[Su Xiaoqi:** @Zhu Zhuqing, how was my performance? Look at their faces now—especially Dai Mubai, his face is practically green. I could barely hold back from laughing.]
**[Zhu Zhuqing:** How can you be so bad? But… thank you. That felt really satisfying.]
**[Su Xiaoqi:** Oh, this is just the beginning. If I stayed here long-term, I'd probably tear Shrek Academy down brick by brick.]
**[Lu Linglong:** You two seem to be having so much fun. I'm really jealous.]
**[Gintoki Sakata:** Gin-san doesn't care about the rest. Gin-san just wants to know—what does Zhuqing look like in real life?]
**[Su Xiaoqi:** One word—**perfection.**]
**[Gintoki Sakata:** How perfect?]
**[Su Xiaoqi:** Darkly perfect.\*\*
**[Gintoki Sakata:** ??? Masaka… don't tell me you actually opened your heart to Zhuqing-chan?]
**[Su Xiaoqi:** Haha! Only you would catch that reference, Gin-san.]
**[Lu Linglong:** What are you two talking about? So cryptic.]
**[Su Xiaoqi:** Nothing much. Oh, by the way, want to try some local sausage from Douluo Continent? Super fragrant and tasty. Zhuqing just scarfed down several sticks.]
**[Zhu Zhuqing:** …\*\*
**[Hanamichi Sakuragi:** Brother Su, I want one.]
**[Lu Linglong:** Me too! I want to try food from another world.]
**[Su Xiaoqi:** Hanamichi! You finally spoke. But why are you calling me "big bro"?]
**[Hanamichi Sakuragi:** Yohei said you're really strong and told me to get along with you. Plus, you're older than me anyway.]
**[Su Xiaoqi:** You're too honest, man. By the way, have you enrolled in Shohoku High yet?]
**[Hanamichi Sakuragi:** Just graduated from middle school. Brother Su, can you teach me how to chase girls?]
**[Su Xiaoqi:** That's it? Piece of cake. I'm a little busy now though. But listen—step one to chasing girls: play basketball. And get a buzz cut.]
**[Hanamichi Sakuragi:** Got it! Thanks!]
**[Su Xiaoqi:** Time's about up. I've sent out the sausages via red packet—one for everyone, enjoy! Let's chat more later.]
---
Zhu Zhuqing watched as Su Xiaoqi sneakily handed out sausages in the group chat and whispered:
> "Let's see what you'll do when they find out **how** those sausages were made."
Su Xiaoqi grinned.
> "No worries. Maybe they'll all love them. Anyway, we've been out on our 'bathroom break' long enough. Let's go back and check in."
Zhu Zhuqing habitually looped her arm around Su Xiaoqi's and teased:
> "For someone so smooth with girls, you sure claim to have never had a girlfriend. Liar."
Su Xiaoqi chuckled bitterly.
> "All I've got is theory. And come on—after seeing the storyline, chasing someone is way too easy. It's a huge advantage."
Zhu Zhuqing gave a soft snort.
> "I don't believe you. You're full of tricks."
---
When Su Xiaoqi and Zhu Zhuqing returned to the others, Ning Rongrong immediately rushed over.
> "Su Xiaoqi, I've made up my mind—I don't want to study here anymore. This place is way too scary."
Su Xiaoqi glanced ahead at Tang San and Xiao Wu. Xiao Wu was still trying to persuade Tang San to leave, while Tang San stayed silent.
As for Dai Mubai, the fool, he stood with arms crossed to the side, clearly annoyed and brooding.
At this point, Su Xiaoqi had two choices:
* Take Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong and **quit Shrek Academy**, or
* Stay and continue **stirring the pot** according to the original storyline.
Either choice would earn him system points. But after some thought, he opted for the latter.
The points weren't the priority—**time** was. He and Zhu Zhuqing needed time to grow stronger. Once they had power, they could do whatever they wanted. For now, sticking to the plot was the safer route—and he could still sabotage the others' fateful opportunities along the way.
> "Rongrong, Zhuqing and I talked a bit earlier. She doesn't want to give up halfway. Yeah, it's dangerous, but she wants to see it through."
> "And thinking about it… she's got a point. Sure, the graduation rate is low—but who says **we** can't be among the ones who make it?"
> "Plus, what I said before—those were just my own guesses. Maybe that senior misremembered."
> "You're just a young girl. Running around alone could be even more dangerous. Why don't you at least stay and check out the **final test** before deciding?"
Ning Rongrong lowered her head, lost in thought.
Just then, Tang San stepped up to Su Xiaoqi and smiled.
> "Friend, you make a good point. I've decided—I'll stay for now too."
> "Brother…"
Xiao Wu panicked at his words. But before she could continue, Tang San gently patted her head and said with a smile:
> "Xiao Wu, if I don't even have this bit of courage, then I'll never accomplish anything in life."
> "Don't worry. No matter what danger we face, I'll protect you. If anyone wants to hurt you, they'll have to step over my dead body first."
Xiao Wu leapt into his arms.
> "Brother, you're the best. If you're staying, I'll stay too!"
Su Xiaoqi watched this display and felt goosebumps rise all over.
> "Tang San, you've lived for over **40 years** if you count both lifetimes. How are you still sweet-talking a little girl with a straight face?"
> Then again… that rabbit is probably **way older** than Tang San in spirit years…
Just then, Dai Mubai looked over toward them. Su Xiaoqi turned to Zhu Zhuqing and said loudly:
> "Zhuqing, will you always protect me? You know I can't live without you…"
Zhu Zhuqing's face darkened. *You're the one who's supposed to be the Saiyan protector here.* She pinched his arm, but replied sweetly:
> "Yes. Unless I die first."
Su Xiaoqi imitated Xiao Wu's soft voice:
> "Zhuqing, you're the best. Wherever you go, I'll follow."
> "What a loser," Dai Mubai cursed in his heart. *I will take Zhu Zhuqing back—and I'll do it right in front of Su Xiaoqi's smug face.*
Just then, Ning Rongrong looked up.
> "Su Xiaoqi… I'll listen to you. I'll stay and see how it goes."
Dai Mubai finally spoke:
> "Since you've all decided, follow me."
---
Led by Dai Mubai, the group arrived at an open training field. There sat a **middle-aged man**, dozing in a chair.
Su Xiaoqi and Zhu Zhuqing both recognized him: **Zhao Wuji**, one of Shrek Academy's teachers.
Unlike the original story, Dai Mubai didn't immediately call him out loud. Instead, he walked up and gently nudged Zhao Wuji awake, then whispered something into his ear.
As the others watched, Zhao Wuji's face first lit up in excitement—then turned grim. Once Dai Mubai finished whispering, Zhao Wuji stood up.
> "I'm your final test examiner. My name is Zhao Wuji. My spirit power is at **Level 76**, and my spirit is the **Vigorous Vajra Bear**."
> "If you can pass this, you'll be accepted into Shrek Academy."
> "You have **one incense stick's worth of time**."
He then pointed to Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong.
> "The three of you will fight me together. As long as **one** of you lasts **half** an incense stick's time under my attacks, you pass."
> "As for the other two, your test is to fight **Dai Mubai**. Last an incense's time or beat him, and you pass."