Xiao Wu's Heart Wanders?

[Wait, has the plot gone this far off the rails?]

[In the original work, shouldn't Xiao Wu be in a group with Tang San? Why did she come looking for me?]

[Besides, the area I was assigned is just the teaching building corridor; one person can finish it, no help needed.]

[Of course, that's not the point. The point is that I don't want to get involved with you main characters.]

Lin Yi was speechless in his heart, but he said aloud, "No need. The area I was assigned isn't that large. Let's just stick to the previous groupings."

"Let's go, let's go." Ignoring Lin Yi's reaction, Xiao Wu pulled him along and said, "Let's finish the task quickly, and I'll take you out to buy meat buns."

"But..." Lin Yi still wanted to say something.

"No buts, let's go." Xiao Wu interrupted him and dragged him out of the classroom.

[This little rabbit is acting strange today.]

[Could it be that her heart is fluttering, and she wants to fish for information about Tang San from me?]

[That's not right. In the original work, it was love at first sight between her and Tang San. It's only been a few days; has she already had a change of heart?]

Hearing these inner thoughts, Xiao Wu's face flushed slightly.

Love at first sight? Change of heart? Why does this person always think about such messy things?

However, she didn't care about that right now.

The most important thing at the moment was to confirm what Lin Yi had said earlier about the sacrifice.

She had to stick with Lin Yi to figure out what was going on.

Every move Xiao Wu made was being watched by Tang San from the corner.

His brows furrowed tighter and tighter.

For some reason, things were developing in a strange direction.

Everyone was distancing themselves from him, yet they were unusually enthusiastic toward Lin Yi, who had only arrived a few days ago.

"Wang Sheng." Tang San looked at Wang Sheng beside him. "For this afternoon's cleaning duties, are we still following the original arrangement?"

According to the previous plan, he was supposed to be in a group with Xiao Wu, responsible for the corridor on the east side of the teaching building.

Wang Sheng touched his nose with an awkward expression. "That... Tang San, Xiao Wu said she wanted to be in a group with Lin Yi, so you see..."

"Can I be in a group with you instead?" Tang San asked.

Wang Sheng's expression changed, and he waved his hands repeatedly. "No, no, no. I've already made plans with Li Qiang; we're in a group together."

After saying this, as if afraid Tang San would say anything more, he hurriedly packed his things and left.

Tang San turned to look at the other work-study students.

Those classmates who usually treated him with respect were now either avoiding his gaze or pretending to be very busy.

Not a single person was willing to be in a group with him.

Lin Yi, who had just reached the classroom door, was stunned, feeling confused.

[What's the situation? Is there internal conflict among the work-study students?]

[According to the plot, hasn't Wang Sheng already been beaten into submission by Tang San?]

[Why is it that now, when Tang San takes the initiative to invite him, he refuses?]

[And everyone else seems to be staying away from him, too?]

Hearing these inner thoughts, Xiao Wu turned her head and secretly glanced at Tang San.

It was true; ever since Tang San had beaten Wang Sheng into submission, everyone had been very respectful toward him.

But now, ever since Lin Yi's inner thoughts were revealed, everyone was afraid.

Of course, that included her as well.

"Lin Yi, let's go. We need to go get the cleaning tools." Xiao Wu tugged at Lin Yi's sleeve.

"Oh, right." Lin Yi responded and followed Xiao Wu out of the classroom.

Watching their retreating figures side by side, Tang San's fingers tightened slightly.

He couldn't figure it out.

Just a few days ago, Xiao Wu was still laughing and talking with him, even saying she wanted to acknowledge him as her brother.

How could everything change the moment this Lin Yi arrived?

And those classmates—why were they suddenly so distant toward him?

"Student Tang San."

A voice interrupted his thoughts.

Tang San turned around and saw a teacher standing at the classroom door; it was Teacher Li, who had just been auditing the theory class.

"Teacher Li." Tang San nodded politely.

Teacher Li looked at him with a complex expression, hesitating to speak.

