Sharing a Bed

They bickered and teased each other along the way.

Before long, they were back at Dorm Seven.

By the time they stepped inside, it was nearly dark. Beneath the dormitory building's shadow, a burly black-clad figure slowly faded from sight.

"Boss, Sister Xiao Wu! You're back!"

As soon as they entered, someone called out to Ye Qiu and Xiao Wu.

"Mm!"

Ye Qiu replied flatly. They had walked quite a bit that day, and he was already tired, with little energy to spare.

"Mm-hmm. Sister Xiao Wu's back!"

Xiao Wu, on the other hand, was still full of energy. Candy in her mouth, she had already forgotten their earlier unpleasantness, a smile on her face.

Ye Qiu tossed the entire set of bedding onto Xiao Wu's empty bed. After spreading out his mattress on the bed beside hers, he brought the quilt back. Then he lay down on the bed he had just made and let out a satisfied breath.

"Whew~ Lying down really is the best!"

Tang San had already made his bed and finished dinner with some dry rations and water.

He was sitting cross-legged on his bed, meditating.

When he heard the other students greeting them, he opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw was the pretty Xiao Wu.

She was standing by the bed, staring longingly at the quilt Ye Qiu had taken away.

Still chewing her candy, she glanced around, then blushed and quickly made her own bed.

Then, to Tang San, Wang Sheng, and the others' astonishment, she braced both hands against the edge of her bed and shoved it toward Ye Qiu's. She only stopped when the two beds were side by side.

Tang San watched, baffled.

He had learned from experience not to keep asking Xiao Wu questions, so instead he turned to Ye Qiu.

"Ye Qiu, what are you two doing?"

Unfortunately, Ye Qiu didn't feel much like talking this time, either.

After a long while without an answer from Ye Qiu, Tang San couldn't help frowning.

Xiao Wu rubbed her backside. Just as she was about to answer his question, Ye Qiu suddenly sat up.

"Xiao San, can't you see? That silly rabbit doesn't have a quilt!"

"Ye Qiu~"

Xiao Wu had been about to pull the quilt between them. She frowned and called Ye Qiu softly, warning him not to call her a silly rabbit.

"Even so, sharing a quilt seems a little inappropriate, doesn't it?"

Tang San looked at the two of them strangely.

Xiao Wu spread out the quilt and said haughtily, "Nonsense! What's inappropriate about it? The quilt Ye Qiu bought is huge. Look, it's just about big enough to cover both beds!"

"Fine, fine."

Several black lines appeared on Tang San's forehead. Since Xiao Wu, the person involved, didn't mind, why should he make a fuss?

"This is all your fault, anyway!"

Ye Qiu glared at Xiao Wu, annoyed. He had only just lain down when he suddenly remembered that not only had he failed to buy a second quilt, but he had also been so angry that he'd forgotten to buy pillows.

"I-I didn't do it on purpose."

Xiao Wu stammered, then lowered her head with a huff and began putting her things away.

Wang Sheng and the others looked even more surprised. It seemed Xiao Wu had changed quite a bit after going out.

Thump!

A small box suddenly landed on the quilt in front of Xiao Wu. It was the ointment Ye Qiu had bought.

Ye Qiu reminded her, "After you've bathed, put some on your backside yourself, then use a mirror to apply it around your eyes. If you don't have a mirror, I can help—as long as I haven't fallen asleep, of course."

"Mm-hmm. Sister Xiao Wu understands."

Xiao Wu nodded obediently and picked up the ointment.

"Wang Sheng, which way is the bathroom?"

Although the injuries on Xiao Wu's backside and waist had healed, Ye Qiu still made a point of asking.

After saying that, he picked up his school uniform, asked which way the bathroom was, and headed outside.

Xiao Wu looked at the ointment in her hand and pouted.

She looked up toward the doorway and immediately noticed everyone else staring at her. Her face flushed with embarrassment and anger.

"What are you looking at? Keep staring and Sister Xiao Wu will kick your butts!"

Wang Sheng and the others quickly looked away.

So it really had just been their imagination. Sister Xiao Wu hadn't changed at all!

Night gradually fell over the land.

Most of the students in Dorm Seven had finished washing up.

Xiao Wu returned to the dorm with her hair loose. Her cheeks were fair with a rosy glow, and her long, black-and-red hair reached her waist. She had a distinctive charm about her.

Tang San had never been close to a girl before, and for a moment he stared at her, transfixed. Wang Sheng and the others did the same.

"Hmph! What are you looking at?!"

Xiao Wu huffed and glared at them. Only after they looked away did she hurry over to her bed.

Ye Qiu was sitting cross-legged on the bed.

He was trying to cultivate by following the Soul Power circulation route he had obtained from Xiao Wu's memories.

"Ye Qiu, what should we do without pillows?"

Xiao Wu had just applied the ointment, and the area around her eyes still felt a little cool. She was lying on the quilt, feet swaying gently in the air, her chin propped on both hands as she blushed and looked at Ye Qiu.

Without even opening his eyes, Ye Qiu replied, "We'll have to make do with our clothes for now. I'm out of money, too. After we go Soul Hunting in a few days and register as Soul Masters, we can buy two."

After saying that, Ye Qiu opened his eyes. He didn't look at Xiao Wu, but at his own hands. Feeling the slight increase in Soul Power inside him, he couldn't help smiling.

"Okay!"

Xiao Wu nodded helplessly and got up to fold her old clothes in half twice.

A small cloth pouch slipped out. Xiao Wu paused, then picked it up gently and put it in her little pink shoulder bag along with the ointment Ye Qiu had bought.

When she looked up, she found Ye Qiu lying on his side, propping his head up with one hand as he watched her with interest.

Xiao Wu's face immediately turned awkward. Blushing, she placed her little bag between the two beds.

"Don't cross the line tonight. Or else..."

Xiao Wu wanted to say something threatening, but her weakness was still in Ye Qiu's hands, and she couldn't beat him. For a moment, she couldn't come up with any threat at all.

"Tch! I'm not interested in kids like you."

Ye Qiu curled his lip and set his bundle at the head of the bed, between the two beds. Then he lifted the quilt, slipped underneath, and closed his eyes.

"..."

Xiao Wu scrunched up her face and shook her fist at Ye Qiu's closed eyes, then climbed under the quilt herself.

She wrinkled her nose. A sweet, fragrant smell suddenly reached her, and when she turned toward Ye Qiu, she soon realized it was coming from his bundle.

Her crimson eyes shifted as she guessed what was inside.

A rooster crowed outside, and a little light spilled through Dorm Seven's windows.

"Ah~"

Xiao Wu, sprawled on top of Ye Qiu, yawned and slowly opened her eyes. She let go of Ye Qiu's neck, rubbed her sleepy eyes, and smiled at him beneath her.

"Good morning, Ye Qiu!"

Have a pleasant day, everyone!