The clamor and gossip in the classroom didn't affect Gu Yuexi in the slightest.
Her cold, stunningly beautiful face remained impassive, as if none of this had anything to do with her.
She put away the box holding Chu Sheng, walked straight to an empty seat in the back row, and sat down. Taking a textbook from her bag, she began to flip through it by herself.
Her calm demeanor, like a mountain crumbling before her without a change in expression, left the gossiping classmates momentarily speechless.
The person at the center of it all didn't even care. Their ruckus just made them seem classless.
And so, the murmurs gradually died down.
But the way everyone looked at Gu Yuexi was now incredibly complex.
There was pity and sympathy, but most of all, there was incomprehension.
In their eyes, this was tantamount to giving up on herself completely.
"Quiet! Everyone, quiet down!"
The young teacher at the podium slapped his desk, drawing everyone's attention. He then cleared his throat and began the lesson.
However, as he lectured, his eyes couldn't help but drift toward Gu Yuexi, and he sighed inwardly.
Meanwhile, inside the plastic box Gu Yuexi had placed on her desk, Chu Sheng was "listening" to everything with great relish.
'Tsk, tsk. Looks like my debut gave everyone quite a shock!'
Chu Sheng was ecstatic.
'This is great. Everyone thinks I'm useless, and that Gu Yuexi is finished. This is perfect.'
'Playing the pig to eat the tiger... It's an old cliché, but hey, if it works, it works!'
'For now, you can all pity and lament as much as you want!'
'Just wait half a month for the joint exams to start. I... no, my blood-bag Empress will make her grand entrance and blow all your minds!'
A single class period quickly passed in this strange atmosphere.
The bell rang, and no sooner had the teacher walked out the door than a tall boy made a beeline for Gu Yuexi.
[Chen Hao, 18 years old, First-Grade Late Stage Beast Tamer.]
This was the information Chu Sheng had gleaned with a quick scan using [Blood Food Tracking].
'Have to admit, this Skill is pretty useful!'
'A First-Grade Late Stage Beast Tamer who contracted an Intermediate Bloodline Demon Beast... This guy should be considered among the Top Notch students in Class 8.'
'He probably ranks in the top thirty of the entire grade.'
"Gu Yuexi."
Chen Hao walked up to Gu Yuexi's desk, a smile he considered gentle on his face.
He'd always had a crush on Gu Yuexi. Unfortunately, back when she was the untouchable School Beauty, he never dared to approach her. Even though his own performance was good, he always felt the distance between them was too great.
But now, his chance had come!
The School Beauty had fallen from her pedestal, becoming a "good-for-nothing" who'd contracted a mosquito. This was the perfect time for him to step forward and display his charm!
Gu Yuexi looked up, her cold eyes glancing at him, but she said nothing.
Chen Hao didn't mind. He cleared his throat and spoke in the tone of a seasoned veteran, "Gu, really... you don't have to be so discouraged. A Beast Tamer's entire future isn't decided by their first Contracted Beast!"
"I know you probably had your reasons for... for making a choice like this! But it's okay!"
The onlookers couldn't help but twitch at the corners of their eyes.
'Was this that legendary "white knight" comforting everyone talked about?'
'She contracted a mosquito, and that *doesn't* decide her whole future?'
'She'll never reach the Fifth-Grade in her life, so she can't even contract a second Demon Beast!'
'Her path as a Beast Tamer is completely shot, okay?!'
'This Chen Hao... Is he just spouting nonsense because he thinks Gu Yuexi doesn't know anything about Beast Taming?'
At that moment, with a thought from Chen Hao, the large, cyan wolf that had been dozing by his seat abruptly stood up. It padded over to his side and affectionately nuzzled its head against his leg.
It was a giant wolf, its body comparable in size to a full-grown Tibetan Mastiff. Its fur was a grayish-cyan, but the oddest feature was the pair of small, fleshy wings sprouting from its back, which looked somewhat comical.
[Wind Blade Wolf, Intermediate Bloodline, First-Grade Late Stage Demon Beast. Can manipulate the Wind Element for Attacks. Can reach Fifth-Grade or higher upon reaching maturity!]
"See this? This is my partner, the Wind Blade Wolf!"
Chen Hao patted the Wind Blade Wolf's head with a proud expression. "It's only First-Grade right now, but its Bloodline potential is immense! As long as I train it well, its future will be limitless!"
"If you're willing, I can share my experience raising my Wind Blade Wolf with you. It might not be much use for your... ah, for your Contracted Beast, but at least you could learn some of the basics of Beast Taming."
"And when you're able to contract a second Demon Beast, I can even pull some strings for you. I guarantee I can help you get one with a decent Bloodline!"
Chen Hao rattled on, his face filled with confidence. He felt his speech was simply perfect—it showcased his strength and resources while also expressing his concern for Gu Yuexi!
'A girl like Gu Yuexi, who has fallen so far, must be desperate for a strong and gentle shoulder to lean on like mine!'
The surrounding students were both speechless and envious.
They were speechless because... this asshole was completely stringing Gu Yuexi along. Contracted a mosquito? How could she ever contract a second Demon Beast? His game was just pathetic, wasn't it?
And they were envious because...
It was an Intermediate Bloodline Wind Blade Wolf! That was the most Top Notch Contracted Beast in their entire class!
Compared to Gu Yuexi's mosquito... the difference was like night and day! Would the former School Beauty actually fall for his act?
Inside the box, Chu Sheng listened to Chen Hao's utter bullshit and almost burst out laughing.
'Pfft... Buddy, you think you're some kind of hero saving the damsel in distress?'
'Sharing your experience? Pulling strings for her? Do you have any idea who you're talking to? That's the Beast Taming Empress! When it comes to Beast Taming, she's the friggin' matriarch!'
'And that winged-husky thing of yours? You dare to show off a mere Intermediate Bloodline? My blood ba— I mean, my Empress just slaughtered a snake with a High-Level Bloodline for a snack!'
Chu Sheng was roasting him relentlessly in his mind, looking at Chen Hao as if he were a buffoon putting on a show.
'Still, to be fair...'
'This Wind Blade Wolf's Qi Blood seems pretty potent. One sip would probably be really nourishing, huh?'
Chu Sheng subconsciously licked his proboscis, feeling a little hungry again.
But Gu Yuexi's reaction to Chen Hao's enthusiasm left him frozen in place.
"Are you finished?"
Gu Yuexi spoke slowly, her voice cold and devoid of any emotion.
"Huh? I... I'm finished." Chen Hao stammered, taken aback.
"Then move. You're blocking my light."
Gu Yuexi's gaze returned to her textbook, as if everything that had just happened was nothing more than a fly buzzing in her ear.
"..."
The smile on Chen Hao's face froze instantly.
The surrounding students, who had been enjoying the show, were also stunned for a moment.
Then, one by one, they started giving Chen Hao the same look—as if he were a clown.
'Didn't see that coming, did you? The School Beauty isn't an idiot!'
'She didn't fall for your act at all! Hahaha!'
Chen Hao's face paled, then flushed. He felt as if he'd been slapped in public, his cheek stinging with shame.
He took a deep breath, wanting to say something more.
But seeing Gu Yuexi's unapproachable aura, the words all got stuck in his throat.
In the end, all he could do was snort coldly and slink back to his seat with his Wind Blade Wolf.
He was furious.
'She's just a pretty face.'
'What's she so proud of?'