"Yuyu, don't go~"
In the little courtyard outside Mu Feng's residence, Snow Spirit clung to Cheng Yu, tearfully pleading with him.
Cheng Yu helplessly rubbed the little girl's head and said,
"Didn't we agree? You'll study here, and you'll meet lots of fun friends. Besides, you can go home whenever you don't have classes. I'll always be at home."
Snow Spirit sobbed,
"Waaah... b-but I thought you'd be here too. Please don't go, okay?"
Cheng Yu shook his head.
"I can't. I'm not a student, so I can't stay at the Academy for long."
Snow Spirit declared without hesitation,
"Then I don't want to be a student either. Will you take me with you?"
Cheng Yu helplessly refused again.
"No. You can learn lots of things here. Weren't there plenty of things you didn't understand before? You'll learn about them here."
Snow Spirit wouldn't listen. She only gripped Cheng Yu's hand tighter and tighter, crying louder and louder.
Cheng Yu could only soothe her patiently.
"How about this? Once you've figured out those things you don't understand, I'll take you away. Is that okay?"
Seemingly sensing a concession in Cheng Yu's words, Snow Spirit began thinking over what he meant, then asked between sobs,
"Then... then does that mean... if I... tomorrow... figure them out tomorrow... you'll... you'll take me away?"
Amused, Cheng Yu stroked her head and said,
"Of course. I always keep my word. But Lingling, sometimes the more you rush, the harder it is to understand things. So don't rush. Take your time, understand?"
Snow Spirit nodded through her tears.
Looking at her, Cheng Yu wasn't sure whether any of it had actually sunk in.
Just then, a cool female voice came from outside the courtyard gate.
"Mr. Mu, are you here?"
Cheng Yu froze at the