Chapter 251: After This Meal, Back to Work!
"Hmm... do you think we'll make it in time?" Ping Xinyan tiptoed slightly, gazing at the long queue in front of her. Wrinkling her cute little nose, she tugged at her boyfriend's hand. "Why are there so many people now? When I came before, it wasn't nearly this busy!"
She still remembered two months ago when she visited Qin Yuezhu, who had brought her to this restaurant, Small Shop, for a meal. Back then, there wasn't such a long line.
"I told you, this place is really popular now. That's why I said we should get up earlier," Qin Yuezhu replied, exasperation evident in his tone. He gently reached out to fix the messy bangs on the girl's forehead. "But someone just couldn't get out of bed and stayed under the covers until the sun was high in the sky."
"Hmph!"
Ping Xinyan puffed out her slightly chubby cheeks, adding an extra dose of cuteness to her already sweet demeanor.
It's because you smell so nice, hugging you makes me not want to let go.
Her thoughts made her cheeks flush red.
She knew it was her reluctance to leave the bed that caused them to be late.
But!
Fairies don't make mistakes!
So…
"You're such a dummy, Silly Zhu. You scolded me!"
"When did I scold you?" Qin Yuezhu looked utterly baffled at his girlfriend.
"You just did!"
Blinking a few times, Qin Yuezhu suddenly broke into a smile. He leaned down and planted a soft kiss on Ping Xinyan's rosy cheek. "Okay, okay, I was wrong. Forgive me?"
"Alright, I forgive you." Ping Xinyan's eyes sparkled with a mischievous gleam as she swayed happily on the spot.
Ah, how wonderful!
…
"Bro, why do I suddenly feel like my teeth are aching?" Zhang Mo nudged his older brother Zhang Ji, a peculiar expression on his face as he whispered using sound transmission.
The two of them were standing right in front of the couple in the queue and could hear every word of their conversation loud and clear, thanks to their keen hearing.
Even the crisp "smooch" from Qin Yuezhu's kiss was as clear as day…
Zhang Ji kept his expression as neutral as possible, though the faint trace of awkwardness in his eyes was impossible to conceal. His lips moved slightly as he transmitted a reply to his brother.
"I heard that after Shrek Academy's Sea God Fated Blind Date Festival, the academy's inner court disciples will join the new Inspection Corps. We can take a break from our missions with the Tang Sect's Inspection Corps. The Sect Master might even organize a matchmaking event like the Sea God Fated Blind Date Festival. What do you think… should we participate?"
"Uh…" Zhang Mo rubbed his square, dark, and rugged face before nodding enthusiastically. "Yes! If that pretty boy can find such an adorable girlfriend, then surely we can too!"
"Absolutely," Zhang Ji agreed wholeheartedly as his twin brother.
…
Ping Xinyan and Qin Yuezhu's luck wasn't bad. Despite being late, they managed to get to the front of the line before the restaurant closed for the day.
Although they had to stand for a long time, the little interactions between the couple made the time fly by, and neither of them felt impatient.
Their eyes fixed only on each other, they failed to notice that the pair of brothers in front of them had left the queue at some point.
After all, the reason the brothers came to Small Shop was simply to fill their growling stomachs, and the wait had proven too long to bear.
"Now that we're full, why are we still standing in line? I, Zhang Ji/Zhang Mo, take my leave!"
<+>
"Xinyan, didn't the Small Shop owner open a restaurant in Star Luo City during the Advanced Spirit Master Academy Fighting Tournament recently? Didn't you get a chance to eat there?" Qin Yuezhu asked.
"Huh?" Ping Xinyan was momentarily stunned, but her expression quickly turned into one of regret. "Our team leader this time was Old Devil Zou—the one I told you about before. During the competition, he had us cooped up in the hotel every day, practicing. We weren't allowed to step outside at all. He kept saying, 'Slackness is the root of all evil. Every second must be spent honing your skills to achieve better results for the academy.'"
Ping Xinyan pouted, her voice filled with resentment. "And in the end? We didn't even beat Star Luo Royal Academy, let alone Shrek! If I'd known, I would've just gone sightseeing instead!"
The Heaven Dou Royal Academy, as the finest advanced spirit master academy in the Heaven Dou Empire, was in no way inferior to Star Luo Royal Academy in terms of teaching resources. In previous tournaments, their goal had always been to defeat Star Luo Royal Academy and secure second place.
As for surpassing Shrek to claim the championship—well, that was just wishful thinking.
Failing to meet even that modest goal, Ping Xinyan couldn't help but think it might have been better if the students had been allowed to relax and enjoy themselves.
Now that she had left the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, she felt no qualms about voicing her grievances against her former teacher. Thinking back to how Small Shop had been in Star Luo City during the tournament but was out of reach due to Old Devil Zou's strict rules, Ping Xinyan's regret deepened.
Qin Yuezhu gently pulled her close, his arm wrapping around her shoulders in a comforting gesture, though his expression turned a little peculiar.
This "Old Devil Zou" had been the subject of countless complaints from Ping Xinyan. Strict, unyielding, and absolutely no-nonsense, he was a teacher who had earned the discontent of many students at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
"Don't worry. I brought plenty of money today, so we'll eat something really nice," he said, ruffling her long hair lovingly. "And now that you've moved to Shrek City, we can come here as often as we want."
"That won't do!" Ping Xinyan shot him a playful glare and shook her head. "The food here is way too expensive. Eating here all the time would cost a fortune."
Her gaze softened as she looked at her beloved boyfriend, a serious glint appearing in her eyes. "Even though our families are relatively well-off, as capable spirit masters, we shouldn't keep relying on them for money."
"I've already decided. Since I'm going to be staying here long-term, I'll find a suitable job to earn my own money. Starting this afternoon!" Ping Xinyan's eyes sparkled with determination.
"After this delicious meal, I'm off to work hard!"
"Why are you just staring at me and not responding?" she pouted when her bold declaration was met with silence. Her delicate finger poked at Qin Yuezhu's cheek, her dissatisfaction evident.
"Huh?" Snapping out of his daze, Qin Yuezhu turned his gaze away from Small Shop's door. He extended a finger and gently tapped her pouting lips, smiling helplessly as they returned to their original shape. "Xinyan, I think your idea is great, but… don't you think spirit masters moving bricks is a bit of a waste of talent?"
"I was just joking!" Ping Xinyan placed her hands behind her back and leaned forward slightly. The graceful curves of her figure were visible even through her clothes. "Of course I'm not really going to move bricks. I just don't know exactly what I'll do yet..."
"In that case, I have a suggestion," Qin Yuezhu said, pointing toward where his gaze had wandered earlier.
"What do you think about this?"
<+>
if you want to see more chapters of this story and don't mind playing $5 per month to see my latest update, please go to my Patreon[1]
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/collection/67255?view=condensed[2]
Latest Chapter in Patreon: Chapter 345: This Boy—He Must Not Be Allowed To Live![3]
Link to the latest chapter: https://www.patreon.com/posts/131359207[4]
[1] https://www.patreon.com/collection/67255?view=condensed
[2] https://www.patreon.com/collection/67255?view=condensed
[3] https://www.patreon.com/posts/131359207
[4] https://www.patreon.com/posts/131359207