Bedding Problem (Please Vote!)

"It's fine, it's just that my butt hurts so much from the fall!"

Xiao Wu rubbed her sore little butt as she got to her feet, sucking in a breath.

"I wanted to be the boss, but I didn't expect to lose to you. You're the boss now!"

As she said this, Xiao Wu clenched her little fists, her face puffing up in frustration before she deflated again.

"If you can't be the boss this year, you can be next year."

Lin Ye shook his head.

"Next year? What do you mean?"

Xiao Wu froze when she heard Lin Ye's words.

"Because I may leave the academy in a year. I have Innate Full Soul Power, so I'll become a Soul Master very soon. Once I do, I plan to learn the basic knowledge and then travel the continent. A year is enough for me to master the basics—perhaps I won't even need that long. So, if nothing unexpected happens, you should have a chance to become the boss next year."

Lin Ye explained calmly.

"Ah! I can become the boss next year? That's great!"

Xiao Wu was delighted to hear Lin Ye's words.

But after her excitement faded, Xiao Wu became somewhat dejected again.

"You're leaving next year? I think you're pretty nice. Maybe we could've become good friends, but you're leaving next year. What a pity!"

Xiao Wu sighed regretfully.

"Don't celebrate too soon. Becoming the boss won't be that easy."

Seeing Xiao Wu act as though the position was already hers, Lin Ye shook his head.

"Not that easy? Is there someone else in this dormitory besides you who can beat me?"

Xiao Wu asked curiously.

"Of course!"

A faint smile appeared on Lin Ye's face as he looked toward Tang San.

Wang Sheng and the other children also turned pleading looks toward Tang San.

"His name is Tang San. Like me, he has Innate Full Soul Power, and he's quite strong too. If you want to be the boss, you'll probably have to defeat Tang San as well."

"Ah! Tang San? You have Innate Full Soul Power too? You're strong too, then! Let's have a match, okay?"

At Lin Ye's words, Xiao Wu immediately became interested. She looked eagerly at Tang San, her eyes full of expectation.

"Uh... no need. I don't really want to be the boss. You can be the boss next year."

Tang San paused when he saw Xiao Wu looking at him, then hurriedly replied.

"That won't do! When Dormitory Seven chooses a boss, it has to be fair and square. You can't just admit defeat!"

Xiao Wu wrinkled her delicate nose, raised a little fist, and pouted.

"But my martial soul is Blue Silver Grass. It doesn't have much combat ability!"

Tang San declined again.

"Your martial soul is Blue Silver Grass, while the boss's martial soul is a begonia flower. Stop making excuses!"

Wang Sheng interjected from the side.

Although Xiao Wu was very strong, Wang Sheng still did not want a girl to become the boss of Dormitory Seven.

It would be far too embarrassing if word got out!

"Ah! Your martial soul is Blue Silver Grass? My martial soul is a rabbit. Looking at it this way, I seem to counter you perfectly!"

When Wang Sheng said that Tang San's martial soul was Blue Silver Grass, Xiao Wu's eyes widened in surprise.

"See? That's what I said. Our martial souls naturally counter each other. You counter me, so I definitely can't beat you!"

Tang San chuckled as he tried to wriggle out of it again.

Lin Ye shook his head from the side, but this time, he did not press Tang San any further.

He had made Tang San the provisional boss before because Tang San was fairly strong and should be able to continue protecting Dormitory Seven after he left. That was Lin Ye's sense of responsibility.

But now that they had Xiao Wu, who was more responsible and not weak either, Tang San, who lacked any sense of responsibility, could be kicked out directly.

Just as Xiao Wu continued pestering Tang San, a sudden knock came from outside the door.

Dormitory Seven immediately fell silent.

Following the sound, everyone turned to look toward the doorway.

A middle-aged man dressed in black stood there. He had light green hair and held two neatly folded sets of bedding in his arms.

"Which of you are Tang San and Lin Ye?"

Looking at the children in Dormitory Seven, the middle-aged man, who appeared to be a teacher, asked.

"I am!"

Lin Ye and Tang San both raised their hands and walked over.

Lin Ye was somewhat puzzled that this teacher had called for him.

Could this be the teacher Director Su had mentioned, the one who would assign work to the Work-Study Students?

But Xiao Wu was clearly a Work-Study Student too, so why had he not called for her?

As Lin Ye walked over, full of confusion, the teacher looked him and Tang San over before speaking. "Are you Lin Ye and Tang San? My name is Mo Hen. You can also call me Teacher Mo. Grandmaster asked me to bring these two sets of bedding to you."

As he spoke, Teacher Mo handed over the bedding in his arms.

"Thank you, Teacher."

After taking the bedding, Lin Ye thanked him politely.

However, Lin Ye did not understand why Grandmaster had sent him bedding.

It was perfectly normal for Tang San to receive it, since he had become Grandmaster's disciple. But why had Lin Ye received some too? Was Grandmaster impressed by him, or had he still not given up on taking him as a disciple?

As Lin Ye pondered this, Teacher Mo spoke again. "Are there any other newly enrolled Work-Study Students in your dormitory?"

"Me! Me!"

Xiao Wu quickly raised her hand and hurried over.

"I'm a newly enrolled Work-Study Student too!"

"Very good! Since all three of you are newly enrolled Work-Study Students, I'll assign your duties. Behind the academy's teaching building is a training ground. From now on, the three of you will be responsible for keeping the garden on its south side clean."

"You only need to clean it in the morning each day. The pay is ten Copper Soul Coins per day. But remember, you must clean it thoroughly, especially making sure not to leave any debris behind."

"Otherwise, if you fail inspection, your pay will be deducted. If you repeatedly refuse to correct it, it will be considered neglecting your duties. In serious cases, the academy may even order you to withdraw. So make sure to clean it properly, understand?"

Teacher Mo spoke sternly.

"Understood!"

The three nodded and replied in unison.

"Good. If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask Wang Sheng. He's an experienced Work-Study Student and should know all the academy's rules. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving first."

Seeing how obedient Lin Ye, Tang San, and Xiao Wu were, Teacher Mo nodded in satisfaction. After speaking, he turned and left Dormitory Seven with his hands behind his back.

They watched Teacher Mo's back disappear down the corridor. The sound of his footsteps from the stairs grew more distant before finally fading away, and Dormitory Seven became lively once more.

"How come you two have bedding, but I don't?"

Seeing Lin Ye and Tang San both holding brand-new quilts while she had nothing, Xiao Wu puffed up angrily.

"Bedding? Xiao Wu, don't tell me you didn't bring any bedding?"

Wang Sheng was startled by Xiao Wu's words.

"Bedding? We have to bring bedding? Doesn't the academy provide it for free?"

Xiao Wu froze.

"The academy does provide daily necessities for free, but it has never had a rule about providing bedding."

Wang Sheng pointed speechlessly at the beds in Dormitory Seven that had already been made up.

The bedding on those beds was almost all different in style, but they did share one thing in common: they were covered in patches.

"Ah!"

Xiao Wu stood there dumbfounded.

"Then what am I supposed to do?"