." Ning Ze did not know whether to laugh or cry.

"No! I want to feed you! Ah—"

She willfully stuffed the grape into Ning Ze's mouth. Watching him eat it, she smiled until her eyes curved into crescents, her gaze filled with nothing but him.

As for Dai Mubai's "imperial identity"?

Please. She, Ning Rongrong, was the treasured pearl of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the richest sect in the world, with two Titled Douluo grandfathers as her bodyguards.

A mere Star Luo imperial family? What the hell was that in her eyes?