"All right, all right, let's hurry up and go. We can grab that little couple along the way."
Ning Rongrong pulled Xiao Wu along and ran toward the boys' dormitories.
When they reached Chen Yang's dorm room, neither of them knocked. Instead, they pressed their ears against the door, holding their breath as they eavesdropped.
"Brother Yang, can eating this really make me stronger?"
"Shh~ Don't talk. Keep eating."
"Mmph!"
The two eavesdroppers outside instantly widened their eyes.
Ning Rongrong's cheeks flushed as she bit her lip, seemingly remembering something from those little illustrated books.
She lowered her voice and asked,
"Xiao Wu, are those two always this bold? It's still broad daylight."
But even after waiting a while, she received no answer.
"Xiao Wu, Xiao Wu? What's... Holy crap! Why is your face so red?!"
Ning Rongrong turned her head and jumped at the sight of Xiao Wu's crimson face.
Xiao Wu felt utterly stifled, as though a bright green cuckold's hat had been planted on her head.
Didn't we agree you would only pretend to be his girlfriend?!
How did your little act turn into the real thing?!!
Fuck! If this rabbit doesn't bare her teeth, you take me for a dead rabbit!
Xiao Wu stepped back and raised her foot to kick the door open.
Ning Rongrong hurried forward to hold her back. She finally understood: Xiao Wu liked Chen Yang too. This was the agony of unrequited love!
"Don't do anything rash! Impulse is the devil!"
"Rongrong, let go of me!"
Dragging Ning Rongrong along, Xiao Wu inched toward the dorm room door to kick it.
Bang!
"Brother!! You two... you're eating Pokéblocks?"
Xiao Wu stood with her leg raised, still frozen in her kicking pose, her face full of embarrassment.
Chen Yang, who had been feeding Zhu Zhuqing Special Attack and Special Defense Pokéblocks, folded his arms and stared at the two with a teasing look.
An eavesdropping pervert of a tiger had only just left, and now an eavesdropping hooligan of a rabbit had arrived.
Why did everyone love eavesdropping so much?
Zhu Zhuqing struggled to swallow the mouthful of Pokéblocks and hurriedly stood up.
"Xiao Wu, Brother Yang was only helping me get stronger."
"Ahahaha~ Of course I knew that. I just... um... wanted to ask you to eat with us. Yes, that's why we're here."
Xiao Wu awkwardly lowered her leg and gave a sheepish smile.
Ning Rongrong wasn't as innocent as Xiao Wu. Her eyes kept sweeping over Zhu Zhuqing.
Those flushed cheeks, those rumpled, wrinkled clothes-if nothing happened, I'll write my name backward.
Chen Yang's lips curved upward. He walked over and gently ruffled Xiao Wu's hair.
"Come on. Let's go eat."
He snapped his fingers lightly.
White light abruptly enveloped the four of them. The scene before their eyes flipped in an instant, and a second later, they were standing in the Distortion World.
It was Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong's first time entering this place. Both stared wide-eyed at the bizarre, dazzling scenery around them, which overturned every rule of common sense, their eyes filled with disbelief.
"Wh... what is this place? The streams flow backward, and the trees grow upside down. It's incredible."
Ning Rongrong instinctively covered her mouth and let out a soft gasp, her eyes brimming with shock.
Chen Yang was very pleased by their stunned expressions. Zhu Zhuqing was one of his own, so it was only natural to let her know.
And though Ning Rongrong wasn't yet, she wouldn't escape him in the end. This was the perfect chance to win her over.
Chen Yang walked slowly before the two and spread his arms, his voice calm and unhurried:
"Welcome to my world, the Distortion World."
Your world?!
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing involuntarily swallowed, looking at Chen Yang with awe and curiosity.
But a trace of inferiority also surfaced in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes.
Seeing their utterly inexperienced reactions, Xiao Wu proudly planted her hands on her hips and lifted her chin.
