Chapter 14: An Unexpected or Unsurprising Transfer Student?

An unexpected or unsurprising transfer student?

“But really, is it okay?” Qing Xukong sat on the chair at the dining table, leaning back as he asked Yan.

“There won’t be any problems,” Yan replied, sipping his coffee.

“If I go to school alone, I really won’t be targeted by those… monsters?”

“Nothing will happen. Ling Yu will handle it himself. The paperwork is already being processed. Just go to school like usual.”

“Is that so...” Qing Xukong studied Yan’s expression—it didn’t seem like he was brushing him off. Then again, Yan wasn’t the type to do that anyway. But still… why was he drinking coffee this late at night?

“Then I’ll go to sleep first...”

“Mm...” Yan continued flipping through the documents in his hands, answering absentmindedly.

“Uh...” Qing Xukong reached the second floor and paused before Ling Yu’s door.

“This guy... isn’t here today?” Qing Xukong felt a faint pang of loneliness, but he quickly banished the thought. Anyway, the guy being absent was probably lucky for him.

Qing Xukong arrived at his classroom safely. Given his recent experiences, he’d expected to encounter those inhuman monsters halfway. Yan had mentioned paperwork—could it mean someone was secretly protecting him?

“Hey, Qing Xukong.” An unexpected greeting interrupted his thoughts. He looked up and recognized a familiar face.

“Mm...” The one who interrupted Qing Xukong was Mocheng, one of his few friends. Incidentally, even counting Yan and Ling Yu, Qing Xukong’s total number of friends remained a pitiful single digit.

“What’s wrong? Why do you look so drained?” Mocheng sat down in the seat in front of him—this guy had sat there since freshman year, and still did.

“Probably because I stayed up late,” Qing Xukong smiled. Talking with friends truly lifted his spirits—far better than that so-called god. It was like only realizing how precious good health was after falling ill.

“Second year already... I thought we’d be split into different classes, but it’s still the same faces.” Mocheng glanced around at the noisy classmates.

“At least it’s good for me,” Qing Xukong said, watching the bustling crowd. He’d never thought his classmates seemed so kind—perhaps because of the past few days.

The bell rang. The noise gradually faded. Mocheng turned around to face the front. The classroom door opened almost simultaneously.

The homeroom teacher stepped in, adjusting his glasses. He was a Chinese language teacher in his early thirties, old enough to be married. Perhaps his obsession with work had left him no time to settle that matter—but he was still well-liked among students.

“Cough, cough. I won’t bore you with long lectures. Let me keep it brief. Since you’re still in the same class, you must help each other and study together. Oh, and today we have a transfer student. Treat her just like any other classmate.” The teacher placed his teacup on the podium, glanced over the students, and spoke briefly.

“Oh, a transfer student? How rare.”

“A transfer student at a time like this?”

“Shouldn’t transfer students come regardless of timing?”

“Could he be hot?”

“...”

“Enough. Save the chatter for after class. Come in.” The teacher tapped his desk and looked toward the door.

At those words, every student’s gaze fixed on the classroom entrance.

At that moment, the door opened with a soft click.

The students held their breath.

Qing Xukong slumped onto his desk, muttering: “No way...”

“Then, please introduce yourself.”

The transfer student nodded, picked up a piece of chalk with slender, pale fingers, and let it glide across the blackboard. The students watched her every movement, not daring to miss a second.

Neat, slightly elegant characters appeared on the board.

Ling — Yu

“My name is Ling Yu. Please take care of me,” Ling Yu said, bowing gracefully.

“Then sit next to the student in the second-to-last row on the left,” the homeroom teacher said, looking at Qing Xukong. His intention was clearly good. Qing Xukong’s aloof demeanor had successfully driven away countless students who tried to get close to him—including some girls with romantic intentions—so his seat had always remained empty. The teacher had often urged Qing Xukong to change his habits. This time, he was trying again.

“So... the ‘paperwork’ was her enrollment?” Qing Xukong murmured, staring at the ceiling.

Ling Yu sat beside Qing Xukong amid the stunned stares of the class. The previously quiet room erupted into noise again.

Qing Xukong endured the surrounding gazes—some envious, some astonished, some... hoping their child would become a dragon? ???

Qing Xukong looked ahead. Mocheng was gazing at him with a benevolent expression.

“Good... Qing Xukong... finally. Finally,” Mocheng choked out, his face brimming with uncontainable joy.

“What the hell is this...” Qing Xukong groaned, face-down on his desk.

Ling Yu gave Qing Xukong a mischievous smile.

“So... desk partner. Please take care of me?”