20. Don't Get Too Close to Tang San

After buying the food, Ye Qiu didn't pick up the bedding.

Instead, he waved to Xiao Wu and slowly headed toward Notting Academy.

"Come on. I'll eat something to get my strength back."

"Okay!"

Xiao Wu beamed.

She didn't mind that Ye Qiu had come empty-handed. In fact, her steps grew lighter as she hurried after him.

The sun had already sunk behind the hills, leaving only a fiery red sunset on the horizon.

They had reached the academy gates.

Ye Qiu opened the bag hanging around his neck, and the aroma of meat wafted out.

Xiao Wu immediately tensed up and hurried over to ask,

"Ye Qiu, what are you doing?"

"Eating."

Ye Qiu held up the roasted meat in his hand and waved it in front of Xiao Wu.

Now that she was closer, Xiao Wu finally saw what Ye Qiu was holding.

She rushed in front of him and cried out,

"Ye Qiu, you're not allowed to eat that!"

"But I'm hungry, and I spent quite a bit of money on this. Do you want me to waste it?"

Ye Qiu looked up at Xiao Wu.

Only then did he remember that she'd flipped over someone's stall because they'd fed her roasted meat.

He immediately lost his appetite.

But he also felt that his consolation had worked a little too well. Xiao Wu had already forgotten the pain once the wound healed.

Now she was yelling at him again.

"But... that's rabbit meat! Sister Xiao Wu won't let you eat it!"

Xiao Wu stamped her foot anxiously, looking at Ye Qiu with a hint of anger in her eyes.

"Hey! Didn't you say you'd listen to me?"

Ye Qiu furrowed his brows, resolved to put his foot down. His voice turned a little low.

"But...!"

Xiao Wu froze, still wanting to stop him.

"Enough, enough. Don't say another word."

Ye Qiu waved his hand, telling her to be quiet, then headed straight into the academy.

At the same time, he put the roasted meat back in the bag.

He pulled out another lollipop and stuck it in his mouth, moving it in and out.

Watching Ye Qiu's hearty eating from behind,

Xiao Wu couldn't help biting her red lip, a hint of hurt flashing in her eyes.

"What are you standing there for? Hurry up!"

With a candy in his mouth, Ye Qiu urged her on without looking back.

Xiao Wu glanced at Ye Qiu's back, lowered her eyes, and followed him toward the academy, a little worried.

"What a silly rabbit."

Ye Qiu turned his head slightly, crunched the candy in his mouth, and swallowed it. A hint of a smile appeared on his face.

It seemed this little rabbit really was obedient.

But there were some things he still needed to make clear to her ahead of time.

By the time they entered the academy,

Ye Qiu had tossed away the stick in his hand and was holding a small bone he'd taken from the bag.

Xiao Wu carried the things. She hadn't said a word the whole way, quietly trailing behind Ye Qiu.

Ye Qiu looked at the leg bone in his hand, stopped, and turned around. Holding the bone, he smiled at Xiao Wu.

Behind his back, his other hand held a carrot-flavored lollipop, the kind Xiao Wu liked.

"Ye Qiu, what are you doing now?!"

Xiao Wu stopped too, her delicate brows furrowing as she looked at him warily.

Ye Qiu didn't answer. He held the bone and slowly walked over to Xiao Wu.

Then he gave her a smiling command:

"Open your mouth!"

Watching the bone waving in Ye Qiu's hand, Xiao Wu seemed to understand. Her expression suddenly darkened, and she clenched her teeth. A film of tears clouded her pinkish-red eyes.

All the fondness she'd felt for him earlier had vanished.

She looked at Ye Qiu pitifully. When he showed no reaction, she could only give a slight nod.

"Mm."

Xiao Wu gave a muffled, tearful reply, then reluctantly parted her red lips a little.

Ye Qiu wasn't satisfied. He said coldly,

"Open wider!"

At his words, Xiao Wu trembled and shut her eyes. A few more tears squeezed from the corners of her eyes.

