283: The Sun Never Sets

It was as if Duan Yao's gaze had stirred a ripple in Gu Xiaoyue's heart, giving rise to an indescribable, peculiar feeling.

She glanced at Chu Li, then let out a long breath, placed her cutlery in the designated cleaning area, and left the dining hall.

She currently didn't have the extra energy to dwell on her feelings for Chu Li or her engagement to Shui Lingyu.

Previously, Chu Li seemed to have something to say to her, but now, with the World Championships preparations, all other matters had to make way.

Shui Lingyu's graduation ceremony was attended virtually, and his assistant handled the procedures for him; otherwise, he would have definitely been on stage speaking as the graduate representative.

Charlie and Qian Ce had both sent messages, confirming that the tasks Gu Xiaoyue had entrusted them with were completed.

Charlie even specifically showed off to her that he and Allen had booked hotels near the World Championships venue.

Once Gu Xiaoyue and her team officially started competing, he planned to watch every single match.

"Xiao Yue, I've decided to book more tickets for your matches!

With your strength, your tickets will be gone after only a couple of matches, and I can just be a scalper, selling your tickets to make a fortune!"

Charlie was still fantasizing on the brain, while Gu Xiaoyue had a face full of black lines but didn't expose him—World Championships tickets were registered under real names, so he couldn't possibly resell them.

Anyway, he would find out when he tried to buy tickets.

With only one week until the official opening of the World Championships, Gu Xiaoyue and her team were preparing to board the Albatross to Sun Never Sets.

Actually, one Albatross was enough for the Dragon Country's competitors, but the other assistants and bodyguard teams would fill three Albatrosses.

Before Gu Xiaoyue boarded the Albatross, besides those she knew, there were also a few unfamiliar faces.

They should all be the new participants for the single-attribute events this time.

She originally felt nothing towards them; single-attribute participants trained individually, so it was normal not to know them.

However, the gazes of two of them were not very friendly towards her.

They were all Dragon Country competitors, and each National Team member was accompanied by two shadow guards and four bodyguards.

Gu Xiaoyue knew they wouldn't do anything to her; they were merely jealous of her.

One had a light attribute and the other a metal attribute; if not for the change in the competition format this time, they wouldn't even have touched the threshold of the World Championships.

The first batch of Albatrosses flew for most of the day, then they transferred to another batch of Albatrosses and flew all night and half the next day, finally reaching the territory of Sun Never Sets.

As soon as they stepped onto the land of Sun Never Sets, Duan Yao was already incredibly excited.

"Wow! This is my first time going abroad! I wonder what fun things there are in Sun Never Sets!"

Gu Xiaoyue didn't want to dampen her spirits; being with the National Team meant they had to follow arrangements until the World Championships ended.

Only after the World Championships ended could they discuss whether to return to their country with the team or not.

Wanting to go out and play on her own was probably just a pipe dream.

Duan Yao naturally linked arms with Gu Xiaoyue, asking her if she had ever traveled abroad.

"This is my first time going abroad too."

Gu Xiaoyue lowered her eyes; even though the original owner was considered the eldest legitimate daughter of the Gu Family, she probably hadn't received as much affection as Gu Xiaoxing did from a young age.

She and Duan Yao both considered their previous trip to Damon Country to rescue White Gaze as a mission, not a leisure trip abroad.

Furthermore, her nature was already indifferent, so she wouldn't have too many reactions to changes in her surroundings.

The Dragon Country team entered the World Championships Village, built by Sun Never Sets for the event, and staff first arranged accommodation for everyone.

No spectators were allowed in, only some sponsors who had already begun setting up activity venues.

Gu Xiaoyue and Duan Yao shared a room, with the assistant and bodyguards in the adjacent room.

After they settled everything, they went together to explore the competition venue and could also book training sessions at the training grounds.

After all, arriving a week early was for adapting to the environment, adjusting to the time difference, and allowing the competitors to warm up for the competition.

Even with numerous competitors from various countries, no one would dare to provoke trouble.

If anyone engaged in private fights or caused trouble, the organizers had the right to directly disqualify that person, or even the entire country, from the competition!

Unless they were spies, everyone would obediently follow all arrangements for the sake of their country and themselves.

Competitors from various countries moved into the World Championships Village one after another, and the organizers had set up stations throughout the village for distributing souvenirs and necessities.

"Xiao Yue, let's go see what they're giving out over there?"

Duan Yao saw Lv Hao and Su Anxi just coming out of a station, and she insisted on dragging Gu Xiaoyue over.

