Heavy, dark clouds drifted through the sky, casting a vast gloom over Shrek Academy.
The breeze brushed past, laden with moisture, making the students walking along the roads terribly uncomfortable. The abnormal weather deepened the melancholy in their hearts. Not far away, the dried-up Sea God Lake lay utterly desolate, its hundred-meter-wide pit like the gates of hell, seemingly ready to devour their souls at any moment.
At some point, a light rain began to patter down, striking the shattered paving stones with dull plinks that made everyone even more restless.
Dormitory building, Room 201.
Wang Dong'er reached out and pushed open the window, extending her slender, delicate hand outside. Raindrops landed one by one on her skin, so tender it seemed a breath could break it.
The drops struck her skin, then quickly bounced up, abruptly scattering in midair into countless tiny droplets that fell back down.
Reflected in those tiny droplets were Wang Dong'er's large eyes, shining like a starry sky.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
The rain grew heavier, washing over the wreckage of Shrek Academy and sweeping away the traces of last night, yet failing to wash away the fear in the Shrek students' hearts.
The Shrek students took out their umbrellas one after another. As they passed Sea God Lake, they could not help quickening their steps, not daring to glance at the deep pit.
Looking at the vanished Sea God Lake, Wang Dong'er sighed helplessly, then turned toward Huo Yuhao, who was still sleeping without a care in the world.
"Yuhao, Huo Yuhao! Get up! All the academy's students have to attend a meeting today. How can you still sleep?!..."
Wang Dong was furious, anxiously shaking Huo Yuhao in an attempt to wake him.
"Dong'er, look how early it is. It's fine if we go a little later."
Huo Yuhao simply reached out his large hand and pulled her onto the bed. Yawning repeatedly, he breathed in the refreshing fragrance and slowly drifted off to sleep.
Using Wang Dong'er as a body pillow really was nice. Huo Yuhao felt he was sleeping quite well.
Wang Dong'er's entire body stiffened, her cheeks flushing scarlet. She hurriedly knocked Huo Yuhao's hand away, grabbed his shoulders with both hands, and hauled him upright.
"Who are you calling Dong'er? Hurry... hurry up and get up!"
Huo Yuhao rubbed his eyes, feeling the cool morning breeze brush through his somewhat tousled hair. Only then did he wake fully.
"Huo Yuhao, hurry up. We're going to be late."
Wang Dong'er glanced up at the clock on the dormitory wall and urged him on.
"Yes, yes, yes. I'll be ready right away..."
Huo Yuhao still dressed at a leisurely pace, taking a slice of bread from his storage ring and holding it in his mouth.
"Oh, and don't you forget. You're cooking dinner for us tonight..."
Wang Dong'er took out two umbrellas, shoved one into Huo Yuhao's arms, and stressed her point.
Huo Yuhao took out another slice of bread and stuffed it into her mouth. Yawning, he took Wang Dong'er's hand and headed downstairs.
The blush that had just faded from Wang Dong'er's face surfaced again. Her eyes kept scanning their surroundings, terrified that someone else would see them.
Looking at Huo Yuhao ahead of her, Wang Dong'er felt terribly shy.
Honestly, this Huo Yuhao! Even if he knew I was a girl, I was still a boy to everyone else. If someone saw us, what would this look like?!...
If other people thought we had that sort of relationship, how would either of us ever face anyone again?!
Wang Dong'er kept thinking, utterly overcome with embarrassment and indignation. Her whole body flushed red with shyness, like a cooked prawn, constantly giving off heat.
The storm of thoughts filled her mind, leaving her so embarrassed that she gave up thinking altogether.
Huo Yuhao did not notice her behind him. He opened his umbrella, slipped an arm around her shoulders, and hurried toward their destination.
By the time she came back to her senses, Xiao Xiao was holding an umbrella and waving her little hand before her eyes, as though checking something.
"Xiao... Xiao Xiao?!"
