Wild Thoughts

By the time Tang San returned,

Ye Qiu was sitting cross-legged on his bed, meditating.

Xiao Wu sat quietly on the edge of her bed, holding the candy Ye Qiu had given her. Eyes half-closed, she licked it slowly, savoring the sweetness. She seemed to be in a good mood, though her eyes were still a little red.

Tang San immediately understood what had happened while he was away. He couldn't help giving a wry smile. "Xiao Wu, you didn't get into another fight with Ye Qiu, did you?"

Xiao Wu pouted and glared at Ye Qiu, her voice sweet and petulant. "Hmph! It's all his fault. He's always picking on me."

"You're usually the one who starts it, aren't you?" Ye Qiu opened his eyes and shot Xiao Wu an exasperated look.

"If you hadn't made me mad first, I wouldn't have hit you." Xiao Wu gritted her teeth at him.

Tang San covered his forehead. He couldn't quite make sense of the conflict between them, but after spending so much time together, he'd noticed that whenever Ye Qiu hit Xiao Wu, he felt strange afterward—as though his own head had grown heavier.

"Ye Qiu, could you hit her somewhere else next time? Xiao Wu is a girl, after all."

Xiao Wu nodded vigorously beside him.

"Hit the places with more padding, and it won't hurt as much. Otherwise, this little rabbit would cry her eyes out." Ye Qiu spread his hands, as if there wasn't much he could do.

Tang San had told Ye Qiu this more than once.

Ye Qiu even suspected that quite a few times Tang San had asked him to spar only because Ye Qiu had hit Xiao Wu, and Tang San wanted to stand up for her under the pretext of training.

Besides, Tang San was a bit strange.

When Ye Qiu and Tang San fought, even without Tang San using 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. And sometimes, after fighting her, he'd come straight to Ye Qiu without even catching his breath.

Ye Qiu knew exactly how hard the little rabbit could fight. It was obvious who the problem was.

Tang San sighed helplessly. He'd expected Ye Qiu to answer that way. Still, he managed a smile and teased, "Then you'd better go easy on her. If you hurt Xiao Wu, you'll have to carry her on your back tomorrow."

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

Ye Qiu smiled. He hadn't used anything close to his full strength, and he always healed the silly rabbit afterward.

"Hm?"

At Tang San's words, Xiao Wu first froze, then blushed and brightened. A moment later, her expression fell again.

If only Ye Qiu couldn't heal her. Then she could make him carry her for a long, long way—and cling to him the whole time. No, wait! She could make him pay for it properly!

"Come on, Xiao Wu. Let's go eat."

Ye Qiu got up and called to her, but she didn't respond for a long while. He glanced back at her, head lowered as she savored her candy, and called her a few more times.

"Xiao Wu. Xiao Wu?!"

"Silly rabbit!"

"Huh? Yes, Ye Qiu? What did you say?"

Only when Ye Qiu raised his voice did Xiao Wu finally look up, bewildered. She hadn't even noticed him calling her a silly rabbit.

Tang San looked at her strangely too.

"What are you thinking about, silly rabbit?" Ye Qiu asked, watching her with suspicion.

"I-I'm not thinking about anything."

Xiao Wu's face quickly turned red. She answered in a sweet voice, turned her head away, and tried to keep Ye Qiu at a distance. Her gaze darted aside, and she looked guilty.

She simply pulled the quilt over her head, not wanting to see Ye Qiu, and mumbled, "You go eat by yourself. I'm not going."

"You're not feeling well? That doesn't make sense."

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

"Haha. Maybe he hit you so hard that it's difficult to walk," Tang San suddenly laughed. Yet buried in his laughter was a bitterness even he seemed unable to recognize.

"Fine."

Ye Qiu gave Tang San a speechless look and shrugged. He didn't press Xiao Wu. Gently patting the quilt, he asked, "Then should I bring you something to eat?"

"Okay. Sister Xiao Wu wants a fresh carrot, long and straight."

Xiao Wu poked her head out from under the quilt. Her face was bright red, and she still couldn't meet Ye Qiu's eyes.

"Sure. Get some good rest." Ye Qiu agreed softly, then popped another lollipop into her mouth.

"Nom~ Thanks."

With the lollipop in her mouth, Xiao Wu looked at Ye Qiu and thanked him sweetly.

"San, want to come eat with me?"

When Ye Qiu reached the door, he seemed to remember Tang San was there and turned to ask.

"No, you go ahead. I've already eaten with the teacher."

"Okay."

Ye Qiu waved and headed toward the dining hall at Notting Academy.

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

She touched her bottom and wriggled around on the bed like a blushing little caterpillar.

Ye Qiu could be quite considerate sometimes. Even if he was usually the reason she needed looking after, it was true that she was the one who started things.

Xiao Wu knew perfectly well she couldn't beat Ye Qiu. Every time she charged at him, claws and all, she got a sound thrashing. But she just couldn't help herself. Ye Qiu was so annoying! He never went 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, tugging at the shoulder bag hanging at his waist. She wore a smile and kept bumping into him now and then.

Whenever Ye Qiu rolled his eyes at her, she only smiled sweetly. Then, wisely, she reined in her antics. She didn't want to make him angry; getting smacked on the butt in the middle of the road would be so embarrassing.

Tang San walked beside Ye Qiu too. Now and then, he glanced at the lively Xiao Wu, who kept laughing. She was almost unbearably innocent and cheerful.

After Xiao Wu had skipped along for an hour, the blazing sun finally wore her out. The little rabbit could no longer hop around, and beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

As usual, she clung to Ye Qiu's arm and leaned against his side, breathless. "Ye Qiu, how much farther? Sister Xiao Wu is tired."

"That's what you get for skipping around the whole way. Just hang on a little longer." Ye Qiu rolled his eyes at her helplessly. The silly rabbit had worn him out too, tugging him along.

Xiao Wu raised a hand to shield her eyes from the sunlight and let out a groan. "Ah, the sun's so hot! Ye Qiu, can't your martial soul change shape? Could you turn it into an umbrella so Sister Xiao Wu can get out of the sun?"