After buying everything, Ye Qiu didn't pick up the bedding again.
Instead, he simply waved at Xiao Wu and slowly walked toward Nuoding Academy.
"Let's go. I need to eat something and regain some strength."
"Okay!"
Xiao Wu smiled brightly.
She didn't mind that Ye Qiu was empty-handed. In fact, her steps became lighter as she quickly caught up with him.
The sun had already set behind the mountain ridges, leaving only the fiery glow of the evening clouds in the sky.
By now, they had reached the gate of the academy.
Ye Qiu opened the bag hanging around his neck, and a fragrant scent of meat immediately drifted out.
Xiao Wu instantly became tense. She rushed over and asked anxiously:
"Ye Qiu, what are you doing?"
"Eating," Ye Qiu replied, holding up a skewer of roasted meat and waving it in front of her.
Now that she was close, Xiao Wu finally got a clear look at what Ye Qiu was holding.
She dashed up to him, shouting:
"Ye Qiu, you're not allowed to eat that!"
"But I'm hungry. And I spent quite a bit of money on this. Am I supposed to just waste it?"
Ye Qiu looked up at Xiao Wu.
Only then did he remember — she had flipped over a vendor's stall just because someone tried to feed her roasted meat.
His appetite instantly vanished.
But then he felt that his comfort had worked too well — Xiao Wu had already forgotten the pain after her wound healed, and she was yelling at him again.
"But… it's rabbit meat! Sis Xiao Wu forbids you from eating it!"
Xiao Wu stomped her foot anxiously, her eyes filled with frustration and faint anger as she looked at Ye Qiu.
"Hey! Didn't you say you'd listen to me?"
Ye Qiu frowned slightly, having made up his mind. His voice turned a little colder.
"But…"
Xiao Wu was stunned and tried to stop him again.
"Alright, alright, say no more."
Ye Qiu waved his hand to shut her up and walked straight into the academy.
At the same time, he put the roasted meat back into the bag.
He pulled out a lollipop and stuffed it into his mouth, sucking it absentmindedly.
Watching Ye Qiu's back as he munched away,
Xiao Wu bit her lip, her eyes showing a hint of grievance.
"What are you standing there for? Hurry up!"
Ye Qiu mumbled with the candy in his mouth, not even turning around.
Xiao Wu glanced at his back, lowered her eyes, and followed behind him nervously as they headed toward the academy.
"What a silly rabbit."
Ye Qiu looked back slightly, crunched up the candy in his mouth, swallowed it, and let a faint smile appear on his lips.
It seemed this little rabbit really was quite obedient.
But some things still needed to be made clear to her in advance.
Once they were inside the academy—
Ye Qiu had already tossed away the candy stick. In his hand now was a small bone he had pulled from the bag.
Xiao Wu hugged the things she had bought and didn't speak the whole way. She just quietly followed behind Ye Qiu.
Ye Qiu looked at the bone in his hand, stopped, turned around, and grinned as he held the bone up to Xiao Wu.
Behind his back, his other hand was already holding a carrot-flavored lollipop — Xiao Wu's favorite.
"Ye Qiu, what are you up to now?!"
Xiao Wu stopped and frowned, a hint of wariness flashing in her eyes.
Ye Qiu didn't say a word. Holding the bone, he slowly walked up beside her.
With a smile, he ordered:
"Open your mouth!"
Seeing the bone waving in Ye Qiu's hand, Xiao Wu seemed to realize something. Her face instantly turned pale, her ruby eyes misting up.
All the good feelings from earlier? Gone, like they'd been fed to a dog.
She looked at Ye Qiu pitifully. When she saw he didn't react at all, she could only nod slightly.
"…Mm."
Xiao Wu let out a hum of humiliation, her voice carrying a slight sob. Then she reluctantly opened her lips just a bit.
Ye Qiu was dissatisfied and said coldly:
"Open wider."
