Xiao Wu: Come on up, half the bed is yours

"Really? Tell me, what exactly is your Martial Soul?" Xiao Wu excitedly hugged Su Mo's arm.

Feeling the softness against his arm, Su Mo couldn't help marveling at how quickly people in this world developed.

"It's nothing much, really. You put in a coin, turn the capsule machine, and draw a prize from the capsule."

Xiao Wu shook his arm. "Have you tried it? Did you get anything?"

Su Mo pointed at his left eye. "This is what I got."

Curious, Xiao Wu leaned close to his face, her orchid-sweet breath brushing his cheek.

She studied his eye, looking a little surprised. "I wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't said anything. Your pupil is white! And there seem to be electrical arcs inside it."

"How did I not notice before?"

"Is this how you beat me?"

Smelling Xiao Wu's natural fragrance, Su Mo instinctively looked down.

Xiao Wu was still hugging his arm.

"Hey, could you be a little more mindful?"

Xiao Wu followed his gaze.

She didn't seem to care.

Her big eyes darted around, and instead, she hugged his arm even tighter.

"Hmph, I'm a girl, and I don't mind. What are you fussing about?"

"Come on, tell me. Can other people use your Martial Soul's capsule machine?"

"I want to try drawing a prize too."

Feeling the contact against his arm, Su Mo tried to pull it free.

Unfortunately, it was no use.

Instead, the movement only made the sensation more distinct.

He acted nonchalant, pretending nothing had happened.

Then he thought for a moment, still unsure. "I don't know whether other people can draw prizes. I've only tried it once myself."

"And I don't even know when I'll be able to form the next coin."

"But when I do, I can let you try."

"Really?" Xiao Wu jumped up excitedly.

"You promised!"

Watching the two of them, Wang Sheng couldn't help feeling a little envious.

But he was also curious about Su Mo's Martial Soul.

From Su Mo's description, it sounded pretty impressive.

He wondered whether he would ever get a chance to try it.

He actually wanted to draw a prize too.

They all had a simple meal on the first floor.

Mostly because Wang Sheng was treating them, and Su Mo felt bad about making him spend too much.

Xiao Wu wasn't picky; she ate whatever was available.

Even while eating, she kept hugging Su Mo's arm and asking him about this and that.

Elsewhere.

Tang San stood at the cafeteria entrance.

He waited until Yu Xiaogang came out.

Then he followed him to his room.

Yu Xiaogang took a paper parcel from inside his clothes and handed it to Tang San.

"Eat. You're still growing, so you need to eat properly."

Tang San paused, then took the parcel and opened it. Inside were two steamed buns and a chicken drumstick.

At that moment, Tang San was deeply moved.

He had lived two lives, but he had never been treated like this in his previous one.

And this life hardly bore mentioning. Saddled with a drunkard father, he even had to cook his own meals.

If the village chief hadn't helped him out, he might not even have had enough to eat.

Now his teacher was treating him well too.

Tang San was deeply touched. "Teacher..."

Yu Xiaogang said, "Go on, eat. I have something to tell you afterward."

Tang San quickly nodded, then grabbed a steamed bun and stuffed it into his mouth.

He really was starving. He had skipped lunch to wait for Yu Xiaogang.

So he ate a little too hastily.

Then he suddenly clutched his throat, his breathing growing labored and his face turning purple. He hurriedly reached out. "Water..."

Yu Xiaogang quickly handed him a bottle of water.

Only then did Tang San recover.

He had nearly choked to death.

Yu Xiaogang: I nearly choked a god to death.

Night fell.

Without the slightest concern for appearances, Xiao Wu sprawled straight onto Su Mo's bed.

Su Mo said, "Wait, if you're sleeping in my bed, where am I supposed to sleep?"

Xiao Wu patted her own bed beside it. "Over here, of course."

"Well? Isn't Sister Xiao Wu good to you? I left my bed for you."

"So comfortable. Sure enough, someone else's bed always feels better."

