"No." Bei Bei shook his head, then lifted his head and puffed out his chest. "But I've already taken Xiaoya as my master!"
Xu Sanshi was stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"Hahaha! You took Tang Ya as your master?"
"Hahaha! What were you thinking? You're pursuing Tang Ya, yet you took her as your master? Are you trying to betray your master and destroy your ancestors?"
"Hahaha! You sure know how to play, Bei Bei!"
Bei Bei flushed bright red, his embarrassment turning to anger. Then he started saying all sorts of incomprehensible things, like "Xiaoya is different," "The tower nearest the water catches the moonlight first," and "Xiaoya has me in her heart."
"What are you two doing?"
Just then, a girlish voice rang out behind them, clear and pleasant to the ear.
Bei Bei jumped and hurriedly turned around. A youthful, radiant girl stood behind them, looking at Xu Sanshi on one side and her on the other with a pair of lively phoenix eyes, a curious look hidden in their depths.
The girl's long black hair was tied in a ponytail that hung down her back, swaying in the wind. Her fitted school uniform traced her slender curves, accentuating the youthful beauty of her figure.
"Xiaoya, we weren't doing anything."
Bei Bei glared at Xu Sanshi, then greeted the girl with a sunny smile.
Tang Ya planted her hands on her hips and scolded him. "What did you call me?"
"Teacher Xiaoya!"
Bei Bei's face reddened.
Xu Sanshi couldn't help chuckling.
Embarrassed and annoyed, Bei Bei shot Xu Sanshi a vicious look.
Tang Ya glared at Xu Sanshi. "Xu Sanshi, what are you laughing at?"
"Nothing." Xu Sanshi held back his laughter.
Tang Ya huffed and peered into the classroom. "Have you seen Nannan? She-"
Just then, Tang Ya spotted Jiang Nannan downstairs and cried out in surprise. "Oh! Nannan has a boyfriend? Why didn't she tell me?"
"What?" Xu Sanshi's face changed drastically. He hurriedly looked downstairs, then froze, as though his soul had left his body and every trace of life had gone out of him.
Downstairs, Qian Renxue looked guiltily at Jiang Nannan as she walked toward her.
"Sister Nannan, I dropped out of Shrek Academy. I'm sorry I made you waste a hundred Gold Soul Coins."
Jiang Nannan gently covered Qian Renxue's mouth. The soft touch of the girl's jade hand pressed against her lips, and Qian Renxue blushed and froze.
"Don't say that. We earned those hundred Gold Soul Coins together in the first place."
Jiang Nannan's voice was gentle, concern hidden in her eyes. "Did someone mistreat you? If you've dropped out, then so be it. I'll leave with you."
The girl didn't even ask why. She didn't say a single word of reproach, only stood firmly on her side.
A warm current welled up in Qian Renxue's heart, leaving her with complicated feelings.
She had no idea what kind of bewitching potion the original Huo Yuhao had fed this girl.
Unfortunately, she wasn't the original Huo Yuhao after all.
Qian Renxue felt even guiltier toward Jiang Nannan.
She shook her head. "I want to travel around the continent. You've already established yourself at the academy, Sister Nannan, so you should stay-"
Qian Renxue's words came to an abrupt halt before she could finish.
Jiang Nannan suddenly threw her arms around her and murmured in her ear, her voice tinged with grievance, "Yuhao, are you going to leave me behind?"
Feeling the girl's softness and the faint fragrance drifting into her nose, Qian Renxue froze, not knowing what to do with her hands or feet.
A blush spread from her neck to her cheeks, then climbed to the tips of her ears.
"What a sin!"
Qian Renxue closed her eyes in despair.
She might be a man now, but she was actually a woman at heart. To have her romance another girl-
Just thinking about it made Qian Renxue uncomfortable.
Forget it. If I don't make a clean break now, I'll only bring trouble upon myself! I should make things clear to Sister Nannan now, or she'll only be hurt worse in the future.
Qian Renxue steeled herself and pushed Jiang Nannan away. Wearing an apologetic expression, she made her voice as cold as she could. "Sister Nannan, I've always thought of you as my own older sister. I've never had any other feelings for you."
