Ji Mian wiggled his fingers as the little white snake clung affectionately to him, nuzzling against him persistently.
Chu Shiye, expressionless, grabbed the snake once more and tugged it away.
The little snake clung tightly to Ji Mian’s fingers, unwilling to let go, and even tried to stick to him harder.
Without mercy, Chu Shiye lifted it up and took it away entirely.
The Light Goddess Butterfly swooped over, promptly landing back on Ji Mian’s fingertips with a steady flutter.
Ji Mian blinked, looking at Chu Shiye, then at the little white snake.
Chu Shiye: “…”
Awkwardly, Chu Shiye shifted the topic. “Let’s sleep.”
Ji Mian glanced out the window.
The sky was bright—it wasn’t even noon yet.
And they hadn’t eaten.
Chu Shiye: “…I’ll cook.”
“Wait,” Ji Mian immediately stood up. “I’ll do it.”
Chu Shiye replied, “I’ll learn from you.”
Ji Mian smiled. “Alright then.”
Chu Shiye placed the little white snake into his shirt pocket.
While washing vegetables, the snake crawled out curiously, inspecting the greens.
Chu Shiye pinched the little snake’s head gently.
Go back.
The snake looped around his wrist lazily, ignoring him entirely.
Chu Shiye: “…”
He couldn’t even properly control his own spiritual entity.
Was that even possible?
“Yes, it’s possible.”
Ji Mian’s calm voice broke in.
“At the beginning, I couldn’t control my spiritual entity well, either. I’d send it out and couldn’t bring it back, or sometimes I didn’t mean to release it, and it just popped out on its own.”
Chu Shiye turned his head, looking a bit dazed.
He hadn’t even said anything yet.
Ji Mian added, “It’s obvious.”
Chu Shiye: “…”
“So, is this normal?” Chu Shiye asked stiffly.
“Of course,” Ji Mian said with a smile. “I was the same.”
Chu Shiye didn’t say anything more, simply nodding.
He was like Su Lan.
The thought comforted him a little.
The Light Goddess Butterfly landed on Chu Shiye’s head, hopping forward slightly to inspect the little white snake.
The snake twisted its head to meet the butterfly’s gaze.
In that moment, Chu Shiye felt a faint shift in his emotions, as if he could sense a silent exchange between the two spiritual entities.
After a while, the little snake began crawling up Chu Shiye’s arm again, seemingly trying to reach the butterfly.
The Light Goddess Butterfly fluttered gracefully away.
Ji Mian chuckled, “Oh good, they didn’t start fighting.”
He noticed the little snake lying dejectedly on Chu Shiye’s arm and tapped its tiny head lightly.
Immediately, the snake perked up, happily spinning in circles.
Chu Shiye: “…”
He tossed the snake back into his pocket.
—
Afterward, just as Tansen had promised, he didn’t bother Ji Mian again.
The city’s lockdown was lifted, and by the next day, the interstellar middle school had resumed its normal schedule.
In the early morning, long lines still formed at the city gates as the relief organization distributed free medical supplies.
Chu Shiye and Ji Mian skirted the crowd, but a voice stopped them.
“Sir, please wait.”
A figure walked toward them unhurriedly. Once Chu Shiye saw who it was, he immediately stepped in front of Ji Mian.
“Don’t worry, I mean no harm,” the man said with a smile.
The speaker, dressed in a black robe, had a head of curly hair. He was the same person who had previously tried to give Ji Mian flyers and was now the leader of the Relief Society.
“Gentlemen, I wonder if you might be interested in joining our Relief Society?”
Ji Mian replied, “Sorry, but no.”
Joshua nodded slightly. “Alright then. Maybe you’ll change your mind in the future.”
He turned and walked away. Chu Shiye looked at Ji Mian.
Ji Mian shrugged. “I’m not familiar with him.”
Chu Shiye: “Hmm.”
As they entered the city, a large crowd was heading toward the Relief Society’s center to collect supplies.
Ji Mian asked, “Have they found the culprit behind the previous attacks?”
Chu Shiye: “No.”
Ji Mian continued, “And the beasts that attacked the city while we were gone haven’t reappeared?”
Chu Shiye: “No.”
Ji Mian smiled faintly. “That’s quite the coincidence.”
The two walked to the school gate. Ji Mian climbed the first step and then turned back to face Chu Shiye.
“Don’t wander around, okay? And don’t go into those dark, creepy mines.”
Chu Shiye: “…”
After a pause, he said, “If there are bad people, let me know.”
Ji Mian smiled. “Alright.”
Inside the classroom, the students, having returned after several days off, were lively and chatting noisily.
In a quiet corner, Nato sat alone with his head lowered.
“What happened?”
The clear voice startled Nato. His first reaction was to bury his face in his arms.
“I saw it,” Ji Mian said softly.
Nato froze.
After a few seconds of stiff hesitation, he slowly lifted his head.
On the boy’s youthful face were several deep bruises and purplish marks.
His thick clothes couldn’t fully conceal the faint red welts from a whip on his thin arms.
Ji Mian’s brows furrowed slightly. His gaze shifted toward the center of the classroom. “Was it them?”
Nato quickly shook his head.
Ji Mian studied his expression. “Then… was it someone at home?”
At that, Nato’s face paled, and he stammered, “N-no… it wasn’t…”
The answer was clear. Ji Mian stayed silent for a few moments before saying, “After school today, I’ll take you home.”
Nato froze again.
Ji Mian raised a hand. A faint light glimmered, and Nato’s wounds healed in an instant.
Before Nato could say anything, Ji Mian turned and left.
