Xiao Wu's Self-Strategy

At dawn, the first rays of sunlight pierced through the pale purple curtains and fell upon the oversized wooden bed.

Xiao Wu slowly opened her eyes. She swore that this was the most peaceful and comfortable sleep she had enjoyed since arriving in the human world. There was no pungent sweat odor like in Dormitory Seven, nor the noisy commotion of dozens of people sleeping together. The air was filled with a faint, warm scent of sandalwood.

She turned her head and found Na'er curled up in the quilt like a clingy little kitten. Gu Tian, who had been sleeping in the center, and Gu Yue, who had been on the other side, were no longer on the bed.

"Creak—"

A slight sound of door hinges turning echoed. Xiao Wu sat up, rubbed her somewhat messy black hair, and looked toward the ajar bedroom door. Through the gap, she could see a busy figure in the kitchen.

Gu Tian was wearing a white apron, skillfully flipping a frying pan. Gu Yue stood nearby, handing him utensils. Occasionally, the two would exchange a few words in low voices, and a rare, gentle smile would appear on Gu Yue's usually cold face.

This scene, falling into Xiao Wu's eyes, gave her an illusion. The two looked like a pair of newlyweds who had been together for a long time, creating a sense of sweetness in that narrow kitchen that she couldn't possibly intrude upon.

This feeling stirred a trace of envy in her heart that even she hadn't noticed, along with a hint of awkwardness.

"Xiao Wu, you're awake?" Gu Yue walked over and pushed the door open. Seeing Xiao Wu sitting blankly on the bed, her cold voice carried a hint of a smile. "Get up and wash up; Gu Tian is already serving breakfast. Na'er, you too, stop lazing in bed!"

Na'er hummed twice, rolled around in her quilt, and sat up with sleepy eyes.

When the four of them sat around the dining table, Xiao Wu's eyes lit up instantly.

On the table were several plates of fresh vegetables, and in the very center was a plate of neatly sliced, crystal-clear, bright red shredded carrots.

"Carrots?" Xiao Wu swallowed, unable to believe it.

At Nuoding Academy's cafeteria, carrots were expensive, premium vegetables, only served in small portions on weekend extra-meal days. For a rabbit like her, eating carrots was an unattainable luxury.

"I heard you like them, so I prepared a bit more today." Gu Tian served her a bowl of porridge.

"Thank you, Brother Gu Tian." Xiao Wu couldn't wait to pick up a chopstick-full and put it in her mouth. The sweet, fresh taste exploded on her taste buds, and the satisfaction of being cared for instantly filled her heart.

"Why is it vegetables again..." Na'er sat in her seat, her hair messy with a few stray locks sticking up, poking at the greens in her bowl with a grievance. "Brother Gu Tian, Na'er wants meat, even just some smoked pork would be fine."

"Eat light in the morning; it's better for your stomach," Gu Tian replied without looking up.

He finished his porridge in a few gulps, then naturally picked up a wooden comb from the table and sat behind Na'er. His well-defined fingers gently combed through Na'er's silver hair, patiently untangling the mess.

Xiao Wu nibbled on a carrot while watching blankly. Gu Tian's movements were skillful, his eyes filled with an intoxicating gentleness. Watching their harmonious interaction, Xiao Wu suddenly felt the carrot in her mouth wasn't as sweet anymore.

She felt like an outsider sitting there, completely out of place.

Should I... move back to Dormitory Seven? Being squeezed together like this, it feels a bit wrong. This thought flashed through her mind, and her fingers tightened around the hem of her skirt.

"What are you thinking about?"

Gu Tian's voice suddenly sounded in her ear. Xiao Wu looked up abruptly and found that Gu Tian had finished combing Na'er's hair and was now holding the comb, looking at her with deep, profound eyes.

"N-nothing." Xiao Wu lowered her head in a panic.

"Do you need me to comb your hair?" Gu Tian asked.

"No need, I can do it myself." Although she refused, the desire to be touched by him was screaming in her heart.

