Brought together ahead of time

Ye Fan and the others went to a restaurant for breakfast.

Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong had already hit it off.

Xiao Wu had always wanted a girl as a friend, and Ning Rongrong was fond of Xiao Wu's guileless nature, too.

The atmosphere between them was relaxed, with laughter breaking out from time to time.

Just then, Zhu Zhuqing silently appeared at the next table.

Ning Rongrong spotted Zhu Zhuqing sitting beside them, rolled her eyes thoughtfully, and went over.

"Oh, it's you, sister! What a coincidence, running into you here.

Why are you alone? Why don't you eat with us?"

Ning Rongrong's reasoning was simple.

This girl showed up in Ye Fan's inner voice... she's probably one of his women, too.

Since that was the case, she wanted to get to know these people ahead of time.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Zhuqing merely glanced at her and Xiao Wu behind her before saying coolly,

"No need."

Ning Rongrong: "..."

So cold.

Like a rooster defeated in a fight, Ning Rongrong slunk back to Xiao Wu, who was busy wolfing down her food.

As the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she was hardly going to keep chasing someone's favor after pressing her warm face against a cold backside.

"Huh? Rongrong, where did you go? Hurry and try this Crystal Carrot Bun. It's so good!"

"Hehe... I'll try it in a moment."

Ning Rongrong gave a couple of dry laughs and glanced at Zhu Zhuqing again.

Zhu Zhuqing turned to look outside, not particularly interested in paying Ning Rongrong any more attention.

As far as she was concerned, they might never meet again, so there was no need to talk.

Making a friend who would leave her with another attachment for no reason... that was not something she could afford to hope for right now.

Besides, the man who had caught her attention wasn't here, making it even less necessary.

Her gaze happened to sweep past the doorway.

At that very moment, Ye Fan appeared outside with Tang San.

She was somewhat surprised.

Did whatever I thought of really come straight to me?

Under her gaze, Ye Fan led Tang San toward Xiao Wu's table.

He naturally noticed Zhu Zhuqing, too, but there had not yet been an opportunity for their paths to cross.

As for this little wildcat... I'll have to spark her own curiosity to draw her in.

"Xiao Wu, Rongrong, I'm back with Tang San."

Tang San had been easy enough to find. Following his inner voice, Ye Fan had caught him on his way to the Rose Hotel.

The moment Xiao Wu saw Ye Fan, she hurriedly waved him over.

"Ye Fan, come here, come here! I saved lots of tasty food for you!"

But upon seeing Ye Fan, Ning Rongrong quickly held Xiao Wu back and whispered to her,

"Xiao Wu, don't get so excited... you mustn't tell Ye Fan what we just talked about."

"Mm-hmm, I know."

Xiao Wu nodded, her eyes full of mischief as she looked at Ye Fan.

Ye Fan raised an eyebrow.

What had these two girls been talking about?

Had their conversation jumped around that much?

"What nasty things did you say while I was gone? Things I'm not even allowed to hear?"

Ning Rongrong chuckled and wrapped her arms around Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu grinned at Ye Fan. "Don't ask. This is girl talk. You're not allowed to pry."

Ye Fan was helpless.

"All right, all right. Of course I don't mind you girls sharing secrets. If anything, I'm glad Xiao Wu has made a friend."

He looked utterly unconcerned.

After all, Xiao Wu would have two close girlfriends by her side in the future, and some of their whispered secrets were destined never to reach his ears at night.

Besides, once they went to another academy, boys and girls would no longer be allowed to share a room.

But... I'm not giving away my cuddle pillow for nothing!

At that thought, Ye Fan began making mischief through his inner voice.

[It doesn't matter if I hand Xiao Wu over now. The future sisters need to build a good relationship.

But... cherish this while you can. You won't be this harmonious in the future. When you're tangled up together fighting over the mic, I hope you can still be such friendly sisters...]

Xiao Wu: "???"

Zhu Zhuqing: "???"

Ning Rongrong: "???"

After hearing his inner voice, all three were equally puzzled.

They could understand being tangled up together, but what did fighting over the mic mean?

What wonderful thing could possibly make sisters turn against each other?

Even Xiao Wu, that little hooligan rabbit, failed to grasp what Ye Fan meant for a moment.

"Ahem... all right, hurry up and eat. We still have to go register at Shrek afterward."

Ye Fan interrupted their wild speculations.

What if they started comparing notes here?

That way, they would discover that every woman could hear his inner voice.

Although it hardly mattered, things were more interesting this way, with them guarding against one another and each believing she was the only one.

After hearing Ye Fan's words, Xiao Wu began inhaling her food like a whirlwind.

Unlike Xiao Wu's uninhibited eating, Ning Rongrong was far more elegant, taking only a small taste of each dish.

Ye Fan casually looked around and thought to himself,

[I only just realized that almost everyone who'll be admitted to Shrek has gathered here.]

[Fate really is a bitch. So many outstanding people have all gathered at this rundown academy... but in the end, I'm the one who'll reap the rewards.]

So they're going to Shrek, too?

As Zhu Zhuqing looked at Ning Rongrong and the others, a faint ripple stirred in her heart.

That makes sense. They're about the same age as me...

Zhu Zhuqing suddenly realized that she seemed to have done something foolish.

Was it too late to regret it now?

"Ye Fan, you're going to Shrek, too?"

Ning Rongrong unleashed her acting skills as she addressed Ye Fan.

Ye Fan nodded.

"Tang San's teacher recommended this place to us. Honestly, I'd never heard the name before."

[Besides... if I weren't worried about changing the future too much, I would have fled to Heaven Dou City ages ago.]

He silently added that in his heart.

Ning Rongrong nodded, then pulled a large poster... or rather, a corner of one, out of her Soul Tool.

It looked as though it had been torn from some noticeboard.

"Here. I decided to come because I saw this. Their advertising reached all the way to my doorstep."

Ye Fan took the poster, and Tang San and Xiao Wu leaned over as well.

The words on the paper were clearly written.

'Still troubled by cultivating your martial soul? Still struggling to decide which academy suits you best?

Shrek Academy in Suotuo City, an advanced academy made exclusively for geniuses.

Not only do we offer exclusive one-on-one instruction from renowned Soul Emperor and Soul Saint teachers, but the continent's foremost theoretical Grandmaster will also drop in to give lectures!

With spacious grounds and comprehensive teaching facilities, join us, and you could be the next youngest elder of Spirit Hall!

-Interested applicants should contact Flender, dean of Shrek Advanced Soul Master Academy in Suotuo City.'

Ye Fan: "..."

After reading it, Ye Fan could only say... Flender really knew how to bullshit.

Still, the exclusive one-on-one instruction from Soul Emperors and Soul Saints was no exaggeration.

With how few students Shrek admitted, even two teachers per student would have been no problem before the Shrek Seven Devils enrolled.