Chapter 12: Tang San’s Warm Face Meets a Cold Shoulder

Hearing Xiao Wu's cat-like cry, Ye Qiu shuddered, goosebumps rising all over his skin.

Beside him, Tang San frowned, clearly displeased.

Looking at Xiao Wu's tear-streaked face, he couldn't shake off a strange feeling, as if he had lost something important.

Unable to hold back, he spoke up:

"Ye Qiu, don't you think you're going too far? Bullying a little girl—is that something to be proud of?"

Little girl?

Ye Qiu twitched at the term, his focus slipping for a moment.

The black skin covering his body receded, flowing back to his chest like tiny tadpoles before vanishing into his body.

His face turned pale, sweat forming on his forehead. The exhaustion was catching up to him. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a snack, and crunched on it without hesitation.

The consumption brought by his Venom Spirit had significantly increased his appetite.

After regaining some strength, Ye Qiu raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Tang San, why are you so concerned about her?"

Tang San's breath hitched. Seeing Ye Qiu's teasing expression and Xiao Wu's tearful eyes, he felt a pang of unease.

"I—I just don't like seeing people being bullied. We're going to be classmates, so why act like this?"

"Is that so?"

Ye Qiu chuckled indifferently, unwilling to bother figuring out what Tang San was truly thinking.

"Hurry up and let Xiao Wu go," Tang San demanded with a cold snort, his brows furrowing.

Just as he was about to pry Ye Qiu's black webs off the wall, Ye Qiu beat him to it.

Raising his hand, he touched the dark webbing. The black strands instantly liquefied and were reabsorbed into his body.

The moment Xiao Wu was freed, she collapsed into Ye Qiu's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Even though he wasn't holding her, she clung to him tightly, her small hands gripping his clothes as her tears soaked his chest.

"Y-you just wait! Xiao Wu-jie won't forgive you!"

"..."

Ye Qiu rolled his eyes but didn't retaliate. Supporting Xiao Wu by her waist, he slowly walked toward an empty bed.

By now, Xiao Wu had cried herself weak. The pain in her back and waist left her unwilling to move. She let Ye Qiu guide her like a puppet on strings.

"Alright, just sit here and rest for a while."

Ye Qiu grasped her under the arms, carefully placing her down on the bed.

"Ugh…"

The moment she sat, a soft whimper escaped her lips, pain flashing across her face. She lifted her head, glaring at Ye Qiu in shame and anger.

Thankfully, Ye Qiu had only kicked one side of her hip earlier. Otherwise, sitting would've been unbearable.

"Haha… You still want to hit me, huh? But right now, you definitely can't beat me."

Ye Qiu grinned, his fingers pinching her tear-streaked face. Her fair cheeks, dirtied by tears and dust, still had a delicate charm despite the comical black eye.

"Ugh—let go of me!"

Xiao Wu pouted, trying to resist, but her tears were threatening to spill again.

She had to prop herself up with her hands on the bed, unable to relax. If she did, her swollen bottom would sting painfully.

"Ye Qiu."

Tang San finally spoke again, attempting to intervene.

But before he could say more, Ye Qiu released Xiao Wu and walked over to him, grinning as he patted Tang San's shoulder.

"Alright, Tang San. Don't you think it's time to change how you address me? From now on, I'm the boss of Dorm Seven! Shouldn't you start calling me 'Boss'?"

"You think that's possible?"

Tang San's brow furrowed, his face filled with defiance.

"Tch, suit yourself. Either way, I've always called you Xiao San. Even as the boss, that won't change."

Ye Qiu shrugged, already losing interest in the topic.

"Boss!"

A loud chorus suddenly erupted.

The booming voices of Wang Sheng and the others filled the dorm, startling even Ye Qiu.

These guys weren't naive kids.

They had already seen Ye Qiu's spider webs in action. Even if it wasn't a spirit skill, it was terrifying enough to command respect.

"Alright, alright, stop shouting. It sounds weird."

Ye Qiu waved his hand, feeling a little uncomfortable with the attention.

"Yes!"

The group responded in unison.

Only then did Ye Qiu start to feel the thrill of giving orders.

No wonder Xiao Wu liked being the big sister—it actually felt pretty good.

Tang San watched Ye Qiu revel in his newfound authority and shook his head slightly. He didn't care to argue over it.

In time…

Once Ye Qiu saw his true strength and charisma, he would naturally stop acting so frivolous.

What Tang San didn't realize, however, was that Ye Qiu had already judged his "charisma" over the past two days—up close and personal.

And honestly? It was unimpressive.

Ye Qiu waved for Wang Sheng and the others to disperse.

Feeling the fatigue settling into his body, he walked to an empty bed, rummaged through his bag, and pulled out a pink lollipop.

He popped it into his mouth.

Sweet. With a hint of carrot flavor.

"Xiao Wu, are you alright?"

Tang San finally took the opportunity to approach Xiao Wu, his eyes filled with concern.

"Hmph! What could possibly happen to me?"

The Soft Bone Rabbit might have soft bones, but her mouth was anything but.

Xiao Wu shot Tang San a cold glare before turning away. Holding her bruised eye, she clenched her teeth and glared daggers at Ye Qiu instead.

Her hip and eye were both still burning with pain.

Once again ignored, Tang San chuckled awkwardly and walked over to Wang Sheng and the others.

He had come here to learn.

Not to offer his concern where it wasn't wanted.

With his pride, he wouldn't keep pestering someone who brushed him off.

"Wang Sheng."

"Eh? San-ge, what's up?"

Wang Sheng responded, awaiting instructions.

The group had already reached an unspoken agreement—these three new students were the pillars of their work-study group. They were all "ge" and "jie" (big brother and big sister) figures to them.

This wasn't just about Dorm Seven's hierarchy.

Ye Qiu was an innate full spirit power genius. So was Xiao Wu. So was Tang San.

No matter who became the boss, Wang Sheng and the others had no complaints.

They had already placed the three on equal footing.

Tang San frowned slightly.

Being called "San-ge" felt strange.

If everyone else called Ye Qiu "Boss" but called him "San-ge," wouldn't that mean he was ranked lower?

Still, he understood why they called him that.

It was, after all, his name.

He liked this name, the same one he had in his previous life.

There was no point in arguing over it.

With a calm smile, he masked his brief displeasure and politely asked:

"Can you tell me more about our academy?"

"Of course! I just so happen to have some free time."

Wang Sheng had arrived a day earlier, so he had already settled in. He patted his chest and agreed readily.

Then—

He began explaining the ins and outs of Nuoding Academy.

"We work-study students have to earn our own living expenses. The academy assigns us cleaning duties. There are six grades in total. Classes take place in the morning, while the afternoon is free for training…"

As Wang Sheng spoke, he also introduced the other students in the dorm.

Among them, the most talented was Wang Sheng himself, who had already reached the ninth rank.

Meanwhile, Ye Qiu, sucking on his lollipop, suddenly felt an intense gaze locked onto him.

He turned his head—

And met Xiao Wu's furious glare.

Ye Qiu smirked.

Losing interest in Wang Sheng's explanations, he casually walked over and sat beside her.

"What do you want?"

Xiao Wu shot him a wary look, unable to even shift in place.

"I'm telling you now, I'm never calling you 'Boss'!"