“Before that, Teacher.”
Wu Wang Wo looked up, her glittering eyes fixed on the pink-white dumpling in her arms, whose face was guilty and flushed.
Her originally sharp gaze instantly softened, all jealousy and cunning fading from her eyes, replaced by a hint of shyness.
Her long eyelashes fluttered gently, and her voice was soft and coquettish.
“Kiss me… like you used to… okay?”
Ye Ning was momentarily dazed.
When she first met Chu Lingyan, the child had wrapped herself in a hard shell, sealing off her heart.
Ye Ning tried many methods—talking with her, bringing her snacks—but Chu Lingyan remained unmoved, still silent and aloof, keeping everyone at a distance.
Later, while seeking help on an online forum, she suddenly came across a method—become a mother!
Use patience and companionship to slowly melt the ice in her heart.
From then on, whenever Chu Lingyan accomplished a small thing, even just practicing a simple blade technique seriously or obediently finishing a meal, Ye Ning would gently pat her head and leave a tender kiss on her forehead, smiling as she praised her, “You did really well.”
Day after day, under such gentle companionship and encouragement, that closed-off child finally opened her heart to her.
She began to willingly talk and cling to her.
Except for being overly clingy at times and occasionally throwing a little tantrum, she was otherwise very well-behaved.
Those gentle forehead kisses and head pats became their most exclusive little ritual, holding the purest master-disciple bond (as Ye Ning saw it).
Coming back to herself, Ye Ning looked at the shyness and anticipation in the girl in her arms, and a flood of guilt and tenderness overwhelmed her.
She gently raised her hand, rubbed Wu Wang Wo’s soft, light brown short hair, then bent slightly and left a gentle, soft kiss on the girl’s smooth forehead.
Her voice was full of doting affection, tinged with a helpless smile.
“All right, you’re so grown up and still love to act spoiled. Little Wu Wang Wo still hasn’t grown up.”
Having received the kiss, Wu Wang Wo’s eyes lit up instantly.
A satisfied smile spread across her face.
She buried her head in Ye Ning’s arms, hugged her waist tightly, and murmured endlessly:
“Teacher, your arms are so warm… Teacher, your hands are so small… Teacher, you’re so cute… Teacher… you smell so good…”
“Stop, stop, stop!”
Ye Ning quickly reached out and gently pried away Wu Wang Wo’s restless little hands that were wandering over her.
“I’ve told you everything you wanted to know. Don’t push your luck!”
She paused, her tone gradually turning serious, her eyes carrying a hint of pleading.
“Also, about Blood Butterfly, please keep it a secret for me, okay? I don’t really want her to know what I’ve become now, and even less do I want to be hunted by her as a witch. That would only bring more trouble.”
“But, Teacher,”
Wu Wang Wo immediately looked up at these words, her eyes filled with urgency, her tone turning stern.
“You clearly didn’t do anything wrong. Those rumors about you willingly degenerating into a witch are all lies. Don’t you want to clear your name? Don’t you want everyone to know that you’re still the Lark who saved everyone back then? I can help you. I can work with you to uncover the truth from back then and clear your unjust blame.”
Ye Ning gently shook her head, her eyes complex and helpless, her voice low.
“Wu Wang Wo, it’s not as simple as you think. The matters from back then involve too much; I can’t explain them in a few words. Besides, I’ve made certain agreements with Hua Niao. I can’t easily leave her, and I can’t easily reveal my identity.”
“Agreements?”
Wu Wang Wo furrowed her brows, her eyes instantly sharp, switching to a combat face in a second.
“Did she threaten you? Did she use some means to force you into an agreement with her? Teacher, tell me, and I’ll go take care of her right now. I won’t let her bully you!”
“I told you not to be impulsive!”
Ye Ning quickly reached out and pressed her shoulders, sighing helplessly, her tone soothing.
“I agreed to this agreement voluntarily. No one forced me. Since I promised her, I naturally have to keep my word and can’t back out. So, for now, please, little Wu Wang Wo, be sure to keep it a secret for me. Don’t tell anyone, okay?”
Wu Wang Wo looked at Ye Ning’s earnest, pleading eyes, was silent for a long moment, then sighed faintly.
