"Senior sister, who is this?" Lu Yang looked at Ye Lingling and asked about the person beside her.
In truth, Lu Yang already had a guess when he saw her. But Dugu Yan had appeared earlier than she had in the original story, so the circumstances were naturally a little different, and he had not dared jump to a conclusion.
"Her name is Dugu Yan. She's a good friend I've known since childhood," Ye Lingling softly introduced Dugu Yan to Lu Yang.
"So you're the little fellow Lingling mentioned, the one who came to the Ye Family to study a little while ago? You're quite cute." Dugu Yan chimed in at just the right moment.
Lu Yang's expression stiffened at her words. Perhaps thanks to the perks of being a transmigrator, combined with the influence of his martial soul, his looks were indeed exceptional, even comparable to those of the mighty readers. Ever since he was little, quite a few aunties had treated him kindly because of his face. But being called cute by someone his own age was genuinely hard for him to swallow.
Still, since she was Dugu Yan, Lu Yang did not dwell on it.
"Hello, nice to meet you. My name is Lu Yang." After introducing himself, Lu Yang sat opposite Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan, picked up the tome on the stone table, and resumed reading.
Once Lu Yang settled into studying, he rarely spoke to anyone except to ask about things he did not understand. Ye Lingling was quiet by nature, too, and spending most of the day reading was nothing unusual for her.
But Dugu Yan could not sit still. Her gaze wandered between Lu Yang and Ye Lingling from time to time, as though she wanted to say something. Yet she seemed afraid of disturbing them and could only close her mouth in frustration.
By noon, Dugu Yan finally could not take it anymore. Seeing Lu Yang and Ye Lingling close their books almost simultaneously, she finally found an opportunity to speak. "Honestly, you two are always like this when you read. Don't you get bored?"
"No. This is nice." Ye Lingling spoke first, giving her answer.
Lu Yang merely smiled and offered no further comment on the subject.
Seeing their reactions, Dugu Yan slumped over the stone table. "I specifically made time to come see you because I wanted to relax during a break from cultivating. But you two are just so boring."
As she listened to her friend complain, the corners of Ye Lingling's lips lifted slightly. Her temperament would not let her actually tease her good friend, but she still found Dugu Yan amusing like this.
"No!" Suddenly, Dugu Yan stood and grabbed Ye Lingling's arm. "Lingling, you have to go shopping with me this afternoon!"
"Um, can I not go?" Ye Lingling still tried to salvage the situation. She genuinely disliked going out.
"You have to! And Lu Yang, you're coming with us!" Dugu Yan declared with absolute finality.
Lu Yang, who was packing his things nearby and preparing to go home, paused at Dugu Yan's words. Then he nodded in agreement. "No problem. We'll go together this afternoon."
A faintly triumphant look flashed through Dugu Yan's eyes when he agreed. Ye Lingling, on the other hand, looked at Lu Yang as though he were a traitor.
Ye Qingling had already told Lu Yang that she hoped he would get along well with Ye Lingling, and perhaps take her out more often. Although Lu Yang knew Ye Qingling was worried about her daughter's temperament, every one of his attempts to invite Ye Lingling out had met with a firm refusal. He could hardly drag her out by force, could he?
Now that Dugu Yan had taken decisive action, Lu Yang naturally would not refuse. Besides, entering the redemption code for the immortal herbs through Dugu Yan was safer than entering it directly in front of Dugu Bo. At least Dugu Yan did not have the strength to slap him dead over a disagreement.
Although Lu Yang thought spending a lifetime on the Douluo Continent might not be all that interesting, he had no reason to court death and seek unnecessary thrills in his life.
The three of them had originally planned to eat lunch at the Medical Clinic, but since they were going shopping, they decided to eat out instead. Both Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling received plenty of pocket money from their families. As for Lu Yang, he happened to have received his allowance from Qian Renxue that very day, so he would not suffer the embarrassment of being penniless.
The three went straight to a famous restaurant in Heaven Dou City, planning to have a feast before heading out to enjoy themselves. But as soon as they arrived, they saw a spoiled girl in the main hall, one hand on her hip and the other pointing at the restaurant's steward as she loudly ordered him about.
A moment later, the steward escorted the girl upstairs. Clearly, her status was anything but ordinary, or the steward would not have worn an ingratiating smile the entire time.
"Tsk, that Little Demoness from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is out making trouble again. The sect's businesses in Heaven Dou City are in for a headache today." As someone who knew Heaven Dou City like her own backyard, Dugu Yan recognized the girl.
"Ning Rongrong?" Lu Yang asked uncertainly.
"Who else could it be?" Dugu Yan curled her lips. "I've met Ning Fengzhi, the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, a few times. How could such a graceful, refined man have a Little Demoness like her for a daughter?"
Dugu Yan muttered in genuine bewilderment.
Lu Yang pressed his lips together. Calling Ning Fengzhi graceful and refined was fair enough, but what did that have to do with the kind of child he would father? Besides, even if Ning Fengzhi had to shoulder the blame for Ning Rongrong developing such a personality, surely he did not deserve the biggest share? Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong were the strongest contenders for that honor.
Still, Ning Rongrong had lacked discipline from childhood. Later, she would become a black-hearted, drafty little cotton-padded jacket, ultimately turning into a thoroughly ungrateful wolf. In a way, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would reap exactly what it had wished for.
Ning Rongrong's appearance did not spoil the trio's good mood over their meal. While they ate, however, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling were startled by Lu Yang's appetite.
In truth, Lu Yang did not eat all that much-only enough for three or four boys his age. But to the two girls with their small appetites, that was still rather astonishing.
Since Dugu Yan had suggested the outing, she paid for the meal. Looking at the final amount on the bill, she pouted. "You're not allowed to sneak off when we go shopping later. You'd better carry this young lady's bags properly!"
Lu Yang nodded lightly. He had a Storage Soul Tool. Who would be foolish enough to actually wander the streets carrying a heap of bags?
For the entire afternoon, Dugu Yan dragged Lu Yang and Ye Lingling through the streets of Heaven Dou City, buying all manner of things. The three did not return to the Ye Family's Medical Clinic until evening.
Dugu Yan intended to stay overnight with the Ye Family, but Lu Yang had no intention of lingering. Only after he said goodbye and left did Ye Lingling speak. "Yanzi, don't do this next time. Lu Yang still has to go back and cultivate. It isn't good to hold him up like this."
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