The Little Rabbit Who Was Elbowed from Behind

"Ye Qiu, why did you hit Sister Xiao Wu again just now? And in front of so many people, too!"

Behind him, Xiao Wu pouted, her voice still thick with a hint of sobbing. She stared at Ye Qiu's back, her eyes filled with resentment.

"You've got some nerve saying that!"

"I told you to act cute and bat your eyelashes so the shopkeeper would give us a discount. But what did you do? You saw that stall selling roasted rabbit legs for extra cash, flew into a rage, and flipped the whole thing over! Then I had to pay out of pocket to clean up your mess and buy all those rabbit legs!"

Thinking about it made Ye Qiu furious. He stopped and turned around, looking at the aggrieved little rabbit with exasperation.

"You're making things up! It was all that guy's fault. He actually tried to shove a rabbit leg into my mouth! I was already being nice by not breaking his legs. Besides, rabbits are so cute—why would anyone eat them?! Hmph!"

Thinking of that shopkeeper, Xiao Wu wanted nothing more than to go back and make a scene. He'd actually tried to feed her rabbit legs.

"He only wanted to give you something to eat because he thought you were cute and adorable. You could've at least thanked him, but instead you wrecked his stall!"

Ye Qiu rolled his eyes.

The shopkeeper had meant well, but it had backfired. How could he have known she was a real rabbit?

"E-even so! You didn't have to elbow Sister Xiao Wu so many times! And then you threw me over your shoulder, too. I'm in so much pain!"

The more Xiao Wu thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. Her lips pursed, and she could barely hold back her tears. She could hardly straighten her back now.

"Don't make things up. When did I elbow you? After I gave you a black eye, that fat woman by the roadside took advantage of the chaos and kept elbowing you!"

Hearing Xiao Wu's accusation, Ye Qiu immediately explained himself. He hadn't done it, and he wasn't taking the blame.

"What?! Someone dared to sneak up on Sister Xiao Wu? Ah! I'll beat her to death!"

Xiao Wu's eyes widened. She'd been too busy covering her eyes to notice that several people had been hitting her. Remembering it only made her feel worse.

Her voice wavered with tears as she complained:

"E-even so, you shouldn't have punched Sister Xiao Wu and then thrown me over your shoulder! I saw you do it!"

"Could you please get your facts straight?"

Ye Qiu pursed his lips helplessly and explained:

"I was trying to save you when I pulled you away. I didn't mean to use so much force. You know the ground was covered in hot coals from the stall you overturned. What would've happened if I hadn't pulled hard enough and you fell onto them? You really would've been a roasted rabbit."

"Sister Xiao Wu is not a rabbit!"

Xiao Wu pouted, trying to deny the obvious, then began cursing through her tears.

"Wah! I'd better not run into that horrible woman again. If I do, I'll make sure she gets a taste of Sister Xiao Wu's elbows!"

"Don't worry, you'll have plenty of chances. We'll be at school for six years."

Ye Qiu smiled.

Thinking of that chubby girl, he couldn't help feeling sorry for her.

Of all the commotions she could've joined, she'd picked one where she could elbow someone. What a mess.

Then he looked at Xiao Wu and said:

"Anyway, we could've bought two quilts, but because of you, we only got one! You don't get to use it."

"Huh? Why can't I use it?!"

A look of surprise flashed across Xiao Wu's tearful face, her voice tinged with grievance. Then she lifted the quilt in her arms, sounding unconcerned.

"One is fine. It's big enough for both of us to use! What, are you afraid Sister Xiao Wu will force herself on you?!"

Then she huffed indignantly:

"Sister Xiao Wu came out to buy a quilt with you, and people attacked me so many times. You're responsible!"

Hearing her, Ye Qiu rolled his eyes and grumbled:

"You really are a rogue rabbit!"

"You! Don't call me that! I'm not a rogue rabbit! You're the rogue. You even kicked my butt back at the dorm!"

Xiao Wu glared at Ye Qiu, furious.

