Ye Qiu, Great Success Abbot, and Monk Duren were meditating and discussing principles in the main hall, which continued deep into the night before they each dispersed.
Ye Qiu returned to his residence.
Monk Duren, taking advantage of the quiet night, followed closely behind Great Success Abbot to the rear mountain of the Shaolin Temple and entered Shao's Secret Realm located there.
The next day.
Ye Qiu pushed the door open and walked out of his room, found Monk Duren's place only to discover that the monk had left without saying goodbye.
"Given this situation, staying at Shaolin might not yield much progress."
After pondering for a while, Ye Qiu found Great Success Abbot, bade farewell, and left Shaolin with Zhao Chunxue.
The two found lodging in the center of Zheng City.
Once inside the room, Ye Qiu habitually prepared to exercise for a while to continue enhancing his strength, but before starting, he changed his mind.
The experience at the Scripture Pavilion indeed made him realize many things.
It also brought considerable peace to his mindset.
At this moment, Ye Qiu wasn't as eager to step into the Divinity Transformation Realm, thinking it through clearly; without sufficient resources, even with rigorous training, his strength wouldn't progress.
"Perhaps I should go out more and relax."
After much contemplation, Ye Qiu walked out of the room.
Just as he closed the door, Zhao Chunxue's voice came from nearby, "What are you going to do behind my back?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Ye Qiu staggered inadvertently.
Darn it, can't this guy talk properly?
Makes it seem like there's something unspeakable between us...
"Going to a bar," Ye Qiu said casually, turning to leave.
"Then I'll go too!" Zhao Chunxue happily trotted along.
Meanwhile.
Elsewhere.
Song Sisi, who had just arrived in Zheng City not long ago, had just finished work and then headed to the city center with colleagues to have some lunch.
"This one!"
Spotting a nice southern cuisine restaurant, Song Sisi immediately chose it as her target and walked in.
Before she could enter, a surprised shout came from nearby.
"Song Sisi, is that you, Song Sisi!"
Song Sisi was startled, turned her head, and saw a young man she didn't recognize, frowning, she asked, "Yes, I am Song Sisi, what about it?"
"You don't recognize me?"
Despite not being recognized, the young man wasn't disappointed; instead, he raised his head slightly, proudly declaring, "I'm Luo Hao, your elementary school classmate Luo Hao. It's normal you don't recognize me after all these years.
After all, I'm completely different from the past, I've thrived in Zheng City, bought a house and a car, and earn a monthly income of over eighty thousand.
My demeanor differs entirely from before; if you recognized me, I'd be surprised."
"How have you been doing now?" Luo Hao asked, observing Song Sisi carefully, thinking to himself that her transformation was considerable; if not for her unchanged eyes, he wouldn't have recognized her at all. It's surprising, after all these years, she's become so beautiful, with her figure and appearance, she's undeniably a top beauty!
"Recently my family kept urging me to find someone, I think Song Sisi is perfect—beautiful, well-shaped, and with a good temperament. She'd make a nice girlfriend; I've made such strides now, she surely wouldn't refuse, right?" Luo Hao thought.
Song Sisi frowned slightly, indifferent and unenthusiastic, "Oh, it's you, I remembered. What a coincidence running into you here."
Elementary classmates generally don't leave a profound impression.
But Luo Hao, Song Sisi remembered quite clearly.
Initially, Luo Hao's family conditions weren't great, but he was academically good and diligent, annually honored as a model student, living up to his parents' expectations in some regard.
Typically such people would have good rapport, but Song Sisi didn't have a favorable impression of him.
Luo Hao excelled academically, seen as a good child by teachers and parents, but Song Sisi was aware that his character was poor!
Frequently sneaking peeks at girls in the restroom was one thing; when caught, he used his good grades as a shield to reverse the accusation, succeeding every time.
Song Sisi had a rather close elementary school friend, who was bullied almost to the point of suicide.
How could Song Sisi possibly like such a man?
"Weren't you always in Jiangnan, why come to Zheng City?" Luo Hao suddenly asked, his lascivious eyes examining Song Sisi.
"Just a temporary work adjustment." Song Sisi smiled politely, saying, "We just finished work; we're coming around to grab something casual to eat. Do you want to join us?"
"Sure, let's go in and eat together," Luo Hao eagerly nodded.
"If I'd known, I wouldn't have been so polite!" Song Sisi secretly grumbled, feeling somewhat displeased.
She certainly didn't want to eat with Luo Hao; what she said earlier was just out of politeness, and she specifically mentioned it was casual food, yet Luo Hao shamelessly wanted to tag along.
"Then let's go inside." Song Sisi, reluctant to engage further with Luo Hao, turned and entered the restaurant, where she found her colleagues.
Her colleagues ordered a few dishes casually; the portions were ample, without extra additions.
"Song Sisi!" Seeing Song Sisi not ordering additional dishes, Luo Hao's expression instantly darkened, unhappy, he said, "Years have passed, yet you're still so uncultured?
How can you thrive socially with such manners? Now that there's another person at the table, shouldn't you ask if I'd like to add more dishes? You didn't say a word. If you were my girlfriend, I certainly wouldn't allow such behavior."
"In society, you must be perceptive, understand situations. Look at me; it's due to understanding larger dynamics, managing overall scopes that I've gained my current position, becoming Yaoyu Technology Group's General Manager in the Yu Province region, with a monthly salary!"
"Song Sisi, your old schoolmate is so accomplished now? Why not introduce him to us?"
"Indeed, your behavior is indeed inappropriate; no wonder people pointed it out."
"Old classmates meeting, ordering some extra nice dishes isn't typical, is it?"
Some of Song Sisi's colleagues perked up knowing Luo Hao's identity, immediately reprimanding Song Sisi to grant Luo Hao face, hoping to further their acquaintance with him.
"No, no, no, don't blame our Sisi!" Luo Hao waved his hand repeatedly, seeing Song Sisi's colleagues all siding with him, he felt extraordinarily proud, grinning widely.
Song Sisi couldn't hold back, almost spitting out the water she just drank.
Does this person have problems?
Since when did I become a part of his household?
How shameless can one be?
Just as Song Sisi felt upset, Luo Hao spoke again, arrogantly saying, "Song Sisi, although your character is somewhat lacking, that can change—a plus, you're pretty and attractive with a nice figure, so you could barely make a pass as my girlfriend.
Moreover, I quite like you, so become my girlfriend; afterward, being with me, I won't treat you poorly."
Pff!
Song Sisi couldn't hold back any longer, spraying a mouthful of water onto Luo Hao's face.