Hearing that, Xiao Wu trembled. She closed her eyes, and more tears leaked from the corners.
Seeing her delicate, teary-eyed expression, Ye Qiu rolled his eyes. Her mouth barely moved, so he stopped teasing and shoved the prepared item into her mouth.
"Ah—mm!"
Xiao Wu let out a muffled cry, almost bursting into tears.
Ye Qiu grabbed her cheeks, tugged at them slightly, and teased her up close:
"Looks like you really are obedient~"
As Ye Qiu spoke, the sweet scent of the candy wafted onto Xiao Wu's face.
"Hurry and follow me. I have something to say to you."
Before Xiao Wu could react,
Ye Qiu took the things she was carrying, cradled them in his arms, and walked toward Dorm Seven.
Xiao Wu opened her eyes, blinking in confusion. She was stunned.
Something about the sweetness in her mouth didn't feel quite right.
She twitched her bunny tongue — the sweetness only grew stronger.
She reached up to pull the item from her mouth and saw it was a pink lollipop. She touched her cheek, red from Ye Qiu's pinching,
Then her face lit up with realization, and a smile slowly formed.
No wonder Ye Qiu's mouth hadn't smelled like meat just now.
Xiao Wu wiped the tears from her eyes with her sleeve and quickly ran to catch up.
"Ye Qiu~ Wait for me!"
Xiao Wu bounced to Ye Qiu's side, walking next to him. She licked the lollipop in her hand while secretly stealing glances at him.
When Ye Qiu turned to look at her, Xiao Wu quickly hid her smile, her cheeks flushing red, and lowered her head, gently turning the candy stick.
Ye Qiu rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"Why are you just standing there? We can't eat the rabbit meat. What, do you want me to take it back and share it with Wang Sheng and the others?"
"Huh?"
Xiao Wu was startled. She stared blankly at Ye Qiu and asked doubtfully:
"Then what should we do with it?"
"I was thinking of just eating it all myself. Is that okay?"
As soon as Ye Qiu finished speaking, Xiao Wu immediately frowned and objected:
"Of course not!"
"Then just bury it somewhere already!"
Ye Qiu rolled his eyes dramatically. He was really running out of patience with this rabbit.
"…"
Xiao Wu froze, her cheeks reddened slightly. She nodded, still sucking the lollipop, then reached up and took the bag from around Ye Qiu's neck.
"Thank you, Ye Qiu~"
"No problem. Just remember to pay me back for all this."
"Mhm! Sis Xiao Wu will definitely pay you back."
Xiao Wu smiled with squinting eyes and nodded seriously.
She wasn't thinking of cheating him at all. Happily, she ran to the nearby flower bed.
In no time, the rabbit meat was buried.
She returned to Ye Qiu's side and held out her clean little hands.
"All done. I'll carry the things now."
"Alright."
Ye Qiu didn't hold back and handed everything over to her.
At the same time, he leaned in close and whispered in Xiao Wu's ear:
"Do you remember what you promised me?"
"Mhm…" Xiao Wu's face turned red as she nodded quickly. "Sis Xiao Wu will behave!"
Ye Qiu gave her a sidelong glance but didn't bother correcting her way of addressing herself. He continued:
"Then remember — don't get too close to Tang San, got it? Or I won't look out for you anymore."
"…"
Xiao Wu paused, confused about the reason, but still nodded seriously.
"Okay, Sis Xiao Wu understands."
"You'd better. Otherwise… I'll eat rabbit meat every day."
Ye Qiu pinched her cheek.
"Nooo! I'll behave! Don't eat rabbit meat!"
Before Xiao Wu could finish speaking, Ye Qiu laughed and pulled the candy out of her mouth.
Then he turned and walked toward
Dorm Seven.
"Ye Qiu! Give me back my candy… Ahh! My candy! I'm gonna beat you up!"
Watching Ye Qiu's back as he munched happily, Xiao Wu's face turned completely red — she was absolutely furious.