"Really?" The girl's eyes brightened even more. She immediately turned to the vendor behind the stall and asked crisply, "Boss, how much is this necklace?"
The vendor was a middle-aged man. Seeing a customer, he quickly smiled and said, "You've got good taste, little girl! This is made from high-quality sapphire polished to perfection, and the chain is crafted from heavy silver. I'll give you a discount—twenty Gold Soul Coins!"
"Twenty Gold Soul Coins?" The girl stuck out her tongue and turned to the young man beside her, a troubled expression on her face.
Seeing this, the young man's expression shifted slightly. He then pulled the girl aside.
After a while, the girl walked back to the vendor's stall looking somewhat dejected.
The middle-aged man naturally noticed the disappointment in her eyes, but there was nothing he could do. His was a small business; he couldn't just give things away for free.
Although Tang San and Xiao Wu received Soul Master subsidies from the Spirit Hall, Tang San needed to forge Hidden Weapons, which was a significant expense. The two of them hadn't accumulated much money.
After deducting the application and tuition fees for Shrek Academy, they had less than fifty Gold Soul Coins left. They couldn't spend their money on this necklace!
Ning Rongrong watched the girl in pink and felt an inexplicable sense of closeness. Even though it was their first meeting, she found her particularly congenial and wanted to be friends with her.
She tugged at Su Yu's sleeve, signaling him to wait, then quickly walked over to the girl and gently patted her shoulder. "Hello there! I'm Ning Rongrong. What's your name?"
Ning Rongrong wore a sincere smile, her eyes curving like crescent moons.
The girl turned around and looked at this exquisitely dressed girl with a bright smile. Though puzzled, she also felt a strange familiarity, as if they had known each other for a long time.
She cheerfully smiled back, "Hello! I'm Xiao Wu!"
Ning Rongrong turned to the vendor behind the stall and decisively took twenty Gold Soul Coins from her Soul Guiding Device, placing them on the stall. "I'll take this necklace."
"Alright!" The vendor, delighted to make another sale, happily agreed. He quickly took out an elegant small box, carefully packaged the necklace, and handed it to Ning Rongrong.
Ning Rongrong took the box and directly passed it to Xiao Wu, beaming. "Xiao Wu, this is for you!"
Xiao Wu was taken aback and quickly waved her hands. "How can that be? It's too valuable. I can't accept it."
"No problem, no problem," Ning Rongrong insisted, pushing the box into her hands. "We've just met—consider it a greeting gift! I can see you really like this necklace."
Tang San stepped forward and cupped his hands toward Ning Rongrong. "Miss, thank you for your kindness, but this gift is too precious. We cannot accept it."
Ning Rongrong waved her hand dismissively and pointed to Su Yu and Xue Na, who had just walked over. "This is my Brother Husband Su Yu, and my good friend Xue Na. Do you not want to be friends with me?"
Seeing Xiao Wu still hesitating, Ning Rongrong gently patted the back of her hand. "Just accept it, or I'll get angry."
Xiao Wu looked into Ning Rongrong's sincere eyes, then at the necklace box in her hand. After a moment's hesitation, she finally blushed and said,
"Then... thank you, Rongrong!"
"You're welcome!" Ning Rongrong smiled even more brightly, "We're friends from now on!"
Xiao Wu nodded vigorously, the joy in her eyes impossible to conceal as she carefully put away the necklace box. Then she introduced to Ning Rongrong:
"This is my brother, Tang San."
Tang San also nodded toward Su Yu and Xue Na as a form of greeting.
Su Yu watched Ning Rongrong's enthusiastic demeanor with a tolerant smile in his eyes, while Xue Na also smiled at Xiao Wu.
"By the way, Brother Husband brought me and Nana to Suotuo City for school. Are you here for school too?"
Xiao Wu placed the necklace box into the small rabbit pouch at her waist and said with a smile:
"Yes, Xiao San and I are also here for school. Xiao San's teacher told us there's a Shrek Academy here that's perfect for us!"
Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up as if she'd heard a familiar name, and she quickly asked:
"Shrek Academy? Are you going to Shrek Academy too?"
Xiao Wu nodded, her face showing anticipation: "Yes."
"Xiao San's teacher said that although the academy has a strange name, the teaching is excellent and they only accept students with potential!"
"What a coincidence!" Ning Rongrong clapped her hands excitedly, "We're going to Shrek Academy too! Brother Husband said he'll take us outside the city to find it tomorrow!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Wu happily took Ning Rongrong's hand:
"So that's how it is. What amazing fate we have."
Su Yu watched the scene before him with a faint smile at the corner of his mouth, saying nothing more.
Xue Na also found it coincidental and said softly: "It seems we can travel together tomorrow."
"Yes, yes!" Xiao Wu held Ning Rongrong's hand as if she'd found a companion, chattering away.
"I heard from Xiao San that the academy is very strict. I wonder if we can get in..."
"Of course we can!" Ning Rongrong patted her chest confidently, "We're so capable, there's no problem at all!"
The two girls quickly became close, holding hands and talking.
"Oh!" Ning Rongrong suddenly remembered something and turned to ask Xiao Wu:
"Where are you staying? We're at the Rose Hotel."
"We're staying at a small inn just ahead, not far from here."
Xiao Wu pointed toward the alley ahead, "We can set off together for Shrek Academy tomorrow!"
"Great, great!" Ning Rongrong agreed immediately.
After exchanging a few more words, they parted ways at the intersection.
Watching Xiao Wu and Tang San's figures disappear at the alley entrance, Ning Rongrong excitedly told Xue Na:
"Nana, look! We made friends as soon as we arrived in Suotuo City. Xiao Wu is so nice!"
Xue Na smiled and nodded: "Yes, she's a lovely girl."
Su Yu walked beside them, listening to their conversation while gazing toward the direction outside the city.
The next morning—
As Su Yu led Ning Rongrong and Xue Na out the door, they saw a familiar pink figure standing at the intersection.
Xiao Wu was standing on her toes looking their way. When she saw them come out, she immediately waved her arms and called:
"Rongrong! Over here!"
"Xiao Wu!"
Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up as she pulled Xue Na along to quickly run over. The two girls hugged affectionately as soon as they met, their faces blooming with smiles.
Tang San stood beside Xiao Wu. Seeing Su Yu approach, he gave a slight nod in greeting. Su Yu also remained silent, returning the gesture with a slight nod.
Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu had already pulled Xue Na over to join them, and the three girls quickly began chattering away.
The group walked with light steps toward the city outskirts. The air outside the city was much fresher than inside, and the wild grass along the roadside was dotted with morning dew.
Xiao Wu suddenly turned back and called out to the two boys, "Hurry up! You're so slow!"
Ning Rongrong also turned around, waving at Su Yu, "Brother Husband, come quickly!"
--Enjoying the story? Want more chapters? Check out my Patreon and support me for 40+ advance chapters.
Just search for "QueenTL" on Patreon!"
Thanks!