Beibei, How Can You See a Rainbow Without Weathering the Storm? Green Looks Better on You!

Beibei soon rushed down to the first floor. At the turn of the stairwell, he caught sight of a familiar figure and slammed on the brakes, ducking back out of view.

It was Xiaoya!

Beibei held his breath and cautiously peered around the corner.

Tang Ya carried a packed meal, her steps light and her ponytail swaying behind her. By any measure, she looked to be in a good mood.

What was Xiaoya doing here?

Could... could she be here to see me?

At the thought, the corners of Beibei's mouth rose beyond his control. His heart raced, and his breathing grew heavy.

He hurriedly straightened his collar and smoothed his hair.

But just before Tang Ya reached the stairwell, she stopped outside a dorm room.

Beibei's smile froze.

That was Tang Qi's room!!

Beibei's pupils contracted. His lips trembled, and a chill pierced him straight through the heart.

Tang Ya stood outside Room 108 and glanced furtively left and right.

She kept feeling as though someone was sneaking looks at her. Once she was sure no one was around, she slipped out a key, swiftly unlocked the door, and slid inside.

Had they... already grown that close?

Xiaoya even had a key to his room. And she'd brought him food herself.

No, Xiaoya! Anything but this!

Beibei stared at the closed door until his eyes nearly split with rage. His chest felt as though someone had seized it, and bitterness filled his face.

"No. It couldn't be."

Panting, he tugged hard at his collar. "Right. I must be overthinking it. Xiaoya's the Deputy Sect Leader, and Tang Qi's the Sect Leader. They're just... just discussing important Tang Sect business. Yes, that must be it."

While Beibei's thoughts were a tangled mess, a burly figure crept up behind him, spread his arms, and caught him in a crushing bear hug.

"Beibei, my dear brother, let me warm your wounded heart—"

"Who's there?!"

Beibei nearly jumped out of his skin. He would have preferred a knife in his back. He wrenched himself free, his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul on the verge of manifesting.

"Hey, hey, hey! Calm down! It's me!"

Xu Sanshi hurriedly let go and backed away two steps, his face full of ingratiating guilt.

Beibei shot him a fierce glare, snorted, then turned back to peer around the corner.

Seeing his pitiful, distracted state, Xu Sanshi sighed deeply.

"Beibei, have you ever heard the old saying?"

Beibei ignored him.

"If you want life to go your way—"

As if performing a magic trick, Xu Sanshi pulled a hat from inside his clothes. It was green from brim to crown.

"You've got to wear a little green up top!"

Before Beibei could react, Xu Sanshi plopped the bright green hat onto his head.

"Xu Sanshi!"

Beibei's eyes blazed, and he breathed like an enraged bull. Unable to bear another second, he snatched off the hat.

"Third Soul Skill: Thunderous Might!"

"Beibei, calm down! Fighting and damaging property in the dorm will get you expelled!"

Beibei: Sea God Pavilion Master and Dragon God Douluo Mu En. Martial Soul Department Dean of Shrek Academy and Bright Phoenix Douluo Yan Shaozhe. They're both on my side. Who dares expel me? Who could expel me?!

Room 108.

"Yutong, did you hear something outside just now?" Tang Ya pricked up her ears and glanced toward the door.

Huo Yutong sat at the table, eating her meal in small bites. At the question, she tilted her head and listened, then gently shook her head.

"Was I hearing things?" Tang Ya scratched her head and muttered.

Oh well.

Her attention settled elsewhere. Resting her chin in both hands, Tang Ya gazed at Huo Yutong with sparkling eyes and unconsciously licked her pink lips.

"Yutong, did you really say you were going to sell grilled fish at the academy?"

"Of course."

Huo Yutong nodded with a soft laugh. "I've even found a spot, on the food street east of the academy."

Tang Ya's eyes lit up as though she could see grilled fish beckoning to her.

"What about the equipment and ingredients? Are they ready?"

"Mm, I've found everything."

Huo Yutong answered softly, a trace of satisfaction flickering in her eyes. "I've saved up a little money bringing meals to Brother Tang Qi these past few days."

Tang Qi and Tang Ya treated her so well that she did not want to depend on them for something this small.

She had originally planned to price each grilled fish at five copper coins.

But most of what she owned had gone toward deposits for equipment and ingredients, leaving her suddenly short of cash.

Biting her lip, she finally worked up the courage to raise the price to seven copper coins.

Did that make me greedy?

Huo Yutong could not help reproaching herself a little.

A short while later, once Huo Yutong had finished eating.

The two of them briskly cleaned Tang Qi's room from top to bottom before heading out, one after the other.

Tang Qi did not return to Shrek Academy with Xiao Xiao until evening.

The last rays of sunset stretched their shadows long across the ground.

"Bye, Tang Qi! I had lots of fun today!" Xiao Xiao raised her little hand and waved at him with a beaming smile, then skipped toward the girls' dormitory.

Tang Qi watched the petite girl disappear into the distance, a smile slowly curling his lips.

Heh, heh, heh.

An innocent little girl like her was the easiest to win over.

She had been sulking earlier, looking thoroughly aggrieved after waiting so long. But a few coaxing words from Tang Qi had turned her frown into a delighted smile.

He had taken her out for a while, and she had insisted on paying for everything. In the end, all it had cost him was a little time to fill the affection meter of a sweet girl with Twin Martial Souls.

Hands clasped behind his head, Tang Qi strolled toward Room 108 in a thoroughly pleasant mood.

At the door, he tried the locked handle and only then remembered that Tang Ya had the key.

Just as Tang Qi was about to go around the building and climb in through the window, a gentle, aged voice came from nearby.

"Young friend, I believe I have what you're looking for."

Tang Qi paused and looked toward the voice.

Beneath a parasol tree not far away, Mu En lay in an old reclining chair, his eyes half-closed.

Only then did Tang Qi remember that the old fellow Mu En was not just the Sea God Pavilion Master. He also served as the boys' dorm supervisor.

"Thanks, old man." He walked over, took the key from Mu En, and thanked him.

Mu En waved a hand, smiling kindly. "No need to thank me. Now that you've come to Shrek, treat this place as your home. Shrek has always treated its students as its own children."

The corner of Tang Qi's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. He said nothing and turned to leave.

As its own children?

With other factions, you could at least guess how good or bad they might be. But Shrek? There was no telling what ridiculous stunt it would pull next.

Mu En was merely the tall one among short men.

Xuan Zi? Better not mention him.

Yan Shaozhe? The man most carried by his Martial Soul in Douluo history. Give him an Iron Rooster Martial Soul, and he could probably achieve Self-Created Godhood.

Mu En remained in his reclining chair, watching the boy walk away. He sighed softly. "Beibei, how can you see a rainbow without weathering the storm? Your great-great-grandfather believes in you."

If their ancestor Yu Xiaogang had not been cuckolded by Qian Xunji back then, how could he have formed the Golden Iron Triangle? He would never have met the future Sea God Tang San, either, and Shrek would not exist as it did today.

And had Mu En himself not trained furiously after what happened back then, ultimately becoming a Limit Douluo?

Now it was Beibei's turn. Mu En could only say: everything had worked out for the best.