It was as if nothing had happened.
The next day, the two of them returned to the academy as usual.
The only difference was that a fiery red “raccoon” was now by Su Yun’s side.
Chu Yu’er’s flamboyant red hair was tied into two playful pigtails that swayed gently as she walked. A pair of furry, round ears were hidden in her hair, twitching inadvertently from time to time, revealing a nervous tension she couldn’t hide.
“Uh…”
Su Yun cast a puzzled glance at Chu Yu’er, who was sitting beside her.
The window seats and the corners of the back row in the classroom were empty. There was even no one sitting two seats away from her. Although the girl hadn’t arrived particularly early, she had walked straight to Su Yun’s side. She even pulled out her chair with great care.
The movement was so light, it was as if she were afraid of disturbing something.
‘This is a bit too deliberate…’
‘Could she be sent by one of Mo Qingqing’s enemies? Is she approaching me on purpose to gather information, or does she just want to take the opportunity to strike?’
Su Yun immediately grew tense, the hair on the back of her neck standing up. The fluffy big tail behind her stiffened instantly.
On the surface, she remained seated upright, her gaze falling on the flickering fingertips of the old mage on the podium, appearing to listen intently. But most of her attention was like a taut bowstring, tightly focused on Chu Yu’er beside her.
The girl’s breathing rhythm, the small movements of her fingers, and even the frequency of her tail unconsciously sweeping the floor were all accurately captured. If Chu Yu’er made even the slightest unusual move, even if her hand reached out just a fraction of a second faster, she could immediately trigger Shadow Meld and slip away through the shadows of the tables and chairs.
Slaughtering everyone like the decisive version of herself from another timeline?
Su Yun shook her head self-deprecatingly in her mind. ‘That’s pure fantasy.’
Her ability to survive in desperate situations never relied on brute force. It came from her knack for running away when the opportunity arose and her thick-skinned endurance. Thoughts of turning the tables could only be entertained in the heavenly court of her mental world, while facing the image of the Jade Emperor she had conjured.
However… she remembered that on the first day of class, when a group of bratty kids had surrounded her, tugging at her tail and ears, it seemed like this red-haired little raccoon was the one who stepped in to help her out. Back then, she had stood on a desk with her hands on her hips, looking both fierce and cool, managing to suppress those naughty children.
‘Then she shouldn’t be an enemy.’
The alarm in Su Yun’s heart eased slightly, but her vigilance was not entirely lowered. This world was too dangerous; anyone’s approach could hide an unknown motive, and she didn’t dare to be the least bit careless.
To her surprise, however, the raccoon didn’t make a single suspicious move throughout the entire class. Chu Yu’er just sat there obediently, occasionally lowering her head to take notes on her magic slate, the sound of her pen gliding across the stone soft and rhythmic.
When the old mage asked questions, she would secretly clench the corner of her clothes, her ears standing straight up, yet she never raised her hand. When discussing complex magic runes, she would frown slightly, her round eyes filled with seriousness. It was as if she had truly just happened to sit next to her without any ulterior motives.
It wasn’t until the bell rang and the old mage left the classroom that Su Yun breathed a sigh of relief. She planned to use the break to go to the restroom and relax her tense nerves.
However, just as she stood up, Chu Yu’er stood up as well.
That small face instantly turned bright red, like a ripe cherry. Her eyes darted around in a panic, landing on the rune plates on the floor one moment and sweeping over the greenery outside the window the next, never daring to look Su Yun directly in the eyes.
Su Yun stopped in her tracks, doubt resurfacing in her heart. Her legs were tensed, ready to bolt at any moment.
Right then, Chu Yu’er took a deep breath as if she had made a monumental decision. Her voice was as thin as a mosquito’s buzz, yet carried a resolve that showed she was giving it her all. “Um… can I ask… what your name is…?”
After saying this, her ears instantly drooped, and her tail was tucked tightly between her legs. Her entire being radiated the embarrassment of someone who wanted to run away immediately after speaking.
“Ah? Sure.” Su Yun was stunned for a moment. Seeing how nervous the girl was, looking like she was about to cry, her guard dropped completely, and her tone softened unconsciously. “My name is Su Yun.”
“I — I’m Chu Yu’er!” Chu Yu’er immediately responded, her voice trembling slightly with excitement. She then quickly added, “It’s — it’s the Chu from the former owner of this space, Senior Chu. Jade like the gemstone, and Er like in children!”
Fearing Su Yun wouldn’t understand, she hurriedly explained the characters of her name. Her fingers subconsciously traced the strokes in the air, her ears and tail trembling slightly from excessive nervousness. She looked both cute and pitiful.
*Hiss…*
Su Yun couldn’t help but swallow.
‘The original owner’s daughter? Wouldn’t that make her equivalent to a princess? In a while, she might even formally become a princess. Why would someone like that come looking for me? She couldn’t have also believed the nonsense about me being Mo Qingqing’s apprentice, right?’
“Um…” Chu Yu’er’s voice dropped even lower, her small hands nervously twisting the hem of her skirt. “Actually, I already saw you back at the auction house…”
Her pinkish-blue hair and tail were very eye-catching and incredibly beautiful. Her focused look was also very attractive.
She didn’t say the rest. Her brownish eyes glazed over slightly as if she were reminiscing about the scene, a hint of yearning flashing in her gaze.
“But I never dared… I was too scared to talk to you… You seemed a bit cold and aloof…” As she spoke, her small face grew even redder, and her voice became even softer.
Su Yun understood now. This wasn’t someone seeking revenge. She was here to be her friend.
She was happy with that. One more friend meant one more escape route. It might come in handy one day.
“It’s fine. It’s not like I’ll eat you,” Su Yun said with a gentle laugh. Her eyes crinkled, revealing a pair of small dimples, and her pinkish-blue ears twitched in a friendly manner. “I’m actually not cold at all; I’m just not very good at starting conversations. How about this — do you want to have lunch together later? Although the first floor of the academy cafeteria is just average, I know a few good spots. They might even have dried sweet berries.”
“Eh? R — Really?” Chu Yu’er’s breathing quickened for a moment. Her eyes instantly lit up like stars suddenly catching fire, her round pupils staring fixedly at Su Yun with an expression of disbelief and surprise. “Can we really eat together?”
She had been well-protected by her father since childhood and didn’t have many friends. She was originally worried that Su Yun would reject her, but she hadn’t expected Su Yun to be so easy to talk to.
“Of course!” Su Yun nodded, her large pinkish-blue tail gently sweeping across the floor. “So, let’s walk together during the lunch break after class. But for now, um… I need to go to the restroom… so…”
Su Yun scratched the back of her head awkwardly.
“Oh, oh! Then, then… I kind of need to go too… Can we… go together?” Chu Yu’er looked at Su Yun nervously. Her fluffy little tail wagged incessantly.
“Ah? Uh… sure, let’s go together.”