After Ding Yang and Ahui leaked the information, since Ding Yang's live stream was still running, they exchanged a few words to change the subject. Afterwards, Ahui went to find Yan Chi and Shen Mingsu.
In the kindergarten classroom, Qiu Yunshu picked up Chu Xi and handed him to Yan Chi. He smiled and said, "Little Chu Xi has been very well-behaved these past few days. He doesn't need the teacher to feed him at all; he's a very independent child."
Chu Xi realized Qiu Yunshu was praising him, his eyes crinkling into crescent moons as he shyly hugged Yan Chi's neck. "Yes! I'm... good boy... independent!"
"Yes, little Chu Xi is the best-behaved." Yan Chi's voice was gentle as he ruffled the little boy's soft hair. He then thanked Qiu Yunshu, "Thank you for your help, Teacher Qiu."
Qiu Yunshu scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "It wasn't much trouble at all; all the children are very well-behaved."
The little mermaids have adapted to school life and made friends, no longer crying and fussing to find Xi Chang like before.
Shen Mingsu caught a glimpse of Ahui walking towards them out of the corner of his eye. He pulled Yan Chi's hand, interrupting their conversation, "Let's go home, Chang Le is waiting for us there."
"Okay, goodbye, Teacher Qiu."
"Goodbye."
After Yan Chi and Shen Mingsu left the kindergarten, Ahui jogged a few steps to catch up with them. She straightened her long braids and said to Shen Mingsu, "Ding Yang has already spread the news about Zhou Yan at school. The termites should know by now."
Shen Mingsu said nonchalantly, "Just wait, those little ants will soon come knocking on our door."
Chu Xi, perched on Yan Chi's shoulder, heard the words "little ants" and immediately looked down at the ground, but found no ants. He'd been tricked again.
Chu Xi pouted and complained to Yan Chi, "Trick...naughty."
What trick? Yan Chi didn't understand why Chu Xi was suddenly saying all this, but he still gently patted his back to comfort him.
Ahui was going home with Ding Yang. After saying this, she left. Shen Mingsu took Chu Xi from Yan Chi's arms, weighing him in his arms. "You've gotten so fat, let me carry you."
Carrying a child is tiring, and Yan Chi's arms were a little sore. He didn't argue, glancing at Chu Xi's chubby face. "Mermaids shouldn't have any worries about being overweight, right?"
Shen Mingsu chuckled, pinching Chu Xi's chubby arms. "Perhaps this kid will become the only fat mermaid in the mermaid clan."
"No...not fat." Chu Xi hides his chubby little hands, not letting Shen Mingsu touch them.
Shen Mingsu, however, did not comply with his wishes, whispering devilishly in his ear, "You're just a chubby baby with no future..."
Seeing that Chu Xi was about to cry from Shen Mingsu's teasing, Yan Chi stopped him in time, nudging Shen Mingsu's arm, "Don't bully the child."
"I'm not bullying him, this is to train his mental resilience."
"...He's not even a year old yet, there's no need for that."
The kindergarten's dismissal time was the same as Shen Chang Le's. Most students rushed to the commercial street to buy food after school. The commercial street was getting bigger and bigger, and the variety of snacks was increasing.
Everywhere you could see elementary school students carrying bags of snacks, eating things like grilled gluten and grilled squid as they walked.
Halfway there, Yan Chi was talking to Shen Mingsu when he suddenly heard someone calling him from behind. Turning around, he saw Lian Deng and an unfamiliar male classmate standing behind him.
Lian Deng ran excitedly to Yan Chi's side and politely greeted him, "Hello, Teacher Xiao Chi."
This time, he wasn't carrying the cardboard box; the three little monsters followed closely behind him. They had grown to about the size of a teddy bear dog and were just as enthusiastic, circling around Yan Chi.
Yan Chi immediately noticed the changes in the three little creatures. "Did you get them new clothes?"
"Yes, yes!" Lian Deng was happy that Yan Chi could tell at a glance. "I bought these at Aunt Zhou's shop. She has a lot of new items, they're all so pretty."
This time, the theme seemed to be courtly style. Each of the stick insect's legs was adorned with flowerpot-shaped shoes, making a crisp clattering sound as it walked.