"Wait, that is—"

Gu Xiaoyue recognized the sign posted there and hadn't had time to explain to Duan Yao.

Duan Yao had already let go of her hand and trotted towards that station.

Chu Li and Shui Lingyu were also nearby and came over when they saw them.

"She—why did she go to get that? Does she need it?"

Chu Li pointed at Duan Yao's excited back, sounding a bit rueful.

Gu Xiaoyue was a bit embarrassed, her face flushed as she put a hand to her forehead and said softly.

"Duan Yao—she's just a bit too excited about being in Sun Never Sets for the first time, I guess!"

The three of them waited awkwardly for her. Not long after, Duan Yao, her face as red as a tomato, emerged from the station.

She glanced at Chu Li and Shui Lingyu, who were smirking, then grabbed Gu Xiaoyue's hand and secretly pinched it.

"No, what they're distributing is—"

"You, why didn't you stop me earlier?!"

"Big sister, why don't you say you're like a wild horse that's broken free?

Could I have stopped you?!

Couples go to get them, and you see them and go get one too? What are you going to do after getting it? Blow up balloons?"

Gu Xiaoyue hadn't even finished complaining that Duan Yao was like a country bumpkin, finding everything new.

Instead, Duan Yao accused Gu Xiaoyue of not stopping her and making her lose face.

"Alright, let's go quickly!"

This station was distributing small umbrellas. Duan Yao, who had lived in the mountains for years, naturally wouldn't notice that the sign clearly stated what it was.

"Are you hungry? The cafeteria here is open 24 hours, and it caters to competitors from all countries, so you can try any country's cuisine you like.

Chu Li and I are just about to go; would you two like to join us?"

Shui Lingyu asked gently, as if nothing had just happened.

"Yes, yes, let's go together!"

Duan Yao didn't wait for Gu Xiaoyue's answer, pulling her along and hurrying off.

She just wanted to leave there now; it was too embarrassing!

A moment of extroversion, though not leading to a lifetime of introversion, could certainly create a lifetime of trauma!

"Faner Country dishes are also very famous in Dragon Country, but they are adjusted to the taste of Dragon Country people, so they might not be as authentic as what you eat here.

Red Sun Country's fresh seafood is quite famous; even though Sun Never Sets is not coastal, the ingredients are air-freighted in.

Lijian Country has more fried foods, which don't quite suit the taste of us Dragon Country people, but they're okay to eat occasionally—"

Shui Lingyu introduced this to Duan Yao, but his eyes occasionally darted towards Gu Xiaoyue.

He thought he was taking care of Gu Xiaoyue's best friend for her, so it shouldn't be considered overstepping, right?

Gu Xiaoyue followed behind them; she wasn't picky about what to eat.

After walking around for a long time, Gu Xiaoyue casually grabbed some food and found a place to sit and wait.

Duan Yao came over with several trays of various international dishes and placed them on the table.

"No, can you finish all of this?"

Gu Xiaoyue couldn't help but be a little surprised. Duan Yao could eat a lot; without enough food, she might not even be able to swing her large saber.

But now, in front of her was three times her usual meal portion!

"Of course, it's not all for me; I brought some for you too!"

Duan Yao finished speaking, picked up a small plate, and placed it in front of Gu Xiaoyue, on which was a small piece of dessert.

"Thank you, you're so thoughtful!"

Gu Xiaoyue blinked her eyes and put the small dessert into her mouth.

The milky aroma went straight from her palate to the top of her head, sweet but not cloying.

Hmm—it was quite delicious!

"That's right, don't try to snatch the rest from me!"

Duan Yao made a gesture of guarding her food and began to devour the food in front of her like a whirlwind.

Her actions not only surprised Gu Xiaoyue but also left Chu Li and Shui Lingyu wide-eyed, even making them forget to eat their own food.

She didn't eat like this in the Dragon Country cafeteria—

Duan Yao had already finished all the dishes she had taken, then wiped her mouth, only to find that the food in front of them was almost untouched.

"Don't you guys like it? Everything I took was something I hadn't seen in the Dragon Country cafeteria. How should I put it—"

She pouted her lips and said in a low voice.

"It's not as good as what they make in our Dragon Country cafeteria!"

"It's not as good as the Dragon Country cafeteria, and you ate so much. If it were better than the Dragon Country cafeteria, you might have eaten the chef too!"

Gu Xiaoyue sighed lightly and shook her head, complaining about her letting loose.

"Although I'm full, I can still have some dessert—"

Duan Yao ignored Gu Xiaoyue's complaint. As she got up to get more dessert, a few snickers came from the next table.