Just moments ago in class, he had heard far too much information regarding Tang San.

This information was so shocking that the way he looked at Tang San now had changed entirely.

"Is something the matter, Teacher?" Tang San asked.

"It's nothing." Teacher Li shook his head. "It's just... if you encounter any difficulties in your studies or daily life, feel free to come to me at any time."

As he spoke, his tone carried a distinct note of sympathy.

Tang San keenly sensed this sympathy, which only left him more confused.

"Thank you, Teacher, I am doing fine," Tang San replied calmly.

Teacher Li nodded, took one last look at him, and then turned to leave.

Only Tang San remained in the classroom.

He stood by the window, watching Xiao Wu and Lin Yi laughing and chatting as they headed to the tool room to collect brooms, finding the sight somewhat grating.

On the other side, inside the tool room.

Xiao Wu picked out a broom that looked relatively new and handed it to Lin Yi. "Here, this one is decent."

"Thanks." Lin Yi took the broom and asked casually, "I recall you and Tang San are quite close; is it really alright to leave him all by himself?"

"It's fine. Besides, my relationship with him is just so-so, not that great," Xiao Wu said, picking up a broom for herself.

[Not that great? What's going on here?]

[Could it be that Xiao Wu is also a superficial person who thinks I'm better-looking than Tang San?]

Lin Yi muttered to himself, though he nodded on the surface. "Alright, let's go then."

Xiao Wu rolled her eyes again; this guy really had an active imagination.

But to be honest, Lin Yi was indeed better-looking than Tang San, and much easier to approach.

The two walked out of the tool room and headed toward the area assigned to Lin Yi.

On the way, Xiao Wu asked as if by chance, "Lin Yi, what do you think of Tang San?"

"Tang San?" Lin Yi paused for a moment. "I don't really know him; I only just met him today."

[What do I think? He's the protagonist, a total cheater with Twin Martial Souls, the heir to the Tang Sect, and the future Sea God and Asura.]

[It's just that his personality is a bit off. He seems gentle on the surface, but he's actually quite overbearing, playing that 'those who follow me prosper, those who oppose me perish' game quite well.]

[But I certainly can't say any of that out loud.]

After venting his thoughts, Lin Yi replied, "He seems quite serious; he must be a hardworking person."

Hearing the assessment from his inner voice, Xiao Wu's heart sank.

Gentle on the surface, but overbearing in reality?

She recalled her time spent with Tang San; indeed, while he treated her well, he was quite cold toward the other working students.

Moreover, he always had this air of having secrets he wouldn't share, making it difficult for others to get close to him.

"Why did you suddenly ask that?" Lin Yi countered.

"It's nothing." Xiao Wu shook her head and changed the subject. "I just feel like he doesn't really fit in."

[Hmm? Isn't Xiao Wu supposed to love Tang San the most? Why would she say something like that?]

[But speaking of fitting in, it would be strange if Tang San did. His mental age is nearly thirty; would he really play house with a bunch of kids?]

[Though, come to think of it, my mental age is also over twenty, and here I am sweeping floors, aren't I?]

Lin Yi laughed at himself and began to sweep the corridor diligently.

Hearing this, Xiao Wu's eyes lit up.

A mental age of over twenty?

Could it be that he, like her, was a Spirit Beast in human form?

Just as she was about to ask something, Lin Yi's inner voice sounded again.

[According to the original story, Tang San should have already started working part-time at the blacksmith shop by now, using his Tang Sect hidden weapon techniques to earn extra money and improve his life.]

[Should I look for a part-time job too? The pittance of a subsidy for working students isn't even enough to buy a few meat buns.]

Lin Yi sighed, another wave of complaints rising in his heart.

[Sigh, just think of how pathetic I am.]

[Being transmigrated is one thing, but to be dumped into this Notting Academy by parents who don't care, and then left to fend for myself like this.]

[But fortunately, I have Twin Martial Souls. As long as I don't expose them too early and stay away from the protagonist's group, life shouldn't be too hard in the future.]