DD2—Chapter 28: Grilled Fish Contest
"Hehe, I heard that Xiao Hongchen has started studying hard to become a level 5 soul engineer because Huo Yuhao broke his record. I saw Xiao Hongchen in the library last time."
For the students present, Huo Yuhao was a young man who attracted a lot of attention—not only because he had broken the record but also because he had made Xiao Hongchen lose face.
In the academy, Xiao Hongchen was indeed a genius, but he was also conceited, often acting as if he were the best in the world and everyone else was beneath him. As a result, he didn't manage his interpersonal relationships well, leading many to hope for a little setback to humble him.
As for Juzi, her beauty, her status as a disciple of Xuan Ziwen, the chief researcher of Illustrious Virtue Hall, and the presence of a devoted follower named Zimu around her, all contributed to her fame within the academy.
But when everyone saw Juzi's tear-streaked face and red eyes—along with what Meng Hongchen had just said—they began to look at Huo Yuhao with curiosity and suspicion.
"I didn't expect Huo Yuhao to hook up with Senior Juzi at such a young age. Is this a case of a young bull trying to eat old grass?"
"What on earth did Huo Yuhao do to make Senior Sister Juzi cry? Could it be that he had a romantic relationship with Senior Sister Juzi before, and now he wants to abandon her?"
These students, generally young and full of curiosity, immediately sparked heated discussions.
Listening to these rumors, Huo Yuhao felt helpless. He thought that if this continued, he would be labeled a scumbag at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, a reputation he couldn't wash away even if he jumped into the Yellow River. After all, tales of gossip could easily spread even in this world.
So he said loudly, "Senior Meng, you're making me sound like I'm bullying Senior Juzi! In front of so many people, I can assure you with my character that Senior Juzi cried because the grilled fish I made was so delicious. This is called... crying of joy!"
Meng Hongchen's interest was piqued when she heard this. "Oh? Is it really that delicious? If what you say is true, your cooking skills must be exceptional. I haven't eaten yet—could you give me five skewers of grilled fish?"
Upon hearing this, Huo Yuhao immediately picked up five skewers of grilled fish, placed them on a metal plate, and handed them to Meng Hongchen.
Just as Meng Hongchen was about to take the grilled fish, Juzi reached out and snatched the plate filled with fish away.
Standing protectively in front of the grill, she positioned herself between Meng Hongchen and the food. With her red lips slightly parted, she spoke softly, "Yuhao promised me that this meal is for me! So these grilled fish are mine! Miss Meng, even if you are the dean's granddaughter, you have to be reasonable sometimes."
Juzi may have been young, but her jealousy flared quickly. In the future, she would become a formidable queen, empress, and goddess of war, but right now she was just a girl unwilling to see what she thought was hers taken away.
Meng Hongchen was momentarily stunned, then looked deeply at Juzi. Anger ignited within her; as the granddaughter of Jing Hongchen, the head of Illustrious Virtue Hall, she had been spoiled since childhood. Although she had a temper better than that of Xiao Hongchen, she was far from passive.
If Juzi were an extremely handsome male soul master, Meng Hongchen might have bowed and apologized immediately or even given him a gift to make amends. After all, she valued beauty highly. However, such a "perfect" man had yet to cross her path.
"Juzi, no matter what, the person who cooked the grilled fish was Junior Yuhao, wasn't it? Did you consult Junior Yuhao before taking this action?" Meng Hongchen smiled faintly. "I think people should learn to respect others sometimes, don't you think so, Juzi?"
Juzi snorted. "Miss Meng, please don't interfere. This matter is between Yuhao and me; it has nothing to do with you!"
She had no worry about Xu Tianran finding out, as she was still just Xu Tianran's subordinate. She understood that he viewed everyone as tools—including those he trusted deeply, like her.
"Juzi, why don't we fight in the soul-fighting arena? Whoever wins gets the grilled fish!" Meng Hongchen's face shifted, and her hand instinctively moved to the soul guidance gun at her waist.
Juzi shook her head. "I'm no match for Miss Meng. These grilled fish were originally given to me by Yuhao. Why should I fight with you over who gets the grilled fish?
Miss Meng, if you like grilled fish, with your financial resources, you can buy them in the cafeteria! Of course, if you insist on relying on your strength and status for an act of robbery, I can only fight back against the oppression of the dean's granddaughter!"
"Juzi!" Meng Hongchen glared at her, her breathing becoming a bit uneven. After all, she was just a thirteen-year-old girl, unable to match Juzi—the future queen, empress, and goddess of war—in psychological fortitude.
"Alright, alright, ladies! Let's stop the arguing. I can grill some more fish so everyone can have some. After all, I brought a lot of fresh fish. It would be a waste if we don't grill and eat them immediately!" Huo Yuhao, feeling somewhat helpless, stepped in to mediate.
"For Huo Yuhao's sake, I won't bother with some people! After all, some people's minds are smaller than the soft-boned rabbits in the Star Dou Great Forest!" Meng Hongchen replied slowly, arms crossed.
Juzi snorted but said nothing further. Her appetite was limited, and it was already a challenge for her to finish the grilled fish.
So, she decided to give Huo Yuhao some face and walked back to the grill, slowly savoring the remaining grilled fish, wearing a look of happiness on her face.
The nearby students were stunned by the unfolding scene. They were puzzled—why did it seem like Juzi and Meng Hongchen were at odds? Was Huo Yuhao not only involved with Juzi but now also getting attention from Meng Hongchen?
In truth, it wasn't surprising for the students to jump to these conclusions. After all, two of the most admired beauties in the academy were having a heated disagreement over a skewer of grilled fish, almost ready to fight—a spectacle that was unimaginable under normal circumstances.
(End of this chapter)