Watching Helplessly

"If it's tasty, eat some more."

Xiao Wu held her other hand underneath to catch any stray bits, afraid the meat juices might drip.

Ning Rongrong watched this scene from the side, unwilling to be outdone.

She pulled a box of candied fruit from a paper bag, popped the lid, picked out the largest piece, and held it out to Qin Chuan. "Brother Chuan, have something sweet after your bun. I brought these from home; you can't buy them in Soto City."

Qin Chuan, still chewing his bun, reached out to take the treat and nodded. "Thanks, Rongrong."

Xiao Wu cast a glance at Ning Rongrong, and Ning Rongrong glanced back at Xiao Wu.

Their gazes collided in mid-air before both turned away.

The atmosphere was just a tiny bit subtle.

But Qin Chuan pretended not to notice, lowering his head to continue eating his bun.

Very good, very good. The two of them have a sense of competition. This is much better than I expected.

Just then, a figure walked over from the direction of the dormitory building.

It was Tang San.

He was wearing a blue training suit today, looking as if he were headed to the academy cafeteria.

As he passed the pavilion, he swept a casual glance over.

That one look caused his entire body to freeze.

Xiao Wu was feeding Qin Chuan a bun.

Ning Rongrong sat to the side, beaming with smiles.

The three of them were gathered around the stone table, looking like they were having a very pleasant chat.

Tang San's footsteps halted, his fists clenching until they creaked.

Xiao Wu, what are you doing? Why are you feeding Qin Chuan breakfast? Every morning when I go to the cafeteria to get food for you, you always say there's no need, yet here you are feeding another man a bun??

Tang San's temples throbbed. He stared at Qin Chuan's face, growing more infuriated the longer he looked.

That face was indeed handsome, with well-defined features and sword-like brows, but so what?

They were both level 29 Great Spirit Masters, so why? Why did Xiao Wu have to treat him so well?

Tang San clenched his fists and walked over.

His footsteps crunched against the gravel path.

"Qin Chuan."

All three turned their heads.

Qin Chuan, still holding half a bun in his mouth, looked at the aggressive classmate before him and calmly swallowed the bite.

"Oh, classmate Tang San, what brings you here? Have you eaten? Why don't you sit down and watch me eat?"

Tang San's face turned livid.

"Hmph! Who wants to watch you eat breakfast? Do you even know what you're doing? You'd better behave yourself."

Qin Chuan spread his hands, his face full of innocence. "What did I do? I'm just eating breakfast; I haven't done anything."

"Stop playing dumb!" Tang San stepped forward, with only the stone table separating him from Qin Chuan. "Xiao Wu is my... Xiao Wu is my desk-mate, what are you doing, an outsider, getting involved?"

Qin Chuan sneered inwardly. Yours? Who gave you the nerve? Coming here first thing in the morning to stake your claim?

However, he didn't show it on his face, merely tilting his head. "Classmate Tang San, that's not right. Xiao Wu belongs to herself; she isn't anyone's accessory. She brought me breakfast of her own volition, so what's the problem?"

"You!"

Tang San raised his right fist, spirit power surging along his arm. His Blue Silver Grass spirit could be released at any moment; if he wanted to, a single strand of Blue Silver Grass could bind Qin Chuan tight.

But, one was not allowed to use spirit skills to harm others within the academy, so Tang San intended to use his fists to beat the other man.

Qin Chuan looked at that fist, neither moving aside nor standing up.

He just sat there, looking up at Tang San with a calm expression.

Hmph, Tang San, go ahead and hit me in front of Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong. The more you act like this, the more they'll pity me. The more overbearing you are, the more they'll despise you.

Qin Chuan even narrowed his eyes slightly, a faint, indifferent smile hanging at the corners of his mouth.

Seeing this smile, blood rushed to Tang San's head even faster. He felt that Qin Chuan was provoking him.

Just then, Xiao Wu stood up.

Xiao Wu blocked the path in front of Qin Chuan.

She spread her arms, her chin tilted slightly upward, facing Tang San's fist directly. Her scorpion braid swung from her shoulder to her back, and the tail flicked at her waist.

"Tang San, what are you doing!" Xiao Wu's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a sharp, fierce edge.

Tang San's fist hung in mid-air, neither landing nor retracting.

"Xiao Wu, move aside. This has nothing to do with you."

"How does it have nothing to do with me? Someone is just eating breakfast, and you want to hit them? By what right?"

As Xiao Wu spoke, one hand stretched out horizontally in front of Qin Chuan, blocking him like a wall. Her arm was slender, yet taut with tension; she had no intention of yielding.

