âHavenât you heard of Shrekâs Sea Godâs Fated Date Festival?â Xie Xieâs wide eyes drilled into Tang Wulinâs. âI heard if you are in the inner court and are of a certain age, youâll qualify to participate in the festival. Itâs a grand occasion for everyone in the inner court! Even us outer court students can catch glimpses of it later.Iâm not sure about the details, but apparently the festival has been held ten thousand years straight! Countless couples sprang up there. Legend has it the Spirit Ice Douluo and the Dragon Butterfly Douluo started dating at this festival!â
Tang Wulin was not amused. âYouâre already thinking about those things at your age? Weâre too young for that stuff. Besides, you have to get into the inner court first if you want to participate! We still have a long ways to go, you know? Think about the student number two who beat you into a pulp during the trials. Heâs that strong and heâs not even an inner court student.â Â
âIâll figure it out once I have a target. And we definitely have a shot at making it into the inner court if we give it our all.â Xie Xie bounced up and down from his seat.
Tang Wulin smiled, raising his cup. âCongratulations everyone! Weâve made it into Shrek Academy. Letâs consider this a late celebration.â
Gu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan perked up when they heard Tang Wulinâs words, their ice cream forgotten on the table. The four exchanged smiles. Not just anyone can get accepted into Shrek Academy!
Calling it the continentâs number one academy was no understatement. Merely the entrance exam alone tested so many aspects: strength, potential, secondary profession, character, and patience among other things. It was a thoroughly comprehensive exam. Failing a single trial would have greatly hindered their chances of making it into the academy. \nYet now, they sat there as students of Shrek Academy. Wu Zhangkong and Eastsea Academy hadnât wasted their time grooming the four afterall.
Expectation filled their hearts. They all wondered what they would learn here at Shrek Academy, and just how different it would be from a mundane academy such as Eastsea Academy.
âWaitress, over here!â During the fourâs celebration, the person at the table next to them shouted.
They turned a deaf ear to the commotion, but that was only the beginning.
âGive me your number.â The strangerâs words were coated with arrogance.
Who dares to be so demanding in Shrek Academy?
Tang Wulin and the others turned to check out who this self-important person was.
A Â young man sat at a neighboring table. He didnât wear a Shrek Academy uniform, and instead accentuated his handsome features with a white suit. He seemed about one or two years older than Tang Wulin and his group. His hair was reminiscent of spun gold, combed back and held in place with some product, not one hair out of place. Â
A strange air exuded from the depths of his mystical golden eyes, as if his existence itself radiated light.
Of all the customers in the drink shop, only Tang Wulin could rival this person in the looks department. Even so, Tang Wulin was no match for the golden-haired young manâs overbearingness.
The waitress stood in front of him. She wore a long black skirt and a white apron. She had jade-white skin, short fiery-red hair, and a pair of large and beautiful black eyes. Her beauty made men want to protect her.
âIâm sorry, that is out of the scope of my job responsibilities,â she politely responded.
âThen what will it take for me to get your number?â he asked.
The waitress shook her head and turned around to leave. \nâWhat kind of service is this? Get me your manager.â The man slammed his palm on the table, instantly attracting the eyes of the surrounding customers. Yet for some reason, those wearing the Shrek Academy uniform averted their gazes when they saw it was this young man making the commotion.
âPlease wait a moment.â After saying this, the waitress scurried off.
A few moments later, a middle-aged man came forward to the table. âSir, may I ask what the problem is? I am the manager of this drink shop.â
âGive me her communicator number.â The young man pointed at the waitress.
The manager made a regretful face. âMy apologies, but I cannot divulge the private information of the staff.â
The young man raised a brow. âThen what do I need to do to get her number?â
âIâm sorry that we canât help you. Please donât make things difficult for us. I canât tell you her private information no matter what.â The managerâs tone was polite, but firm.
The pressure within the shop increased tenfold.âGet me your boss.â
Though the manager hesitated, brows dipping, he nodded in the end. âPlease wait a moment.â He turned around and left.
True to his word, the manager returned soon after, a richly-dressed middle-aged man in tow.
âSir, how can I help you?â
âI want that waitressâs number.â Once again, he exhibited the arrogance of someone used to getting their way.
The owner of the shop didnât flinch at the demand. âI heard your request from the manager, but Iâm sorry, we wonât divulge the private information of our employees no matter what. Please excuse me for being unable to help you.â
The young man narrowed his eyes. âSo you wonât agree no matter what?â
The owner nodded.
âFine.â The young man rose from his seat and snapped his fingers. \nA finely dressed man stood up from a nearby table and approached the scene, giving the young man a slight bow. âYoung master, what is your command?â
âNegotiate with the owner. I want to buy this drink shop.â
The owner was stunned, but his expression soon turned ugly. âSir, Iâm sorry, but I have no intentions of selling.â
Stepping forward, the butler greeted the owner with a smile. âHello, I am Sun Bo. How about we speak in private?â He handed a golden card over to the shop owner as the words left his mouth
One look at the card and the ownerâs eyes went wide with shock. He obediently nodded to the butlerâs suggestion and led the butler away to discuss matters.
While the corner of Xie Xieâs mouth twitched, Tang Wulin sighed at the farce. âThese city people sure know how to play.â
Gu Yue coldly snorted.
Contrary to her companions, Xu Xiaoyan was all smiles. âSo, do you guys think heâll be able to get that girlâs number?â
Tang Wulin shrugged. âWeâll see soon enough. I never expected to have such a show play out in front of us when weâre going out for drinks. The shop owner seemed stubborn, but that young man is probably from a wealthy family. Letâs see if the owner can be swayed by money.â
Just as Tang Wulin finished speaking, the butler and the shop owner returned.
âYoung master, I have negotiated a price with Boss Yang over here, and Iâve already sent payment. From now on, this drink shop is your property.â The butler spoke with measured disinterest as if this was a normal occasion.
The young man nodded, flicking his gaze back at Boss Yang. âGive me her number.â
From the beginning, the young man had not bothered to restrain his voice. Everyone around could hear him loud and clear, flabbergasted expressions plastered over their faces. For the sake of a single girlâs number, he spent loads of money to acquire this drink shop. The shops in Shrek Academyâs perimeter had unimaginable property values. Not just anyone could waltz in. As such, the golden-haired young manâs background was a topic of high discussion for spectators.\nBoss Yang sighed, approaching the red-haired waitress.
At this scene, Tang Wulin shrugged once more. âIt seems money can sway anyone.â
A moment later, the waitress walked over to the young man.
âWhat do you want?â
The young man smiled. âNothing much. I just thought you were pretty and wanted to get to know you better.â
Without uttering another word, the girl began unbuttoning her apron.
âI didnât tell you to undress!â the young man shouted, flabbergasted by her actions.
Snorting, the girl threw her apron on the table. âI quit, so Iâm not your employee anymore.â She turned to leave.
The young manâs smile grew wider as he mirrored her actions. âEven better!â he said as he chased after her shadow.
âI canât believe something like this can happen in Shrek City. Really, if this is tolerated, then what isnât?â Xie Xie shot out of his seat and followed the two.
Unable to stop Xie Xie, Tang Wulin went after him.
Even if you want to fight for justice, at least pay the bill first! He thought this as he threw some bills on the table.
With one foot out the door, Tang Wulin felt a powerful wave of soul power rippling through the air, golden light permeating the sky and dispelling the shadows of the night.\n