Stepping out of the house, away from his parents' suffocating scrutinizing gaze, Zhang Shaozhong breathed a sigh of relief and was about to break the awkward silence when a clear, surprised female voice rang out from beside him:

"Brother Chong?!"

Zhang Shaozhong froze. This address... He stiffly turned his head and saw a young girl in a floral dress, with a ponytail, looking fresh and lively, standing in front of a fruit stand not far away, looking at him with surprise.

"Xiao...Xiaoya?"

Zhang Shaozhong recognized the person as Lin Ya, his former neighbor, who was two years younger than him and had been a childhood playmate.

When they were little, this girl would follow him around calling him "Brother Chong, Brother Chong," but later he went to university and they lost touch. I never expected to run into her again so coincidentally.

Lin Ya walked over quickly, her smile bright, and naturally reached out to grab Zhang Shaozhong's arm: "Brother Chong, it really is you! Long time no see! Why didn't you tell me you were back for the holiday?"

Before her hand even touched Zhang Shaozhong, she instantly felt two gazes that seemed to be tangible!

On the left, there was a woman dressed in an elegant long dress, with a cool and aloof demeanor. Her gaze was calm and serene, yet it seemed to carry shards of ice, causing the woman's outstretched hand to freeze in mid-air for no apparent reason.

On the right was a stylishly dressed woman with a hot figure and a scrutinizing gaze that made no attempt to hide her displeasure. Her gaze was so intense, it seemed to carry sparks, making the back of her hand feel hot.

Lin Ya awkwardly withdrew her hand, only then noticing the two stunningly beautiful women beside Zhang Shaozhong, each with a distinct style.

Her heart skipped a beat, and a strong sense of crisis and jealousy welled up inside her.

"Brother Chong, who are these two...?"

Lin Ya's smile remained unchanged, but her eyes now held a scrutinizing look and a hint of barely perceptible hostility.

Zhang Shaozhong felt like his scalp was about to explode!

He could clearly feel that the low pressure on both sides instantly turned into a storm warning!

On Ling Qingxue's side, there was an ice storm, the cold was biting, as if even the surrounding air was about to freeze.

She merely glanced at Lin Ya before looking away, but her aura of "keep away" only intensified.

On Ye Meier's side, a storm of fire raged, her anger almost bursting forth!

She crossed her arms, looked Lin Ya up and down, and snorted through her nose, her eyes seeming to say, "Where did this little brat come from, daring to steal my man?"

"They are..."

Zhang Shaozhong's throat went dry, and he felt more nervous than if he were facing a thousand troops. "These are my friends, Ling Qingxue and Ye Meier. This is Lin Ya, my former neighbor."

"Oh~ Neighbor~ Sister~ Ah~"

Ye Meier deliberately drew out her words, the sourness in her tone noticeable even from a distance. She stepped forward, almost pressed herself against Zhang Shaozhong, and defiantly wrapped her arm around his. She gave Lin Ya a "friendly" smile, "Little sister, hello there! I'm Ye Meier, Shaozhong's... 'good friend'~"

She deliberately emphasized the words "good friend," the implication of which was self-evident.

Although Ling Qingxue did not move, the chill emanating from her body intensified, causing even the owner of the fruit stall next to her to shiver and look at the sky in confusion.

Lin Ya's expression changed slightly at Ye Meier's aggressive demeanor, but she was no pushover either. She quickly adjusted her expression and put on an innocent smile: "So you're Brother Chong's friends! Hello! Brother Chong and I grew up together and are best friends!"

She also emphasized that they "grew up together since childhood".

Ignoring Ye Meier, she turned to Zhang Shaozhong and said in a coquettish tone, "Brother Chong, where are you going? I'm free anyway, I'll come with you! I can be your tour guide! I know the City God Temple Old Street like the back of my hand!"

Zhang Shaozhong screamed inwardly: No! Grandma, please stop making things worse!

But before he could refuse, Ye Meier spoke first, saying with a forced smile, "Oh, I'm so sorry to take up your time. We're just the 'family of three' strolling around, no need to trouble outsiders."

"A family of three?!"

Lin Ya's eyes widened instantly as she looked at Zhang Shaozhong in disbelief, then at Ling Qingxue and Ye Meier.

Zhang Shaozhong almost spat out a mouthful of blood!

Sister, your words are way too ambiguous!

Ling Qingxue finally reacted. She frowned and glanced at Ye Meier, clearly dissatisfied with the choice of words, but due to some subtle mindset, she did not correct her.

Lin Ya was a little stunned by this "family of three," but seeing Zhang Shaozhong's embarrassed yet non-denying expression, a stubborn streak rose within her, and she said defiantly, "No trouble at all! I haven't seen Brother Chong for so long, it's a good opportunity to catch up! Let's go!"

As she spoke, she actually walked directly to Zhang Shaozhong's other side and tried to take his other arm!

That's great!

To Zhang Shaozhong's left is Ling Qingxue, who exudes a chilling aura, and to his right is Ye Meier, who is consumed by jealousy. Now, in the middle is his childhood sweetheart Lin Ya, who is as passionate as fire!

He felt like a sandwich cookie being fought over by three powerful air currents, ready to be torn apart at any moment!

"Uh...hehe...then...let's do it together..."

Zhang Shaozhong chuckled dryly and began to walk almost mechanically.

What could he do? He was desperate too!

Thus, an extremely bizarre scene unfolded in the old street of the City God Temple—a young man who seemed to have lost all will to live was surrounded by three women of different styles and stunning beauty.

The woman on the left was aloof and ethereal, her gaze fixed straight ahead, yet exuding a chilling aura; the woman on the right was alluring and fiery, clinging tightly to the man's arm, her eyes piercing the other side like knives; while the girl on the other side, like the girl next door, tried to squeeze in to speak, her face filled with grievance and resentment.

Wherever they go, they get a 100% head-turning rate!

Passersby turned their heads and whispered among themselves.

"Holy crap! Who's that guy? He's got some serious skills!"

"A battlefield of carnage! This is a real-life battlefield of carnage!"

"I'm so envious! But it looks like it's in a lot of pain..."

Zhang Shaozhong is indeed in great pain!

He felt like he was being crushed by those three powerful auras!

Especially his damned "emotional radar," which was currently being frantically bombarded by three intense, negative emotions—icy anger, burning jealousy, and the complex feelings of resentment, unwillingness, and affection from his childhood sweetheart…

This isn't shopping.

This is practically torture!

He was on the verge of tears, and could only pray frantically in his heart: God, please let a meteorite knock me out!

Or let this awkward journey end soon!