Playing Dad to Zhu Zhuqing, Young Master Dai Was Not Pleased

"Eat up. Why aren't you eating?" Oscar asked.

However, apart from Tang San, everyone present—especially Xiao Wu and Dai Mubai—had lost their appetites after hearing how Oscar made his sausages. They were filled with resistance toward the sausages he offered and couldn't bring themselves to take them.

"What are you standing around for? Take them and eat them while they're hot," Flender urged.

"Um... Dean, Oscar, why don't we forget about it for now? Maybe next time?" Ma Hongjun said awkwardly.

"Exactly, Oscar. It's not that we won't eat them, but this... I honestly don't know if I can stomach it," Dai Mubai said, looking at Oscar.

"What, are you afraid Oscar's sausages won't taste good?"

Hearing Flender's words, Oscar said to Dai Mubai, "Boss Dai, you should know me better than anyone. Apart from that slightly strange soul incantation, my sausages actually taste pretty good. Not too salty, not too bland."

Xiao Wu rubbed her little belly and explained, "Um, thanks for the offer, but I only just had breakfast. I can't eat anything else right now."

"Right, right. We all just had breakfast." Dai Mubai tugged at Ma Hongjun, and they answered together while looking at Oscar.

Flender swept a sharp gaze over them, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "In that case, why don't you go for a run? Do fifteen or twenty laps around Shrek to help you digest, then eat afterward?"

Their expressions changed at once. Xiao Wu hurriedly shook her head, grabbed a sausage, and stuffed it into her mouth.

"Ahaha, I think I didn't eat enough this morning after all. Oscar, give me one." Dai Mubai held out his hand to Oscar.

"Give me one too," Tang San said to Oscar.

"Me too!" Ma Hongjun squeezed his way over and took the biggest one from the plate.

Oscar happily handed them out. When only one remained on the plate, he turned his gaze toward Zhu Zhuqing, who stood silently beside Lin Ye.

"Um, Zhu Zhuqing, would you like one?"

Zhu Zhuqing didn't answer him. Instead, she turned to Lin Ye.

"Lin Ye, how much do those pills cost? Could I have two?"

Lin Ye smiled and held up two fingers. "One thousand Gold Soul Coins each. Of course, I can give you a friendship discount: nine hundred Gold Soul Coins for two. How about it?"

Zhu Zhuqing froze for a moment, then said, somewhat embarrassed, "I... I don't have that much money."

"No money, huh~"

At that, Lin Ye rested two fingers against his chin and pretended to think for a moment.

"I've got it. Since you want these pills, how about this? You can take this whole bottle and use it first. I won't charge you, but in exchange, you'll have to promise to do a few things for me in the future."

Zhu Zhuqing looked at Lin Ye in surprise.

All of them? A whole bottle?

"No, I can't take that many. Lin Ye, just give me two. I agree to do things for you," Zhu Zhuqing hurriedly said.

Lin Ye shoved the pills straight into Zhu Zhuqing's hand and frowned. "What's with all the fuss? Just take them when I tell you to. We have plenty of these pills. You don't need to worry about me and Rongrong going without."

Zhu Zhuqing: "..."

Faced with Lin Ye playing dad, Zhu Zhuqing looked at the pills in her hand, her feelings inexplicably complicated.

"Thank you," Zhu Zhuqing said softly, looking at Lin Ye.

Lin Ye waved a hand. "No need to thank me. Just don't forget what I said."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded solemnly and put the pills away.

"I'll remember."

Ning Rongrong had been watching the two of them the whole time. Alert as she was, she immediately detected something amiss about Zhu Zhuqing.

This Zhu Zhuqing... could she be...

Meanwhile, Oscar stared at Zhu Zhuqing, who had already obtained her pills, looking as though he had turned to stone.

As for the others, they were just about to eat their sausages when they saw what happened over by Lin Ye.

She had "bought" them just like that?

The outcome took everyone by surprise.

Lin Ye wasn't charging Zhu Zhuqing money, but asking her to promise to do things for him instead?

Watching this unfold, Dai Mubai bit viciously into his sausage.

This Zhu Zhuqing really didn't know what was good for her. She was his fiancée, yet she always put on that cold front for him. She had even dared to lash out at him so viciously yesterday.

But how did she act around Lin Ye? Not only did she steal glances at him, now she actually had the gall to ask him for treasures. Utterly shameless.

Hmph, an unfaithful little bitch. Zhu Zhuqing, you won't escape the palm of my hand anyway. As long as...

At that thought, Dai Mubai couldn't help giving a sinister smile. Then he turned away and continued eating his sausage.

He had to admit, Oscar's sausages really were flavorful. Dai Mubai even wanted another.

"Very good."

Seeing that everyone had finished eating, Flender nodded in satisfaction.

Although Zhu Zhuqing hadn't eaten one, after watching her transaction with Lin Ye, Flender didn't want to interfere any further.

After all, he truly didn't dare make decisions for them, fearing he might displease these two big shots and cause Lin Ye to leave.

Besides, if he could keep Lin Ye around, he could rely on that peerless money tree to rake in a fortune in the future, while his good brother Yu Xiaogang could gain both fame and wealth through him.

The dream was beautiful, but reality was cruel. Flender's fantasy was destined never to come true, because after recruiting Zhu Zhuqing as a helper—and comrade-in-arms—Lin Ye had already begun considering his plan to leave Shrek.

"I'll count today's lesson as passed. However, the reason I taught this lesson was to show you the importance of companions and support..."

"Remember, Oscar will be your source of logistical supplies from now on. Please forget those meaningless soul incantations of his. Staying alive and keeping yourselves at your strongest at all times are what matter most."

At this point, Flender paused, then announced, "All right, go back and get ready. Rest tonight. Tomorrow, we'll set out for the Star Dou Great Forest to get Oscar his third Soul Ring."

"Teacher Zhao will lead your group tomorrow."

After they were dismissed, Zhu Zhuqing nodded to Lin Ye in farewell, and the others left one after another.

Only Lin Ye and Ning Rongrong remained.

Lin Ye was just about to turn around when Ning Rongrong unexpectedly came straight up and grabbed his hand, speaking first. "Brother Lin Ye, can you explain what just happened to me?"

Yet faced with Ning Rongrong's jealousy-laden question, Lin Ye responded like a completely oblivious man. "What happened? You mean the thing with Zhu Zhuqing?"

"Yes, Brother Lin Ye. Are you two hiding something from me?"

Ning Rongrong looked up at Lin Ye, suspicion written all over her face.

Lin Ye's gaze sharpened. He glanced around and said mysteriously, "C'mon, this isn't a good place to talk. Let's go back to the dorm room."