The Grilled Fish "Inside Traitor," Tang Ya! Jiang Nannan: I Was Here First!

At last, a boy in an upper-year uniform squeezed to the front.

Without hesitation, he pulled out five Gold Soul Coins. "One fish. Let me try it."

Huo Yutong hurriedly handed him a fish fresh off the grill.

He took it and bit into it. In an instant—

The next second, he froze. His eyes widened, and then he wolfed down the fish. When he finished, he smacked his lips, plainly wanting more.

"Only one per person? What a shame." He shook his head and left, crestfallen.

"Think that kid's a plant?"

"It does smell good. Maybe... give it a try?"

The crowd exchanged looks and whispered among themselves. Before long, a long line had formed in front of Huo Yutong's stall.

The girl was run off her feet, perspiration beading on her skin, but she was enjoying every moment.

At a rate of four fish per batch, Huo Yutong could easily keep up with the one-per-person limit. Unfortunately, she had an "inside traitor" beside her.

Tang Ya claimed she was helping, but for every four fish Huo Yutong grilled, two ended up in Tang Ya's stomach.

Her mouth gleaming with oil, Tang Ya smacked her lips and offered running commentary on the customers in line. The people at the front were so furious they nearly jumped out of their shoes.

"What the hell! Who is she? How come she gets to sneak fish?"

"This senior hasn't even had a bite yet! That girl is courting death!"

"This is outrageous! My grilled fish! She gets two while I only get one, and I'm supposed to thank her?!"

Huo Yutong did not look up. "Sorry, Sister Xiaoya is hungry."

That explanation was worse than none at all.

Xiao Xiao joined the scramble, snatching a grilled fish right out from under Tang Ya's nose.

Clutching her fish protectively, the little girl ran over and sat beside Tang Qi. She took small, delighted bites, looking so sweet and adorable that Tang Qi could not resist ruffling her hair.

Tang Ya only grew more enthusiastic about making trouble, with no sign of stopping. Tang Qi finally could not stand it anymore.

A strand of Blue Silver Wood shot out, wrapped around the girl's slender waist, and pulled her over.

"Tang Ya, stop causing trouble."

Ignoring the way she bared her teeth and waved her hands at him, Tang Qi drawled, "Go buy us something to drink."

Tang Ya pouted, angry but not daring to say a word. Afraid Tang Qi would give her a "lesson with a stick," she could only obediently agree.

Before she left, she looked back and called pitifully to Huo Yutong, "Yutong! Save a few for your Sect Leader, okay? Don't sell them all!"

Just then, a commotion rose from the street.

The people in line parted of their own accord, clearing a path.

"Hello, how much is the grilled fish?" A cool, gentle voice reached Huo Yutong's ears.

Huo Yutong looked up at the sound and saw a tall girl with skin like snow.

Most striking was her long, golden hair, falling in great waves. It glowed softly in the sunset, lending her an elegant, otherworldly air.

"Hello?" Seeing Huo Yutong stare, Jiang Nannan tilted her head slightly and waved a delicate hand before her eyes.

"Oh! Hello!" Huo Yutong snapped back to herself. "Five Gold Soul Coins per grilled fish. One per person."

"Five Gold Soul Coins? That isn't cheap." Jiang Nannan's fine brows drew together as she considered it.

Oh well. I'll splurge just this once.

As she reached for her money, a boy's voice she knew all too well sounded beside her.

"If I remember right, I haven't been shorting you on living expenses, have I?"

Jiang Nannan went rigid.

Surprise flashed across her face. Her beautiful eyes widened, and she slowly turned her head.

A rare, unmistakable delight spread across her cool, exquisite features.

When she saw the boy slouched in the recliner, his name burst out of her. "Tang Qi?!"

Before the words had faded, she hurried over like a gust of wind, her skirt fluttering and a faint fragrance trailing behind her.

A shadow fell across Tang Qi. Jiang Nannan was already standing before him, her beautiful eyes sweeping over him before discreetly glancing at the dazed Xiao Xiao beside him and Huo Yutong at the stall.

"What are you doing at Shrek?"

Tang Qi did not answer right away. He turned his head and beckoned toward the stall. "Yutong, bring me a grilled fish."

Huo Yutong nodded without thinking.

As she turned the fish on the grill, her mind raced.

She had already set aside portions for Tang Qi, Tang Ya, and Xiao Xiao.

But Brother Tang Qi clearly meant to give his fish to that pretty older girl. If she took it, wouldn't he have less to eat?

The girl bit her pink lip and quickly made up her mind.

Sister Xiaoya will have to suffer a little. I'll take the blame.

She swiftly took a fish from Tang Ya's reserved portion, grilled it with practiced hands, and trotted over to Tang Qi. "Here you go, Brother Tang Qi."

Brother Tang Qi?

Jiang Nannan narrowed her beautiful eyes, her gaze moving between Huo Yutong and Tang Qi.

Tang Qi noticed nothing. He merely held the grilled fish out to her. "Try it. Yutong's cooking is even better than Aunt Jiang's."

Jiang Nannan stared at him for two seconds, then gave a soft huff. She snatched the fish and sat down on the edge of the recliner.

Beside them, Xiao Xiao's eyes darted about. Who knew what she was thinking?

Not far away, two upper-year girls who had come with Jiang Nannan whispered to each other, their eyes flitting between her and Tang Qi.

"That must be Sister Nannan's boyfriend—the one we've 'never met.' He's exactly my type."

"Right? I used to think Sister Nannan had made him up to fend off Xu Sanshi, but here he is in the flesh..."

The more they talked, the more excited they became. Their voices carried straight to Huo Yutong at the stall.

The girl's hands suddenly faltered.

She hurriedly lowered her head, pretending to search for another fish. But she could not stop the corners of her eyes from drifting toward Tang Qi and Jiang Nannan.

Her chest felt tight, and she could not say why.

Within the Sea of Consciousness, a surge of spiritual energy shook the sleeping Tian Meng right out of his bed.

Clutching his pillow, he wailed, "Wait, who messed with my save file?! I just got it set up!"

"Little boss? Are you still grilling or not?" someone at the stall called.

"Ah, yes! Coming!"

Huo Yutong came back to herself and hurriedly resumed grilling. Even so, she seemed a little distracted.

Meanwhile, outside the academy's east gate...

Xu Sanshi looked around anxiously, his neck stretched so far he resembled a turtle pinned by its shell.

He grabbed Bei Bei beside him, his face full of resentment. "This is all your damn fault! If you hadn't dragged me around wasting time, would I have lost Nannan?"

The corner of Bei Bei's mouth twitched. He forced a smile uglier than a grimace.

He could not help it.

He had specifically found out that Huo Yutong would be grilling fish on Food Street today. Given how good her fish was, Tang Ya was sure to come.

He wanted to look for Tang Ya, but he was afraid of running into Tang Qi.

Bei Bei felt like the wronged party. If he ran into Tang Ya and Tang Qi together, what was he supposed to do—wish them happiness?

Then he and Tang Ya really would have no chance. So Bei Bei wanted to preserve a "harmonious" situation where everyone was fine and nobody got hurt.

But if he did not go, his heart would not settle down. After thinking it over, he had dragged his good turtle friend Xu Sanshi along for moral support.

Who could have known Xu Sanshi had never intended to help him look for anyone?

The moment they stepped out of the east gate, Xu Sanshi's eyes stuck to Jiang Nannan, and he followed her furtively like some lovesick creep.

Then Bei Bei interfered, and Xu Sanshi lost sight of her altogether.