Wang Dong'er snapped out of it and looked around in a panic.
Students already crowded their surroundings. Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao stood beside her, quietly watching her. Huo Yuhao had not even finished the bread in his mouth.
"Wang Dong, what's wrong with you? Didn't sleep well last night? Hmm... I suppose that's not surprising."
Xiao Xiao shook her little head, her large eyes blinking nonstop. She looked utterly adorable.
Huo Yuhao freed one hand to hold Xiao Xiao's umbrella for her, still chewing his slice of bread.
Only then did Wang Dong'er fully recover. She snatched the umbrella from Huo Yuhao's hand and threw a punch at him.
"It's all your fault, Huo Yuhao!"
Huo Yuhao let her punch him a few times. Only then did he finish his bread and start yawning again.
He truly hated morning meetings. Getting a little more sleep would be far more worthwhile. They were such a waste of time. Next time, he absolutely had to make Sorrow schedule the meeting for the afternoon.
Fine strands of rain fell onto Huo Yuhao's head, slowly soaking his hair. Xiao Xiao hurriedly rose onto her tiptoes and held her umbrella over his head to keep him from getting wet.
Xiao Xiao took out a handkerchief and tenderly wiped Huo Yuhao's hair, her heart aching for him. Only after confirming that nowhere else on him had gotten wet did she breathe a sigh of relief.
She planted her hands on her hips and glared at Wang Dong'er beside them, saying angrily, "Wang Dong! What if Yuhao gets soaked and catches a cold? How could you do that?!"
"Hmph! Let the rain kill him... he'd deserve it!"
Wang Dong made a face and turned her head away with tsundere haughtiness, sulking by herself.
"Wang Dong, you..."
Xiao Xiao wanted to say more, but Huo Yuhao stopped her and gently shook his head.
"Hmph! You tsundere! You're so annoying!"
Xiao Xiao turned away, somewhat angry, grumbling under her breath.
Wang Dong'er flared up the moment she heard her. "Who are you calling a tsundere, Little Potato?!"
"Who are you calling Little Potato? You're not allowed to call me that!"
Xiao Xiao shouted at the top of her lungs. She had been ready to stop arguing with Wang Dong, only for Wang Dong to say that and step straight onto her land mine.
"You, Little Potato, Little Potato!... Bleh, bleh, bleh!"
Wang Dong'er leaned close to Xiao Xiao and brazenly pulled faces, her expression full of tsundere haughtiness.
"You're not allowed to call me that! You're not! You tsundere, you're so incredibly annoying!"
Xiao Xiao closed her eyes and shouted, afraid of losing any momentum. At this point, Wang Dong was practically driving her mad with anger.
"Why can't I call you that? Is Huo Yuhao the only one who can?" Wang Dong'er teased, pressing her advantage without mercy.
Xiao Xiao grew anxious too, her little face turning scarlet. Mustering all her strength, she shouted, "That's right! Only Yuhao can call me that! You! Can't!"
Wang Dong'er covered her mouth and raised her eyebrows, wearing a wicked grin. "Oh~ so only Huo Yuhao can call you that."
Realizing what she had said, Xiao Xiao instantly blushed scarlet. She looked left and right, then burrowed straight into Huo Yuhao's arms, refusing to let Wang Dong see her embarrassed state.
"Oh my, wasn't someone shouting so loudly just now? Where did she go?"
Wang Dong'er narrowed her eyes and pretended to look around, grinning wickedly.
Xiao Xiao ignored him, secretly swearing that she would never pay Wang Dong any attention again!
"All right, all right. It's fine."
Huo Yuhao stroked Xiao Xiao's head and spoke gently.
Suddenly, Huo Yuhao clutched his stomach, clamping his legs tightly together as sweat poured off him.
He forced out the words, "N-no, I... I need to use the bathroom!"
"Then hurry up. It's about to start..."
Wang Dong'er spoke up to remind him, only to discover that Huo Yuhao had already vanished.