Gu Tian didn't speak but walked directly behind her. That unique Dragon God aura instantly enveloped her. Xiao Wu's body stiffened, her heart beating so fast it felt like it might burst through her chest.

Gu Tian's movements were light; his fingertips occasionally brushed against the back of her neck, sending shivers of numbness through her. A moment later, a perfectly neat braid hung down Xiao Wu's back.

"Done." Gu Tian put away the comb and patted her shoulder. "Get ready; I'll take you all to explore the city today. You girls need a few pretty outfits."

Nuoding City, central business district.

The flow of people here was much denser than around the academy. Gu Tian walked down the street with three stunning girls, and the head-turning rate was nearly one hundred percent.

Gu Tian was generous, taking them into the highest-end clothing store in the city. Whether it was Gu Yue's sharp outfit, Na'er's sweet long dress, or the pink skirt Xiao Wu liked, as long as they liked it after trying it on, Gu Tian paid without a word.

Such lavish spending made the shopkeeper's mouth stretch wide with a smile.

Lunch was at the Nuoding Grand Hotel in the city. The table full of delicacies, especially the vegetarian dishes cooked with precious medicinal herbs, made Xiao Wu feel that what she had eaten before was practically pig feed.

After the meal, the four walked side by side toward the academy.

Gu Yue and Na'er walked on either side of Gu Tian, chatting and laughing. Xiao Wu lagged half a step behind, following quietly. Looking at Gu Tian's back, that sense of being an outsider washed over her again.

Just as she was feeling a bit dejected, Gu Yue, who was walking in front, suddenly stopped and turned around to grab her hand.

"Xiao Wu, keep up." Gu Yue's grip was firm, and without further ado, she pulled Xiao Wu to the other side of Gu Tian, positioning herself next to Xiao Wu.

With that, Xiao Wu was right next to Gu Tian.

Looking at the boy within arm's reach, Gu Tian turned his head slightly and extended his left hand toward her.

"Walk faster, don't fall behind."

Xiao Wu looked at that broad palm, hesitated for less than a second, and then shyly took it.

Gu Tian's hand was warm. The moment he held her, Xiao Wu felt like she was melting. She snuck a glance at Gu Tian and found his expression normal, though there seemed to be a faint, imperceptible curve at the corner of his mouth.

Late at night.

Lying on that oversized bed, listening to the occasional cicada chirping outside the window.

Xiao Wu kept her eyes open, her mind in a chaotic mess.

She recalled the hand-holding from earlier. If I do this... will I be like a 'little third'? Xiao Wu was suddenly startled by this thought; after all, Tang San's nickname was also "Xiao San."

Immediately after, she muttered to herself, "No, Tang San's name also has the word 'San' in it. According to Brother Gu Tian's logic, if he really is plotting against me, then he is the one who is the redundant 'little third,' right?"

Thinking of this, Xiao Wu felt much more at ease. She carefully recalled the past and realized that she and Tang San had only known each other for a month. That so-called sibling bond now seemed more like an absurd game of make-believe; after all, her actual age was not six, but one hundred thousand and six years.

"If... Tang San really is the son of that Tang Hao, and he really came here for my spirit ring and spirit bone, then staying by his side would be truly foolish."

Xiao Wu secretly gripped the corner of the quilt, swearing in her heart: "If that's really the case, I will stay here legitimately and never go back."

"But if... what if he isn't? What if he really is a good person..."

Xiao Wu hesitated for a moment, Tang San's wooden face appearing in her mind, before she glanced at Na'er, who was sleeping soundly while hugging Gu Tian.

"If he isn't a bad person, then should I let him join us too? Everyone together?"

Thinking of this, even Xiao Wu felt that such an idea was strange, perhaps even absurd.

"Stop thinking about it. He hasn't returned yet anyway. When he comes back, everything will be clear."

Xiao Wu closed her eyes, sinking back into a sweet slumber surrounded by the scent of Gu Tian that gave her such immense peace of mind. And in a place she didn't notice, the pair of rabbit ears atop her head twitched lightly in time with her breathing.