The game that Ruan Shu set up was called “Drawing Lots,” or more accurately, “Shaking Lots.”
Yes, it was just like the lot-drawing game you’d find at a temple—whatever lot you drew was purely up to chance.
Ruan Shu demonstrated with a small paper tube, showing them that only a single lot dropping out counted as a valid draw.
The young cubs were all eager to try, so Ruan Shu had them line up. Taking turns to shake the lots would prevent any scuffles.
However, she underestimated the cubs’ strength. With just one shake, all the lots scattered everywhere.
“Um… so how do we count this?”
Ruan Shu: “…”
“This doesn’t count. Let’s redo it!”
After a few attempts, under Ruan Shu’s careful guidance, one cub finally managed to shake out just one lot.
Ruan Shu opened it with the cub watching eagerly.
“It’s number three. Rowan, you’re number three. I’ll write down your name, and when it’s time to draw, come find me!”
“Okay!”
Ruan Shu remembered the names of all the cubs here.
Rowan, beaming with happiness, walked away, and the other cubs started playing too.
When their teacher arrived for class, she found the classroom strangely quiet.
Could it be? Were her students still outside, playing and not coming back?
Teacher Lu Lu thought to herself: it seems these little troublemakers are in for some discipline.
With a stern look, she entered the classroom, intending to put her teaching materials down and then go round up the cubs. But the moment she stepped inside, she was stunned.
She looked over and saw the cubs clustered together, quietly sitting without chewing on tables, fighting, or climbing the walls and tearing apart the classroom. She took a step back and checked the sign above the door.
Yes, it was definitely the kindergarten, Class Three.
Suspicious and curious, she walked closer, realizing the cubs were gathered around Ruan Shu’s spot.
A pang of worry hit her—could her students be bullying the new cub?
That’s what she’d suspected, after all. How could they have quietly accepted a new student in their class without any fuss? It must be happening right here!
Rolling up her sleeves, Teacher Lu Lu charged over.
“What are you all doing?”
The cubs turned their heads in unison at the sound, and Ruan Shu, sitting in the middle of the group, looked up and craned her neck to see her.
As Teacher Lu Lu approached, she realized that perhaps… things weren’t exactly as she’d imagined.
“Hello, Teacher Lu Lu.”
Ruan Shu was the first to react, greeting the teacher very politely.
The other cubs quickly followed, calling out, “Hello, Teacher Lu Lu!”
Teacher Lu Lu: “…”
What?
You’re all suddenly so polite; I’m not used to this!
“Is class starting now?”
Teacher Lu Lu cleared her throat. “Class is starting soon. Ruan Shu, are you okay? Why are they all gathered around you?”
Ruan Shu shook her head blankly. “I’m fine. They’re just drawing lots.”
“Yes! Teacher, do you want to try it? It’s so much fun!”
“But there’s no number for Teacher Lu Lu, just ours.”
“Shushu, the lots are getting fewer; if there are too few left, it won’t be as fun.”
Ruan Shu reassured them, “It’s fine. Once all the lots are drawn, we can switch to something else and play again. Next time, I’ll bring fruit for you, but you’ll have to wait until after class.”
“Yay!”
“Class is starting, everyone. Go back to your seats; Teacher Lu Lu is here to teach.”
Surprisingly, the cubs obediently returned to their seats.
Teacher Lu Lu: …
Unbelievable. This cub from Marshal Ruan’s family—she looks small and easy to bully, yet she somehow commands such respect.
It’s only been a day!
How on earth did she manage to get the whole class to listen to her? She’s even more effective than us teachers.
With mixed feelings, Teacher Lu Lu began her lesson.
After this class, it was time for lunch—a part of the day that the teacher dreaded most.
These cubs were so picky!
Barely seated, one of them already began to complain.
“Teacher, why is today’s fruit not apples? I want to eat apples!” whined Dora.
Since most of the students here were herbivorous or omnivorous star beasts, there was a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
Ruan Shu was a bit of a picky eater herself. As a cat, she wasn’t keen on certain vegetables, especially green peppers—they were definitely not cat food!
So, the little cat carefully nudged the green peppers to the side of her plate.
Luckily, there was some fish, which Ruan Shu loved. This small relief made her feel a bit better.
While the teacher was still trying to soothe the other cubs, Ruan Shu sat quietly on her little stool, holding a small spoon, earnestly scooping up her food.
Sitting in the last row, tiny and neat, she took each spoonful of rice with relish.
Ruan Shu’s soft, white cheeks puffed up adorably, looking absolutely precious!
The teacher, who was in the midst of “convincing” the cubs to eat, couldn’t help but feel her heart melt at the sight.
How could there be such a well-behaved cub?
“Look at how Ruan Shu is eating so earnestly—she’s not being picky at all!”
Suddenly being singled out, Ruan Shu: “???”
All her classmates turned to look at her. With her mouth full, her cheeks were round and chubby like a little rice dumpling, and she stared back at them in bewilderment, her ears turning red with a hint of shyness.
Everyone should just focus on eating, why were they all staring at her?
“Ruan Shu, are there any foods you don’t like?” asked Narnia, sitting next to her.
Ruan Shu nodded slowly. “There are.”
She pointed to the green pepper, sneaking a glance at the teacher as she whispered, “I don’t like that one. I put it to the side for now. Once I’m done, I was going to ask the teacher if I could skip it.”
Teacher: “…”
That backfired fast.
She quickly replied, “You don’t have to eat it. Next time, if there’s something you don’t like, just let me know, and I’ll make a note so you won’t get it.”
With so many students at school, it was impossible to cater to each child’s individual tastes. Instead, the kitchen aimed to provide a variety, ensuring there was at least one or two things they liked each day.
If they didn’t want to eat? Unless it was something they were genetically predisposed to avoid, they’d have to manage. Eventually, hunger would likely change their mind.
Since Ruan Shu was a carnivorous star beast, the teacher figured she just couldn’t handle the smell of green peppers.
Hearing the teacher’s answer, Ruan Shu let out a small, relieved sigh.
Honestly, if the teacher had insisted she finish it, she would have forced herself to eat it. But there was another problem—today’s meal portions were just too large. Even though her portion was smaller than the others, she still couldn’t finish it.
Her little stomach was already full to the brim. Hesitating for a moment, she waited until the teacher came closer and spoke up.
“Teacher, I… I can’t eat anymore.”
Teacher Lu Lu looked surprised. “You’re done after this little bit?”
She had already given Ruan Shu a smaller portion based on her size.
Ruan Shu’s delicate face flushed slightly. “My… my tummy is full.”
She gave her belly a little pat and even let out a soft burp.
Teacher Lu Lu chuckled. “Alright, you don’t have to finish it then. Next time, I’ll give you even less.”
“Thank you, Teacher Lu Lu.”