Chapter 9: What's with the staring? Haven't you ever seen a poor beauty like me before?

  As soon as they came out of the association's gate, they saw Wan Xi Chen showing off his medals to Xue Zi Hao. When they saw Zhuge Mingyue come out, they both approached him with concern and asked: "How was it? Did you pass?"

  Zhuge Mingyue took out the medal and shook it: "Of course, I passed. Now I'm going to the store to buy materials."

  "Hey, are you a pharmacist?" Xue Zihao asked excitedly.

  "Are you going or not?" asked Zhuge Mingyue, thinking for a moment before adding, "Let me make one thing clear, I don't have much money. If the medicine is made well, it's yours to buy. However, if you pay for the materials, then I won't charge you."

  Xue Zihao and Wan Qichen stared at Zhuge Mingyue with wide eyes.

  "What are you looking at? Haven't seen a beauty as poor as this before?" Zhuge Mingyue also widened her eyes and stared back.

  "How can you be so poor?" Xue Zihao said in a tone of utter incredulity.

  "I'm the illegitimate daughter of the family, their shame. Not letting me starve to death is already a great kindness. I used all my food allowance for the examination fee. It's normal that I don't have any money now, right? They never thought I'd participate in the Summoner exam, so they didn't calculate the exam fee." Zhuge Mingyue shrugged and said nonchalantly.

  However, Xue Zihao and Wan Qichen's faces changed after hearing this. They had never seen anyone who could say such a difficult thing so bluntly. For an instant, both of them felt a lump in their throats.

  "Zhuge, I'm sorry..." Xue Zihao looked at Zhuge Mingyue's face, biting his lip, and apologized somewhat awkwardly. In his heart, he thought that since Zhuge Mingyue appeared so nonchalant on the surface, she must be in a lot of pain inside.

  "Zhuge, you have no money for food? I'll treat you." said Wan Qi Chen, patting his chest.

  "Don't say sorry again, sorry is useless." Zhuge Mingyue's face turned serious, looking at Xue Zihao and saying in a deep voice, "A single 'sorry' is the most pale and useless. When you do something wrong, don't think that a verbal apology can make up for it. That has no meaning. What you need to do is use your actions to make up for your mistakes."

  "Yes, I will." Xue Zihao's head nodded like a little chicken pecking at rice, and he felt even more guilty in his heart.

  "So, hand over your wallet. You're paying for all the materials." Zhuge Mingyue burst out laughing and patted Wan Qi Chen's shoulder, adding, "To make up for hurting my feelings, fatty is treating me to dinner."

  "Huh?" Xue Zihao and Wan Qichen were momentarily stunned, staring blankly at Zhuge Mingyue. Just now she was in so much pain, but now... the change was too great! The sudden drop left them reeling.

  "Alright, I'm not feeling any sorrow or pain, what's with the long faces? Let's go, buy some materials and then have lunch." Zhuge Mingyue's face broke out into a brilliant smile, leaving Xue Zihao and Wan Qichen momentarily stunned.

  "Alright, let's go. First, we need to buy materials. I'll contribute all my pocket money." Xue Zihao took out his wallet and shook it vigorously.

  "Ah, let's have a big meal to celebrate passing the assessment!" Wan Xi Chen also clenched his fists and nodded vigorously.

  Zhuge Mingyue also smiled and nodded, and the three of them headed towards the largest store in the city.

  Arriving at the store, Zhuge Mingyue began to select materials, all of which were very basic. This store was the largest in Cangfeng City, and the owner was a middle-aged man who was leaning lazily against the counter, dozing off. Seeing that there was a customer, he didn't even bat an eyelid, but instead grunted: "Take a look around, pick whatever you want. Everything is here." After saying this, he continued to doze off.

  "Not even a little enthusiastic." Wan Xi Chen muttered.

  Zhuge Mingyue didn't say much, but instead carefully selected materials. The shop assistant also had a lazy look on his face. Whatever Zhuge Mingyue wanted, he would just yawn and hand it over to him without saying a word.

