Chapter 59: Zhu Zhuqing Can Be Shy Too
The private room door opened, and a curvy young girl in a black leather outfit stepped inside.
"Zhuqing, what brings you here?" Zu Zong asked.
Zhu Zhuqing shot Zu Zong a glare, thinking to herself—I came all this way because I was worried you might've gotten hurt, and here you are getting all cozy with that damn rabbit the moment I arrive.
She replied coldly, "Nothing much. Just came to check whether you were dead yet."
Noticing Zhu Zhuqing's gaze, Zu Zong glanced out of the corner of his eye at Xiao Wu, who was still hanging from his neck. His expression turned awkward as he quickly unwrapped her arms.
Xiao Wu stuck her tongue out at Zhu Zhuqing before finally letting go with a pout.
Zu Zong took Zhu Zhuqing by the hand, and the two walked out of the private room. Smiling, he said, "Wife, don't you trust your man? I crushed that little tiger cub from start to finish—I didn't even break a sweat."
Zhu Zhuqing's fair face flushed red, and like a puffed-up kitten, she punched Zu Zong hard in the arm with her tiny fists.
"Hmph! Who—who's your wife? Don't talk nonsense, I haven't agreed to anything yet!"
It was the first time Zu Zong had seen this shy side of the little wildcat. Unable to help himself, he pulled her into his arms and whispered by her ear, "In this lifetime, you're mine. You'll never get away."
"Mm." Zhu Zhuqing nodded, her face blushing furiously.
Looking at her tempting, delicate lips in his arms, Zu Zong couldn't help but gulp.
With no one around and the atmosphere just right, how could he—reborn twice—let his first kiss slip away again?
Thinking this, Zu Zong tightened his embrace. Zhu Zhuqing seemed to sense what was coming and slowly closed her eyes. Her breathing quickened, her face deepened in color, and even the skin of her neck was dusted in pink.
The two embraced tightly. He gently lifted her blushing face—first kissing her forehead, then her eyes, then the tip of her nose. Finally, he could no longer resist the temptation, and leaned in to kiss the soft lips he had long yearned for.
Their lips gradually drew closer, eyelashes nearly brushing.
Feeling the warmth of Zu Zong's breath, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly recalled the vivid, dreamlike fantasy she'd had not long ago. It had felt so real, so beautiful, so much like this very moment. Back then, it had been interrupted by Ning Rongrong—but this time, surely no one would get in the way… right?
Unfortunately, reality loves to ruin such moments—especially the ones people want most.
"What are you two doing?! In broad daylight—shame on you!"
It was Xiao Wu.
The moment Zu Zong had left the private room with Zhu Zhuqing, she had secretly followed, curious about what they might say to each other. She never imagined they were actually about to—that! She might have begrudgingly accepted Zhu Zhuqing's existence, but for her, Xiao Wu, to have never received Zu Zong's first kiss—how could that big-busted woman be the one to get it?
Hearing her voice, Zhu Zhuqing's first reaction was disappointment, but what followed was overwhelming shame. To have someone witness something like this—it was mortifying. Without another word, she fled.
Zu Zong sighed and rubbed his forehead helplessly. So close. Just a little more…
Why did it have to be Xiao Wu?
If it had been someone like Dai Mubai, he swore he'd beat them until their own mother couldn't recognize them.
Looking at Xiao Wu's flustered and angry expression, Zu Zong found it both amusing and exasperating. He patted her on the head and said with a wry smile, "Alright, alright, don't be mad. How about a deluxe one-week carrot feast?"
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up. The frustration she'd felt over Zu Zong "cheating" vanished instantly. "Two weeks—no, one month!"
"Alright, alright, one month it is. You little glutton."
As he spoke, Zu Zong turned to chase after Zhu Zhuqing—he still had something to give her.
With soul power gathering beneath his feet, he used the Instant Step Technique and vanished from the corridor in the blink of an eye.
