Karina was even more astonished when she learned that the little one was four years old.
“Four years old?”
She couldn’t help but take a closer look. From her height, wouldn’t she be more like two or three?
The Ruan family’s Marshal’s Mansion surely wasn’t so lacking in food that they’d let a child go hungry and grow up this small.
Sitting obediently beside her father, Ruan Shu nodded and answered herself, “Yes, I’m four.”
Her voice was soft and a bit nervous, but her answer was clear.
Most students, unless they were particularly bold, usually carried a touch of nervousness when seeing a teacher—especially when that teacher was the principal.
Naturally timid, Ruan Shu felt even more nervous.
Karina looked at Ruan Shu with gentle sympathy. “Alright then, Ruan Shu, can you write? Would you like to play some simple games with me?”
Karina tried to keep her tone soft, worried she might frighten the little one.
Ruan Shu nodded. “Okay.”
Of course she could write. When she was with Xiao Yuanyi, there hadn’t been the resources, but ever since she was brought to the Marshal’s Mansion, Ruan Shu had taken the initiative to learn the language of this world.
Taking the pen Principal Karina offered her, Ruan Shu sat properly and began to write on the paper. As for what to write, Karina simply recited the school motto.
The first rule was: no random fighting.
That included children.
After reading what Ruan Shu had written, Karina was pleased.
Then, she had her complete some simple educational games.
As Ruan Shu worked on the puzzles and building blocks, her face flushed as she tried her best to slow down. Yet, Principal Karina showered her with compliments, saying she was much smarter than other children. This praise made Ruan Shu’s face turn even redder, shy and embarrassed.
She felt like she was taking advantage of little kids.
“Alright, Ruan Shu has passed with flying colors and can enroll at our school anytime!”
Ruan Xiao nodded. “I’d like to take her for a tour around the school.”
Karina smiled. “Of course, no problem. Would you like a guide?”
“A robot guide will do; I’ll take her around myself. Thank you, Principal Karina.”
Standing by her father’s side, Ruan Shu also politely said goodbye.
“Goodbye, Principal.”
Following her father out of the principal’s office, Ruan Shu held his hand, her eyes sparkling.
“Dad, I passed.”
She felt a bit shy, given how childish those games were to her.
“Mm, Shu’er did great.”
Receiving her father’s praise, Ruan Shu suppressed her small sense of discomfort. If it was childish, so be it—after all, she was a little kid now.
With a smile, her eyes curved into crescents, and holding her father’s hand, she felt even happier.
“Let’s take a look at the school first. If you don’t like it, we can look at others,” her father said.
“Okay.”
Ruan Shu began to observe the school carefully, something she could only do because her father was by her side. If she had been alone, she would have kept her head down, walking quickly and wishing she could go home immediately.
As the top school for herbivore star beasts, Qiming Star’s facilities were exceptionally well-equipped, even though this was just the kindergarten division.
Each class wasn’t too big, making it easier for teachers to manage. There was a miniature playground, along with various interest-based classes to cultivate the children’s hobbies and use up some of their excessive Jingshen.
Though herbivore star beasts were generally calmer than carnivores, their potential for destruction was still quite high.
Since the school year had already begun, Ruan Shu would be joining as a transfer student.
The school was vast, and after a quick tour, Ruan Shu and her father were ready to leave. For much of the latter half, her father ended up carrying her.
She felt her own weakness keenly; even compared to the other herbivores, she was lacking. Feeling she had let her father down, Ruan Shu clung to his neck, a bit downhearted.
“Dad, am I just useless? Maybe you could teach me to train?”
She also wanted to grow stronger. Right now, she felt like a fragile, frail beauty—a delicate flower in this world. Not only could she not fight, but even walking for a slightly extended time wore her out.
Ruan Xiao reassured her, “You can train, but there’s no need to push yourself too hard.”
After a moment’s thought, he added, “Maybe you could join one of the interest-based classes.”
Ruan Shu thought back to the classes they had seen earlier, considering something that might build her stamina.
“I’d like to learn dancing.”
Leaning on her father’s shoulder, she shared her thought bit by bit.
“Dancing involves exercise, and if I move a little more every day, I’ll get stronger little by little.”
After saying this, she looked at her father expectantly.
Maybe she didn’t even realize it herself, but the old Ruan Shu wouldn’t have spoken up so readily. Her long-standing habit of self-doubt had kept her from expressing herself, yet now, with gentle encouragement, she was gradually learning to voice her needs.
A hint of a smile flashed in Ruan Xiao’s eyes; he was pleased with his daughter’s shift in mindset.
“Alright, you can learn whatever you like.”
Ruan Shu’s mouth turned up in a happy smile.
After leaving the school, they didn’t head home immediately. Instead, they went to the nearby First Military Academy.
With Ruan Xiao’s status, he had free access to the academy.
He took Ruan Shu directly to the university division.
“Taking you to meet your third brother.”
Ruan Shu grew even more nervous, instinctively checking to make sure her clothes were neat.
Her mind raced with thoughts about what her third brother might be like, how she should greet him, and everything else that could go wrong.
The hover car came to a stop, but Ruan Xiao didn’t get out with her immediately.
He’d already sent Ruan Ling’an a message before they arrived.
—
About ten minutes earlier…
Ruan Ling’an, in the middle of a training session, saw the incoming message and looked genuinely shocked. The distraction cost him, and his friend took the opportunity to punch him square in the face.
“Whoa, what’s up with you? You didn’t even dodge that; it hit you right in the face!”
Ruan Ling’an irritably rubbed his face, “Quit yapping. I’ll remember that punch.”
With a bruise forming on his face, he opened the message, reading it several times over. His expression shifted from baffled to horrified.
His friend walked over, tossing him a water bottle.
“What are you reading that’s got you looking like you’ve seen a ghost?”
In a dazed tone, Ruan Ling’an replied, “Can you believe it? My dad just messaged me saying he’s coming to see me here at school.”
“Pfft—cough, cough…”
His friend, Rong Jun, nearly spat out his water. “The Marshal himself… coming to see you?”
Rong Jun looked him over, then took a few steps back, feigning terror. “Did you do something that the Marshal found out about? You’ve caused enough trouble—maybe it’s time to pay for it?”
With a mischievous glint in his eye, Rong Jun looked positively gleeful at the prospect, only to have a water bottle hurled at his head by Ruan Ling’an.
“Care to explain what ‘trouble’ you’re accusing me of? I’ve never hurt an innocent star beast!”
“Alright, alright, whatever you say, ancestor. But the real question is, does the Marshal believe that? He’s coming here himself—something feels off to me.”
Ruan Ling’an scowled. Though he felt a chill run down his spine, he wasn’t about to admit it.
Glaring darkly at his friend, he silently vowed that if he ended up in trouble because of Rong Jun’s big mouth, he’d deal with him when he got back.