The skeleton doll was dressed in a light blue Hanfu decorated with orchids, and false eyelashes were even pasted on its eye sockets. However, the ghostly fire in its eyes was almost melting the glue, and half of the eyelashes had already fallen out.
Because of their small size, the water babies only wore a headpiece adorned with a few pretty tassels.
The three little monsters were clearly very satisfied with their current attire, strutting around like they were on a runway, showing off their beautiful clothes, shoes, and wigs to Yan Chi.
Yan Chi couldn't help but chuckle, "Hmm, they're all so pretty, they suit them perfectly."
The three little monsters were overjoyed by Yan Chi's praise. They ran behind the unfamiliar male classmate, dragged out the hidden wooden puppet, and pulled it to Yan Chi's side.
The little wooden puppet looked at Yan Chi shyly, clutching its skirt, and took two steps forward.
Yan Chi squatted down, looking at this new face with surprise, "Is this your new friend?"
The three little monsters nodded.
Even the boy next to Lian Deng was shy and reserved, speaking softly, "Teacher Xiao Chi, I'm Lin Senyang from Class 1, Grade 2. This is my Mumu."
"So your name is Mumu." Yan Chi noticed Lin Senyang's awkwardness, smiled at Mumu, and extended his hand, "Hello, Mumu."
Mumu tentatively placed her small wooden hand on Yan Chi's outstretched hand, and the two shook hands solemnly.
Compared to Lian Deng's three lively little monsters, Mumu, this little girl, appeared elegant and quiet. After shaking hands with Yan Chi, she ran back to her owner, tugging at his trouser leg to look outside, her voice soft and gentle, "Thank you, Teacher Xiao Chi."
?
It can talk?
Yan Chi was stunned for a moment, then thought, "They already have monsters, so a talking puppet isn't strange at all."
Of course, these four little monsters were quite terrifying to others.
Not far away, Zheng Yu pulled Zhu Ge Yun behind a tree. They had originally planned to go out to find Song Qian, but halfway there they spotted Yan Chi in the distance. Zhu Ge Yun was about to greet him when Zheng Yu dragged him behind the tree.
Zhu Ge Yun was puzzled. "Why are we hiding? That's Teacher Chi!"
"I know," Zheng Yu said, his brow furrowed. "But he has others with him, and they're very strong."
He was tightly clutching an item that could detect NPC levels. The level on the detector screen was flashing between "S" and "???".
This had never happened before.
There was definitely a powerful boss nearby, above "S". Zheng Yu's gaze fell on Shen Mingsu, who was holding a child. He gripped the detector tighter. This man had appeared beside Yan Chi in the [Snow Flame] dungeon.
From the moment he saw him, Zheng Yu's mind had been urging him to run.
"Hey, that person looks like the principal of this school," Zhu Ge Yun said suddenly, looking at Shen Mingsu.
Zheng Yu was surprised: "How did you know?"
Did this idiot have some ability he didn't know?
"I just asked the students what their principal looks like," Zhu Ge Yun said. "Dark green eyes, very tall, and most importantly, he's always hanging out with Teacher Xiao Chi. Isn't that him?"
Zheng Yu never expected him to be so insightful. "...Why did you suddenly think of asking him?"
"When we first arrived, didn't a female student say that their principal was also a fan of mine? I just wanted to know what their principal looks like, so I could be prepared next time I see him."
Zheng Yu: "..."
He had overestimated him after all.
Watching Yan Chi and Shen Mingsu's intimate actions, Zhu Ge Yun exclaimed, "So they're a couple! Did Teacher Chi recommend me to his boyfriend? I knew he truly loved me!"
Zheng Yu, out of kinship, offered a warning, "You'd better not go. The farther away, the better."
He had witnessed firsthand how possessive this man was of Yan Chi. Regardless of whether he was a fan of Zhu Ge Yun, if he knew Zhu Ge Yun had once been Yan Chi's idol, he'd probably make sure the kid rested in peace somewhere in the school.
Zhu Ge Yun asked, puzzled, "Why?"
"If you want to die, go ahead."
"..."
