On the carriage ride, Xiao Wu turned her head curiously.
"Zhuqing, why are you heading to Suotuo City for?"
"Me?" Zhu Zhuqing replied calmly, "I'm looking for someone."
"Oh, I thought you were going to Shrek Academy like us."
"Shrek Academy?" Zhu Zhuqing's heart stirred at the name.
She clearly remembered—Dai Mubai was enrolled in an academy called Shrek, located right in Suotuo City.
Driven by curiosity, she asked, "Is Shrek Academy really that great? Even geniuses like you are planning to enroll?"
Xiao Wu shook her head with a smile. "We were recommended by a friend. We haven't decided whether we'll join yet—we're just going to take a look first."
"I see..." Zhu Zhuqing murmured, though her heart was already churning with new thoughts.
If someone as powerful as Xiao Wu had friends who recommended that place, the academy couldn't be bad.
Maybe... maybe Dai Mubai was also working hard at Shrek Academy—fighting his fate, just like she was.
With that thought, a glimmer of hope rose in Zhu Zhuqing's chest.
Perhaps, she'd find him striving to one day stand beside her... to resist the cruel destiny imposed by the Star Luo royal family.
Her mood lightened considerably, and for the first time in a long while, she felt a trace of longing—to see her fiancé again.
Their idle chat gradually turned to Qi Lin.
Zhu Zhuqing tilted her head, eyes curious. "Xiao Wu, what's your relationship with Qi Lin? Are you two... a couple?"
At the word couple, Xiao Wu's face turned crimson in an instant. Her foot subconsciously pressed harder on the accelerator, making the off-road vehicle surge forward with a burst of speed.
Seemingly unaware of her own reaction, she blurted out, "We're not a couple!"
Then, realizing how that sounded, she quickly added, "Not yet!"
As she spoke, she stole a glance toward Qi Lin.
Coincidentally, Qi Lin—having just tuned back into their conversation—turned toward her, meeting her bashful eyes. He paused, slightly stunned.
After all, a girl's blush often says more than a thousand words.
Only now did Qi Lin truly notice how much Xiao Wu had grown.
From the back seat, Zhu Zhuqing watched the two quietly. A strange emotion stirred in her chest—envy.
'Will Dai Mubai and I ever be like them...?'
Time passed quickly. Soon, Xiao Wu drove them into the southern district of Suotuo City.
After getting out, Qi Lin calmly stored the vehicle into his storage bracelet—an extravagant gift from Bibi Dong. Its space was vast, easily enough to fit an entire off-road vehicle with room to spare.
"Let's find a place to stay first," Qi Lin said. "We can visit Shrek Academy tomorrow."
Xiao Wu nodded, then turned to Zhu Zhuqing. "Didn't you say the person you're looking for is at Shrek Academy?"
"Why don't you wait and come with us tomorrow?"
Xiao Wu had a bubbly, outgoing personality. She was especially warm toward girls she got along with—and she already saw Zhu Zhuqing as a friend.
Zhu Zhuqing thought for a moment. A faint smile appeared on her usually cold face.
"Alright."
With that, the three entered Suotuo City together.
Suotuo was one of the two great cities of the Balak Kingdom—bustling, prosperous, its streets teeming with people and merchants shouting for attention.
Xiao Wu tugged Zhu Zhuqing along from shop to shop—clothing stores, food stalls, you name it.
For the first time in years, Zhu Zhuqing felt her frozen heart thaw, just a little.
Qi Lin trailed behind lazily, but whenever Xiao Wu asked for his opinion on an outfit, he gave her thoughtful, sincere feedback—praising her beauty, yet never failing to point out a small flaw or two.
There's no doubt—women were born for shopping.
Even after one or two hours, Xiao Wu remained energetic. Her enthusiasm gradually spread to Zhu Zhuqing, who finally began trying on clothes she actually liked.
Just as they were about to step into a boutique, they suddenly noticed a tall, golden-haired man in the distance—arms around two nearly identical twin sisters, gesturing arrogantly as he ordered around the boutique.
Even from afar, their flirtatious voices drifted over:
"You're so good to us, Young Master Dai."
"Sis, how should we repay him?"
"Isn't it obvious? Tonight, we'll serve him well together—that'll be the best reward."
"Oh my, stop it—you're making me blush!"
"Hah, acting all shy now? Weren't you bold enough last night?"
Though their voices weren't loud, the three outside were all Soul Masters—of course they heard every word clearly.
Just then, the tall blond man gave a devilish grin, his hands sliding lower as he chuckled.
"Everything you just said, I'll remember. Don't go backing out tonight."
Then, turning to the saleswoman nearby, he added loftily, "Wrap up everything these two tried on earlier. I'll take it all."
The saleswoman's eyes lit up. "As expected of Young Master Dai—so generous!"
Outside the shop, Zhu Zhuqing froze when she saw the man's face.
Golden hair. Heterochromatic eyes. The Dai Clan of Star Luo.
It was Dai Mubai.
In that instant, Zhu Zhuqing felt like she had plunged into an icy abyss.
All her hopes—all the fantasies she'd conjured on the journey here—shattered in that moment.
The man standing inside, flaunting women on both sides, wasn't a warrior fighting fate.
He was a fallen scion, a slave to decadence.
'Has Dai Mubai really given up during his years away from the capital? Has he never thought of resisting fate?'
'Then what am I doing here? What did I endure all those hardships for, crossing thousands of miles just to find him?'
Despair washed over her like a surging tide.
If even Dai Mubai had fallen... then how could she—alone—stand against her sister and Davis?
Her heart clenched violently. Her knees buckled.
But before she could collapse, a warm hand caught her.
A calm, clear face came into view.
"Are you alright?"
The voice was like a beam of sunlight piercing through frozen darkness.
Looking up at Qi Lin's concerned expression, Zhu Zhuqing nodded softly.
"I'm fine."
"Thank you."