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In the flickering glow of a cluttered shop, the owner's eyes widened as Ning Tian walked out, fine as ever, despite gulping down a whole bottle of his prized aphrodisiac. "This ain't right," the shopkeeper stammered, his voice quaking. "One swig of that stuff should turn a wet rag into a steel rod. How's he just walking away? Unless, oh, hell, is my batch bad?"
He snatched the discarded vial from the counter, gave it a tentative lick, and froze as the heat hit him. Panic seized his chest. Without bothering to lock the door, he bolted toward the nearest brothel, desperation driving his legs. If he didn't find a fix soon, he'd burst—literally.
.................
Meanwhile, across town at the Red Mansion, Soutuo City's biggest brothel:.
"Master Dai, how'd you like those twins we hooked you up with last time? Satisfied?" The madam, her face plastered with garish makeup, grinned. "We've got something special today, a real gem. She has cat ears due to martial soul mutation. Exotic, right?"
Dai Mubai waved her off, his thoughts elsewhere. "Not today. Just take care of my friend here."
He'd been brooding. This cycle of indulgence had to stop, or Ning Tian, that sly bastard would steal his fiancee out from under him. Time to clean up his act.
But as he turned to leave, a furnace ignited inside him. Heat surged through his veins, scorching his skin like he'd been dipped in boiling oil. His face flushed crimson.
"Quick,bring me that cat-eared girl!"
"Right away, Master Dai!" the madam chirped, scurrying off.
"No time, you will do!"
Reason melted away as Dai Mubai lunged, pinning the sixty-something madam to a plush sofa in a frantic haze.
From the back room, Ma Hongjun, mid sex with a brothel girl heard the ruckus. Still entangled, he peeked out and nearly choked.
'What the…Boss Dai is going for the madam? His tastes have officially gone off the rails.'
...….....
Ning Tian, meanwhile, slipped out of the pleasure shop with a smirk. He made a pit stop to stock up on laxatives and other prank gear.
By the time he caught up with Tang San, Zhu Zhuqing, and Xiao Wu, the three were strolling back to Shrek Academy under a fading sky. At the gate, Ning Rongrong slumped against the arch, soaked in sweat but beaming with triumph. Oscar hovered nearby, his face sour, sneaking glances at her with a mix of resentment and shame.
"Finished already?" Ning Tian asked, eyeing Ning Rongrong.
"Damn right! Twenty full laps, not a single one skipped," she huffed, her grin undimmed by exhaustion.
Ning Tian glanced at Oscar, who looked like he'd swallowed a lemon.
Fresh off her grueling run, Ning Rongrong scanned the group and noticed Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun were missing. She didn't hold back. "What, no Dai Mubai or Fatty? Off hunting girls at the brothel again? Typical. Zhuqing, you dodged a bullet with that lecherous tiger. You'd be miserable by now. Ning Tian's is a fine choice, he is handsome, strong, and actually has a heart. Leagues above that creep."
She winked at Ning Tian, clearly pleased with herself.
Ning Tian's eyebrow twitched. 'That's your idea of a compliment?'
Zhu Zhuqing sighed silently and walked away without a word.
Xiao Wu, though, puffed up like an angry kitten. "Rongrong, how could you say that?" She could rag on Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun all day, but pairing Ning Tian with Zhu Zhuqing? What about 'her'?
Tang San, remembering Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing's earlier rant about backstabbers, chimed in. "We're all classmates. You shouldn't trash people behind their backs."
Oscar, who'd been pining after Ning Rongrong with zero payoff, seized the moment to erupt. "Enough, Ning Rongrong! Boss Dai and Fatty are still your teammates. You're really letting me down."
He and Tang San were clearly on a different page from Xiao Wu.
"Oscar, say that again if you dare!" Ning Rongrong snapped, stunned that the guy who'd claimed to adore her had the guts to call her out.
Oscar doubled down, his voice raw. "I said you're a letdown. Yeah, I liked you—the sweet, gentle you. I didn't care about the gap between us and your fancy Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan status be damned. But I was wrong. You're not that girl. You're not worth me giving up everything else for. I'm no match for your highness, and let's face it in your eyes, I'm just a servant, right? Well, sorry, I don't do slavery."
Xiao Wu blinked, baffled. "What are you all yapping about? Dai Mubai and Fatty did go to the brothel. And I'm saying Ning Tian and Zhuqing are just friends nothing more. How'd you twist this into some grand drama?"
"Uh…"
Tang San and Oscar faltered, realizing they'd misfired. Tang San could patch things up with Xiao Wu later—a little groveling, some sweet words, and she'd melt. He didn't give a damn about Ning Rongrong's feelings anyway.
But Oscar? He'd just dug his own grave.
His fiery rant had pushed Ning Rongrong to the brink of tears.
Sure, she'd started out as a spoiled princess, secretly looking down on the Shrek like Ning Tian had pointed out. But his wake-up call had flipped a switch, she'd begun to see them as real friends, Oscar included. That's why she'd powered through those twenty laps.
And now, to hear she was just a selfish brat in Oscar's eyes, treating him like a lackey?
'Ning Tian was right,' she thought, her chest tightening. 'No one here's got my back. If I don't want to get burned, I've got to stand alone.'
As for those who'd crossed her—Dai Mubai, Oscar, Tang San, she'd settle the score someday.
"Rongrong, I—" Oscar stammered, panic flashing as he saw her eyes well up.
"Hmph! Shut up!"
She swiped at her tears, stifling a sob, and bolted off.
Oscar stood rooted, shell-shocked, as if the world had crashed down around him.
Xiao Wu spun toward him. "Ning Tian, don't listen to them. You and Zhuqing aren't a thing, right? They're just stirring up nonsense!"
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