Unbeknownst to them, Shen Mingsu had overheard their entire conversation. Not only Shen Mingsu, but even Lian Deng and Lin Senyang had noticed their presence early on, but seeing them behaving themselves, they hadn't done anything.
After walking with Lian Deng and Lin Senyang for a while, Shen Mingsu exchanged a glance with the two students before parting ways. After he led Yan Chi away, Lian Deng and Lin Senyang headed towards a secluded grove of trees.
Shen Mingsu glanced at the sleeping Chu Xi and asked casually, "Teacher Chi, have you ever been a fan of any celebrities?"
Yan Chi naturally thought of Zhu Ge Yun. "What, did Zhu Ge Yun come to see you and give you his autograph?"
"Give me his autograph?" Shen Mingsu was stunned. "Why would he give me his autograph?"
Yan Chi sighed. "That girl Mingcai told Zhu Ge Yun that you were also his fan, and he's not very bright; he believed her."
"...You like that kind of stupid celebrity?"
"..."
This really hit Yan Chi's heart. Yan Chi said expressionlessly, "When I liked him, I didn't know he had this kind of personality. Through the phone screen, I thought he was a cool, aloof academic genius."
Turns out, he's actually an illiterate elementary school student.
Shen Mingsu chuckled, jokingly saying, "Since I bought a fake, how about I kill him so he won't get in your way? What do you say?"
"Don't go crazy," Yan Chi gave him a threatening look. "He hasn't done anything heinous. Don't hurt him out of jealousy."
Shen Mingsu immediately changed his tune, "No, I'm not really incapable of distinguishing right from wrong."
Meanwhile, Zhu Ge Yun was bound to a tree trunk by the tendons around Water Baby's neck, trembling with fear. Two other enormous monsters surrounded him, occasionally sniffing him.
Zheng Yu had already distanced himself from Zhu Ge Yun and hidden to the side when the monsters appeared, and the monsters showed no intention of capturing him, focusing solely on Zhuge Yun.
[Please, don't hurt my silly son! He's just an idiot, please let him go!]
[Oh my god, oh my god, this idiot is finally going to die, hahaha—]
[Wait, this idiot didn't break any taboos, right? How did he get targeted by the monster?]
[I don't understand either. He was quite honest this time. Besides, Zheng Yu was with him the whole time, so why is Zheng Yu okay?]
The sticky blood on Water Baby soaked through Zhu Ge Yun's clothes. Zhu Ge Yun was almost scared to death. His face was pale, his teeth chattering, and he said to Lian Deng and Lin Senyang, "I...I...I didn't do anything, big brother."
Lian Deng walked up to Zhu Ge Yun and scrutinized him seriously. "I'm asking you, are you the mistress?"
Zhu Ge Yun: "Huh?"
Water Baby quickly waved the remaining red veins under its head.
—Lian Deng, it's the mistress!
“I wasn’t talking about you.” Lian Deng brushed aside the tendon Water Baby was offering and pointed at Zhu Ge Yun. “I’m asking you, tell me quickly, did you interfere in Teacher Xiao Chi and the principal’s relationship?”
Zhu Ge Yun burst into tears, “Innocent! Your Honor, we’re just ordinary celebrity and fan. I have a very professional attitude; I wouldn’t do something so disgusting! I’m innocent!”
Seeing him cry so bitterly, Lian Deng pursed his lips and said to Lin Senyang, “He said he’s not a homewrecker.”
Lin Senyang thought, “He might be lying.”
Lian Deng nodded, “I think so too.”
“Then how can we get him to tell the truth?”
“I don’t know.”
“…”
The two students, inexperienced in interrogation, were stumped. Ignoring Zhu Ge Yun’s grievances, they began discussing how to force the truth out of him.
Lin Senyang knew more than Lian Deng. "There used to be a kind of finger-pinching torture that could force people to tell the truth, but you needed a special tool."
"Can you make it?"
"I'll try."
Lian Deng and Lin Senyang squatted together, starting to make something out of wood.
Zhu Ge Yun listened, his face ashen, his head drooping limply, his eyes blankly staring at Zheng Yu, his mouth opening and closing: "Save me."
Zheng Yu didn't act rashly. He first took out a level detector to check Lian Deng's level.
