Old Zhang even took her to the Spirit Hall deacon in the neighboring village to obtain a Spirit Certificate, promising to send Xiao Wu to the Spirit Master Academy as well.
Ye Qiu suddenly understood.
So that's how Xiao Wu became a work-study student.
After explaining everything, Old Zhang picked up the abacus he had just finished carving.
"Xiao Qiu, you see, there's no extra space in my house," he said thoughtfully. "So I was thinking of letting this little girl stay at your place for a while. What do you think?"
Hearing this, Xiao Wu—who was still struggling with a carrot—paused and turned her clear yet slightly foolish gaze toward Ye Qiu.
"Grandpa Zhang, isn't this a bit inappropriate?"
Ye Qiu felt conflicted.
This girl was a hundred-thousand-year-old soul beast, and more importantly…
There was only one bed in the house.
Before he could explain, Old Zhang began lecturing him loudly.
"What's inappropriate about it? They're just kids! Besides, you came here to return money, didn't you? Why are you being so picky?" He shoved the silver coin back into Ye Qiu's hands. "Take the money—and take the girl home too. Treat it as her food expenses!"
"This is a bit…" Ye Qiu hesitated, his expression turning awkward. To be honest, he was slightly tempted.
"You're still unwilling?" Old Zhang interrupted impatiently.
"No, no, Grandpa Zhang! You misunderstood…" Ye Qiu rubbed his hands together and smiled awkwardly.
"What I mean is… this money isn't enough. We need more."
"More money?!"
Old Zhang nearly tore off his beard in shock.
"Look at how much she eats. This amount really isn't enough." Ye Qiu pointed helplessly toward Xiao Wu.
"I—I don't eat that much!" Xiao Wu glared at Ye Qiu with wide eyes.
"Ugh~"
A long burp escaped her mouth. She quickly covered it, her face flushing red in embarrassment.
Feeling the gazes of both Ye Qiu and Old Zhang, she averted her eyes guiltily.
In the end, Old Zhang reluctantly agreed to add more money and set a date—about a month later—when he would personally send them to Notting City Soul Master Academy.
With Old Zhang watching them leave, Ye Qiu naturally brought the rabbit home.
---
Along the way, Ye Qiu walked ahead while Xiao Wu followed behind.
Unlike Xiao Wu's lively and carefree nature, Ye Qiu remained silent, focused only on the road ahead.
"Hey! How much farther?" Xiao Wu suddenly hopped beside him and tilted her head curiously.
"I'm not called 'Hey'…" Ye Qiu pouted in displeasure.
"My name is Ye Qiu. There's still some distance to go. Hang in there."
"Hmph! What kind of attitude is that?" Xiao Wu crossed her arms. "Be careful—Sister Xiao Wu might beat you up!"
Hearing this, Ye Qiu fell silent, rolled his eyes, and sighed inwardly.
Soul beasts really are impossible to tame…
They continued walking in silence until night fell.
Bathed in soft starlight, Ye Qiu finally returned home.
"Wow! What a cute little bunny!" Xiao Wu exclaimed when she saw the rabbit cage in front of the stone house. "I didn't know you kept a pet!"
"That's not a pet…" Ye Qiu muttered.
After entering the house, he pointed toward the bathing area separated by wooden boards.
"Go wash up quickly. You smell terrible."
"What nonsense! What smell could I—" Xiao Wu sniffed her sleeve mid-sentence. Her voice gradually softened, and a faint blush crept onto her face.
"You smell like carrots," Ye Qiu said calmly, stepping closer to sniff. "And… a bit like a rabbit."
"Ah! What are you doing?!" Xiao Wu jumped back, covering her chest in panic. "I'm not a rabbit!"
Ye Qiu rubbed his temples irritably.
What a stupid rabbit.
"I never said you were. Go take a bath."
After watching her enter the bathing area, Ye Qiu began making the bed.
Since Xiao Wu had no spare clothes, he had no choice but to lend her his own. He hung them over the wooden partition.
