Xu Xiaoyan

Seeing the other girl lower her head timidly, too afraid to meet his gaze, Bai Mo took the initiative to speak, wearing what he believed was his friendliest, most harmless smile.

"Hello, I'm Bai Mo, a freshman who just enrolled today. This is Fufu."

As he spoke, he lifted Fufu from his arms, intending to use the fluffy little creature to lower her guard.

Sure enough, the little girl's gaze was immediately drawn to the impossibly adorable, entirely golden little beast in Bai Mo's hands. Her eyes lit up, and most of her nervousness faded away.

She raised her head, gathered her courage, and replied timidly in a soft voice as quiet as a mosquito's buzz, "H-Hello, I'm Xu Xiaoyan. I'm... I'm also a freshman who just enrolled today."

Xu Xiaoyan?

Hearing that name, Bai Mo's heart jolted, and he was momentarily dazed.

No way... Could she really be the Xu Xiaoyan I'm thinking of?

Suppressing his surprise, he kept his gentle smile and began making tentative conversation with her, trying to close the distance between them.

"You just enrolled too? What a coincidence, so did I. Are you heading to the cafeteria for dinner too?"

"Mm..." Xu Xiaoyan nodded lightly, but her gaze never left Fufu, who was curiously studying her from Bai Mo's arms.

Bai Mo saw through her thoughts. With a mischievous grin, he pinched the back of Fufu's neck and said to Xu Xiaoyan, "Her name is Fufu. She's very cute. Do you want to pet her?"

"Can I?" Xu Xiaoyan's eyes grew even brighter, filled with anticipation.

Bai Mo directly sold Fufu out. Ignoring the warning look she gave him that clearly said, Just you dare, he handed her over.

Fufu!

Fufu let out an unhappy protest, but under Bai Mo's "tyranny," she resignedly lowered her little head and allowed a pair of slightly cool hands to carefully, tremblingly stroke her sleek fur.

When that soft, silky sensation reached her fingertips, Xu Xiaoyan's face blossomed with an incomparably happy smile. The last of her wariness completely vanished.

As she lovingly stroked Fufu, she began chatting with Bai Mo.

Once he learned that she really was heading to the cafeteria as well, Bai Mo naturally extended an invitation. "Then let's go together. We can keep each other company."

"Okay!"

This time, Xu Xiaoyan agreed without the slightest hesitation.

Walking side by side, the two quickly followed the directions on their phones' maps and arrived at the nearest transit station.

It was a semi-open platform brimming with futuristic style. Sleek, rounded silver-white maglev cars rested quietly on the tracks, waiting to be summoned by teachers and students.

There were no drivers here. Everything was centrally scheduled and operated through AI autopilot by the academy's main system, the Tethys System.

Bai Mo walked familiarly to the control terminal and lightly tapped his student card against the scanner. His personal information and a holographic map of the academy immediately appeared on the screen.

He found the cafeteria's coordinates on the map and selected it as the destination.

"Destination confirmed: Zone A, No. 07—First Cafeteria. Please board."

With the gentle electronic announcement, the door of the nearest maglev car slid open soundlessly.

The entire process was smooth and effortless, requiring no payment at all. At Sanctuary Academy, these convenient public facilities were free for all teachers and students.

Following behind Bai Mo, Xu Xiaoyan's large, watery light-blue eyes were filled with undisguised admiration.

"Bai Mo... you're amazing."

She followed him into the car and sat in one of the soft, comfortable seats, murmuring, "I don't understand any of this at all... I can only make and receive calls on the phone the academy gave me..."

Hearing that, Bai Mo turned to look at her. The little girl was nervously clutching the hem of her clothes, her face carrying a hint of inferiority and helplessness.

His heart stirred, and he took the initiative to suggest, "It's very simple. I can teach you."

"Huh? Really?"

Xu Xiaoyan immediately looked delighted, and her sapphire-like eyes lit up.

Bai Mo smiled and nodded.

She promptly fumbled her brand-new phone out of her small shoulder bag.

Bai Mo leaned closer and taught her step by step how to familiarize herself with and use the high-tech smart device, from the most basic interface controls and system settings to entering the app store and downloading games and novels from different worlds, as well as all sorts of novel and interesting TV dramas and anime.

"Look, this is called the Fantasy Library. I was just reading a novel in there called Netherworld Flower. It's especially good."

"And this is the game center. There are lots of little games inside to pass the time."

"This is the video section. You can watch TV dramas and anime from other worlds. I recommend this one called Puella Magi Madoka Magica. I heard it's highly rated..."

Xu Xiaoyan listened with utmost seriousness. She learned slowly, but she tried her best to remember every step.

Looking at the boy beside her, who was clearly the same age as her yet knew so much and was so patient and gentle, an indescribable warmth rose in her heart.

Ever since arriving at Sanctuary Academy, she had actually been very lonely and afraid.

Everything here was too unfamiliar, too advanced, too unbelievable to her. The teacher who had brought her into the academy was kind to her and cared about her, but was ultimately too busy to look after every detail.

She was like a little white rabbit that had wandered into a forest of steel, filled with fear and unease toward everything around her.

Bai Mo's casual kindness at this moment might have been no more than a small effort to him, but to her now, it was like a warm candlelight in the darkness—immeasurably precious, driving away the loneliness and panic that had built up in her heart for so long.

The maglev car slowed steadily before finally coming to a silent stop before a magnificent domed building. This was Sanctuary Academy's First Cafeteria.

Holding Fufu, Bai Mo led Xu Xiaoyan out of the car and through the cafeteria doors. The interior was far larger than he had imagined.

The towering dome was made of some translucent material, allowing them to clearly see the artificial sun, Helios, hanging above and casting down a gentle glow.

The entire cafeteria was spacious and bright, large enough to accommodate thousands of people dining at once. Yet only a few students in school uniforms were scattered about at the moment, making it seem rather empty.

Bai Mo naturally took Xu Xiaoyan's slightly chilly little hand and led her toward the serving station in the distance.

"Ah..."

The instant her hand was taken, Xu Xiaoyan let out a soft cry and instinctively tried to pull it back.

But when she felt the dry warmth of Bai Mo's palm, she hesitated. In the end, she merely pressed her lips together and let him hold her hand without struggling any further.