This guy……
Shiye’s eyebrow couldn’t help but twitch.
As expected, every Evil God is a sadist, all of them love watching others suffer.
“How can that be the same—mmph!”
She was just about to argue her case when Huang Xiaoyi let go of her hair and instead pinched her face, gently kneading her cheeks.
“Are you even listening to me!”
Shiye stomped her feet in frustration, her little face flushed red, as if a thin layer of rouge had been brushed on.
But seeing her flustered and indignant look, the corner of Huang Xiaoyi’s mouth curled up by a single pixel:
“……Just like that.”
So! Annoying!
“Warning! Warning!”
In Shiye’s mind, her emotions were heating up and about to explode. If it weren’t for her rationality pinning her down, Huang Xiaoyi’s face would have already been smashed in by the Old Seal.
Being treated as a tool for amusement, what the……
“Heh……”
Huang Xiaoyi let go, nodding slightly as she spoke:
“But I understand now. The look in your eyes earlier wasn’t hostility. Since I’ve confirmed that, I don’t need to kill you.”
“Oh……” Shiye muttered gloomily.
No sooner had she spoken than the air fell suddenly silent. Facing this abrupt quiet, alarm bells went off in Shiye’s heart.
She jerked her head up to look at Huang Xiaoyi, who was also watching her, as if waiting for something.
“Eh?”
What now? Did I say something to annoy this several-thousand-year-old child again?
But I just said “oh”? Am I not even allowed an “oh” now, so frustrating and cold!
Seeing that Shiye still didn’t get it, Huang Xiaoyi finally spoke:
“According to human etiquette, since I spared your life, shouldn’t you at least thank me?”
“Guh……!”
Shiye was so angry even her tail stood straight.
This is just bullying a dragon!
So, biting her teeth, she forced out:
“Tha… Thank you…!”
“You’re welcome.”
Huang Xiaoyi replied crisply, reaching out to pat her on the head.
Damn Evil God…!
The little dragon girl pressed her tail flat to the ground in protest, but that was all—she didn’t dare offer any real resistance.
After all, without exposing her identity, her odds against Huang Xiaoyi were, well, a bit too low.
Once satisfied with petting, Huang Xiaoyi bent down, her golden eyes glittering in the dark:
“I’m very curious.”
“……I want to understand human emotions. I’ve tried many methods, but nothing has worked—until you, Xueli, appeared.”
As she spoke, she leaned even closer:
“Xueli, you are special. You seem to possess human emotions. That’s why I want to learn more about you.”
Breathing in the sweet scent brushing against her nose, Shiye’s consciousness wavered for a moment. When she snapped back, even her speech was stammered:
“W-why do you want to know more about me… And how do you plan to learn?”
“I don’t know.” Huang Xiaoyi answered honestly.
She waved her hand, saying, “So, see you tomorrow.”
“Mm… See you tomorrow.”
Shiye still didn’t quite get it. Just as she was about to wave goodbye, she noticed Huang Xiaoyi’s gaze was fixed on her forehead… No, that direction was clearly her horns!
Sensing trouble ahead, Shiye quickly protected her two newly budding, still somewhat translucent pink horns, bowed her head, and backed away several steps, even using her tail as a shield in front.
“Let me touch them. I think this will help me understand human emotions better,” Huang Xiaoyi said seriously.
“No way, absolutely not!”
Shiye arched her body like a startled cat. Seeing Huang Xiaoyi looking ready to pounce, she didn’t care about her injuries anymore and dashed off without a backward glance.
“Huff… Haa…!”
Only after she’d run a good distance, and made sure Huang Xiaoyi wasn’t chasing, did Shiye stop, panting for breath.
Feels like I’ve been running away the entire day…
Rubbing her aching temples, Shiye entered a public restroom by the roadside, slipped into a stall, and only let out a sigh of relief once she sat on the toilet.
She still didn’t know why Huang Xiaoyi had suddenly become interested in human emotions, but at least she’d barely managed to earn her approval, right?
Not getting killed was such a relief… In that case, the mission should be complete.
Shiye pulled out her phone to check on her progress for the day.
“Kurthusu progress: 20%. Huang Xiaoyi progress: 3%. Hmm… For the first day, that’s barely acceptable.”
She muttered to herself and tapped on the performance tab. Under [Main Objective], it clearly stated:
“Gain the recognition of two students (1/2)… Huh?!”
Why?
Huang Xiaoyi even said she “wants to know more about” me—doesn’t that count as recognition?
Or were those words just an act?
As her mind whirled, Shiye suddenly thought of the worst—and most unwelcome—possibility:
That being recognized as “Xueli” doesn’t count toward the mission. She needs to be recognized as “Teacher Shiye” by the students for it to count.
You’ve got to be kidding me, I don’t want to deal with something like that!
Inside the restroom, the little dragon girl hugged her head. Soon, her petite body was enveloped in a sphere of red light. When the glow faded, the stunning black-haired, red-eyed girl returned to reality.
Using her original body again, Shiye immediately felt her field of vision rise, but the enormous bunnies on her chest were a weight too heavy to bear—she even felt a bit out of breath.
Also, the injuries from “Xueli” remained on “Shiye,” though much lighter now. The strangulation mark on her neck, unless examined closely, would just look like a bit of flushed skin.
As for her injured foot, she’d have to ask Yumiya to buy some medicine before heading back, and she’d better call to report her safety too.
Dragging her weary body, Shiye pushed open the door and left. If every day’s work was like this, pretty soon there’d be ginseng soaking in her thermos instead of goji berries.
She washed her face, feeling much more awake, then dialed Yumiya’s number. The call connected almost instantly, and a girl’s cool yet anxious voice came from the other end:
“Sensei?! Where are you? I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”
“I’m fine, Yumiya. I visited some students this afternoon, and now I’m on my way back.”
Shiye stepped onto the street and walked along the lively snack street toward her lodging.
“Is that so? As long as you’re okay, Sensei… Really, why did you run off at noon?”
“Oh, I just wanted some space, that’s all. Yumiya, and Yukino… You two are so enthusiastic. By the way, is Yukino with you?”
Shiye asked without thinking, a little worried about Yukino. She wondered if Yukino would worry about her after she ran off.
Probably not, after all, she’s not Ye Xi.
“Tendou-san? Ah… We split up to search for you and haven’t been in contact since.”
The other end fell silent for a moment, then said:
“…Sensei, you really do care about Tendou-san, don’t you.”
“…It’s a teacher’s job to care for her students,” Shiye replied naturally, diffusing the slightly awkward question. She changed the subject, “By the way, Yumiya, could you help me buy some ointment for bruises and sprains? My leg injury’s gotten a little worse…”
Soon she was out of the snack street, waiting at a traffic light, when a jeep roared past. She glanced up, almost by instinct, and happened to catch sight of a familiar figure on the other side of the street.
“Of course I can. Really, Sensei, you need to take better care of yourself…”
Yumiya’s voice grew faint as Shiye’s gaze locked onto that silhouette.
That long, snow-white hair and pale blue scarf—she could never mistake her.
“Yukino…” she murmured.
“Sensei? Did you say something just now?”
“No, it’s nothing.”