Without Shen Mingsu present, the detector finally worked smoothly. He tested Lian Deng first; if his level wasn't high, he might be able to save the silly boy.
—S-rank.
Zheng Yu turned and left.
Zhu Ge Yun: "Waaaaah!"
"Mom, he's really going to die here today."
He struggled desperately, but the water sponge tightened its grip, the dense veins almost digging into his flesh, making it hard for him to breathe.
"Hmm?"
Yan Qingyuan, passing by, stopped at the sight. He recognized Lian Deng as Yan Chi's student and raised an eyebrow slightly. "What are you doing?"
After he appeared, Zheng Yu's detector vibrated and alarmed. Zheng Yu turned to look at Yan Qingyuan, and the next second, his vision blurred as he crashed heavily to Yan Qingyuan's feet.
Yan Qingyuan lowered his gaze to the player, leaned slightly forward, and used his slender fingers to lift Zheng Yu's chin. "Why are you running?"
"I..." Zheng Yu wanted to say something polite, but an inexplicable force compelled him to tell the truth, "I can't beat you guys, so I have to run."
Yan Qingyuan's gaze swept over Lian Deng and Lin Senyang. "And what about you?"
Lian Deng obediently replied, "We came to help the principal deal with the mistress."
"Mistress?" Yan Qingyuan looked at Zhu Ge Yun, scrutinizing him from head to toe, and curled his lip in disdain. "Xiao Chi likes this kind now? He doesn't even look as good as Shen Mingsu..."
Zhu Ge Yun shook his head vigorously.
Yan Qingyuan quickly lost interest. "Since Xiao Chi likes him, let him go."
Lian Deng was surprised. "Then what about the principal?"
"Ask Xiao Chi. If he doesn't like him, just kick him out."
Although this wasn't ideal either, Yan Qingyuan respected all of Yan Chi's choices.
Lian Deng: “…This isn’t right.”
Then his face suddenly lit up. “Oh dear, the principal said he made a mistake and told us to release him.”
Lian Deng’s voice was like heavenly music, instantly igniting the despair in Zhu Ge Yun’s heart. Yan Qingyuan frowned. “Really?”
“Yes, he was just a celebrity that Teacher Xiao Chi used to like, but he doesn’t like him anymore.”
Upon hearing this, Yan Qingyuan lost all interest and decisively turned to leave. Lian Deng also called Water Baby back.
Zhu Ge Yun hadn’t recovered from the shock. His legs went weak, and he knelt down, choking back sobs, “Thank you… thank you for clearing my name.”
Zheng Yu, who hadn’t gone far, heard the commotion and turned back. He helped Zhu Ge Yun up. “We’ll be going then.”
Zhu Ge Yun’s legs were so weak that he was practically dragged away by Zheng Yu.
Only after Lian Deng and Lin Senyang were completely out of sight did the two of them breathe a sigh of relief, their foreheads covered in cold sweat.
"Good brother," Zhu Ge Yun said, playfully punching Zheng Yu. "I knew you wouldn't abandon me."
Zheng Yu replied without a hint of guilt, "Yeah, because we're good brothers."
While he wouldn't actually go to great lengths for them, anyone can say nice things.
Upon arriving at the commercial street, Zheng Yu and Zhu Ge Yun found themselves in this bustling marketplace, experiencing a disorienting sense of being in another world.
It was as if they hadn't entered this life-or-death game at all, and were in an ordinary world, having finished a tiring day of work or study, coming to this lively food street to satisfy their hungry stomachs.
Zhu Ge Yun and Zheng Yu stared blankly at the scene before them. No wonder so many players were eager to settle in Yunzhou.
"Roasted chicken frames, starch sausages, wheel cakes, jianbing guozi..." Zhu Ge Yun swallowed hard as he looked at the delicious food. He was about to buy a skewer when he suddenly remembered he had no money in his pocket. He could only look longingly at the freshly roasted cumin-flavored chicken frames.
Zhu Ge Yun rubbed his stomach and pitifully said to Zheng Yu, "Brother, I'm so hungry."
Zheng Yu replied succinctly, "I don't have any money either."
The two penniless guys stood in front of the stall, looking but not buying.