Su Mo felt rather helpless. "The problem is, you've wrapped yourself in the whole blanket. What am I supposed to cover myself with?"

Xiao Wu blinked her big eyes. "Oh, you're right. But how is that my fault? Your blanket is just too narrow."

"If there's no other way, Sister Xiao Wu will be generous and let you sleep beside me."

Xiao Wu shifted inward, leaving half the bed free.

"There. I'll sleep on the inside, and you sleep on the outside. No squirming around, got it?"

Not far away, Tang San stared fixedly at the scene.

He desperately wanted to say that his blanket was big enough for two.

Su Mo stood beside the bed, looking into Xiao Wu's bright, watery eyes.

"What are you looking at me for? I don't mind sharing with you. Don't tell me you mind sharing with me?" Xiao Wu tilted her head as she looked at him.

Su Mo fell silent for a moment. "Are you sure?"

Wrapped in the blanket, Xiao Wu had only her little head showing, the rabbit-ear accessory on top bobbing.

"I'm the boss. What I say goes. Hurry up and get in."

Su Mo didn't agonize over it. He wasn't losing anything, after all, and he even had a little bunny girl warming his bed.

Who would turn their nose up at treatment like this?

He just hadn't expected Xiao Wu to be so bold.

Ah, it's only because I'm still young.

He glanced at the bundle sitting between their beds.

So that thing is just a decoration now.

He slipped straight under the blanket, and a faint fragrance drifted into his nose.

It was warm and cozy beneath the blanket. Having someone warm the bed really did make a difference.

"Hmph, let me tell you, only Sister Xiao Wu would be this generous. Remember, no squirming around, got it?"

Su Mo looked at the pretty face so close to his own. As Xiao Wu spoke, her breath brushed his face.

There wasn't even a fist's width between them.

Looking at her soft pink lips, Su Mo instinctively swallowed.

He turned over, deciding that what the eye didn't see, the mind wouldn't fret over.

"Hey, Su Mo, you pulled the whole blanket away when you turned over."

Xiao Wu's disgruntled voice came from behind him.

Su Mo felt something soft press against his back.

Then an arm and a long leg draped over him.

"Wait, didn't you say no squirming around? What are you doing?"

Feeling the weight on him, Su Mo was rather speechless.

"It's your fault for having such a narrow blanket. One turn and you pulled it all away," Xiao Wu said with a couple of huffs.

Su Mo curled his lip. "So it's my fault? This is my blanket, and it's plenty big enough for me alone."

"And could you stop squeezing against me?"

Su Mo felt the softness behind him press closer still.

"It's your fault for having a small blanket. Sister Xiao Wu gets cold easily. This is much better."

"Just stay like this. Don't move, and let Sister Xiao Wu snuggle closer."

"Hey, Su Mo, you really are pretty warm."

Xiao Wu pressed closer to him again. Worse still, she hugged him tight.

Her long, slender legs clamped around him like a koala's.

"So warm. Don't move, Su Mo. Let's sleep like this."

Xiao Wu nuzzled her head toward him and settled into a comfortable position.

Nothing could be seen in the darkness.

But not far away, Tang San stared fixedly at the ceiling.

He listened to Su Mo and Xiao Wu talking.

Images had already begun forming in his mind.

Hearing the rustling sounds,

he covered his ears with his blanket.

But he could still hear Xiao Wu and Su Mo talking.

Tang San's grip on his blanket tightened.

He rolled over and pulled the blanket over his head.

Yet all sorts of images kept flashing through his mind.

He thought of Xiao Wu hugging Su Mo's arm that afternoon.

Then the scene shifted.

Now Xiao Wu was hugging Su Mo tightly, a shy expression on her little face.

Or she was leaning close to Su Mo, their lips only a finger's width apart.

The more he thought about it, the more agitated he became.

He covered his head with his pillow, but his teeth kept grinding audibly.

Just then, Wang Sheng spoke with a hint of impatience.

"Who's grinding their teeth in their sleep?"

Tang San: "..."