The whole scene looked like something out of a fairy tale, with Pink Maiden as the only little princess in it.
Pink Maiden really liked it here—and liked Shushu even more!
However, Little Vine was terribly jealous.
It didn’t want to live in the same place as Pink Maiden, so Ruan Shu had to promise to eventually create a little forest just for it. Only then was it satisfied.
After washing her face, brushing her teeth, getting dressed, and tidying up, Ruan Shu finally slung her carefully prepared little backpack over her shoulder.
The backpack was shaped like a little cat’s head.
One could say that this house was gradually being taken over by cat patterns everywhere.
Little by little, the house was changing. Without realizing it, the place was now full of traces of her presence—even in her dad’s and brothers’ rooms.
Ruan Shu could hardly remember what the house had looked like when she first arrived.
All she recalled was one feeling—it was cold and empty, as if no one lived there at all.
But now, there were warm touches everywhere.
In less than half a year, with just one tiny person added, the once-cold family now had so much more color and warmth.
“Daddy.”
Today, her dad was once again taking her to school.
Ruan Shu called out sweetly, walking over to his side.
Ruan Xiao put a scarf and a hat on her, making her delicate little face look even smaller. Her big, beautiful eyes were framed by long, curly lashes, which were like a pair of delicate little fans.
“Let’s go.”
Holding her hand, father and daughter headed to Qiming Star School.
The principal greeted her with a friendly smile as usual before leading them toward the classroom.
During the walk, both adults paid close attention to Ruan Shu’s reactions.
Fortunately, though Ruan Shu tightened her grip on her father’s finger, she didn’t show any sign of resistance or fear.
Though only a few months had passed, Ruan Shu had truly grown a lot; it was as if she had come out of her shell.
At the classroom door, Ruan Xiao handed her over to the teacher.
“So, you’re Ruan Shu! You’re so pretty. It’s a shame you couldn’t join us last semester.”
Ruan Shu apologized, “I’m sorry, Teacher.”
“Oh, you didn’t do anything wrong!”
The teacher smiled gently. “I was just worried about you. Is Ruan Shu feeling better now?”
Ruan Shu nodded, “Yes, I’m all better now.”
Watching his daughter interact with the teacher, Ruan Xiao felt reassured as Ruan Shu was finally led into the classroom.
“Would you like to say goodbye to Daddy?”
Ruan Shu nervously clutched the straps of her little backpack. Letting go of the teacher, she walked over to her dad, her tiny hands wrapping around his.
“Daddy.”
Ruan Xiao didn’t say anything but crouched down to pull her into a gentle hug. His voice was soft—a tone he reserved only for his daughter.
“I’ll pick you up after school.”
Ruan Shu held his hand close to her soft, chubby cheek, nodding with a sweet response.
“Okay.”
Then she stood at the classroom door, watching her dad leave, not looking away until he was completely out of sight.
Her nose felt a little tingly, and she wanted to cry, but she held it back, though her tears pooled in her eyes, making her look heartachingly pitiful.
The teacher had never seen a child like this before—a first-timer at school who wasn’t throwing a tantrum, just on the verge of tears, which somehow made her even more endearing.
After comforting her gently, the teacher led her to her seat.
By now, a few other children had arrived in the classroom, though they all still maintained their Star Beast forms. Wide-eyed, they stared curiously at Ruan Shu.
Ruan Shu sat quietly on her little bench, head bowed, resting her backpack on the desk, looking a bit downhearted.
After a while, she gave herself a little pat on the face.
Why does this feel just like my first day in kindergarten?
Little Vine also patted her wrist, trying to comfort her.
“Thank you.”
Ruan Shu touched it gently and whispered her gratitude.
Gathering her spirits, she straightened up, only to find a large bird in front of her, staring intently.
Hmm, this bird was even bigger than her current human form. It looked fluffy, still with downy feathers like an unhatched chick, but in reality, it resembled more of a bird-like dinosaur.
One of those small dinosaurs with wings but unable to fly.
But small as it was… it was still bigger than her!
Ruan Shu was startled by its unblinking stare.
“H-hi there,” she stammered, her voice a bit shaky.
“Coo.”
Ruan Shu: I don’t understand.
Something poked her shoulder. She turned around, her gaze filled with a hint of alarm, and found herself looking at an elephant.
Well, more precisely, a baby elephant.
But it was so big!
Fortunately, the classroom was spacious enough—otherwise, there’d be no room for all these large baby creatures!
“Hello,” she said, trying to appear calm as she greeted the elephant, though she was actually panicking inside. She was seriously worried that, with just one wrong step, one of these classmates might accidentally step on her. QAQ
Then, she watched as the elephant transformed into a human form—a girl who was much taller than her.
It wasn’t a complete transformation; the girl still had an elephant trunk!
But the girl didn’t seem to mind at all; she even swung her trunk playfully.
“Hi there! Why are you so tiny?” Her voice boomed loudly.
That first question felt like a punch to the gut.
The bird in front of her also turned into a human form, and it was still… taller than Ruan Shu.
“You look so delicious!”
Ruan Shu: ∑(°Д°)
W-what are you even saying?!
“Narnia, don’t bully the new student.”
The elephant girl named Dora swung her trunk and stomped her foot, making the entire floor tremble. Ruan Shu almost fell off her small chair and quickly grabbed onto the desk to steady herself.
“Dora! How many times has the teacher told you not to stomp your feet?”
Looking embarrassed, Dora sat down. “Sorry, Teacher, I forgot.”
Narnia snorted twice. “I wasn’t bullying her. She just smells really good!”
Narnia belonged to an omnivorous Star Beast species, though compared to other carnivorous Star Beasts, they were rather small.
Narnia’s family was worried he’d get picked on at other schools, so they sent him to Qiming Star School.
Dora chimed in, “She does smell like milk.”
Ruan Shu: ………
“Actually, it’s milkfruit.”
Her face flushed slightly with embarrassment. She loved milkfruit so much that she still had to drink at least two cups of milkfruit juice every day.
“Oh, I love that too!” Dora said excitedly. “What’s your name? How old are you, and why did you come to our class?”
Narnia butted in again. “I was bigger than this when I was three. Getting sent to school at three years old—how sad!”
Ruan Shu corrected, “I’m four.”
“No way!” the two classmates exclaimed in unison, even sandwiching her in the middle to compare heights.
“We’re five, and we’re so much taller than you! Even in two more years, you’ll never be as tall as us.”
Ruan Shu: … Please, just stop (t ^ t)