A few days later.
On the top floor of the Star Emperor Hotel, Huo Yuhao leaned on the railing, gazing at the vast palace in the distance.
The eastern sunlight pierced through the clouds, carrying a faint purple hue, and shone into Huo Yuhao's eyes, which seemed to hold a touch of melancholy within their depth.
This gave the capital of the Star Luo Empire a solemn atmosphere.
All the streets around Star Luo Plaza were blocked off by heavily armored taxi soldiers, especially near the Star Emperor Hotel, where thousands of soldiers were stationed.
The street leading from here to Star Luo Plaza has been completely cordoned off; only team members from various academies exiting the Star Emperor Hotel are allowed to pass through.
Huo Yuhao stretched and looked at the crowds lining both sides of the street. The longing and yearning in their eyes made him feel suffocated.
Suddenly, a voice sounded from behind.
" Yuhao, it's time to come downstairs for breakfast."
Wang Dong'er gently smoothed her loose hair, her brows furrowed with the unique adoration of a young girl.
Huo Yuhao nodded in agreement, then turned and walked downstairs.
Wang Dong'er took the opportunity to hug Huo Yuhao's arm, revealing a happy smile, as bright and beautiful as the last snowflakes melting in the spring.
The Star Emperor Hotel prepared a sumptuous breakfast for all participating academies, with plates of exquisite food displayed in the first-floor restaurant.
Huo Yuhao's empty plate was quickly filled with food that Wang Dong'er had taken from him. If he hadn't stopped her, she probably would have taken everything in the restaurant.
As champions, Shrek Academy enjoys special treatment; even when dining out, they don't have to squeeze into the main hall but instead have a private room.
The private rooms even have a top-notch chef who will immediately prepare any food requested in front of them.
At the dining table, Zhou Yi and the others were almost finished and were giving the inner court students final instructions.
"My beautiful lady, please try this Star Emperor Seafood Congee and see if it suits your taste." The chef smiled and carefully handed the congee to Xiao Xiao.
Xiao Xiao looked up and spotted Huo Yuhao, who had just come in and was about to sit down.
She immediately stood up, looking apologetic, and said, "I'm sorry, I suddenly don't have much of an appetite."
Without touching her food, she got up and walked towards the rest area on the other side.
Wang Dong'er frowned slightly, looking at Xiao Xiao had walked away with a puzzled expression, and said, "Is she sick?"
The chef looked at the freshly cooked seafood porridge in his hands, a troubled expression on his face, muttering to himself, "The defending champion is really hard to please."
The chef, holding the seafood porridge, could only sigh helplessly and prepare to throw the food away.
Huo Yuhao glanced at the seafood porridge in his hand, then at Xiao Xiao in the distance.
Xiao Xiao felt Huo Yuhao's gaze, and seemingly in a fit of pique, she turned her head away, refusing to look at Huo Yuhao again.
Huo Yuhao picked up the snacks from the plate, took a small bite, and said, "Give me that bowl of porridge. She hasn't been feeling well these past few days, please bear with her."
Hearing the sound, the chef immediately turned around, a smile spreading across his face. He handed over the seafood porridge, saying, "Oh, it's nothing, please try it. If you don't like it, I'll make it again for you."
Huo Yuhao waved his hand and said warmly, "I'm not picky about tastes. There shouldn't be anyone else in our academy, so we can just pack these things ourselves."
"Thank you so much. Please leave your food on the table when you're done, and someone will come to collect it. I won't bother you any longer."
The chef nodded enthusiastically, picked up a towel to wipe his hands, and then bowed and scraped as he left the private room.
Huo Yuhao pulled out a plate from the side and slowly divided the food on his plate into two plates.
Not long after.
Zhou Yi clapped her hands, signaling everyone to look at her, and said loudly, "Alright, everyone get ready, let's go."
Everyone immediately stood up, their faces beaming with excitement, clearly filled with anticipation.