Tang San was choked by these words.

He looked at Xiao Wu's face—the face he dreamed of being close to—and found it currently turned toward him with icy indifference.

In the past, Xiao Wu would act fierce or bicker with him, but that fierceness had always carried a hint of intimacy, a playful game. But now, it was different. There wasn't a shred of teasing in her eyes; she was genuinely, truly displeased.

It felt as if a knife had been plunged into Tang San's heart. It hurt, it hurt so much!

Xiao Wu, when did you get so close to Qin Chuan? Just the day before yesterday you were calling me Third Brother; how could you change overnight?

"Xiao Wu, I'm doing this for your own good. This Qin Chuan, he... he isn't a good person." Tang San struggled for a long time before squeezing out this sentence.

"Do you even know him? Have you spoken more than a few words to him? Classmate Tang San, you have disappointed me!!" Xiao Wu finished in one breath, her chest rising and falling slightly.

Tang San stood there, stunned.

"Classmate? Disappointed?"

Tang San's hands slowly lowered, his fists clenching and relaxing, relaxing and clenching. His lips moved, wanting to say something, but he didn't know how to begin.

"Xiao Wu, move aside. I am going to teach this Qin Chuan a lesson today, no matter what!" Tang San gritted his teeth and said again.

Qin Chuan sat on the stone bench, feeling the warmth radiating from Xiao Wu's back. A faint scent of peach blossoms drifted over—it was the smell of Xiao Wu.

At this moment, Qin Chuan stood up slowly and placed his hand on Xiao Wu's shoulder, patting it twice gently.

"Xiao Wu, thank you for protecting me, but you should step aside."

"No, I can't move." She clenched her fists, lowered her center of gravity, and bent her legs slightly. This was the combat-ready stance of a Soft Bone Rabbit.

If Tang San truly attacked, she was prepared to intercept him at any moment.

Seeing Xiao Wu take this stance, Tang San's expression turned incredibly ugly.

In his heart, he felt a mix of fury and chilling despair.

She wants to fight me? For the sake of Qin Chuan, she wants to fight me??

Just as the atmosphere was about to reach its breaking point, Ning Rongrong also stood up.

She walked to Xiao Wu's side and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with her, opening her mouth to speak with equal bluntness.

"Tang San, it's early in the morning; bullying a classmate, what kind of behavior is that?"

The two girls stood one on the left and one on the right in front of Qin Chuan, arms spread wide, their stance as clear as it could possibly be.

Tang San glanced at Xiao Wu, then at Ning Rongrong.

The look in both their eyes was the same.

Resolute, unyielding!

"You two..." Tang San's voice trembled, though it was unclear if it was from anger or some other emotion.

"Move!" He raised his voice, making one final struggle.

"No, no, we won't move!" Xiao Wu's temper flared, her voice even louder than his. "Do you think yelling at me works? Who do you think you're yelling at, Tang San!"

Ning Rongrong didn't speak, but she stood half a step further forward than Xiao Wu, shielding Qin Chuan completely.

The atmosphere in the pavilion froze.

Tang San gritted his teeth, his chest heaving violently. He looked at Xiao Wu, then at Qin Chuan. Qin Chuan simply sat on the stone bench, his face calm, even picking up his porridge bowl to take a sip.

That sip of porridge nearly made Tang San explode with rage.

"Fine, very well!" Tang San slammed a fist against the stone pillar of the pavilion, then turned and strode away.

Qin Chuan watched his back disappear.

The three of them sat back down.

Ning Rongrong picked up a cup of fresh milk, inserted the straw, and handed it to Qin Chuan. "Here, Brother Chuan, I'm sorry you were startled just now. If that hateful Tang San makes me angry again, I'll go back and tell my Sword Grandpa!"

Qin Chuan took the milk and waved his hand. "Don't. Tang San is from the Clear Sky Sect; his family is powerful. It's better not to blow things out of proportion for my sake."

"Is the Clear Sky Sect so amazing? My Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect isn't a pushover either!" Ning Rongrong pouted, but she was still persuaded by Qin Chuan's words.

"Fine, I'll listen to Brother Chuan."

Ning Rongrong lowered her head and pushed the milk cup toward Qin Chuan.

Xiao Wu watched this scene from the side, thinking to herself how Ning Rongrong had arrived at the same conclusion as her. She glanced at Ning Rongrong, who glanced back, and both averted their gazes.

Caught in the middle, Qin Chuan felt a secret thrill.