"Ah, so tired."
Back in Douluo Continent, Su Xiaoqi stretched. He had truly experienced the enthusiasm of Cocoyasi Village people. If he hadn't told Zhu Zhuqing they had to leave early, he'd probably have been forced to drink more.
Zhu Zhuqing noticed his tiredness and asked gently, "Do you want to rest early?"
Su Xiaoqi smiled, "Let's first find Ning Rongrong and ask what happened today."
Hearing Su Xiaoqi's voice outside, Ning Rongrong hurriedly opened the door, excited, "Su Xiaoqi, Zhuqing, you're finally back! Come in!"
She had spent the whole day anxious, worried they'd leave without her. Now she was extremely happy.
Su Xiaoqi asked if anything happened at Shrek Academy today.
Ning Rongrong smiled but then frowned, recounting the day's events. Flandre lost all his money and was in a bad mood. When Ning Rongrong arrived, he immediately asked where Su Xiaoqi was. She told him Su Xiaoqi had a reason to leave early with Zhu Zhuqing's family visitors, and he just told them to come back to school soon.
Meanwhile, Dai Mubai was very nervous after hearing this, repeatedly asking Ning Rongrong if she knew who came from Zhu Zhuqing's family and if there were others.
Ning Rongrong was naturally cold to Dai Mubai and dismissed him with "I don't know."
That day's class was simple—just eating sausages made by Oscar, as in the original story.
Ning Rongrong didn't want to eat them at first, but Flandre said these were Su Xiaoqi's favorite sausages, so she forced herself to eat.
Flandre asked Ning Rongrong to tell them Su Xiaoqi and Zhu Zhuqing would be going to the Star Dou Great Forest in two days to help Oscar get the third soul ring. If they returned in time, they could join.
Su Xiaoqi frowned. Originally, the story had them leaving the next day. Seems the timeline shifted because of their interference.
The Titan Giant Ape would definitely appear, but he was unsure if Tang San's Eight Spider Spears and Meng Yiran would still appear. These all meant points for him.
Since he was with Zhu Zhuqing now, he had to get more points to redeem rewards. After he finished gathering all possible bonuses in Douluo Continent, he'd bring Zhu Zhuqing to his world to live.
Ning Rongrong asked if they had plans in two days, saying if they wouldn't go, she wouldn't either.
Su Xiaoqi smiled, "Of course we're going. We want to leave them some good memories."
They chatted a bit more, then Su Xiaoqi and Zhu Zhuqing returned to their room.
Su Xiaoqi strapped on his gear and said, "Zhuqing, I'm heading back now. If nothing special happens tomorrow, I won't come."
Zhu Zhuqing stared him down and said, "You want to abandon me?"
No wonder she worried. They just confirmed their relationship today, but he wasn't making time for her, even didn't want to see her. This made her start believing Nami's warnings.
"Don't be silly," Su Xiaoqi touched her hair and smiled, "I'm preparing for the trip to Star Dou Great Forest in two days. Also..." He leaned close and whispered, "Next time I come, I'll bring several sets of clothes. Let's live together for a while to prepare for the future."
Zhu Zhuqing's ears blushed red. She looked down shyly, "Even if we live together, I still won't sleep with you."
"Don't listen to the nonsense Nami tells you. You're tired too, go rest early."
Su Xiaoqi kissed her cheek quickly, then returned to his own world.
Zhu Zhuqing smiled happily, touching where he kissed.
She thought: "Dai Mubai, for Xiaoqi's sake, I'll cut all ties with you."
She recalled the engagement with Dai Mubai and grew cold. She planned to settle that in the Star Dou Great Forest in two days.
---
Meanwhile, Su Xiaoqi, who hadn't returned to his world for two days, happily hummed while showering. He had finally escaped singlehood—now he had a girlfriend!
Lying in bed, he planned how to get rid of Dai Mubai without being noticed. Killing him wasn't hard; avoiding discovery was.
He dared not risk the "Shrek Academy" story mission ending early if Dai Mubai died.
Dai Mubai's death might affect the Douluo Continent plot slightly, but as long as Tang San lived, Zhu Zhuqing could still trigger missions.
Su Xiaoqi knew he and Tang San could never be friends. Naming Zhu Zhuqing had already angered Xiao Wu, and once Yu Xiaogang arrived, he'd definitely clash with him. Tang San would brand him "seeking death."
He decided when they completely fell out, he'd tell Tang San and Xiao Wu "You're seeking death."
"Forget it, I'll think about this tomorrow."
Just as Su Xiaoqi opened the chat group to say goodnight to Zhu Zhuqing, two familiar notifications popped up:
[Ding! Kaito Kuroba has joined the chat!]
[Ding! Tokisaki Kurumi has joined the chat!]
"What the heck…"
Su Xiaoqi's sleepiness vanished. No time for sleep now—it was party time.
---
**Chat Group Messages:**
[Lu Linglong]: Oh, new members!
[Nami]: I wonder what kind of people joined this time. @Su Xiaoqi, do you know?
[Sakata Gintoki]: Why don't you ask Gin-san?
[Lu Linglong]: Aren't you drunk?
[Sakata Gintoki]: Just kidding. Gin-san is not like Sakuragi. Gin-san's tolerance and digestive system are very good.
[Nami]: Speak human language. Do you know these two?
[Sakata Gintoki]: @Kaito Kuroba, Kid-sama, Gin-san wants to learn your disguise, voice changing, and escape skills. Then Gin-san can eat for free next time.
[Sakata Gintoki]: If possible, Gin-san also wants to learn stealing skills. Gin-san wants to become Edo's great thief.
[Nami]: So this Kaito Kuroba is a thief like me?
[Sakata Gintoki]: No no, his stealing skills are on a whole different level, like the difference between a normal person and a Saiyan.
[Lu Linglong]: Wow, that powerful? Who's the other one, Tokisaki Kurumi?
[Zhu Zhuqing]: I know her.
Zhu Zhuqing looked complicatedly at the Tokisaki Kurumi figure on screen. Comparing the avatar, they were 99.99% alike.
[Su Xiaoqi]: "Yowamushi Pedal till the end, Tokisaki Kurumi, forever and ever."
[Zhu Zhuqing]: ???
[Lu Linglong]: ???
[Nami]: ???
[Sakata Gintoki]: Oh no! Su Xiaoqi is cheating! Zhuqing, Gin-san can do any service if the points are enough. Even Super Saiyans are done for.