In the middle of the classroom, Ye Tiancai stood with his arms crossed, coldly observing the scene. As Ji Mian passed by, Ye Tiancai suddenly spoke.
“Why bother with him? He’s powerless, has no influence—what benefit could he possibly bring you?”
Ji Mian ignored him.
Ye Tiancai’s voice rose. “Why are you so good to everyone else but treat me differently?”
Ji Mian stopped and looked down at him. “Are you the same as them?”
His eyes were calm and serene, yet for some reason, they made Ye Tiancai clench his fists.
“Of course, I’m not the same!” Ye Tiancai snapped. “I’m better than them! I’m stronger!”
Ji Mian replied, “Oh, is that so.”
He turned and continued walking.
Ye Tiancai: “…”
“Don’t I work hard?” Ye Tiancai called after him. “I’ve been trying to improve! Even if I offended you before, I’ve already apologized! What more do you want?”
Hearing this, Ji Mian turned back, his calm gaze sweeping across Ye Tiancai’s face.
He said, “Am I really the only one you owe an apology to?”
Ye Tiancai froze, then heard Ji Mian’s next words:
“Your previous teacher—have you ever said sorry to them?”
From what Selina had told him, before Ye Tiancai joined this class, it hadn’t been considered a problem class.
After everything changed with Ye Tiancai’s arrival, his newfound “gang” ensured that any student who didn’t submit to him would be ostracized and bullied.
The previous teacher had only been trying to teach him properly but ended up hospitalized three times because of Ye Tiancai. The last injury was so severe that the teacher never returned to the school after being discharged.
Ye Tiancai: “…”
For reasons unknown, Ye Tiancai said nothing further. When his gang came to find him later, he scowled and stayed silent.
At the end of the day, the school bell rang, and students poured out into the streets.
Nato lingered at the entrance of the school building, hoping to blend into the crowd and slip away unnoticed.
Suddenly, a long hand gently grabbed his collar, pulling him to the side.
Ji Mian said, “Wait a moment; someone else will be here soon.”
Nato: “…Oh.”
The two waited briefly at the school entrance before a dark-haired man walked quickly through the crowd toward them.
Nato thought: Ah, it’s Mr. Su’s landlord.
Compared to their last meeting, the landlord looked even more imposing.
From a distance, Chu Shiye noticed the boy standing close to Ji Mian—the same student they had encountered in the street before. His gaze briefly lingered on Nato before returning to Ji Mian.
Ji Mian said, “Let’s go. We’ll walk him home first.”
Chu Shiye: “Hmm.”
He moved to stand between Ji Mian and Nato.
Nato, confused, stepped aside and thought: Why didn’t he go to the other side?
As they navigated the post-school crowds, Ji Mian said to Nato, “Come over to this side.”
Nato: “Oh.”
He obediently moved to Ji Mian’s left, backpack in tow.
As he passed, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the landlord had glanced at him.
The three walked along the street.
Chu Shiye asked, “What’s for dinner?”
“Anything works,” Ji Mian replied, glancing at a nearby restaurant. He turned to Nato, “Hungry? Let’s grab something to eat.”
Nato stammered, “N-no need…”
This time, it wasn’t his imagination—the landlord definitely glanced at him again.
Quietly, Nato added, “If I get home late, my dad will get upset.”
Ji Mian’s tone remained calm. “Does your dad often get upset with you?”
“No, not really,” Nato muttered, avoiding his gaze. “Just sometimes, when he’s in a bad mood.”
Ji Mian: “I see.”
Nato’s home was nestled in a labyrinth of narrow alleys.
In the empty alleyway, a little white snake suddenly emerged from Chu Shiye’s sleeve.
Chu Shiye: “?”
Why did it come out now? Go back.
He tried to retract his spiritual entity, but it was no use.
The snake spotted Ji Mian beside him and eagerly began crawling toward him.
Chu Shiye immediately pressed the snake down.
The little snake wriggled in his grip.
“Why are you bullying it?” Ji Mian teased. “Let me… I mean, let me pet it.”
Chu Shiye: “No.”
Ji Mian blinked at him, his eyes playful. Just for a moment.
Chu Shiye: “…”
Reluctantly, he handed it over. “Just for a moment.”
The little white snake gleefully writhed around in Ji Mian’s palm, twisting and turning in excitement.
Chu Shiye: “?”
Chu Shiye reached out to take it back.
Ji Mian quickly covered it with his other hand. “A moment isn’t over yet.”
The little snake coiled around Ji Mian’s fingers and, in its excitement, accidentally tangled itself into a pretzel shape.
Chu Shiye: “…”
Watching all this unfold, Nato grew more confused.
He hesitated before asking, “Teacher, can I ask a question?”
Ji Mian: “Of course. Go ahead.”
Nato pointed at the little snake. “Is that his spiritual entity?”
Ji Mian nodded. “It is. Isn’t it beautiful? Just like him.”
Chu Shiye paused mid-step.
Su Lan was praising him.
“…”
Quietly, Chu Shiye turned his face away, avoiding Ji Mian’s direction, thinking: Su Lan just praised me.
Nato, scratching his head, grew even more puzzled.
From what he knew, spiritual entities reflected their master’s intentions. Whatever an ability user was thinking, their spiritual entity would act accordingly.
He looked up again.
The little snake was still wriggling happily in Ji Mian’s palm, rubbing against him, and even trying to sneak into his sleeve.
Nato: “…”
He whispered softly to Ji Mian, “This big brother is so strange.”
“It’s like… he’s not very serious.”
Ji Mian: “…”
Chu Shiye: “…………”
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