Zhou Yi asked Wang Dong'er, "By the way, Wang Dong'er, how is your recovery going? If you're still feeling unwell, I can allow you to rest at the hotel with Xiao Xiao."
Wang Dong'er hugged Huo Yuhao, a happy smile on her face, " Teacher Zhou, I'm fine, I can go."
Zhou Yi nodded and said to Xiao Xiao, " Xiao Xiao, you should rest a little longer."
Xiao Xiao nodded politely, picked up the tea on the table, and took a sip.
Without hesitation, Zhou Yi immediately led everyone out.
Soon, everyone left the private room and headed to the competition venue, leaving Xiao Xiao alone in the room.
Xiao Xiao got up to go back to her room. As she passed the dining table, she noticed a plate of food and a bowl of seafood porridge sitting quietly there.
I walked over, and the plate of food contained all my favorite dishes. I reached out and touched the bottom of the porridge bowl, feeling a warmth on my fingertips, as if it had just been cooked.
Xiao Xiao stared at the food in front of her for a long time, hesitating in her heart. She didn't need to guess to know that Huo Yuhao had specially left it for her.
With a turn of her head, Xiao Xiao was about to leave, but at the very moment she turned the doorknob, she finally turned back to the dining table.
Tears, accompanied by soft swallowing sounds, echoed quietly in the room.
The sun slowly rose into the sky from the distant east, and the once quiet Star Luo City was instantly ignited.
Countless explosions and cheers rang out simultaneously, and people began to enter Star Luo Plaza from the direction of the older brother. Guided by the military, they converged into the square like long dragons.
On the high platform, a middle-aged man in a bright yellow robe and wearing an eight-treasure purple-gold crown stood with his hands behind his back, slowly walking towards the center of the main gate of the imperial city, which was also the best spot to watch the competition.
Behind him stood a woman in a light purple dress, with a beautiful face and a slender figure; her waist was so thin it seemed one could grasp it in one hand.
Her long, golden hair was neatly tied into a ponytail, and she wore a faint smile on her pretty face. Her beauty was so stunning that it seemed as if all the beautiful things in the world would pale in comparison.
Her bright azure eyes shone with a faint golden luster, and upon closer inspection, they evoked a sense of vastness, like the ocean.
"Hahaha, what a grand occasion! It's been so many years since we've had such a lively event. I've been waiting for this day for a full twenty years!"
"I wish I were twenty years younger so I could compete with these geniuses!"
Emperor Xu Jiawei of Star Luo Emperor sighed, looking at the orderly stream of people entering, and nodded in satisfaction.
Xu Jiujiu covered his mouth and chuckled, "Brother, you're still young. If you really want to have some fun, you can spar with the Duke one of these days."
Xu Jiawei laughed out loud, turned to look at his youngest and only sister, and joked, " Dai Hao is out of the question, I can't beat him. How about letting the Prince Consort's son, Huo Yuhao, spar with me? After all, he's also participating in the competition this year."
Xu Jiujiu's pretty face flushed slightly as she said, "Brother, you're joking again. How could Yuhao possibly beat you!"
Xu Jiujiu, she feigned a pitiful look and continued, "Please, be a magnanimous person and don't hold it against us children."
Xu Jiawei covered his head and chuckled softly, unsure of what to say about his sister.
"Alright, alright, I know you're protecting him, but I've heard he's got quite a few girls around him since he started school. If I find out he actually dares to do that, hmph!..." With that, he clenched his fist tightly.
Xu Jiujiu pretended to be angry and said, "Oh dear~ Royal brother, this is a private matter between Yuhao and me, so please don't worry about it."
"No? You've forgotten how good I was to you, my brother, now that you have a husband?..."
Xu Jiujiu covered her ears, looking like she wouldn't listen, so Xu Jiawei had no choice but to shut up.
It's because he dotes on his younger sister the most!
Xu Jiujiu stopped answering her and strode to the front, carefully looking in the direction the participating teams had entered.