...
"Hey? Yanyan? Lingling? What brings you here?"
Xuan Hao, who was munching on a steak, looked up when he heard the door open.
He saw the angry Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling peeking out from behind her, and raised an eyebrow in surprise.
He casually grabbed a tissue to wipe his mouth and greeted them naturally:
"The Royal Fighting Team arrived so quickly?
Have you eaten yet?
If not, come and sit down and have something to eat.
The barbecue here is alright."
"Eat, eat, all you ever think about is eating!"
Although Dugu Yan had no appetite at all, she still strode over, pulled out a chair, and plopped down next to Xuan Hao.
She crossed her arms, her gaze sweeping over Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing with extreme hostility, before lowering her voice and gritting her teeth as she asked:
"Stop trying to fool me!
Tell me honestly, what's going on? Who are those two girls?"
Xuan Hao sighed helplessly.
He turned to look at Na'er, who was still engrossed in her food, and unhesitatingly passed the troublesome task of explaining to her:
"Na'er, you're so quick-witted, can you explain this to Yan Yan for me?"
"Huh?"
Na'er, with half a meatball still stuffed in her mouth, rolled her eyes in exasperation upon hearing this.
She swallowed the food with difficulty and gulped down a mouthful of juice. She was utterly speechless at her extremely philandering and scapegoating "brother".
But seeing Dugu Yan's murderous glare, Na'er patiently wiped her hands, cleared her throat, and began to explain:
"Sister Yan Yan, don't be so jealous yet."
Na'er pointed to the girl with the scorpion braid standing by the window, curiously observing them, and introduced her:
"The one with the rabbit ears is called Xiao Wu. She's not someone my brother just started dating recently; she's been a good friend of his for a long, long time."
"In the past few years, my brother and I have occasionally left Tiandou City to run some private business, which is actually to keep her company.
It's just that due to some special reasons, it's not convenient to reveal her identity to the outside world, so my brother has been keeping it a secret from you all."
Upon hearing that Xiao Wu was an "old acquaintance," and that even Na'er had known and accepted her for a long time, Dugu Yan's expression softened slightly.
"And the other one?"
Dugu Yan nodded, pointing to Zhu Zhuqing, who had a cool and aloof demeanor.
"The one in black is called Zhu Zhuqing. She is an agility-type Soul Master, also known as the Netherworld Cat that's been making headlines."
Na'er shrugged and continued, "We met her when we came to Soto City to find Rongrong a while ago.
My brother saw that she had good talent and strong perseverance, so he recruited her into our Tiandou Self-Improvement Association.
She's a new member, I guess."
At this point, Na'er abruptly changed the subject, a cunning glint flashing in her purple eyes.
She leaned closer to Dugu Yan, lowered her voice, and added a chillingly sarcastic remark in a tone that seemed to thrive on chaos:
"Of course, although it's nominally about recruiting new members..."
"But given Zhu Qing's extremely attractive figure and appearance, Sister Yan Yan, you can completely characterize Brother's behavior as—lust at first sight!"
Upon hearing Na'er's extremely blunt, even somewhat provocative, words, Zhu Zhuqing, who had been standing quietly by the window listening, instantly blushed with an alluring rosy hue on her usually cool and beautiful face.
She turned her face away somewhat awkwardly, avoiding Dugu Yan's extremely aggressive scrutinizing gaze.
However, despite being publicly labeled as "being lustful at first sight" by Na'er, Zhu Zhuqing surprisingly did not feel any aversion or resistance.
Because in the past few months of spending time together, she had already figured out Xuan Hao's temperament.
Xuan Hao appears arrogant and domineering on the surface, acting without any restraint, and even exuding an extremely domineering and aggressive nature at times.
But in reality, once you truly step into his life, you'll find that getting along with him is an extremely easy thing.
Most importantly, he is a person with a strong sense of boundaries.
Normally, if you ask him questions about cultivation, he will answer you with extreme patience and without reservation, and even point out your shortcomings incisively.
However, if you are focused on your own work or immersed in cultivation, he will never take advantage of his status or the favor he has shown you to disturb you, nor will he force you to give any response.
