Chu Mu had anticipated this happening.
Although Xiao Bu was usually quiet, she was mature for her age and observed everything around her closely.
An artificial eye could mimic the movements of a real one, but it was still artificial. There was a difference.
It might not be obvious at first glance, but after watching for a little longer, anyone could notice that the two eyes did not move quite in sync.
But wasn't this exactly why Chu Mu had chosen a black artificial eye?
In front of Xiao Bu, he covered his artificial right eye and looked at her with his emerald-green left eye. He said:
"Hold up any number of fingers, and I'll tell you how many."
Xiao Bu tried a few times, and sure enough, he could.
"It's not fake?" Xiao Bu asked in surprise.
"When have I ever lied to you?" Chu Mu gave Xiao Bu a gentle look. "You have too much imagination. I already told you, it's the Wicked King's True Eye. Why won't you believe me?"
"Oh." Xiao Bu nodded, feeling much better now. "What's the Wicked King's True Eye?"
"Well, all I can say is, those who know, know. If you don't, there's no point explaining. It's best to keep this sort of thing to yourself, so don't ask. Too many interests are involved, and knowing wouldn't do you any good. Those who understand already understand, and I can't help those who don't. If you insist on asking, I can only say there's more to this than you realize. All the written records have already been deleted. So, to sum it up in one sentence-"
Chu Mu looked at Xiao Bu and said, word by word:
"Kids should stay out of grown-up business."
Just then, Natasha's voice rang out:
"Chu Mu, come sit in the front row!"
Chu Mu's face immediately fell, and he said mournfully to Xiao Bu:
"You've really done me in this time."
As he put his books away, he pointed to the cloth bag under the desk and reminded her:
"Don't open it yet. Wait until class is over."
"Okay!" Xiao Bu nodded.
Only then did Chu Mu reluctantly move to the front row and sit in the seat Natasha had prepared for him.
It was worth mentioning that this seat was not in the original front row. Natasha had added a separate desk and chair in front of it.
It was practically right beside the teacher's platform.
Chu Mu felt that calling it row zero would have been more fitting.
Sitting there put him right under Natasha's nose, and he did not dare make the slightest furtive move.
Although he could see the blackboard more clearly, there was also much more chalk dust, which left him rather miserable.
That class felt like an eternity. Every minute and every second was torture.
Although Chu Mu's eyes were on the blackboard, his thoughts had already drifted far away.
I only have one month of sight left. I need to make good use of that time. I can't waste it.
So, as soon as class ended, he hurried outside, found Natasha in the office, and earnestly asked:
"Miss Natasha, do you have a moment?"
"What is it?" Natasha looked at Chu Mu's face. Her gaze lingered briefly on his black right eye before darting away as though she had received an electric shock. A barely perceptible trace of sadness flashed in her eyes.
She asked softly:
"Can you see the blackboard clearly from that seat?"
"Yes, very clearly." Chu Mu nodded, then quickly shook his head and sighed. "Miss Natasha, I'm sorry I have to let your kindness go to waste again. I only have one month of sight left, and I don't have much time to waste. I'd like to skip classes for this month. You know the material in our textbooks isn't any help to me anymore."
"You won't attend class for a month? Where are you going this time?" Natasha's lovely brows drew together slightly. "If you tell me you're going to work in the mines or collect scrap, I won't allow it."
"I won't, I won't." Chu Mu hurriedly shook his head. "I've thought it through. I want to spend this month reading on my own in the library. After all, learning from books will be very difficult for me later."
"I can read them to you." Natasha's eyes shimmered, as gentle as water.
"Yes, but you have more important things to do, don't you? Opening a clinic in the Underworld is a truly wonderful thing." Chu Mu smiled and shook his head.
He looked into the distance beyond the window and said softly:
"I don't want you to waste time on me when you could be saving lives and treating the injured. After all, becoming a scholar isn't my goal. Children in the Underworld don't have the chance to become scholars anyway. A month will be enough for me to learn some things I need to know, and I'll still have time to do a few other things."
"What else do you need to do?" Natasha asked, feeling a sting in her nose.
"I also want to use this time to walk around the Underworld properly. For example, how many steps it takes to get from here to Boulder Town, where I need to turn along the way, and which places I need to avoid. I can memorize all of that while I can still see, so I won't have to trouble anyone later." As Chu Mu spoke, the smile remained on his face.
But Natasha's tears had already spilled over.
Every consideration this child made was about troubling others as little as possible.
How could Natasha's heart not ache for him?
Natasha crouched down and hugged Chu Mu.
"Miss Natasha?" Chu Mu said in surprise.
"Don't speak." Natasha's voice caught in her throat.
Chu Mu closed his mouth and stayed perfectly still.
At last, when Natasha had composed herself, she looked at Chu Mu with reddened eyes and said:
"I agree to everything you've said. But I have one condition. Wherever you go during this time, you have to tell me. You are not to leave these gates without me! Do you understand?"
"I understand." Chu Mu nodded.
Natasha reminded him again:
"Also, our library's collection isn't very extensive. Tell me what books you need, and I'll borrow them from the Upper District for you."
Natasha was a resident of the Upper District and an outstanding academy graduate, so she could easily borrow books there.
"Thank you, Miss Natasha!" Chu Mu thanked her from the heart.
Natasha gazed at Chu Mu quietly. Suddenly, she cradled his head and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead.
"You're a good boy," Natasha said, her voice filled with conflicting emotions.
Even after he left the office, Chu Mu's head was still swimming.
Was that the first time anyone had kissed me?
Chu Mu shook his head and walked back to the classroom.
The classroom had emptied after class, but one small figure still sat in her seat, her bright eyes fixed on the doorway.
The moment Chu Mu appeared, Xiao Bu exclaimed delightedly:
"Brother Mu!"
"You haven't opened it yet?" Chu Mu glanced at the cloth bag on the desk, puzzled.
"A present should only be opened when both people are there to see it!" Xiao Bu said solemnly.
"All right." Chu Mu pulled out a chair and sat across from Xiao Bu. He said softly, "Open it now. I'm watching."
The classroom lights had already been switched off. The floor heater in the corner cast an orange-yellow glow, illuminating the boy's mismatched eyes.
His black eye reflected the cozy light, while his green eye was filled with tenderness.
Under her brother's gaze, the girl opened the cloth bag, brimming with anticipation.
The moment the gift was revealed-
Her tears came pouring out.
Before you continue