"Nannan, I heard this Little Huo's grilled fish tastes pretty good, and business is booming. Why don't we try some?"
The voice of Jiang Nannan's roommate pulled her back to reality. Smelling the fragrance permeating the air, a hint of longing immediately appeared in Jiang Nannan's eyes.
Jiang Nannan's roommates surrounded her and brought her to Huo Yuhao's stall. The people lining up in front of the stall didn't mind Jiang Nannan's actions at all; instead, they voluntarily made way for her.
In this World where a love-obsessed mindset is the underlying logic, beauties like Jiang Nannan always enjoy various privileges. Moreover, there existed an unrealistic fantasy in the minds of these people. Just yielding a spot—if they could gain the favor of the First Beauty of the Outer Academy, it would definitely be an extremely worthwhile transaction.
Jiang Nannan smiled gratefully at these people before finally focusing her attention on Huo Yuhao's grilled fish.
"Junior brother, how much are these grilled fish?"
The soft female voice and Jiang Nannan's exquisitely beautiful face made Huo Yuhao pause slightly, and his complexion turned a little red. Fortunately, Huo Yuhao reacted quickly and immediately replied:
"Senior sister, the grilled fish is five bronze coins each."
The price of the grilled fish was also set by Tang Ya. Considering the cost price of supplies from the Academy cafeteria and labor, five bronze coins was already a very reasonable price.
For Huo Yuhao, although the profit was a bit small, the advantage was that business was brisk, which was more than enough to support himself.
But what Huo Yuhao didn't expect was that this seemingly overwhelmingly beautiful senior sister actually showed a hint of difficulty on her face. Although her voice still sounded gentle, it carried a slight worldly air of haggling:
"Can you make it cheaper? How about three bronze coins?"
It was quite unexpected that such a beautiful senior sister would bargain with him over two bronze coins...
A thought flashed through Huo Yuhao's mind, but his expression remained unmoved: "My grilled fish is not negotiable."
"Sorry to disturb your business, Junior Brother. Maybe I'll try it next time."
Jiang Nannan didn't linger too long. After apologizing, she prepared to turn and leave.
But the next moment, the situation changed drastically.
A deep, resonant voice full of anger suddenly rang out. Immediately following that, a figure strode over. Judging by his appearance, he should be about the same age as Jiang Nannan, tall and sturdy.
It was none other than Xu Sanshi, who had been pursuing Jiang Nannan all along.
"Here they come, this scene looks really familiar!"
"The subsequent development should be Xu Sanshi bullying someone by relying on his power, Bei Bei stepping forward to defend justice, then making a wager for a Soul Dueling match, and then Huo Yuhao using his spiritual detection to cheat for Bei Bei, winning a mysterious water pill."
"Tsk, if it weren't for this mysterious water pill, it's likely Huo Yuhao would have taken several years longer to achieve his future accomplishments. Putting everything else aside, without this mysterious water pill, breaking through to Rank 20 before the holiday alone would be enough to stump Huo Yuhao."
"The process of Awakening the second spirit being slowed down means everything Huo Yuhao does next will be significantly delayed. You could say this mysterious water pill was a turning point for Huo Yuhao in the early stages."
"As for Jiang Nannan and Xu Sanshi..."
Ao Yao frowned slightly, trying hard to recall the plot of the original work.
"I can't remember if Jiang Nannan suffered that incident around this time."
"In short, the general story is that Jiang Nannan's mother was seriously ill, and only the black tortoise divine pill refined by the Profound Nether Sect, where Xu Sanshi comes from, could save her. Coincidentally, Xu Sanshi needed to consummate his marriage with a girl for the second ritual of his Spirit Awakening. Thus, Jiang Nannan and Xu Sanshi made a deal."
"The result was that Xu Sanshi, lacking experience, went to the wrong room. Not only did his Spirit Evolution fail, but it also left Jiang Nannan with a lifelong shadow."
"Are you kidding me? A Heaven-Defying and vulgar plot like going to the wrong room—did a human actually think that up?"
"What? You say this is the work of a certain'San'? Then never mind. After all, even more vulgar plots than this are countless in his writings. Compared to things like defeating the final boss through sheer force or raping the female lead, this is just water under the bridge."
Jiang Nannan's face suddenly turned pale.
The words she was about to use to scold Xu Sanshi were unconsciously swallowed. The whole person involuntarily retreated two steps. Looking at Xu Sanshi again, her eyes held not only disgust but also a deep terror.
Ever since entering Shrek Academy, Xu Sanshi had fallen in love with her at first sight and had since begun a relentless pursuit, like sticky candy. Jiang Nannan didn't feel much aversion towards Xu Sanshi as a person, only annoyance and disgust towards his sticky-candy style of pursuit.
But now, what did she see in the diary book?
To save her mother's life, she made a deal with Xu Sanshi and offered herself, only for Xu Sanshi to go to the wrong room...
Thinking about how her health indeed hadn't been good lately, how her mother was already bedridden and unable to get up, with even a worsening trend, Jiang Nannan's breathing hitched slightly, and she began to believe the contents of the diary book a little more.
If the medicine called the black tortoise divine pill from the Profound Nether Sect could really save her mother, and if it was the only medicine that could, she might actually choose to make such a deal with Xu Sanshi.
But... going to the wrong room was something truly hard to accept.
Forget about it happening to her; even hearing Ao Yao describe it, Jiang Nannan couldn't accept it.
Hadn't a shadow already formed in her heart?
However, the moment she thought of her mother lying on the sickbed, Jiang Nannan felt a dull ache in her heart.
Even so, it seemed she... had no choice at all.
Her mother was still waiting to be saved...
Wait!
Jiang Nannan suddenly looked up, and a flush of abnormal redness appeared on her face, which had been somewhat pale due to the contents of the diary book.
Since this diary book was so miraculous, could she perhaps obtain a reward through the diary book that could save her mother's life?
If that were the case, she wouldn't have to go through that kind of painful experience...
Seeing Jiang Nannan remaining silent, Xu Sanshi walked over to her with a fawning smile, trying hard to put on a gentle demeanor: "Nannan, I'm about to go onto the Soul Dueling Platform with Bei Bei. Will you come cheer me on?"
As he spoke, Xu Sanshi also handed Jiang Nannan two grilled fish he had snatched from Huo Yuhao's stall using gold coins:
"Nannan, eat these two grilled fish first. When I get off the Soul Dueling Platform..."
Before Xu Sanshi could finish speaking, Jiang Nannan stepped back a few paces, increasing the distance between them.
Her expression was as if Xu Sanshi were some kind of plague god.
Seeing this, Xu Sanshi was slightly stunned, a look of hurt appearing on his face, but he was somewhat confused in his heart.
Although Jiang Nannan had rejected his pursuit before, she never avoided him as if he were a plague god like today, right? Could it be that I did something wrong again?