She reached out and gently poked Ye Ning’s cheek.
“Honestly, Teacher is so unreliable. Always making people worry, and so easily trusting others.”
“Are you already starting to dislike your Teacher?!”
“…”
Outside the school gate, Ye Ning watched Wu Wang Wo maintain her magical girl form and quickly disappear into the night, finally letting out a long sigh.
She held her umbrella and walked slowly into the rain.
The raindrops hit the umbrella surface, making a pitter-patter sound.
“So, I was recognized after all.”
She muttered softly, but the corners of her mouth unconsciously lifted into a faint smile, her eyes full of relief and gratitude.
“Luckily, the one who recognized me was little Wu Wang Wo.”
Although she also believed that her former teammates, the companions of the Morning Star Squad, wouldn’t easily believe those rumors, reducing one risk meant more peace.
She didn’t want to bring unnecessary trouble to the people around her because of herself.
Braveling the rain all the way, Ye Ning finally returned home.
As soon as she pushed open the door, she saw Hua Niao lounging lazily on the sofa, covered with a thin blanket, holding a book, looking comfortable.
Hearing the door, she slowly raised her head, a hint of mockery in her eyes, and asked lazily, “Back? Did you get the sugar-coated hawthorn on a stick?”
Ye Ning’s steps faltered.
She glared at Hua Niao, her tone carrying a hint of warning and a barely noticeable smirk.
“Never mind the sugar-coated hawthorn on a stick. Be careful in class tomorrow. Someone’s coming to cause you trouble.”
Recalling the scene just now when Wu Wang Wo heard she was living with Hua Niao and had that gnashing-teeth, hostile look, she couldn’t help but secretly smile.
Hua Niao raised an eyebrow, put down her book, sat up, her eyes knowing, and said flatly, “Got recognized? I’m afraid that Chu Lingyan tricked you until you couldn’t find your way home.”
“How did you know… ahem, no, that’s not it!”
Ye Ning hurriedly denied it, her eyes darting away in panic.
“Don’t overthink it. I was just casually reminding you.”
Hua Niao looked at her flustered, stammering expression and shook her head helplessly.
“…I knew it. Only an idiot like you could be so easily fooled by your own student.”
Ye Ning quickly explained, “But don’t worry. Little Wu Wang Wo promised me she would keep the secret. She’s very obedient.”
Hua Niao snorted coldly.
“Obedient? When it comes to matters involving you, maybe that’s true. But that student of yours has plenty of tricks up her sleeve. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“…”
The next morning, Ye Ning yawned as she followed behind Hua Niao, walking slowly to school.
Her eyes were bleary, looking as if she hadn’t woken up, her steps a little unsteady—last night she tossed and turned, unable to sleep until very late.
“Young people should be more energetic. Stop staying up late playing on your phone.”
Hua Niao turned her head to look at her drowsy pink-white dumpling.
Ye Ning snapped awake a little at that.
She huffed and retorted rebelliously, “Who stayed up late playing on their phone! I just didn’t sleep well last night! Besides, hehe~ even though you never told me, you’re definitely an old woman, right? So of course you can’t understand the troubles of us young people. You’re so energetic every day, like a robot.”
Hua Niao’s smile instantly froze on her face.
She turned her head with a forced smile, a dangerous glint flashing in her eyes.
Her tone was flat but carried an undeniable pressure.
“Ningning, what did you just say? Can you say that again?”
Ye Ning shrank her neck, covered her mouth, and shook her head.
The two walked on in silence. Just then, Hua Niao suddenly stopped and glanced helplessly at a certain corner behind her.
She raised her voice and said, “I say, Miss Chu Lingyan, you’ve been following us this whole way. Hiding in the corner is no solution. Why not come out?”
From the corner not far away, a slender figure slowly walked out.
It was indeed Chu Lingyan.
She was still wearing the Coral Middle School uniform, exuding a faint aura.
Her face was expressionless, and she gave a cold snort.
“Pretty sharp, huh. As expected of the one who stole my teacher away.”
Ye Ning: “???”
A confrontation first thing in the morning?!