  "After buying things, when it was time to settle the bill, the boss finally opened his eyes and calculated the price: "Three gold coins and seven copper coins.""

  "Hey boss, you're counting the seven copper coins too?" Xue Zihao said discontentedly.

  "What's the big deal about seven copper coins? Forget it then." The boss said indifferently, casting a sideways glance at Xue Zihao.

  Xue Zihao let out a cold snort, clearly displeased, but still pulled out the money to pay for the materials. The three of them walked out of the store's entrance, and Xue Zihao shook his empty wallet, sighing: "Alas, I'm also broke this time. This boss is really stingy, just waiting for him to go bankrupt."

  "There's no other way, this is the only household in town that has everything." Wan Xi Chen spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness.

  "Never mind, I've bought everything, I'll head home first. Once I've refined it, I'll give it to you." Zhuge Mingyue carried a bag of materials and was about to hurry back home.

  "Uh, see you at school then." Xue Zihao bid farewell.

  "Not eating first?" Wan Xi Chen spoke up weakly.

  "Right, let's eat first, I almost forgot. I want to eat meat!" Only then did Zhuge Mingyue remember that they had previously agreed to go out for a big meal to celebrate passing the elementary summoner assessment. She was busy going back to refine her medicine and had forgotten about it.

  "Qingfeng Building, let's go! Let's go!" The fatty immediately became excited and rubbed his hands together.

  "Fatty, you've got money now?" Xue Zihao looked at Fatty with ill intentions. The Qingfeng Building was the best restaurant in Cangfeng City.

  "Haha." Wan Xi Chen smiled and patted his own purse, "My old man rewarded me, he has confidence in me, knowing I'll definitely pass the assessment, so he gave me the reward first."

  "This month I'm counting on you." Xue Zihao said, patting his empty wallet.

  "No problem, no problem." Wan Xi Chen said with a pat on his chest.

  In this way, the three of them arrived at Qingfeng Building and directly went to a private room on the second floor. Wan Qi Chen let Zhuge Mingyue order dishes, and Zhuge Mingyue followed the usual practice, ordering all meat dishes. After ordering, the three of them started chatting casually.

  "In two days, it's our junior class's college excursion, you know?" Xue Zihao asked.

  "I know." Zhuge Mingyue nodded. The White Feather Academy often held such training exercises, because without practice, theory was useless no matter how good it was. Every time the summoning ceremony was held, such training exercises would be held to test the students' strength and adaptability. After the summoning ceremony, there would always be a three-day holiday, first to let the students take part in the Summoner Association's assessment, second to let the students rest, and after three days, they would go to the academy to participate in the training exercises.

  "When the time comes, we'll form a team of three!" said Wan Xichen, rubbing his palms and clenching his fists. "This is our first time participating in such a trial. Let's strive to get first place."

  "The first prize is nothing good." Zhuge Mingyue said in a bad mood, "The college is so stingy."

  "I couldn't agree more." Xue Zihao nodded vigorously.

  Just then, the door was knocked and Wan Xichen said come in. However, it was a dozen or so people who entered one after another, each holding Clear Wind Building's signature dishes. After placing them on the table, they lifted the lids, revealing delicious food that made one's mouth water.

  "Looks delicious." Wan Xi Chen nodded.

  "It smells good too!" Xue Zihao also nodded.

  However, the problem is that we don't have so many points. Zhuge Mingyue concluded and looked at the smiling shopkeeper.

  "All these are a handsome and elegant, refined and intelligent, majestic and powerful, jade-like, wind-swept, extraordinary and unparalleled young master. Please invite this young lady." The shopkeeper recited a long string of adjectives in one breath without pausing for air.

  The three people's mouths twitched at the corners.

  "What are you describing?" Zhuge Mingyue asked with disdain.

  "It's right below." A clear yet somewhat enchanting voice came from the doorway.

  Digression

  Reader 15392346973, hello. You're using your mobile phone, so you can't see my reply to you. Therefore, I'll reply here instead. As a student, focus on your studies first and then read books later. By the way, I've sent you 800 Xiangxiang coins as a gift for reading. In short, prioritize learning!