At this moment.
Tang San, who was still fast asleep, heard a dull thud from the room next door, followed by Xiao Wu's low exclamation.
Tang San's heart tightened. Ignoring his own discomfort, he hurriedly stumbled over and pushed open the door.
He saw Xiao Wu wearing a set of pink pajamas, slumped awkwardly on the floor. Her brows were tightly furrowed, her cheeks flushed with an abnormal redness, and a light sweat clung to her temples.
She struggled to climb up, but her legs were trembling slightly, clearly weak and limp all over.
"Xiao Wu! What's wrong?"
Tang San asked urgently, instinctively reaching out to help her.
But he himself was at the end of his tether. His legs gave way, and instead of catching Xiao Wu, his center of gravity shifted, and he fell toward her.
Just as the two were about to collide, the door was suddenly pulled open with a creak. Fu Qin's tall figure appeared at the doorway. He reached out and caught Xiao Wu, pulling her steadily into his embrace, while his other hand supported Tang San's arm with a reassuringly firm grip.
"Careful." Fu Qin's voice carried the raspiness of someone who had just woken up. His gaze swept over Tang San's unsteady steps and Xiao Wu's flushed cheeks, an imperceptible hint of amusement flashing in his eyes. "Third Brother, didn't you rest well last night? And how did Sister Xiao Wu fall?"
Tang San's expression was a bit embarrassed. Avoiding Fu Qin's gaze, he said in a low voice, "Maybe I didn't sleep soundly last night, I'm a bit drained. Xiao Wu, she..."
Before he could finish, Xiao Wu bit her lip and said with slightly red eyes, "I... I accidentally twisted my ankle when I was getting out of bed, and my legs just gave out."
She deliberately straightened her back, trying to hide her body's soreness, but the lingering traces of passion in her eyes hadn't completely faded. Combined with her current fragile appearance, it only made her look more alluring.
Fu Qin looked down at the petite and exquisite girl in his arms. The faint scent of milk and a lingering hint of sweetness wafted to his nose—the very scent left behind from their bath together this morning.
He could clearly feel the delicate, firm skin under his palm and the slight tremors occasionally coming from the girl's body. He inwardly marveled that she truly lived up to her Innate Full Spirit Power constitution; even after a night of tossing and turning, she was still charming and vibrant.
"Twisted your ankle? Is it serious?" Fu Qin asked with feigned concern, applying a bit of strength to lift Xiao Wu in a bridal carry. "The floor is cold; let's get you back to bed first."
Xiao Wu naturally wrapped her arms around Fu Qin's neck, resting her cheek against his warm chest. Catching a glimpse of Tang San's unsightly expression out of the corner of her eye, a hidden smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
She could imagine Tang San's current mood. Last night, he was busy with women in his arms at the brothel, while she was finding pleasure in Fu Qin's embrace. Now that both were physically and mentally exhausted, they were quite a "match."
Tang San watched as Fu Qin carried Xiao Wu toward the bed, feeling inexplicably uncomfortable.
He wanted to step forward and say he would take care of her, but as soon as he took a step, he felt a wave of dizziness and almost fell again.
Fu Qin quickly supported him, his tone carrying a bit of teasing, "Third Brother, in your state, I'm afraid you can't even take care of yourself. You'd better rest first. I'll handle things here with Xiao Wu."
Tang San's face turned shades of green and white, but in the end, he helplessly sat down on a chair by the bed.
He could feel Xiao Wu's gaze on him, carrying a trace of an unusual emotion that he couldn't quite put his finger on.
He simply assumed Xiao Wu was angry because he hadn't returned last night, never realizing that the deep-seated dependence she once had for him had long since vanished from her eyes.
Xiao Wu leaned against the headboard, rubbing her ankle, and said coquettishly.
"Fu Qin, I've twisted my ankle quite badly. We're supposed to go to Shrek Academy later, but I'm afraid I won't be able to walk." As she spoke, her gaze drifted toward Tang San, intentionally or otherwise, clearly hinting at something.
Tang San originally wanted to say he would carry her, but then he remembered how he was currently swaying just by walking. If he tried to carry Xiao Wu, they would probably both tumble after a few steps, which would be even more embarrassing.
He opened his mouth but ultimately couldn't find the words.
Fu Qin immediately understood and said with a smile, "It's fine, I'll carry you on my back. We aren't too far from Shrek Academy anyway; we'll just take it slow."
Xiao Wu immediately showed a look of surprise and nodded obediently. "Then I'll have to trouble you, Fu Qin." She deliberately ignored Tang San's hesitant expression, feeling inwardly smug.
Letting Tang San watch her being carried by another man, seeing his powerless state—this was perhaps the best revenge for his betrayal last night.
Tang San sat to the side, watching Fu Qin pick up Xiao Wu. The girl's arms were tightly wrapped around Fu Qin's neck, her cheek pressed against his back, their posture eye-piercingly intimate.
A surge of inexplicable irritability rose in his heart. The heat from last night seemed to have returned, but his physical weakness left him powerless to change the situation.
He could only silently follow behind the two, staggering out of the Rose Hotel.
The road outside the city was not flat; the potholed dirt road was somewhat muddy.
Fu Qin carried Xiao Wu on his back, his steps steady and showing no signs of effort.
Xiao Wu's hands were wrapped around his neck, her chest pressed tightly against his back, allowing her to clearly feel his steady and powerful heartbeat.
She lowered her head slightly, the faint scent of vegetation on Fu Qin's body lingering at the tip of her nose. It was completely different from the scent of Blue Silver Grass on Tang San, yet it made her feel inexplicably at peace.
"Fu Qin, you're really strong," Xiao Wu said coquettishly, her finger accidentally brushing against Fu Qin's neck, sending a slight shiver through him.
Fu Qin chuckled, his voice full of mirth. "You're so light, carrying you is nothing. But Third Brother, are you okay? If not, let's take a break."
He looked back at Tang San, whose face was pale and whose forehead was already beaded with sweat, clearly struggling to keep up.
Tang San shook his head and said through gritted teeth, "I'm fine, I can make it."
He didn't want to show weakness in front of Xiao Wu, and even less did he want to be looked down upon by his own junior, Fu Qin.
But the exhaustion of his body hit him like a tide. The energy drained by the brothel women last night showed no signs of recovery, and every step felt like he was overdrawing his life.
Xiao Wu glanced at Tang San's wretched state, feeling no pity at all. Instead, a sense of gratification rose within her.
She buried her cheek deeper, her lips almost touching Fu Qin's ear, and said in a voice only the two of them could hear.
"Fu Qin, last night... you performed very well."
Fu Qin's body stiffened slightly before he replied in a low voice, "As long as Sister Xiao Wu is happy."
He could feel the girl's tenderness on his back and guess her current thoughts.
Tang San's betrayal had allowed Xiao Wu to completely let go, and he just happened to become her tool for revenge. However, he was more than willing to be that tool.
The three of them walked one after another, the atmosphere strange and subtle.
The intimate interaction between Fu Qin and Xiao Wu was like a thorn, stabbing deeply into Tang San's heart.
He wanted to question them, to get angry, but the words reached his lips only to be swallowed back down.
Last night he had indeed gone to the brothel and indeed betrayed Xiao Wu. What right did he have to criticize her now?
Half an hour later, a dilapidated village finally appeared ahead.
At the entrance of the village stood a crooked wooden sign with three large words painted in black—Shrek.