Chapter Eleven: She Who Shines Radiantly!

Inside the desk drawer, only a pile of crumpled snack wrappers remained, stacked into a small mountain.

And the culprit was now lying right beside that little heap!

It lazily waved its short, chubby paws, casually patting its round belly with each motion, even letting out a satisfied burp!

Zhao! He!

Tang Wange’s eyes practically popped out in fury. Gritting her teeth, she grabbed its little feet and, ignoring its struggles, twisted it into a wrinkled ball before swiftly and rudely stuffing it into her pocket.

“Um, Lingfei, I’ve been a bit forgetful lately, and I keep getting hungry. Somehow, all these snacks just disappeared…”

“Ah? But didn’t you just say you don’t like snacks?”

Lingfei glanced toward the desk drawer in puzzlement. Seeing the mountain of empty wrappers, she couldn’t help but gape. “Looks like Lin Chao really hit the mark with these. Not even a crumb left!”

“Ahahaha… well, they were pretty tasty. Next time I go to the supermarket, I’ll buy some for us to share!”

Her face was almost splitting with an awkward grin as Tang Wange scratched her nose uneasily. “Come on, let’s go have lunch!”

“After eating so many snacks, can you even stomach a proper meal? Wange, you’ve been acting kind of strange lately…”

“Ha ha ha, really?”

“Maybe I’m just overthinking it.” Lingfei sighed. “You go ahead to the cafeteria. I’ll deliver these materials to the teacher and come find you afterward.”

“Okay!”

Exiting the classroom, they walked down the stairs toward the cafeteria. The little Zhao He, tucked away in Tang Wange’s pocket, grew restless again. It bit and nibbled at her fingers, then, pushing its luck, crawled up her arm beneath her sleeve until it reached her collar!

“Zhao He! Didn’t I tell you to stay home quietly? Why did you come out with me?” She pulled her collar up, glancing around nervously.

“You should be grateful I followed you out. Otherwise, you’d have been foolishly won over by a few bags of cheap snacks!”

The little Zhao He snorted disdainfully, shaking its head as it poked her collarbone. “That Lin kid’s way of chasing girls is really childish. Small chest like you wouldn’t fall for that so easily, right?”

“What’s that got to do with you…”

“How could it not?!” Zhao He hooked its stubby little hand on her collar and placed the other on its hip, huffing. “We’re living together now. Anyone you meet has to be approved by me! Otherwise, if my existence is accidentally exposed, we’re both doomed.”

“Don’t talk nonsense! Living together…” Tang Wange’s cheeks flushed like sunset clouds.

“Did I lie? Who was it last night, clutching my neck and grinding their teeth all night long…”

Before he could finish, an embarrassed and angry Tang Wange shoved him back forcefully!

She zipped up her school uniform tightly and clenched her jaw. “Do you still want to eat meat?”

“Yes.” Zhao He replied plaintively.

“Then shut up.”

“Oh…” The little flat-chested spirit had grown bolder lately—now even threatening him!

With the stairwell door closing behind them, all the noise faded into silence.

In the shadowy corner around the bend, a tall, slender figure stood quietly. Silver headphones hung around his pale neck. His Adam’s apple rolled sensually as his cold lips pressed into a straight line…

The first class that afternoon was PE.

By a twist of fate, they bumped into Song Jing’s class.

“100-meter sprint. The two classes that take the longest will be dismissed early to help tidy the equipment room!” The PE teacher’s command was met with groans across the field.

On the bleachers, Song Jing sat with one leg crossed over the other, a blade of grass between his lips, eyes fixed on the girl warming up in the center of the playground.

“Big shot Song, is that first in the grade, Tang Wange? She’s really pretty, not like a bookworm at all!”

“Maybe you like her and that’s why you keep teasing her, trying to get her attention?”

The blade of grass in Song Jing’s mouth suddenly snapped in two. The others immediately fell silent, while his gaze darkened.

In his pupils reflected the slender figure of the girl and her bright, charming smile. At the starting signal, she shot forward like an arrow from a bow, her flying hair shimmering in the sunlight!

Wherever she was, she shone brilliantly, dazzling like a star!

“Wange! You’re amazing! You got first place in the 100-meter sprint again!”

“Totally like the all-round heroine from a youth romance novel!”

Lingfei was as thrilled as if she herself had won.

At that moment, a short-haired girl nearby sighed heavily and poked Lingfei’s shoulder helplessly. “Classmate, you’re last like me, right? Come on, the teacher wants us to clean the equipment room.”

“Uh…”

Lingfei rubbed her hands awkwardly. “I’m coming! I’m coming! Wange, I’m off first!”

“Need any help?”

“No, no!”

Watching Lingfei and the others enter the teaching building, Tang Wange found a sunny spot on the steps and sat down, gazing at classmates playing basketball and relaxing on the playground.

Whether at home or school, she always seemed to struggle fitting in with groups. Without Lingfei, she probably would have remained lonely forever…

And now, she had Zhao He by her side.

Thinking of Zhao He, she poked the unusually quiet little creature in her pocket.

“Zhao He, are you asleep?”

“What?” His tone sounded a little prickly.

“When you were still a wandering spirit, did you ever see my parents?”

“No. I don’t know them.” He softened his voice slightly.

“I see… Actually, when I first met you, I wanted to ask—since you can roam freely, does that mean my parents can too? But why have they never once shown up to see me?”

“Maybe they reincarnated directly.” Zhao He added casually, “After reincarnation, they forget their past and start anew.”

“Start anew, huh? That’s really good…”

Tang Wange sniffed and rubbed her slightly reddened, tear-brimmed eyes. Then she suddenly asked, “Zhao He, why don’t you reincarnate? Don’t you want a new life?”

“…”

He didn’t answer.

Only silence, long and heavy.

Before she could press further, a panicked female voice called out her name, breathless as she ran up to her.

It was the short-haired girl who had gone to clean the equipment room with Lingfei.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“It’s Song Jing! He’s holding Lingfei in the equipment room! He told me to tell you to come see him immediately. Don’t tell the teacher or anyone else, or he can’t guarantee what he might do to Lingfei…”