Looking back, when Xuan Hao casually stuffed that priceless top-grade immortal herb and that ten-thousand-year-old torso bone that would make even a titled Douluo envious into her hands, Zhu Zhuqing was actually extremely fearful and nervous.
She was terrified that Xuan Hao would be like those powerful figures in the Star Luo Empire, using this immense favor to blackmail her and force her to do things she didn't want to do.
However, in the following months, Xuan Hao's extremely natural and casual attitude completely dispelled these concerns.
He treated it as if he had given her two insignificant little toys, without making any excessive demands on her in the process.
This perfect balance of distance and respect allowed Zhu Zhuqing, who had always lived in a state of repression and calculation, to experience a long-lost sense of complete relaxation and peace.
Therefore, in addition to gratitude, she did feel a strange emotion towards Xuan Hao.
but...
Just thinking about the absurd, even chaotic, scene that had unfolded in Xuan Hao's room after nightfall recently made Zhu Zhuqing shudder involuntarily.
Although she had feelings for Xuan Hao, deep down she was still a traditional girl with a very thin skin.
To expect her to, like Ning Rongrong, Na'er, or even Xiao Wu, recklessly plunge into that absurd vortex...
She simply couldn't muster the courage!
What's even more troubling for her is that ever since Ning Rongrong, that "little witch," set her sights on her in the woods that day, she's been like a piece of chewing gum that she can't shake off.
Whether eating, resting, or watching the game, Ning Rongrong would always intentionally or unintentionally lean close to her ear, subtly and overtly probing her, even going so far as to blatantly "educate" her on the various "benefits" of joining that chaotic battle, trying to forcibly drag her into it as well.
"Zhuqing, why is your face so red?"
Just as Zhu Zhuqing was lost in thought, Ning Rongrong's pretty face, adorned with a sly smile, suddenly leaned closer.
She nudged Zhu Zhuqing lightly with her elbow, lowered her voice, and said with a mischievous grin in a volume only the two of them could hear:
"Did Na'er's words just now hit a nerve?
How about... I leave the door open for you tonight?"
"I..."
Zhu Zhuqing blushed deeply at Ning Rongrong's extremely explicit question, "Should I leave the door open for you?"
She turned her head away in a panic, her usually aloof eyes now darting around like a startled deer, completely at a loss for how to answer such an incredibly embarrassing question.
However, before she could catch her breath, another furry head landed on her other shoulder.
"Zhuqing..."
Xiao Wu's signature rabbit ears brushed lightly against Zhu Zhuqing's profile. Her voice was soft and sweet, but her words seemed to be soaked in some kind of extremely cunning "poison."
Over this period of time, Xiao Wu, the originally simple-minded rabbit, has obviously been completely "brainwashed" and "assimilated" by Ning Rongrong, that little witch.
Under Ning Rongrong's daily indoctrination of "first wife logic," Xiao Wu also felt that: Anyway, that big pervert Xuan Hao will definitely win over Zhu Qing in the future.
Rather than having everyone fight tooth and nail over favor later and damage their sisterly relationship, it's better to bring her into this circle now while everyone's relationships are still good, so she can get used to each other's presence.
So, Xiao Wu naturally leaned close to Zhu Zhuqing's other ear, her big eyes flashing with a sly light that seemed to come from someone who had been there before:
"Rongrong is right! It's bound to happen sooner or later anyway, so don't be so shy."
Xiao Wu breathed hot air into Zhu Zhuqing's ear in an extremely flirtatious tone:
"How about it? Do you need me to give you some... extremely valuable practical advice? My brother really likes it..."
"!!!"
Hearing Xiao Wu actually start saying such lewd and offensive words, Zhu Zhuqing was completely stunned, her beautiful cat eyes wide open.
She stared in disbelief at the girl with the scorpion braid who usually seemed so charming, cute, and innocent, her mind racing:
How did you become such a scoundrel?!
Little did Zhu Zhuqing know that Xiao Wu's true form was a soul beast that had lived for 100,000 years!
The reason Xiao Wu acted innocent and shy before was simply because she hadn't been in the human world for long, and she always wanted to maintain the image of a well-behaved younger sister in front of Xuan Hao.
But!
Once they became familiar with each other in private, and once that thin veil was lifted, Xiao Wu's true nature as a "mischievous rabbit" was completely unleashed!
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