I'm Counting to Three

Tang Ling'er was furious. She had only just finished warning the little creature, and it had run off again. Wasn't that a slap in her face?

She tightened the straps of the long Wooden Box on her back and chased after it, gritting her teeth.

The moment she started running, all hell broke loose. The wolves who had been sheltering from the rain suddenly lit up with hungry eyes and swarmed in from every direction.

Han Wenqi, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them impatiently. "What's going on? Why all the commotion?"

Then he spotted a pretty, youthful figure and sprang to his feet, his eyes fixed on her.

Tang Ling'er was already lively and lovely, and the Wooden Box on her back, almost as tall as she was, made the visual contrast all the more striking.

Li Yichen was drawn to Tang Ling'er's distinctive charm too. Everyone loved a beauty, and he wasn't a eunuch. Of course he wouldn't pass up the chance to feast his eyes.

Suddenly, a white flash streaked across his vision. A little beast that looked like a ball of fur was running toward him.

Just as it reached him, the little beast leaped straight into his arms.

Li Yichen instinctively caught it, cradled it against his chest, and stroked it a couple of times.

The little beast narrowed its eyes as though enjoying itself and even nuzzled against his chest.

Only then did Li Yichen take a closer look at it.

Its fur was pure white, without a single strand of any other color.

The strangest thing was its appearance. It had a pair of long rabbit ears, but its eyes weren't red. Instead, its eyes and brows resembled a fox's.

It didn't have a short tail, either. Its long, fluffy tail swished back and forth across his face, feeling wonderfully soft.

"What kind of animal is this?" Li Yichen held it up in front of him and examined it from every angle, but he couldn't figure it out.

He had grown up in the countryside and had seen most common small animals. He had also visited the zoo in Jinling, yet he had never seen anything like this.

It looked like a cross between a fox and a rabbit, but it combined all their best features. It was practically guaranteed to steal any girl's heart.

"Did a rabbit cheat on its partner, or did a fox have an affair? I can't believe something like this actually exists." Li Yichen muttered to himself as he studied it.

Just then, a clear voice tinged with anger rang out. "Give Mantou back to me."

"What?" Thinking he had misheard, Li Yichen gathered the little creature back into his arms. "When did I steal your steamed bun?"

At the sight of Tang Ling'er, the little creature shot inside Li Yichen's clothes.

"Hmph! You're still denying it?" Tang Ling'er hauled the Wooden Box off her back and slammed it onto the ground. "I saw you hide it in your clothes."

Li Yichen froze. When Tang Ling'er slammed the Wooden Box down, he actually felt the ground tremble slightly.

The tremor wasn't strong, but it still meant that the Wooden Box had to be heavy.

This girl's no pushover... Li Yichen frowned. She looks so petite. Who would've thought she was that strong?

He was just about to explain.

But then a large crowd surged around them, led by Han Wenqi.

The guy wore a warm smile that was thoroughly deceptive.

He approached Tang Ling'er at the head of the crowd and said with a smile, "Are you here to register? What did he take from you? Tell me, and I'll help."

Tang Ling'er glanced up at him and frowned. Judging by his face, he's full of lust. One look tells me he's no good. And there's a dark cast between his brows. He doesn't have long to live.

But she said none of that aloud and merely asked coolly, "And who are you?"

"I'm Han Wenqi, president of the Student Union." Han Wenqi immediately puffed out his chest, a trace of smugness in his eyes. Nailed another chance to show off. Come on, you sweet little innocent. Time to start admiring me.

"Student Union president?" Tang Ling'er blinked and said casually, "Never heard of you."

Then she paused and added, "I have something to take care of. Please don't bother me." She turned back to glare at Li Yichen.

That was the spirit beast she had gone to so much trouble to catch, a Snow Fox Rabbit. Catching it had delayed her registration by another whole day.

And the little creature was utterly shameless. It had eaten every last bit of the precious medicinal herbs she had brought down from the mountain, only to turn around and jump into someone else's arms.

She simply couldn't take it anymore.

Han Wenqi's face flushed red with anger, as though he'd taken a brutal slap in the face.

During the previous two years of welcoming new students, hadn't he always left those innocent young girls utterly dazzled whenever he made an appearance?

Who could have imagined he would be ignored twice in a row this year? This was more than anyone could stand.

His face darkened as he turned his gaze toward Li Yichen. Once he saw who was standing there, he grew even angrier.

Why is it this brat again? Is he deliberately trying to get in my way? Han Wenqi narrowed his eyes, sneered, and called out to Li Yichen, "As a volunteer welcoming new students, you should be eager to help every freshman who needs assistance. Yet not only have you neglected your duties, you've actually stolen something from this young lady."

Then he looked around at the spectators and said with a sneer, "You're a disgrace to Jinling University. Whatever you took from her, I suggest you hand it over right now. Otherwise, none of us will let this slide... isn't that right, everyone?"

Even now, he was stirring up hostility to put more pressure on Li Yichen.

Sure enough, the people around them immediately chimed in. "That's right..."

"Hand it over." Han Wenqi looked smugly at Li Yichen. This is only the appetizer. You've got plenty more coming.

Li Yichen's expression chilled. He might be easygoing, but that didn't mean he was a pushover.

Who gives a damn about some Student Union president? You think your backing is stronger than mine? Believe me, I could have you reporting to the Underworld tonight.

Just as he was about to start cursing, the little white creature wriggled out of his clothes and lunged at Han Wenqi.

"Aaah!" Han Wenqi screamed as several bloody scratches appeared on his left cheek.

Then he saw a white blur land on the ground. A strange little beast squeaked at him while waving its tiny claws.

Han Wenqi nearly went mad with rage. This little thing had disfigured the handsome face he was so proud of.

Clutching his scratched cheek with one hand and pointing at it with the other, he glared with bloodshot eyes and roared furiously, "Catch it! I'm going to skin it!"

Although most of the people there were merely spectators, a dozen or so Student Union members still pushed out of the crowd and lunged at the little creature.

"Let's see who dares!" Tang Ling'er snapped. Grabbing the strap of her Wooden Box, she swung it through a hundred-and-eighty-degree arc.

With a whoosh, the dozen or so Student Union members felt a powerful gust sweep past them, lifting even their hair.

"Holy shit..." They all froze where they stood, exchanging glances. None dared take another step forward.

"Get the hell out of my way!" Han Wenqi was almost out of his mind. All his earlier poise vanished as he pointed at Tang Ling'er and roared.

"Magic cloak." Tang Ling'er raised her chin and said scornfully in her distinctive Sichuan accent, "Get lost... I'm counting to three..."