Seeing how pitiful she looked, Ye Qiu rolled his eyes. He saw that her mouth had barely opened any wider, but decided not to torment her further. He pushed in what he'd prepared earlier.

"Ah-woo~"

Xiao Wu let out a muffled cry, nearly bursting into tears.

Ye Qiu pinched her cheek and tugged it, then leaned close and teased,

"So you really are very obedient~!"

As Ye Qiu spoke, the sweet scent of candy wafted over Xiao Wu's face.

"Hurry up. I have something to tell you."

Before Xiao Wu could react,

Ye Qiu took the things from her hands, held them in his arms, and headed toward Dorm Seven.

Xiao Wu opened her eyes

and blinked in confusion, then froze. The sweetness in her mouth felt a little strange.

Her tongue turned the candy over, and the sweetness grew stronger.

She raised a hand and took the thing out of her mouth. It was a pink lollipop. She touched the cheek Ye Qiu had pinched, now red.

Realization dawned on her face, and a smile slowly appeared.

No wonder Ye Qiu hadn't tasted like meat just now.

Xiao Wu raised her sleeve and wiped the moisture from her eyes, then quickly ran after Ye Qiu.

"Ye Qiu~ Wait for me."

Xiao Wu stood sweetly beside Ye Qiu and walked along with him, savoring the candy in her hand while stealing glances at him.

When Ye Qiu turned to look at her, Xiao Wu quickly hid her smile. Blushing, she lowered her head and slowly turned the candy in her hand.

Ye Qiu rolled his eyes helplessly.

He said irritably, "Why are you just standing there? We can't eat this rabbit meat. Do you want me to take it back and share it with Wang Sheng and the others?"

"Huh?"

Xiao Wu jumped in surprise, then stared blankly at Ye Qiu, confused.

"Then what should we do with it?"

"I want to eat it all. Is that okay?"

At Ye Qiu's words, Xiao Wu immediately frowned and objected.

"Of course not!"

"Then just find somewhere to bury it!"

Ye Qiu rolled his eyes. He was genuinely speechless at this rabbit.

"..."

Xiao Wu froze. Her face reddened slightly, and she immediately nodded. With the candy in her mouth, she reached out and took the bag from Ye Qiu's neck.

"Thank you, Ye Qiu~"

"No problem. Just remember to pay me back for all of it."

"Mm-hmm. Sister Xiao Wu will definitely pay you back."

Xiao Wu smiled, eyes narrowing, and nodded.

She had no intention of backing out. Happily, she ran over to the flower bed by the roadside.

It didn't take long for her to bury the rabbit meat.

She returned to Ye Qiu's side and held out her clean hand.

"All done. I'll carry it now, Ye Qiu."

"Mm."

Ye Qiu didn't stand on ceremony and handed everything to Xiao Wu.

Then he stepped closer and leaned by Xiao Wu's ear.

He murmured, "Do you still remember what you promised me?"

"Mm-hmm." Xiao Wu nodded quickly, blushing. "Sister Xiao Wu will be obedient!"

Ye Qiu gave her a look but didn't correct how she referred to herself. Instead, he continued, "Then remember this. Don't get too close to Tang San, understand? Otherwise, I won't look after you anymore."

"..."

Xiao Wu froze, not understanding why, but still nodded seriously.

"Mm. Sister Xiao Wu understands."

"See that you do. Otherwise... I'll eat rabbit meat every day from now on."

Ye Qiu pinched Xiao Wu's cheek.

"No! I'll be obedient. You're not allowed to eat rabbit meat!"

Before Xiao Wu could finish, Ye Qiu laughed and pulled the candy out of her mouth.

Then he headed toward Dorm Seven.

"Ye Qiu! Give Sister Xiao Wu her candy back. Ah... My candy! I'm going to beat you up!"

Watching Ye Qiu's hearty eating from behind, Xiao Wu's face flushed bright red. She was practically steaming.