Jiang Nannan was bewildered.
She and Yuhao had already kissed and touched each other, yet now Yuhao was saying he only thought of her as his own older sister?
Jiang Nannan recalled how strangely "Huo Yuhao" had been acting lately and looked at him with concern. "Yuhao, has something gone a little wrong with your mind while you've been cultivating recently?"
Qian Renxue fell silent for a moment, then continued coldly, "I'm sorry, Sister Nannan. I have a deep-seated grudge in my heart. Before I take my revenge, I don't want to get caught up in romance."
Jiang Nannan was silent for a while. Seeing the resolve in Qian Renxue's eyes, she could only force down her disappointment. She gently straightened Qian Renxue's collar and said softly, "I know about the hatred in your heart. I'll support you. Since you've made your decision, I'll always wait for you."
Qian Renxue blinked, a little puzzled.
She had meant Tang San, but from what Jiang Nannan was saying, did the original owner of this body really have some deep-seated grudge to avenge?
She wanted to ask, but held herself back.
Just then, a mournful voice came from upstairs, enough to sadden anyone who heard it and bring tears to their eyes.
"No! Nannan!"
Xu Sanshi jumped down from upstairs and, with one careless move, fell to the ground in the wild goose landing on level sand pose.
Jiang Nannan turned around, frowning, her voice cool. "Xu Sanshi, how many times have I told you? We're not close. Don't call me by my name!"
"No-"
Xu Sanshi knelt on the bluestone pavement, one hand braced against the ground and the other reaching into empty air.
At that moment, it seemed as though heavy snow had begun to fall from the sky, and the north wind had blown straight into his heart.
Bei Bei silently approached from behind, took off his coat, and gently draped it over Xu Sanshi.
"Nannan, when did you get a boyfriend?"
Tang Ya passed the two of them and walked toward Jiang Nannan, curiosity and inquiry in her phoenix eyes. When she saw Qian Renxue, Tang Ya cried out in delight.
"Little Yuhao, it's you!"
Qian Renxue had a bad feeling.
Could the girl in front of her be another romantic debt the original had left behind?
Tang Ya excitedly rushed up to Qian Renxue, took Huo Yuhao's arm in both hands, and said in coquettish reproach:
"Little Yuhao, where on earth did you go? I couldn't find you anywhere!"
Then she put on a pitiful look and wheedled, "Do you know how I've gotten through these past two years without your grilled fish? I've been craving it so badly I could die!"
Jiang Nannan's gaze fell on the spot where Tang Ya was touching Qian Renxue. Her dark brows knitted slightly as she asked, puzzled, "Xiaoya, you know Yuhao?"
Tang Ya nodded. "Yes. I met Little Yuhao on the road two years ago. Let me tell you, her grilled fish smelled so good that I couldn't resist asking for two. Later, I saw that Little Yuhao was talented, so I wanted to lure him into the Tang Sect-"
Tang Ya gave Qian Renxue a resentful look as she spoke, then put her hands on her hips. "But Yuhao wouldn't agree no matter what. I even-"
"Ahem!" Tang Ya's face reddened, and she changed the subject. "Anyway, I pestered Little Yuhao for more than half a month, but he still wouldn't agree. Then he left a letter and secretly slipped away!"
Tang Ya's phoenix eyes were full of grievance as she glared at Qian Renxue again.
Something twitched inside Qian Renxue.
What the hell was with the original? He'd won a girl over with a meal of grilled fish?
Did that make any sense?
Did you mix an aphrodisiac into your grilled fish?
Was something wrong with her, or with this world?
Qian Renxue felt that the world ten thousand years later was a little crazy.
Jiang Nannan's gaze was inscrutable, her tone resentful. "Xiaoya, I think your heart must be connected to your stomach."
Bei Bei watched Tang Ya talking and laughing and turned to stone on the spot.
He silently took his coat back from Xu Sanshi's shoulders and draped it over himself.
It was a little cold, and it seemed to be snowing.