"Wear my clothes for now. I'm going to sleep. You take the other end of the bed."
"What?! We're sleeping together?!"
"What do you mean 'together'? We're practically miles apart!" Ye Qiu shouted back.
"Why are you so mean? Just sleep already!"
After their surprisingly peaceful argument, silence fell, broken only by the sound of flowing water.
When Xiao Wu came out, Ye Qiu was already lying on one side of the bed. Seeing that the bed was large enough to fit several people, she didn't complain.
After glancing around, she suddenly called out, "Hey!"
No response.
"Ye Qiu, do you have a mirror?"
"No. Use the water vat under the window. Make do," he replied, turning over.
Xiao Wu pouted. She carefully took out a small comb from her pink handbag, holding it as if it were a treasured possession.
Standing by the vat, she used the moonlight reflecting off the water to slowly comb her hair. Her crimson eyes carried a trace of deep longing.
Once her hair was mostly dry, she carefully put the comb away, climbed onto the other side of the bed, and placed her handbag beside her pillow.
Still wary of Ye Qiu, she muttered threateningly before sleeping.
"Hey! Don't you dare cross the line, or I'll teach you a lesson!"
She received only silence in response. Grinding her teeth in frustration, she lay down angrily.
---
As the night deepened and Xiao Wu's breathing became steady, a faint red glow appeared in Ye Qiu's eyes.
He hadn't fallen asleep at all—he simply didn't want to deal with the silly rabbit.
Sigh… I don't know if bringing her back was the right choice. I'll just let things take their course.
A hundred-thousand-year soul beast… that's still far away.
Ye Qiu believed that once his Sharingan fully awakened, his future achievements would be extraordinary.
---
Purple clouds rose in the east as dawn approached.
Ye Qiu slowly opened his eyes, only to find Xiao Wu sprawled across him.
His eyelids twitched.
She rolled over even from that distance… rabbits really are restless sleepers.
He gently moved her aside, stood up, and glanced back at her delicate, rosy face. A faint sense of protectiveness rose in his heart.
After covering her with a blanket, he placed her handbag neatly beside her and headed out.
Click.
The door closed as Ye Qiu went to prepare breakfast.
Moments later, Xiao Wu suddenly opened her eyes. Seeing his departing figure, her face instantly turned red. She buried herself under the quilt, wriggling like a caterpillar.
"So embarrassing… ah!" she muttered muffledly.
Her stomach growled loudly, breaking the awkwardness.
After washing up and retying her scorpion braid, Xiao Wu went outside.
"You're awake?" Ye Qiu's voice came from nearby.
"What are you doing?" Xiao Wu asked, squatting beside him as she saw him lying flat on the ground.
"Plank exercise. It's a way to train the body."
"That's weird…" Xiao Wu muttered, clutching her stomach hesitantly.
"Hungry?" Ye Qiu stood up. "I bought carrots. They're on the table. Just wash them."
"Really?! You bought carrots?!" Her eyes instantly lit up.
"Why would I lie to you?" Ye Qiu sighed helplessly and led her inside.
---
Ye Qiu and Xiao Wu sat across from each other at the small dining table.
After handing her the washed carrots, Ye Qiu quietly ate his white porridge mixed with pickled vegetables.
Xiao Wu happily munched on her carrots, crisp and sweet.
Holding a carrot in one hand and resting her chin on the other, she asked,
"Hey, Ye Qiu, my martial soul is the Soft Bone Charming Rabbit. What's yours?"
"Sharingan," Ye Qiu replied without looking up.
"Sharingan? What kind of martial soul is that?" Curious, Xiao Wu suddenly flipped over the table and leaned right in front of him.
"Is it related to your eyes?"
Smelling the carrot scent so close, Ye Qiu clenched his fist helplessly.
"This rabbit really has no sense of boundaries…"
"Look," he said calmly. "This is the Sharingan."
His eyes turned blood red as a tomoe slowly rotated within them.
Xiao Wu stared, stunned. Her rabbit ears twitched slightly.
"So beautiful…" she murmured.