All that was left was Xiao Wu, who snapped out of it and stomped her feet on the spot in frustration.
Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuqing had already rushed out of the Soto City Great Spirit Arena, where the rest of the Shrek team was already waiting.
From a distance, Ning Rongrong saw her and waved, "Zhuqing, Zhuqing—we're over here!"
Zhu Zhuqing glanced at Ning Rongrong, then scanned the group. Everyone was present, even Dai Mubai, who had already regained consciousness and was standing off to the side.
Though his injuries had improved, his spirit looked utterly defeated. His physical wounds might heal quickly, but the damage to his pride would take much longer.
Taking a deep breath, Zhu Zhuqing tried to steady her flustered heart, still stirred by the earlier embarrassment. She walked over to Ning Rongrong with a smile. "I'm fine. Let's go back to the academy."
Ning Rongrong gave her a suspicious look. Did she just go meet her little boyfriend or something?
With that thought, the gossip-loving fire in Ning Rongrong's heart was reignited. "Zhuqing, why is your face so red?"
Zhu Zhuqing's expression froze. She quickly explained, "I ran too fast… That's all."
"Oh, I see! Don't worry, I get it, I get it." Ning Rongrong grinned meaningfully.
Their conversation left the newly arrived Meng Yiran slightly confused. She asked, "Rongrong, what are you two talking about?"
Meng Yiran had only just joined Shrek Academy that day, so Ning Rongrong didn't feel comfortable explaining the details of a private chat between close friends.
And even if she wanted to, she'd need Zhu Zhuqing's permission first. So she brushed it off, saying, "It's nothing. Zhuqing just said today's fight wore her out, so she's heading back to rest."
Just then, from the direction of the Spirit Arena gates, a voice called out again.
"Zhuqing! Zhuqing—!"
The Shrek group turned to look and saw a young man walking toward them.
He looked around twelve or thirteen years old—about the same age as the others. He was over 1.7 meters tall and wore a sleek black outfit. On the back of it was a distinctive flaming fan emblem. His long silvery-blue hair reached past his shoulders, his skin was fair, and his features were exceptionally handsome.
It was Zu Zong, here to find Zhu Zhuqing.
In truth, he had arrived mere moments after she left the arena. But not wanting to embarrass her, he'd quickly changed into his usual clothes.
After all, he had just beaten Dai Mubai to a pulp, and as a fellow Shrek student, he'd definitely be seen as an outsider. Not that Zu Zong cared—but the little wildcat still had to stay with Shrek for a while.
Ma Hongjun glanced at Zu Zong. Damn, he's actually that good-looking. Envious, he leaned toward Dai Mubai and said, "Whoa, Boss Dai, that handsome guy over there came looking for Zhuqing. He definitely knows her. And man, he's got a face even prettier than yours and Oscar's. You're in danger."
Dai Mubai shot Ma Hongjun a glare. "Mind your own damn business."
Though his injuries weren't too severe, he still had several bruises. Every movement stung with a burning pain. Otherwise, he would've already gone over to punch Zu Zong on the spot.
As for Oscar, the more he looked, the more Zu Zong resembled that Uchiha Zong who had wrecked Dai Mubai in the Spirit Arena—just without the mask and in different clothes. But unsure, he stayed silent; it'd be awkward if he was wrong.
Ning Rongrong, meanwhile, froze for a second. Staring at the familiar figure before her, she finally remembered—this Uchiha Zong was the same person she had encountered a while back at the mask vendor.
No wonder she'd found him familiar during the match against Dai Mubai. Turns out that flaming fox mask had been bought by him!
[End of Chapter]
Hey readers! If you're eager to dive into advanced chapters, consider joining our Patreon. By joining, you'll get access to 20 chapters ahead and enjoy 8 new chapters per week. Plus, we have 8 more exciting fics with the same chapter release rate, giving you a total of 64 chapters per week! Join now and keep the adventure going!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/anish_44