Evening
A group of people sat around the bonfire, enjoying a leisurely time.
Hiratsuka Shizuka was busy grilling things, while Tamamo-no-Mae stood beside her, exasperated, occasionally scolding her.
Miko sat beside Lu Ren, holding her little face in her hands, lost in thought.
At this moment... the sky was divided by dusk and night.
The brilliant stars had already lit up.
Lu Ren lay on the folding chair, gazing at the beautiful scenery, quietly contemplating life.
A fresh scent passed through his nostrils... The right armrest of the folding chair suddenly sank, startling Lu Ren from his contemplation.
"It's going to collapse."
Lu Ren looked at Reiko sitting on the chair, kindly reminding his classmate.
"Can I ask you for a favor?"
Reiko clasped her hands together, a hint of urgency on her face.
"Let's be clear first..."
"Asking me for a favor requires a reward."
Lu Ren said faintly, lazily raising his hand to pick up the orange juice beside him.
"A reward, huh..."
"But I'm... already penniless now."
"How about... I use myself as collateral for the transaction?"
Reiko smiled indifferently.
She hadn't told anyone.
She had already been kicked out of her home by her relatives.
Now, she didn't even have a place to live.
Since morning, she hadn't eaten anything.
Poverty, exhaustion, hunger.
At this moment, she was like Lu Ren when he first transmigrated, full of disappointment with the world... "The reward can be put aside for now, tell me what you want to do?"
Lu Ren took a sip of orange juice, cleared his throat, and asked Natsume Reiko.
"I hope you can spare the Yokai on the back mountain."
"Many of them are my friends."
"I don't want to lose them..."
"So..."
Reiko pleaded again, her face only showing sincerity.
To protect these friends, she was willing to do anything!
"Heh... I thought it was something serious."
"How about this..."
"I'm going to form a Club at school..."
Lu Ren chuckled, raising a finger, preparing to make an unreasonable request.
In fact... he had no leisure to care about those Yokai.
As long as they didn't provoke Lu Ren, Lu Ren couldn't be bothered with them.
It was just that what Lu Ren had done back then had frightened that group of Yokai.
This was like a giant dragon turning over... For the dragon, it was just turning over and continuing to rest.
But for the ants on the ground, it was an earth-shattering catastrophe!
The reason the Yokai fled the back mountain was innate fear!
It was a kind of powerlessness and despair when facing a strong person!
To break the situation, it was actually very simple... It only required a promise from Lu Ren... even just a word... a nod... and all the Yokai would feel at ease.
And they would genuinely appreciate him and revere him!
..."I can join!"
"And obey all your commands!"
Reiko answered immediately without any hesitation!
If joining the Club could protect her friends!
No matter how absurd or embarrassing the Club was, she would join it!
"But I heard..."
"You haven't been to class for a long time..."
Lu Ren continued.
"Go!"
"On Monday, I'll go back to class!"
"I promise you, I won't skip class without a reason ever again!"
Miko held up four fingers, swearing with a determined expression.
"You said it..."
Lu Ren teased with a smile, not forgetting to turn his head and glance in Hiratsuka Shizuka's direction.
At such close proximity, Hiratsuka Shizuka could hear his and Reiko's conversation very clearly.
Sure enough... upon hearing Reiko's promise to continue her studies... Hiratsuka Shizuka smiled in relief, her attention leaving the grill and turning to her student.
Tamamo-no-Mae, who was supervising her, was furious when she saw this scene!
"It's burning!"
"Flip it!"
"Go, go, go! Let me do it!"
Tamamo-no-Mae pushed Hiratsuka Shizuka, shooing away the clumsy idiot who was in the way.
With her distracted state, how could she possibly grill anything delicious?
Hiratsuka Shizuka, having been shooed away, had no choice but to find her students... She walked behind Lu Ren, leaning intimately on the back of his chair...
"Why did you come over too?"
"The chair will break."
"You're a grown-up, don't act like a child!"
Lu Ren placed the orange juice aside, complaining to Hiratsuka Shizuka.
"You guys were chatting so happily, let me join in."
"Whether it was high school or college."
"When the school organized camping trips, I, your teacher, was always the one guarding the grill."
"Xiao Lu~, I need comfort too!"
Hiratsuka Shizuka leaned on the back of the chair, pretending to be a wronged Jing Ke'ai (Cute Shizu), wiping away non-existent tears.
"Pfft..."
Reiko, sitting on his right, couldn't help but laugh.
She hadn't expected Teacher Shizuka to have such a side to her.
Grumble~~~!
But the rumbling of hunger from her stomach brought her laughter to an abrupt halt.
Reiko's small face instantly turned red, even her ears became pink.
"I noticed it from earlier."
"You don't look very well."
"Don't tell me you're dieting again."
Lu Ren rolled his eyes at Reiko, seeing through the girl's predicament at a glance.
"Something like that..."
Reiko nervously smoothed her long hair, trying to gloss over the truth.
"Xiao Jing, isn't there a spare guest room at home?"
"You wouldn't want your student to sleep on the mountain, would you?"
Lu Ren looked at Hiratsuka Shizuka, saying helplessly.
"You're right..."
"Reiko, why don't you come and stay with us until you find a place to live."
Hiratsuka Shizuka invited her warmly, showing no reluctance at all.
In fact... she, who had always been alone, truly loved the current atmosphere.
Ever since Lu Ren moved in... her originally empty and cold home finally gained a touch of human warmth.
So... Hiratsuka Shizuka didn't mind having another guest in her home.
"This... is this really okay?"
Reiko turned her face away awkwardly, her cheeks growing even redder.
"If you feel bad, just help out with some chores."
"Xiao Jing, this guy, actually... Ugh!"
Lu Ren raised his hand, pointing at Hiratsuka Shizuka behind him, intending to reveal some of her embarrassing past.
But... before he could say much, Hiratsuka Shizuka covered his mouth.
"Xiao Lu! I'm begging you, okay?"
"At least in front of my students, don't expose my secrets!"
Hiratsuka Shizuka was so anxious she was almost in tears!
If her students found out... that she was lazy, gluttonous, and drank alcohol at home!
Her career as a teacher would probably end prematurely!
At this moment... Miko, who had been sitting by the side acting as a background since earlier.
Upon hearing this and seeing Hiratsuka Shizuka's attitude, her heart was also moved!
"Ren-kun..."
"No! Respected President!"
"Please find a place for your excellent employee to live too!"
Miko eagerly stood up, also imitating the others, and sat on the left armrest of the folding chair.
However... the moment she sat down... Crack!
The folding chair, unable to bear the weight, instantly split apart... The four, losing their support, fell to the ground in a daze... Lu Ren, lying on the seat, was immediately buried...
"Xiao Jing..."
"I'm going to... be crushed... to death by you..."