Wild Thoughts

When Tang San returned, Ye Qiu was sitting cross-legged on the bed, meditating.

Xiao Wu sat quietly by her own bed, still holding the candy Ye Qiu had given her. Her eyes narrowed as she delicately licked and savored it. She seemed to be in a good mood, though her eyes were still slightly red around the rims.

Tang San immediately understood what had happened while he was gone, and a wry smile appeared on his face. "Xiao Wu, don't tell me you fought Ye Qiu again?"

Xiao Wu pursed her lips and glared at Ye Qiu. "Hmph! It's all his fault. He's always bullying me."

"You were basically the one who started it, weren't you?" Ye Qiu opened his eyes and shot Xiao Wu an annoyed glance.

"If you hadn't made me angry first, why would I have started it?" Xiao Wu gritted her pearly teeth viciously.

Tang San rubbed his forehead. He could never quite sort out the conflicts between the two, but after spending so much time with them, every time Ye Qiu hit Xiao Wu, he felt a strange sensation—as though his own head had grown a little heavier.

"Ye Qiu, you should hit somewhere else from now on. Xiao Wu is a girl, after all."

Xiao Wu nodded frantically beside him.

"Hitting somewhere with more flesh hurts less. Otherwise, this little rabbit would cry herself to death." Ye Qiu spread his hands, looking rather troubled.

Tang San had said such things to Ye Qiu more than once.

Ye Qiu even suspected that many of Tang San's sparring matches with him were only because Xiao Wu had been hit by him, and Tang San wanted to stand up for her under the guise of sparring.

Besides, Tang San was a little strange. When Ye Qiu fought Tang San, even if Tang San did not use hidden weapons, Ye Qiu knew he was much stronger than Xiao Wu. Yet whenever Tang San fought Xiao Wu, he lost more often than he won. The key was that sometimes, after fighting Xiao Wu, he would come straight to challenge Ye Qiu without even catching his breath.

Ye Qiu knew very well how strong the little rabbit was at full power. As for who the problem lay with, the answer was obvious.

Tang San sighed helplessly. He had expected Ye Qiu's answer, but still forced out a smile and teased, "Then you'd better go easy on her. If you hurt Xiao Wu, you'll have to carry her tomorrow."

"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."

Ye Qiu smiled. He had not used much force anyway, and he healed the silly rabbit every time.

"Hm?"

When Xiao Wu heard Tang San's words, she froze for a moment. Then her face reddened and her eyes lit up, only to dim again shortly afterward.

If only Ye Qiu did not have healing abilities. Then she could make Ye Qiu carry her for a long, long way. That way, she could press against Ye Qiu—no, that wasn't right! She could properly punish Ye Qiu!

"Alright, Xiao Wu. Let's go eat."

Ye Qiu stood and called out to Xiao Wu, but after a long while, she still did not react. Looking back at Xiao Wu, who had lowered her head to savor her candy without moving, Ye Qiu called her several more times.

"Xiao Wu. Xiao Wu?!"

"Silly rabbit!"

"Huh? Mm, Ye Qiu, what did you say?"

After Ye Qiu raised his voice, Xiao Wu finally looked up in confusion. She did not even react to him calling her a silly rabbit.

Tang San also looked at Xiao Wu curiously.

"Silly rabbit, what are you thinking about?" Ye Qiu stared at Xiao Wu in confusion.

"I-I wasn't thinking about anything."

Xiao Wu's face quickly turned red. She answered in a soft voice, turning her head away from Ye Qiu defensively. Her eyes darted about, and she looked guilty.

"It's getting late. Time to eat. By the way, why did your face suddenly get so red?" Ye Qiu raised an eyebrow, stepped forward, and cupped Xiao Wu's cheeks as he examined her carefully.

"Ah! Go away! I-I'm fine. It's just a little hot, and I'm not feeling well." Xiao Wu shook her head like a pellet drum, her little face flushed crimson as she tried to push Ye Qiu away.

She simply pulled the blanket over her head, unwilling to see Ye Qiu, and said in a muffled voice, "Go eat by yourself. I'm not going."

"You're not feeling well? That shouldn't be possible."

Ye Qiu frowned. He had only smacked Xiao Wu's butt a few times, and he had healed her from head to toe afterward.

"Haha... You probably hit her so hard that it hurts, and she doesn't find it convenient to walk." Tang San suddenly laughed, though there seemed to be a bitterness hidden within that laughter, one even he could not detect.

"Fine."

Ye Qiu gave Tang San a speechless look and shrugged. He did not force Xiao Wu any further, merely patting the blanket lightly as he asked, "Then do you want me to bring you something to eat?"

"Yes. Sister Xiao Wu wants fresh carrots that are long and straight."

Xiao Wu poked her head out from beneath the blanket. Her little face was already stifled bright red, and her gaze still avoided Ye Qiu's.

"Alright. Get some rest, then." Ye Qiu agreed softly and slipped another lollipop into Xiao Wu's mouth.

"Ahm~ Thanks."

Xiao Wu held the lollipop in her mouth and thanked Ye Qiu softly.

"Little San, are you coming to eat?"

When Ye Qiu reached the door, it was as though he had only just remembered Tang San. He turned around and asked.

"No need. You go ahead. I already ate with Teacher."

"Alright."

Ye Qiu waved his hand and headed toward Notting Academy's cafeteria.

Xiao Wu held the candy in her mouth, savoring its sweetness.

She rubbed her own butt, face flushed red as she wriggled around on the bed like a caterpillar.

Ye Qiu was sometimes quite considerate of her. Although most of the time, when he took care of her, it was because he had caused the problem himself, she had indeed always been the one to make the first move.

Xiao Wu also knew very well that she was no match for Ye Qiu. Every time she pounced on him with fangs bared and claws brandished, she would get a thorough beating from him, but she simply could not help herself. Who told Ye Qiu to be so infuriating?! He did not even know how to go easy on her, hmph!...

The next morning.

Tang San, Ye Qiu, and Xiao Wu walked out through the gates of Notting Academy.

Xiao Wu skipped along beside Ye Qiu, one small hand tugging at the shoulder bag slung around his waist. She wore a smile on her face and bumped into Ye Qiu from time to time.

Even when Ye Qiu rolled his eyes at her, she merely smiled sweetly before wisely toning it down a little. She did not want to anger Ye Qiu either. Getting her butt smacked on the road would be far too embarrassing.

Tang San walked beside Ye Qiu as well, his gaze occasionally drifting toward the lively Xiao Wu, who kept laughing. She really was far too innocent and carefree.

After Xiao Wu had skipped along for two hours, even the little rabbit could no longer jump under the blazing sun. Fine beads of sweat seeped from her forehead.

Out of habit, she hugged Ye Qiu's arm and leaned against his side, saying weakly, "Ye Qiu, how much farther is it? Big Sis Xiao Wu is tired."

"Who told you to skip and hop all the way? Hang in there a little longer." Ye Qiu shot her a helpless look. This silly rabbit had been tugging him around so much that he was getting tired too.

Xiao Wu raised a hand to block the sunlight shining into her eyes and let out a few wails. "Ah, the sun is so scorching! Ye Qiu, isn't your martial soul able to change shape? Can't you turn it into an umbrella so Big Sis Xiao Wu can hide from the sun?"

Wishing everyone a happy life!