After a fulfilling late-night snack, Xiao Wu was truly famished. She ate her way from one end of the food street to the other, ensuring every vendor received her patronage.
The little loli had arrived with an empty stomach and left with a very full one.
"Well, are you full now?"
Shane patted Xiao Wu's slightly bulging little belly and said with an affectionate smile.
"Mm, thank you, Shane~"
Xiao Wu seemed to feel she had eaten a bit too much, sucked in her tummy, and said with a blush.
"Hahaha, silly girl! Let's go, we're heading back!"
Holding her little hand, the two "big customers" departed amidst the cheerful farewells of the vendors.
The little loli chatted and laughed all the way, completely unaware of when their hands had become interlocked.
It wasn't until they returned to the dormitory that she realized, quickly pulling her hand away and fleeing back to her bed as if escaping.
Shane closed the door behind him, and Wang Sheng, wearing a sly grin, immediately sidled over.
"Brother Chen, mission perfectly accomplished! I guarantee there isn't a single leaf left in the South Garden!"
Shane patted Wang Sheng's shoulder and said, "Good, thanks a lot. Next time, I'll treat you to a meal on the second floor of the canteen!"
"Don't mention it, Brother Chen! I didn't interrupt your date with Sister Xiao Wu, did I?"
To this question, Shane merely smiled faintly, leaving Wang Sheng to ponder its meaning.
Sitting back on his bed, Shane meditated for a while, then suddenly felt something rubbing against him.
He turned his head to see Xiao Wu's little feet stretching over.
"You little rabbit, being mischievous again?"
Shane was just about to reach out and grab them, but she, having anticipated this, immediately retracted them.
"Shane, could you get me a glass of water, please?"
Withdrawing her delicate feet, Xiao Wu sat on the bed in a cute kneeling pose, tugging Shane's clothes and cooing.
"You need me to get you water?"
"Aiya, I just washed my little feet, I don't want to get off the bed~"
As Xiao Wu spoke, she nudged her two tender, pink feet into Shane's lap, rubbing them against him as if to curry favor.
For the sake of those delicate feet, Shane still got up and poured her a glass of water.
"Hehe, thanks~"
Xiao Wu took the glass and drank with delight.
Commendably, she left her little feet resting on the boy's lap, not pulling them away.
Seeing this, Shane played with her delicate feet with one hand while organizing the data in his sea of consciousness with the other.
It was finally almost time for lights out, but the door was knocked upon and pushed open again.
"Tang San, you're back?"
Wang Sheng happened to be right by the door, and the two nearly collided.
"Is everyone asleep already?"
"Not yet, just about to turn off the lights. Come on in."
Wang Sheng made way, and a battered and disheveled little runt walked in.
Tang San entered and walked to his bedside, greeting Shane across the room, "Brother Shane, sorry, did I disturb your rest?"
"It's fine, come over and chat."
Shane patted the stool beside his bed, smiling invitingly.
The little runt smiled and agreed. Afraid of dirtying Shane's stool with the dust on his clothes, he even took out a cloth to wipe it down first.
When Xiao Wu saw Tang San approaching, she quickly pulled her delicate feet back.
She might let Shane play with her little feet, but she certainly didn't want anyone else to see.
"Little San, how did your hunt for the first spirit ring go on this trip?"
Shane asked. Upon hearing a topic related to the first spirit ring, everyone else in Dorm Seven pricked up their ears.
Tang San had nothing to hide; spirit rings would have to be used eventually. He replied, "I was quite lucky this time. With Grandmaster's help, I successfully hunted a Datura Snake nearly four hundred years old."
"Four hundred years? Mine is nine hundred and ninety-nine years, you know~" Xiao Wu muttered softly, hiding behind Shane.
"Not bad, four hundred years is pretty good. Any other gains?"
Shane reached one hand behind him, gently pinched Xiao Wu's lips to quiet her, and then continued.
"Mm… Teacher also gave me a belt, said it was a discipleship gift."
Tang San hesitated for a moment but still unfastened the black belt from his waist.
Shane's eyes lit up when he saw it. He knew this thing – it was the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges, wasn't it!
Noticing Shane's interest, the little runt proactively handed it over, "Brother Shane, you can take a look."
Shane, of course, didn't stand on ceremony with him. The moment he took the belt, he issued a command to the Intelligent Chip in his mind.
"Hey, Siri, scan and analyze the structural data of this belt!"
[Command received. Analyzing…]
Shane pretended to glance at it casually. After the Intelligent Chip finished collecting the data, he smiled and handed it back to Tang San.
"A discipleship gift is great! This belt is even genuine leather. Looks like you'll be living comfortably with Grandmaster from now on, Little San~"
"Haha, I hope your auspicious words come true, Brother Shane!"
The little runt was in high spirits after obtaining his first spirit ring.
"Grandmaster? Brother Chen, are you guys talking about that Flat-top?"
Wang Sheng, who had been listening in, chimed in again to join the fun.
"Mm, Little San has indeed become his disciple," Shane nodded honestly.
"Smack!" Wang Sheng slapped his thigh hard upon hearing this!
"Tang San, are you out of your mind!"
"That Flat-top has been at the academy for ages! I've never seen him do anything! He's just a freeloader!"
"And I heard he's almost fifty years old but still just a Grandmaster! What kind of 'Grandmaster' is that!"
Wang Sheng passionately criticized Yu Xiaogang. Shane and the others listened without much reaction, even strongly agreeing.
But it was a different story for the little runt. His face grew increasingly dark, and finally, he couldn't bear it any longer!
"That's enough, Wang Sheng!"
"No matter what, he is my teacher now! Please show some respect!"
A cold glint flashed in the little runt's eyes, scaring Wang Sheng back a few steps.
"Brother Shane, sorry, I'm going back to rest first."
After calming down slightly, Tang San didn't forget to bid Shane farewell, then walked back to his own cold bed, gathered his things, and went out to wash up.
"No, seriously, Brother Chen, is he nuts? Everything I said is true!"
Wang Sheng pointed at the little runt's retreating back, speechless. What kind of person was this!
"Who asked you to go around spouting the blunt truth? Little San becoming Yu Xiaogang's disciple is like acknowledging him as a father figure!"
"You mock him like that, cursing his 'father,' how could he not get worked up?"
Shane shook his head and chuckled.
"Damn it! Just my luck! If I ever meddle in Tang San's affairs again, I'll write my surname Wang upside down!" Wang Sheng cursed resentfully.
Shane couldn't care less about their petty squabbles. He undressed, got into bed, and prepared to sleep.
Just as he lay down, Xiao Wu's hand reached over and tugged at him.
"Shane, what character do you get if you write 'Wang' upside down?"
Looking at that curious little face and those eyes filled with clear, innocent naivety, Shane couldn't help but sigh, "Is this what someone untainted by knowledge looks like?"
Grabbing the little loli's hand, Shane simply explained it to her. Only then did Xiao Wu realize what a silly question she had asked, and she burrowed back under the covers in embarrassment.
After a little while, Tang San pushed open the door and returned.
Hearing the sound, Wang Sheng suddenly shouted.
"Last one back turns off the lights!"
The little runt froze for a moment, then awkwardly turned off the lights and had to grope his way back to his bed in the dark.
On the double bed, with the lights out, Xiao Wu quietly poked her little head out.
Blinking her large eyes, she whispered to the boy beside her, "Goodnight, Shane~"
Shane, who had already closed his eyes, suddenly turned his head, and their eyes met, "Goodnight, Xiao Wu~"