Cafeteria Commotion

"Don't flatter yourself. Oh, right—what's with those rabbit ears on your head? Can you hear through them?"

"Why would I tell you? Hey, why are there so many rabbits on your bedding? Do you like little rabbits?"

"I like carrots. Rabbits are stupid and silly. Who'd like them?"

"You're stupid and silly! I'll have you know rabbits are the smartest animals in the world!"

"Really? Then what's perfectly reasonable and legal, but makes people think you're sick the moment you do it?"

"What?"

"Going to a clinic to see a doctor, of course. And you say you're not stupid? You're hopeless."

"Hmph. It's not like I'm a rabbit."

"You've got two rabbit ears sticking out of your head, and you still say you're not a rabbit? Let me feel whether they're real."

"You jerk! Get your hand off me! Stop right there!"

Nuoding Academy's cafeteria was large enough to seat all three hundred-odd teachers and students at once. By the time Qin Muchu and the others arrived, several lines had formed at the serving windows.

"The first floor serves meals from big communal pots. They portion them out after cooking, so they're cheaper; the second floor makes dishes to order, but it costs more. Come on, let's get in line." As Wang Sheng explained, he led everyone toward the first-floor windows.

"If I'm treating, how could we eat on the first floor? Come on, let's go straight upstairs." Qin Muchu had no intention of shortchanging his stomach. Wang Sheng and the others' eyes lit up. Eating on the second floor was an extravagance for them; one meal there cost as much as they earned from a week of cleaning.

Just as they headed for the stairs, a voice called out, "Well, if it isn't Wang Sheng and his bunch of paupers. What, are you heading to the second floor? You people think you belong up there?"

Qin Muchu and the others turned at once. The speaker was a handsome boy of about eleven or twelve, looking at Wang Sheng with undisguised contempt.

"Him?" Qin Muchu murmured. He remembered this scene from the original story. Because of this encounter, Tang San had turned down Wang Sheng's offer to treat him and had nearly been done in by a bun from Grandmaster. Qin Muchu hadn't expected an old acquaintance to be the one who started it all.

Hot-tempered Xiao Wu bristled at once. On the way over, Wang Sheng had told her that the dorm boss was supposed to stand up for her underlings. Always eager for a fight, she had agreed on the spot.

She stepped forward with her hands on her hips and pointed at the boy. "You've got some nerve, picking on people Sister Xiao Wu protects. I'll show you what happens!"

Xiao Wu and Qin Muchu had been behind Wang Sheng, so the boy hadn't noticed them. When Xiao Wu sprang out, his eyes lit up. "Who knew you work-study students got such a pretty girl this year? Well, well."

Xiao Wu was about to flare up, but Qin Muchu patted her shoulder, signaling her to hold back. He stepped out from behind Wang Sheng. "Xiao Chenyu, you're awfully arrogant at school. Aren't you afraid Uncle Xiao will give you a beating? Sister Xiao Wu is my new boss, so don't mess with her."

"Little Chu? It's you? Hahaha, you came to the academy too? Where have you been these past two months? Why didn't you come play with me?" Xiao Chenyu had been ready to lose his temper, but the moment he recognized Qin Muchu, he ran over in delight and pinched his cheeks. Qin Muchu felt thoroughly put out. If he really were just a six-year-old, having a twelve-year-old pinch his cheeks would be normal enough. But he was nearly thirty in his head. Unfortunately, the looks his parents had given him in this life were almost too good: he really was rather adorable, and plenty of people couldn't resist pinching his cheeks.

Xiao Chenyu was the son of Nuoding City's lord. The city had only three Four-Ring Soul Ancestors, and Xiao Chenyu's father was one of them. Both of Qin Muchu's parents had reached level thirty or above—Two Soul Elders in One Family—making them notable figures in Nuoding City as well. The families naturally knew each other well, and Qin Muchu had played with Xiao Chenyu since childhood.

"My Martial Soul awakened two months ago, so I stayed home and trained hard. I barely went out. Are you here to eat too? Come on, join us." Qin Muchu pried Xiao Chenyu's hand off his cheek and headed upstairs.

"Right, right, let's eat. My treat," Xiao Chenyu said cheerfully. Only then did he remember Wang Sheng and the others beside them. "Little Chu, why are you with Wang Sheng's bunch?"

"They're all my roommates. I'm staying in the work-study dorm now, and I came to eat with them."

Xiao Chenyu looked astonished. "What? You're a work-study student too? What's so good about that? The dorm's shabby and bare. If you needed tuition money, why didn't you come to me?"

Qin Muchu shook his head. "It's not that. I just thought the work-study dorm had a good atmosphere for training, so I applied to stay in Dorm Seven. They're my friends. Don't give them trouble anymore."

"All right. If they're your friends, we can leave it at that. Wang Sheng, today's meal is on me. Since you're Little Chu's friend, let's wipe the slate clean between us. How's that?"

Wang Sheng nodded repeatedly. He was only a commoner; he couldn't afford to cross someone like Xiao Chenyu, the son of a powerful official. Since Xiao Chenyu wanted to make peace, Wang Sheng could ask for nothing better. Given a way out, he took it at once.

Xiao Chenyu glanced at Xiao Wu. "You said she's your new boss. What's that about?"

Seeing Xiao Wu's ears perk up, Qin Muchu made sure to satisfy her vanity. "Because Sister Xiao Wu won us over with her strength, of course. Don't let her age fool you—she's the same age as me, but her Soul Power is already at level twelve."

Xiao Wu immediately looked smug at Qin Muchu's words.

"Twelve..." Xiao Chenyu sucked in a sharp breath. He hadn't expected this adorable-looking little girl to have Soul Power a level above his own. What kind of genius was she? As the city lord's son, he had grown up around officialdom and learned plenty about how to navigate its ways.

He might have acted outrageously arrogant toward Wang Sheng and the others, but faced with Xiao Wu's extraordinary talent, he didn't dare get out of line. He knew all too well what level-twelve Soul Power at age six meant. It was no exaggeration to say that once Xiao Wu grew up, even a Soul Ancestor like his father might not qualify for an audience with her.

He promptly put on a smile. "Xiao Wu, I was rude earlier. Please don't take it to heart." Xiao Wu gave a little huff, then said magnanimously, "Since you're buying us a meal, I'll let it go."

"Yes, of course. Order whatever you like. If one serving isn't enough, get two."

"Not bad, not bad. You know how to behave. Then I won't hold back."

"Please don't."