The stall owner, feeling sorry for them, reluctantly took out two fried starch sausages. Before giving them to them, he squinted at their faces, "You're not wearing school uniforms, and your faces look unfamiliar... You're not gamers, are you?"
Zhu Ge Yun honestly nodded, but the next second the stall owner's expression changed, and he looked directly at Zheng Yu.
Zheng Yu calmly said, "No, my relative is named Song Qian. He lives on this street, and I'm here to stay with him."
Hearing the name Song Qian, the shopkeeper nodded and gave him the starch sausage. As for the one for Zhu Ge Yun, he threw it directly into the trash can.
The shopkeeper looked at Zhu Ge Yun with disgust. "I wouldn't give you any even if I threw it away, ptooey!"
Zhu Ge Yun's heart shattered. "But...but Song Qian was a player before..."
"Hmph! So what?" The shopkeeper didn't care at all. "He's no longer part of the system, and he didn't do anything heinous before, so of course he's different from you."
Zhu Ge Yun felt wronged. "But I didn't do anything either..."
"You have the system with you. Who knows if you might do something in the future?"
"Song Qian doesn't have it anymore?"
"He hasn't for a long time, otherwise, how could he live here?"
Zhu Ge Yun and Zheng Yu both fell silent. Not only them, but the comments in the live stream also paused for a moment before suddenly exploding.
[So... to live in Yunzhou, you have to get rid of the system? Is there really such a good thing?!]
[Let me go! Let me go! I've been annoyed by this system for so long, get rid of it!]
[Please, please open Yunzhou again! I won't be ungrateful this time, I'll confirm right away.]
[It's not like you can just click confirm and get in. Who knows if you have a "criminal" record.]
[…]
The live stream was bustling. Zhu Ge Yun grabbed Zheng Yu's arm, his voice brimming with excitement, "Brother, did you hear that? We can remove the system!"
Zheng Yu gave a restrained "Mmm," then frowned. "But Yunzhou might not let us stay."
As far as he knew, most of the players who stayed had close relationships with the teachers or students here, while they were practically alone. Yunzhou might not want them.
With something weighing on his mind, Zheng Yu quickened his pace after finding out Song Qian's address. Before they even got close, they spotted Song Qian sitting in front of the door, dozing off in the sun.
After several days of rest, Song Qian's complexion was rosy and healthy, the tension that had always enveloped him completely gone, and he was even wearing comfortable, loose pajamas.
Zhu Ge Yun suddenly hesitated to approach. "We seem to be poor relatives from the village, seeking refuge with relatives in the city..."
Zheng Yu: "Saving face is useless now, throw it away."
The two stepped forward, blocking Song Qian's sunlight. Song Qian impatiently opened his eyes, and upon seeing Zheng Yu, he exclaimed in surprise, "You're still alive?"
Zheng Yu: "..."
They'd only met twice, but the words were exactly the same.
"Yeah, luckily still alive."
Song Qian leaned back in his chair, took a sip of his milk tea, and raised his chin. "So, what do you want from me?"
"Can you help us stay in Yunzhou?"
"Cough cough cough..." Song Qian choked, coughing for a while before saying irritably, "Do you think I own the school? I don't have that kind of ability. You should go find Teacher Xiao Chi; maybe he can help you."
Zheng Yu: "...Can you lend us some money?"
"Get lost."
Yan Chi, whom they were eyeing, was also in dire straits, because his father had suddenly come looking for him.
Under Shen Mingsu's astonished gaze, he pulled Yan Chi straight into the room, closed the door, and cut to the chase, "Xiao Chi, I have something very important to tell you."
Yan Qingyuan's expression was so serious that Yan Chi tensed up as well. "Dad, I'm listening carefully."
Yan Qingyuan: "If you ever fall in love with someone else, you must tell me first."
This first sentence wasn't a problem, but what followed left Yan Chi completely bewildered.
"Shen Mingsu is an extremely possessive person. If he finds out you like someone else, he'll definitely get rid of that person secretly. So you have to tell me beforehand, and I'll help you."
"Don't tell your students either; they might side with their principal."
Yan Chi wondered if he'd misheard. "...Huh?"
Had he misheard, or had his father gone mad again? Did his father mean...he supported him dumping Shen Mingsu and finding someone else?!
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