The two of them bickered and joked around all the way back.
Not long after, they arrived at Dorm Seven.
By the time they stepped into the dorm, the sky had already darkened. Under the shadow of the dormitory building, a tall, burly black figure silently disappeared into the night.
"Boss! Sister Xiao Wu! You're back!"
As soon as they entered, someone greeted Ye Qiu and Xiao Wu.
"Mm."
Ye Qiu replied flatly. He had walked quite a lot today and was feeling tired, not in the mood for chatter.
"Mmm-hmm! Sister Xiao Wu is back!"
Xiao Wu, on the other hand, was still full of energy. With candy in her mouth, she had already forgotten about their earlier unpleasantness and wore a bright smile.
Ye Qiu tossed an entire bedding set onto Xiao Wu's empty bed. After laying the mat on the bed next to it, he took the blanket back and lay down on his own freshly made bed, letting out a relaxed sigh.
"Phew~ Lying down really is the best!"
Tang San had already prepared his bed in advance and had just finished his dinner with dry rations and water.
He was currently sitting cross-legged on the bed in meditation. Upon hearing the others' greetings, he opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was the lively Xiao Wu.
At that moment, Xiao Wu was standing beside the bed, staring longingly at the blanket Ye Qiu had just taken away.
With candy in her mouth, she glanced around the room, blushed slightly, and quickly finished making her own bed.
Then, to everyone's surprise—including Tang San and Wang Sheng—she braced her hands on the bed frame and forcefully pushed her bed toward Ye Qiu's until the two beds were joined together.
Tang San watched this scene in confusion.
After experiencing the cold shoulder earlier, he had wised up and didn't ask Xiao Wu anything. Instead, he turned to Ye Qiu.
"Ye Qiu, what's going on with you two?"
Unfortunately, Ye Qiu didn't feel like answering either.
After a long pause with no response from Ye Qiu, Tang San frowned.
Just as Xiao Wu was about to respond while rubbing her sore butt, Ye Qiu suddenly sat up and spoke.
"Xiao San, isn't it obvious? That silly rabbit didn't get a blanket!"
"Ye Qiu~"
Xiao Wu, who had just pulled the blanket to the middle of the two beds, frowned and called out softly to Ye Qiu, signaling him to stop calling her a silly rabbit.
"Still, isn't it kind of inappropriate for the two of you to share one blanket?"
Tang San looked at them strangely.
Xiao Wu opened up the blanket and declared confidently, "Nonsense! What's inappropriate? Ye Qiu bought a big blanket. Look—it almost perfectly covers both beds!"
"…Fine, fine."
Tang San sighed, a few black lines appearing on his forehead. Since even the person involved didn't care, there was no point in him worrying.
"This is all your fault anyway!"
Ye Qiu shot a glare at Xiao Wu. It wasn't until he laid down earlier that he remembered he hadn't bought a second blanket—or even a pillow.
"I-I didn't mean to…"
Xiao Wu stammered a bit, then lowered her head, grumbling as she began tidying her belongings.
Wang Sheng and the others were even more surprised. They felt like Xiao Wu had somehow changed after being out.
Thud!
A small box suddenly landed on the blanket in front of Xiao Wu. It was the ointment Ye Qiu had bought.
Ye Qiu's voice came with a reminder:
"After you finish your bath, apply this on your butt yourself. Also, use it on your eyes with a mirror. If there's no mirror, I can help—assuming I'm not already asleep."
"Mm-hmm! Xiao Wu got it."
Xiao Wu nodded obediently and took the ointment in hand.
"Wang Sheng, where's the bathroom?"
Even though Xiao Wu's injuries on her waist and butt had mostly healed, Ye Qiu still reminded her.
After asking, he picked up his uniform and headed out in the direction of the bathroom.
Xiao Wu looked at the ointment in her hand and pouted.
Lifting her head to look toward the door, she immediately noticed the others staring at her, and her face flushed with embarrassment.
She scolded them playfully: "What are you staring at?! Keep staring and Sister Xiao Wu will kick your butts!"
Wang Sheng and the others quickly looked away in fear.
Guess it really was just my imagination—Sister Xiao Wu hasn't changed a bit!
---
Night gradually fell across the land.
Most students in Dorm Seven had already finished their showers and washed up.
Xiao Wu returned to the dorm with her hair let down. Her fair face had a soft red hue, and her long black-and-red hair draped down to her waist, giving her an unexpectedly unique charm.
Tang San, who had never been around girls before, couldn't help but stare. So did Wang Sheng and the others.
"Hmph! What are you looking at?!"
Xiao Wu snorted and shot them a glare. Once they turned their eyes away, she quickly walked to her bed.
Ye Qiu was sitting cross-legged, trying to cultivate the soul power circulation technique he had gained from Xiao Wu's memory.
"Ye Qiu, what do we do without pillows?"
Xiao Wu, who had just applied the ointment, laid belly-down on the blanket. Her legs gently swung in the air, her chin propped on her hands, cheeks flushed as she looked at Ye Qiu.
Without even opening his eyes, Ye Qiu replied, "Just use your clothes for now. I'm out of money. After a few days, once we hunt soul beasts and get registered as soul masters, I'll buy us some."
As he finished speaking, Ye Qiu opened his eyes—not to look at Xiao Wu, but at his own hands. Feeling the small increase in his soul power, he smiled.
"Alright…"
Xiao Wu nodded reluctantly. She got up and folded some of her old clothes a couple of times.
A small cloth pouch fell out. Xiao Wu paused for a moment, then gently picked it up and put it, along with the ointment Ye Qiu bought, into her pink shoulder bag.
When she looked up, she noticed Ye Qiu lying sideways on the bed, propping his head up with one hand, watching her with interest.
Xiao Wu instantly felt awkward. Blushing, she placed her little bag in the middle between their two beds.
"You better not cross the line tonight… or else…"
Xiao Wu tried to sound threatening, but then remembered her weaknesses: Ye Qiu still had her secret, and she couldn't beat him in a fight. She didn't know what to say.
"Pfft, I have no interest in little girls like you."
Ye Qiu curled his lip and placed his own pack at the head of the beds, right in the middle. Then he lifted the blanket and got in, closing his eyes.
"…"
Xiao Wu pouted and raised her fist toward Ye Qiu's closed eyes, then lay down under the blanket as well.
Sniffing the air, she suddenly caught a sweet scent. She turned her head toward Ye Qiu's side and quickly realized where it was coming from—his bag.
Her crimson eyes flickered. She had already guessed what was inside.
---
Outside, a rooster crowed. Morning light spilled through the windows of Dorm Seven.
"Ah~"
Lying on top of Ye Qiu, Xiao Wu yawned, slowly opened her eyes, and withdrew the hand she had wrapped around his neck, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
With a smile, she greeted the boy under her:
"Good morning, Ye Qiu!"