"Come on! Let's go home and chow down!"
Then, like the lady of the house, she pulled the two toward a blue-and-gold villa in the middle of the platform.
An Ah Yin-brand villa-you deserve one~
Once they reached the villa's living room, Chen Yang took out the Master Ball and released Ah Yin.
"A Soul Beast!"
Ning Rongrong shrank behind Zhu Zhuqing in fear.
(Oh? Do we have a new companion? Sigh... I've scared someone again. Master, when will I be able to take human form?)
Ah Yin gently swayed her leaves, feeling rather downcast.
"Don't worry, Ah Yin. Let me take a look."
Chen Yang took out the Pokédex and scanned her.
[Species: Blue Silver Emperor Types: Grass, Fairy Level: 65 (152/16089) Talent: High Moves: Entanglement, Blue Silver Strangulation, Razor Leaf, Sleep Powder, Stun Spore, Synthesis... Ability 1: Overgrow (HP continuously recovers in a suitable environment. When HP falls below 10%, recovery increases by 100%, and Grass-type moves are boosted to 1.5 times their strength.) ... Evolution path: Blue Silver Emperor → Blue Silver Empress Evolution requirement: Reach level 70. (Incorporating this world's rules, trained Pokémon can gain the ability to take human form at level 70.)]
Chen Yang raised his hand and gently patted Ah Yin's soft vine trunk beside him, soothing her in a warm voice.
"Don't worry, Ah Yin. Once your cultivation reaches level seventy, you'll be able to take human form."
At his words, the blue silver vines twining around her rustled joyfully, brimming with delight she couldn't conceal.
(Really?! Then, after I transform, can I do those naughty things with Master?!)
Chen Yang coughed twice at that, dodged the subject, and waved his hand. "Ahem. We'll talk about that when the time comes. Go cook in the kitchen first. Just follow the usual routine."
(Mhm! Ah Yin will work really hard!)
Countless slender blue silver vines stretched out toward the kitchen. Moments later, the sizzling sounds of ingredients hitting the pan drifted out.
Xiao Wu sat on the sofa, grumbling as she gulped down her soda.
Clearly, she had long since grown used to Ah Yin's intentions, but there wasn't much she could say.
During an earlier argument with Ah Yin, she had retorted, "Even a rabbit like you can kiss Master. Why can't I, just because I'm grass?"
"Are you discriminating against us plants?!"
That had left her at a complete loss for words.
Zhu Zhuqing pressed her lips together and, with an odd expression, pulled the trembling Ning Rongrong down to sit. She seemed to have something to say but hesitated.
Master treated me so well, teaching me everything he knew without holding anything back.
Yet I have nothing to repay him with. At his age, Master's blood is running hot-he can even feel attracted to a plant-type Soul Beast like Ah Yin.
All I can do now is try to persuade Master not to stray down the wrong path.
Chen Yang noticed the somewhat uncomfortable expression she was struggling to suppress.
"Zhu Zhuqing, just say whatever's on your mind. We're all family here. Don't be so reserved."
At the word "family," a light flickered in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes, but her expression remained unchanged.
"Brother Yang... if you're really that pent up, you could go to Xiao Wu, or me..."
The longer Zhu Zhuqing spoke, the quieter her voice became. Her final words were as faint as a mosquito's hum; only the slight movement of her lips could be seen, with hardly a sound to be heard.
"Pfft-"
Caught completely off guard, Xiao Wu sprayed out a mouthful of the soda she was holding. She tilted her head, both rabbit ears standing straight up, and stared at Zhu Zhuqing in utter disbelief.
"Huh??"
Chen Yang gave a light cough to conceal the strange stir in his heart:
"Next time, definitely."
Zhu Zhuqing's entire face instantly burned hot. She hurriedly lowered her head to hide her cheeks as regret welled up inside her. Even she couldn't explain what had come over her. In a moment of hotheadedness, as though possessed, she had blurted out exactly what was in her heart.
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