He'd already hit her twice, blackened both her eyes, and left her backside lopsided!

Thinking of it, she ground her teeth as if she wanted to bite Ye Qiu to death.

"Haha."

Looking at her furious, helpless expression, Ye Qiu suddenly snickered.

"What are you laughing at?"

Xiao Wu looked at Ye Qiu in confusion.

Ye Qiu stopped laughing and glanced around.

They happened to be in a narrow alley. Ye Qiu found a relatively clean spot and set the bedding down.

Then he dusted off his hands, stretched, and walked toward Xiao Wu.

"What are you doing? You're not going to hit Sister Xiao Wu again, are you?"

As Ye Qiu came closer, Xiao Wu's eyes filled with fear, and she slowly backed away.

At that moment, she was no match for Ye Qiu.

"Don't come any closer!"

"What's that silly rabbit of yours thinking? Why would I hit you for no reason? Have you forgotten what you promised me?"

Ye Qiu shrugged and spread his hands, looking a little exasperated.

"What I promised you?"

Xiao Wu blinked her bright red eyes, not understanding at first.

"Yeah, what you promised me! Put down what you're holding and let me see what it feels like to wrap you up."

Ye Qiu pointed to where he'd set the bedding and told her to put the quilt there.

"I told you, don't call me a rabbit!"

Only then did Xiao Wu realize what he meant. She pouted and complained.

She carefully walked over to where he'd put the bedding and set down the quilt. After wiping the tears from her eyes, she turned back.

With her hands on her hips and her feet planted together, she huffed, "You can't call me a silly rabbit, either, and you definitely can't call me a rogue rabbit!"

Then she guarded her backside with one hand and shook her fist at Ye Qiu with the other.

"Watch it, or Sister Xiao Wu will beat you up!"

"Pfft, hahaha!"

Ye Qiu chuckled, eyeing her with interest.

How could she be so timid and so defiant at the same time? She really was adorable.

"What are you laughing at? Sister Xiao Wu means it!"

Xiao Wu frowned, her bright red eyes serious.

"Mhm, I know you mean it."

Ye Qiu stroked his chin and nodded. Then, suddenly, he felt like teasing this not-so-bright pink rabbit again.

His smile faded. He put his hands behind his back and slowly walked up to Xiao Wu, leaning his face toward hers.

"W-what are you doing?"

Xiao Wu bent over slightly and leaned back, blushing as she tried to put some distance between them.

"Why is it that the more I look at you, the more you seem like a little rabbit?"

Ye Qiu gave her a mischievous smile, his voice even.

"Y-you're talking nonsense! How am I like one?"

Xiao Wu hurriedly took two steps back, glaring at Ye Qiu as she tried to look calm.

"How aren't you?"

With his hands behind his back, Ye Qiu slowly circled Xiao Wu, looking her up and down as he offered his assessment.

"Your Martial Soul is a rabbit, and some of your mannerisms are rabbit-like, too. You even get upset and angry when you see people eating rabbit!"

As Ye Qiu spoke, Xiao Wu's eyes darted around. She clasped her hands together, twisting the hem of her clothes tightly.

"I-I just really like rabbits, that's all..."

Suddenly, Ye Qiu pressed up behind her, and Xiao Wu froze in place.

A warm breath brushed the back of her neck. Ye Qiu leaned in, sniffed, and took a gentle breath.

She actually smelled pretty nice, but he didn't say so.

Ye Qiu leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Even your scent is a little like a rabbit's. You couldn't be a rabbit who turned into a person, could you, little white rabbit?"

His hot breath blew into her ear, but Xiao Wu's heart turned cold. Her fair, rosy face went deathly pale, and panic filled her expression.

"H-how could that be?!"

Xiao Wu cried out and stumbled forward. Then she turned around and stared fixedly at Ye Qiu, her eyes darting away.

"I'm not! And don't call me a little white rabbit. How could a person possibly be..."

"Wishing everyone a happy life!"