Meng Hongchen's Weakness for Handsome Faces Erupted

Twelve years passed in the blink of an eye.

Gu Ming had barely seen the outside world. He was full of curiosity, and also yearned somewhat for life beyond the forest.

To him, the Holy Church seemed to impose no restraints, but his movements were limited to the Evil Demon Forest.

So he usually dealt with soul beasts and Evil Soul Masters, rarely venturing out.

Leaving all at once gave him the exhilarating feeling of breaking free from a cage.

Before setting out, Gu Ming had also brought plenty of Gold Soul Coins, planning to feast at a restaurant in Mingdu.

Two days later, standing on a street in Mingdu, Gu Ming gazed at the bustling streets and the various Soul Tools, suddenly feeling as though he had returned to his old home.

Industry here had already developed.

Compared with the Three Great Empires, Mingdu looked like a truly developed feudal society, gradually shedding its ancient trappings.

On that point alone, the Three Great Empires could not keep up.

If Shrek Academy had not existed when the Sun Moon Continent collided with the Douluo Continent all those years ago, the latter probably really would have been renamed the Sun Moon Continent.

With his travel pack on his back, Gu Ming looked like an impeccably dressed young gentleman as he walked along, surveying Mingdu's streets.

Before long, he found Mingdu's largest hotel and ordered a tableful of lavish dishes, ready to feast.

The meal cost a full twenty Gold Soul Coins, equivalent to several years of income for an ordinary soul master's household.

And this was merely one corner of the Heavenly Palace.

Soon, a waiter wheeled over a cart of dishes and asked Gu Ming with a bright smile, "Honored guest, won't you wait for your friends before dining?"

Friends?

Gu Ming fell silent for a moment, then said, "I don't have any friends. Please bring the food quickly. I have things to do afterward, and I can finish it all myself."

The waiter's expression stiffened. He looked at the young gentleman, who was about his own height, as though seeing something unfamiliar.

It was his first time seeing a distinguished guest come here alone and order an entire tableful of dishes.

Still, the waiter was merely astonished. After serving all the dishes, he quietly withdrew.

Gu Ming swallowed at the sight of the tableful of delicacies, his hands busy without pause.

Plate after plate, he began his clean-plate campaign.

He had already planned everything out. After eating, he would stay in Mingdu for a few days, then head to Shrek Academy to enroll. In any case, the church leader had already taken care of every issue.

The distinguished guests dining in the hotel could not help being shocked by Gu Ming's table manners.

Whose young master was this? Such dreadful table manners.

Hey, he was really handsome!

Several women gathered together, chattering about Gu Ming. Their initial complaints that his wolfing down food tarnished the upscale hotel's reputation soon turned into praise for how elegantly the handsome young man ate.

Gu Ming paid them no mind. He only wanted to fill his empty stomach quickly.

Before long, several more groups arrived.

Leading them was a handsome young man slightly older than Gu Ming. Dressed in the Sun Moon Empire Soul Engineer Academy's uniform, he walked with his hands behind his back, his back turned on all living beings, seemingly using the back of his head to navigate.

The newcomer was none other than the Sun Moon Empire's number-one poser, Xiao Hongchen.

The academy was on break today, and Xiao Hongchen had brought his younger sister here for a meal, since nowhere showed off his generosity and wealth better.

He had therefore also invited several junior female students to dine with them.

As he walked, Xiao Hongchen said, "To tell you the truth, even I usually can't bear to spend money here, since Grandpa doesn't give me much of a budget. You're getting a taste of the good life by coming with me. I'll broaden your horizons in a moment."

"Ah, actually, I'd like to treat you to street food too, but my financial strength won't allow it. Grandpa simply gives me too much money. Before I've even finished this month's allowance, next month's arrives."

Beside him, his younger sister Meng Hongchen covered her mouth and chuckled. "Brother, we all know you're rich. Let's find somewhere to sit."

The other junior girls also showered Xiao Hongchen with flattery, endlessly praising both his strength and his wealth.

Hearing this, Xiao Hongchen's lips gradually curled upward, and an immense wave of satisfaction filled his heart.

Showing off before everyone felt so damn good!

Just then, Gu Ming lifted his head from his meal and recognized Xiao Hongchen and the others.

To someone who had transmigrated, these faces could not have been more familiar.

Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, Xu Tianzhen, and a whole crowd of students from the Sun Moon Empire Soul Engineer Academy.

Logically, he ought to have studied in the Sun Moon Empire.

But things had gone against his wishes. For the Holy Church's plans, he could only swallow the humiliation and shoulder the burden of going to Shrek.

With that thought, Gu Ming lowered his head and resumed eating.

Meanwhile, Xiao Hongchen and the others also noticed Gu Ming and his utterly dreadful table manners.

The corner of Xiao Hongchen's mouth twitched as he remarked, "I can't even be bothered to look at someone who eats like a starving ghost. He's not as handsome as me, either."

Beside him, Xu Tianzhen's lips curled as she teased, "Are you sure?"

"Of course!"

Xiao Hongchen folded his arms and slowly turned around. The moment he saw Gu Ming's profile, he completely lost his composure.

Wait, this guy...

How could this guy be so handsome? His looks really held up, and he even seemed so innocent. His face utterly crushed mine.

Damn it... how could anyone in this world be more handsome than me?

Beside him, Xu Tianzhen covered her mouth and let out a muffled series of chuckles.

That's what you get for showing off! Now you've been slapped in the face!

Still, the young man seemed unfamiliar. He was neither a student of the Sun Moon Empire Soul Engineer Academy nor the Mingdu Soul Engineer Academy, and he looked even less like a member of the imperial family.

Xu Tianzhen was certain this was her first time seeing Gu Ming.

Could he be from some powerful noble clan?

Just then, the waiter brought over dishes and served Xiao Hongchen's group.

Xiao Hongchen stood up and sighed. "To think someone's looks could rival my own. I need some time alone."

With that, he turned and left.

Little did he know that as his younger sister Meng Hongchen ate, her eyes were fixed on the exceptionally handsome Gu Ming. Her lovestruck gaze never once strayed.

In the world of someone obsessed with handsome faces, Gu Ming's table manners were not ugly at all. They had a distinctive flair, unlike those of any handsome boy she had known before.

Most importantly, he was genuinely gorgeous, and about her age, too.

Beside her, Xu Tianzhen poked Meng Hongchen with her chopsticks and said playfully, "Oh my, our Miss Meng has her eye on another handsome boy. Want to go introduce yourself? Who knows, he might be younger than you."

"Oh, stop it~"

Meng Hongchen reached out and pushed her close friend away, her pretty face growing warm. In a low voice, she asked, "Tianzhen, what do you think of me?"

"You're gorgeous! The number-one beauty of our Sun Moon Empire Soul Engineer Academy, Miss Meng, the white-haired campus belle."

After offering her appraisal, Xu Tianzhen silently awarded herself a point as well.

She, Xu Tianzhen, was also one of the foremost beauties of the Mingdu Soul Engineer Academy, not to mention a princess of the Sun Moon Empire.

Hearing this, Meng Hongchen's confidence soared. She believed she could win over this innocent-looking younger boy and make him her devoted lapdog.

Her face-obsessed instincts had kicked in at their most fundamental level: she simply could not resist adding a handsome boy to her pond of admirers.

Then Meng Hongchen walked toward Gu Ming, who was still bent over his meal.

At that moment, Gu Ming frowned without lifting his head from his food.

After years of dealing with Evil Soul Masters, Gu Ming's senses were sharp enough to rival a spirit cat's, and he noticed Meng Hongchen approaching him.