Xiao Wu's cheeks flushed as she stood just inches away from Qian Yu, her heart fluttering at the subtle, pleasant scent that lingered around him.
It was intoxicating in a way she couldn't quite explain, making her feel slightly lightheaded. Qian Yu smiled gently and reached out to pat her head.
"Maybe we did meet before," he said softly. "in another time, another place. I like to think of it as fate."
"Fate?" Xiao Wu echoed, her eyes wide as she tried to grasp the meaning, understanding only part of what he meant.
Qian Yu chuckled lightly, then extended his hand toward her. "Whether we've met before or not, we're going to be living and studying in this school together now. So, let's look out for each other."
Xiao Wu nodded enthusiastically. "Mm-hmm! Then from now on, I'll call you Big Brother Qian Yu!"
He nodded in response and gave her head another light pat.
Just then, Qian Yu took a look around the dormitory and realized something was off. "There aren't any blankets or quilts here... how are we supposed to sleep tonight?" he muttered, puzzled.
Xiao Wu noticed it too and voiced the same concern. "Yeah... there's no bedding at all."
Almost immediately, Wang Sheng and the other students stepped forward with warm smiles and offered their own quilts. "Boss, Big Sister Xiao Wu, you can use ours!" they said without hesitation.
Qian Yu shook his head with gratitude, then pulled out a ring from his finger—a space ring he had used to store items across his past lives. With just a thought, a fresh, clean quilt appeared in front of him.
Xiao Wu's eyes sparkled as she jumped forward and hugged it tightly.
"Wow! Big Brother Qian Yu, you're amazing! How did you make it appear like that?" she exclaimed.
The rest of the dorm stood frozen, wide-eyed and speechless.
"B-Boss… w-was that… a space-type Soul Guidance Device?" Wang Sheng stammered, barely believing what he was seeing. Space-type Soul Guidance Devices were incredibly rare and expensive—worth tens of thousands of gold soul coins. Most of them had only heard of such things in stories.
For a fellow work-study student like Qian Yu to possess one was almost unimaginable.
Xiao Wu tilted her head and asked curiously, "What's a space-type Soul Guidance Device?"
"It's basically a storage tool," Qian Yu replied with a casual smile. "If you like it, I can give this one to you."
Xiao Wu gasped. "But… isn't it really valuable?"
Qian Yu laughed lightly. "Not really. I have plenty more."
Hearing this, Xiao Wu blinked in confusion before giving a sincere smile. "Thank you, Big Brother Qian Yu!"
Around them, the other work-study students looked even more dumbfounded. To them, such items were unattainable luxury—something they couldn't afford in a lifetime.
Yet Qian Yu spoke of them like they were common household goods. Who exactly was he?
"Boss Qian Yu, please accept our deepest respect!" Wang Sheng and the others suddenly knelt before him; their voices filled with awe and admiration.
Qian Yu chuckled and said, "Alright, alright. I'll treat you all to a meal later. Eat whatever you like, as much as you want!"
The room immediately lit up with excitement. "Thank you, Boss!"
As they bustled about tidying up, Xiao Wu clutched the quilt happily and said, "Big Brother Qian Yu, now we can sleep with this."
Qian Yu raised an eyebrow and pointed at himself. "We?"
"Of course, we!" Xiao Wu replied naturally. "I don't have bedding either, so I'll sleep with you!"
"I… actually have more in my ring," Qian Yu said gently, trying to explain.
But Xiao Wu clung to her decision. "I still want to sleep with Big Brother Qian Yu!" she insisted. Her cheeks turned crimson as she hesitated, then whispered shyly, "Because… I like the way you smell…"
Qian Yu looked at the blushing girl and smiled warmly. "Alright, whatever you say."
Then he turned to the others. "Everyone, finish up here. Afterward, I'm treating you all to dinner!"
His usually cold demeanor had softened, surprising everyone. But the promise of food quickly made them cheer up, and together, the group of eleven—Qian Yu, Xiao Wu, and the rest of Dorm Seven—followed Wang Sheng toward the cafeteria.
As they crossed the bustling playground, students in academy uniforms filled the path, all heading toward the teaching building for dinner. The cafeteria of Notting Junior Soul Master Academy was massive, designed to seat over 300 students, including six classes and staff.
By the time they arrived, long lines had already formed in front of the food counters. The first floor alone held 300 seats, with additional space on the second floor.
Just as they entered, a sneering voice cut through the crowd.
"Well, if it isn't Wang Sheng and his gang of paupers," the voice jeered.
Qian Yu turned to see a group of senior students standing on the staircase between the two floors. The speaker, a smug-looking boy around eleven or twelve, glared at them with disdain.
"Poor kids like you don't belong upstairs," he mocked, waggling a finger. "You'll probably never afford a second-floor meal in your life."
Xiao Wu's temper flared immediately. "And who do you think you are? What's so special about the second floor?"
The older boy suddenly took a keen interest in her. "Whoa, such a cute little loli. Come dine with this big brother, and I'll let you sit upstairs," he said sleazily before turning with his group to ascend the stairs.
"You—!" Xiao Wu started to charge forward, but Qian Yu gently stopped her.
"Leave it to me," he said calmly, flashing her a reassuring smile. Xiao Wu paused, then nodded, placing her trust in him without hesitation.
Qian Yu turned to his group. "Let's go. We're eating upstairs."
The moment they stepped onto the second floor, the sneering students laughed mockingly. "Trying to act rich now? Can you even afford it?"
Qian Yu said nothing. Instead, he lightly touched the space ring on his finger.
Their expressions shifted as they noticed the gleam of the ring.
"Wait… is that… a space ring?"
"That can't be. He's a work-study student. How could he possibly afford that?"
Their eyes widened again as they caught sight of another space ring—on Xiao Wu's hand.
"Who are these two?" they whispered in disbelief.
Then, with a smooth gesture, Qian Yu summoned a pouch filled with gleaming gold soul coins and handed it to Wang Sheng. "Take this. Order whatever you like. Today's meal is on me."
Gasps rippled through the cafeteria.
The once-arrogant seniors stood stunned, unable to process what they had just witnessed. Qian Yu's quiet confidence and wealth had flipped the entire scene on its head—and everyone was beginning to realize that he wasn't just another work-study student.
___________________
Daily Uploads!
Unlock Bonus Chapters:
1. Reach 100 / 200 / 300 / 400 / 500 / 600 Power Stones per Chapter!
2. Visit: https://www.fanfns.top to read the unlocked bonus chapters.
3. You can read up to 2 chapters ahead of Webnovel by using the link!
Resets every Monday