Working Under Gao Ren Really Was a Sweet Deal

Xiao Xiao was an important character in the original story.

Of course, that only held true for the early and middle stages.

Later on, the spotlight was mostly on the male and female leads. Xiao Xiao, the dear friend who had won the Freshman Competition with them, became part of the backdrop like most of the others.

Going by their relationships in the original story, Xiao Xiao was Gao Ren's future junior disciple sister, because she, like Gao Ren, was also Xuan Zi's disciple.

Gao Ren: I became his disciple first in this world, so I'm the senior disciple brother!

"My name is Xiao Xiao. I'm a first-year student too!"

After learning her name, Gao Ren introduced himself as well:

"I'm Gao Ren, the person in charge of the Overlord Drumstick Window."

"What a coincidence." As soon as he finished speaking, he smiled and pushed the plate in front of Xiao Xiao. "Huo Yuhao was our lucky customer at lunch, and you're our lucky customer tonight. The people in your dorm really have ridiculously good luck."

Gao Ren: That's me for you! Eyes sharp as a blazing torch! One search, and I found two people with twin martial souls!

Xiao Xiao froze for a moment, then agreed somewhat bashfully, "Lucky...? I think I'm pretty lucky too!"

Of course, the luck Xiao Xiao meant was entirely different from the luck Gao Ren meant.

She thought she was lucky because she had met a handsome boy who caught her fancy not long after arriving at Shrek Academy.

Not noticing that her ears had turned red, Gao Ren pointed at the drumstick still steaming on the plate and said with a smile:

"Go on, try it. This is when it tastes best."

"Okay...!"

Dazed by Gao Ren's smile, Xiao Xiao took a bite of the drumstick.

The next second, the somewhat reserved Xiao Xiao changed completely. Like everyone tasting an Overlord Drumstick for the first time, she began eating rapidly with an expression of utter bliss.

Seeing Xiao Xiao's expression, Gao Ren nodded in satisfaction.

Even the most refined lady would forget her table manners the first time she tasted his Overlord Drumstick.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the cafeteria.

Tang Ya, who was sitting with Bei Bei in the fourth-year dining area-and would start work tomorrow-was watching Gao Ren chatting and laughing with Xiao Xiao from afar.

"Bei Bei, look!" She frantically jabbed her elbow into Bei Bei's side. "Little Gao Ren picked another girl who brings out a boy's protective instincts as today's lucky customer!"

Bei Bei glanced helplessly at Tang Ya. He knew perfectly well what she was thinking: she wanted to say that Gao Ren clearly had a taste for this type.

"Xiao Ya, stop chasing shadows and catching wind for no reason. Gao Ren already said he isn't that kind of person. Don't keep digging your heels in over this.

"With that honey-coated little mouth of yours, you'd be better off saying less in front of others. Just pretend you didn't see what happened, or you really will end up sharing a table with the dogs at Gao Ren's window."

Tang Ya: Then I'd better sit with the humans.

The next day.

At dawn, after absorbing the wondrous power carried by the purple qi rising from the east through her Purple Demon Eye, Huo Yuhao returned to her room and began practicing the remaining Tang Sect Secret Arts.

By the time she finished, it was already broad daylight outside.

Only then did Xiao Xiao sit up in bed, yawning and rubbing her eyes.

"Yuhao, aren't you working a little too hard? You were cultivating before I fell asleep, and you're still cultivating now that I'm awake. Everyone says women are made of water. I think you're made of iron."

"I don't have a choice," Huo Yuhao said in distress. "I was specially admitted through the Tang Sect's allotted place. I wouldn't have qualified through the normal entrance exams. My soul power is only at rank eleven right now.

"If I want to stay at Shrek Academy, I have to work hard. That's the only way I'll have any chance of staying."

Hearing this, Xiao Xiao woke up a little more.

"No wonder..."

After washing up, Huo Yuhao asked Xiao Xiao, "Xiao Xiao, do you want to go to the cafeteria for breakfast together?"

"Yes! Of course I do!" Xiao Xiao nodded vigorously. With Gao Ren in the cafeteria, how could she possibly not go?

Then the two of them went to the cafeteria together.

They had barely stepped inside before Huo Yuhao's mouth began watering. The aroma of Overlord Drumsticks already filled the place.

She instinctively rummaged through her pockets, but all she found were a few silver coins. That little bit of money wouldn't even cover a fraction of the price of an Overlord Drumstick.

Xiao Xiao was in much the same position, though she had a little more money. She was already reworking her budget for the month, trying to see whether she could make it to next month if she bought an Overlord Drumstick.

Before long, they both looked toward the window selling Overlord Drumsticks.

Someone was busy serving food at the window.

"Teacher Xiao Ya?!"

Hearing Huo Yuhao call out, Xiao Xiao couldn't help asking, "You know that senior?"

"Yes! She's the current sect master of our Tang Sect!"

Xiao Xiao: Huh?

Meanwhile, hearing Huo Yuhao call her name, Tang Ya instinctively looked their way.

"Oh, it's Yuhao. Good morning."

"Good morning, Teacher Xiao Ya." Huo Yuhao said in surprise, "Teacher Xiao Ya, I didn't know you worked here!"

"That's right, haha..." Tang Ya gave two dry chuckles, inwardly filled with embarrassment.

She didn't dare tell Huo Yuhao the real reason. If word got out, what would become of her dignity as the Tang Sect's sect master...? Are you sure you even have any of that?

"Yuhao, you're here for breakfast too." Spotting his junior disciple sister Huo Yuhao, Bei Bei, who was inseparable from Tang Ya, stepped forward at just the right moment and explained with a smile:

"Working here is the sweetest of sweet deals. Only someone as outstanding as our Teacher Xiao Ya is qualified to work here."

Tang Ya: Sweet deal, my ass! I was forced into this, okay?!

Still, since Bei Bei had gone that far, Tang Ya could only grit her teeth and agree to save face. "Right! It's a sweet deal! Employees here can eat as much of the food here as they want."

Although the sharp-eyed Huo Yuhao felt something was a little off, she had no intention of looking into it right now.

Upon learning that Tang Ya could eat here for free, her eyes filled with envy. "Teacher Xiao Ya is amazing. You even get employee meals!"

Tang Ya: Thanks. That stabbed me right in the heart...

Bei Bei seized the opportunity to steer the conversation toward the real matter at hand.

"Speaking of which, Yuhao, this window is still hiring, and they're looking for a first-year student.

"This is a heaven-sent opportunity for you! What you lack most right now is nutrition!

"And here at Shrek Academy, Overlord Drumsticks are the most nutritious food commonly available!"

Hearing this, Huo Yuhao nearly started drooling... Here I come! Twenty-five Gold Soul Coins I can eat as much of as I want!