After taking out the treats, Ruan Ling’an watched as three shameless scoundrels eagerly grabbed at them, leaving only one in his hand. Instantly, he regretted it.
Why did he even give them to these pigs? Wouldn’t it be better to keep them all for himself and savor them slowly?
Expressionless, Ruan Ling’an popped the last piece into his mouth.
“Let’s go, time for training!” His tone carried a hint of menace.
Without another word, he stood up, dragging the three towards the training ground.
He Qi, sensing danger, immediately protested, “Hey, hey… I’m in the middle of a game!”
Ruan Ling’an replied, “Forget the game. I haven’t finished my training yet.”
He Qi retorted, “What does your unfinished training have to do with me? Get lost!”
Rong Jun looked utterly confused. “Wait, Brother Ling, didn’t you already complete today’s training? What are you trying to do?”
Ruan Ling’an’s face turned dark. “I feel like fighting!”
An Lan muttered, knowing all too well: This guy’s insane!
And so, the four roommates found themselves back in the medical room, once again.
This time, though, they had fought under a legitimate excuse in the training room, so the school didn’t issue any formal reprimands. After all, this wasn’t a rare occurrence. Young star-beasts were often too energetic; as long as they didn’t damage school property, they were free to spar as much as they liked in the training area.
Meanwhile, after leaving the school, Ruan Xiao didn’t take Ruan Shu directly home. Instead, he brought her to a commercial district.
The hovercar navigated through a city filled with towering skyscrapers and eventually stopped at a shopping mall.
Ruan Shu looked at her father, puzzled. “Daddy, why are we here?”
Ruan Xiao gave a brief response, “To shop.”
Ruan Shu murmured an “Oh,” and when her father came around to pick her up, she obediently wrapped her little arms around his neck, leaning her soft body into his embrace.
The street was bustling, and the arrival of Ruan Xiao’s hovercar instantly attracted attention from car enthusiasts.
This model and license plate weren’t something ordinary people could possess.
When they stepped out, a wave of excited whispers spread, especially among some of the girls.
“That… that man looks like Marshal Ruan Xiao from the Third Legion!” one voice squealed, nearly breaking from excitement.
As a national marshal, Ruan Xiao’s identity was widely known online.
Of course, he wasn’t the only one. The Star-Beast Empire had five legions and the Emperor’s personal guard knights, all highly respected. Among them, the five marshals received the most attention.
In a world that revered strength, Ruan Xiao wasn’t a celebrity, yet his influence and appeal far exceeded that of any superstar.
Although Ruan Xiao wasn’t technically a public figure, he had millions of fans. His social media account, devoid of any posts or captions, had billions of followers.
Fan forums buzzed with photos and videos of him at various events, and fans of the different marshals frequently argued over who was the strongest or the most handsome, with more excitement than any celebrity fandom.
So, as soon as he stepped out of the car, people recognized him immediately. However, no one dared approach due to his imposing and icy aura.
Ruan Shu also vaguely heard the chatter around them. She blinked, looking up at her father in surprise. Was her dad really this popular?
As Ruan Xiao carried her out, a series of gasps rose from the crowd.
“What’s going on? Is that Marshal Ruan’s daughter?”
“Look at her white hair, those eyes—she must be his daughter!”
“Whoa! Did Marshal Ruan remarry? How come there’s been no news?”
Everyone was shocked. What was going on?
Being a marshal, Ruan Xiao attracted significant attention, yet no one had heard anything about him getting married.
Ruan Shu’s little fingers tightened around her dad’s neck. The people around were talking so loudly, and so many eyes were on her.
Feeling shy, she nestled further into her father’s embrace, resting her chin on his shoulder. Her round blue eyes glistened, her tiny, chubby face soft and adorable with its rosy cheeks and fluffy, snow-white hair. Everyone who saw her couldn’t help but be charmed.
She’s so… so cute!
Despite feeling a little braver than before, Ruan Shu still felt shy and nervous with so many people watching. She couldn’t help but burrow deeper into her dad’s arms, hiding her face and leaving only her fluffy, snow-white hair visible.
Ruan Xiao’s long fingers gently patted the back of her head. “We’re here to buy a child seat and some clothes.”
Ruan Shu blinked, rubbing her face lightly against her dad’s shoulder. “Okay, but Daddy, I already have lots of clothes.”
Her soft, sweet voice was so obedient.
Ruan Xiao nodded, “You’re still growing, so you can have more.”
The child seat he intended to buy was safer and could be placed in the front passenger seat.
Ignoring all the attention around them, Ruan Xiao calmly led his daughter into the mall. Some of the onlookers couldn’t help but follow.
As they browsed for a child seat, Ruan Shu sat in her father’s arms, her whole little face on display—soft and pink, with plump cheeks that looked irresistibly pinchable.
The store assistant was eager to help, her gaze flicking between Ruan Xiao and his daughter with a mix of excitement and curiosity.
Pointing to a few sturdy, stylish child seats, Ruan Xiao said, “Pick a color you like.”
Ruan Shu didn’t hesitate, pointing to a blue and white one with her small hand.
After purchasing it, Ruan Xiao took his daughter to the children’s clothing store.
Children’s clothing in the Star-Beast Empire prioritized practicality and quality. Anything less, and clothes wouldn’t survive a day of wear with the kids around here.
When they entered the store, other parents were also shopping with their children. However, the kids weren’t focused on clothes but were playing hide-and-seek in the aisles.
One of the sales assistants expertly lifted a small child hiding beneath the clothing racks. Ruan Shu noticed the solid muscles in the woman’s arms.
“Excuse me, whose child is this?” she asked.
“Mine, mine! I’m coming right over! This little rascal won’t try on clothes properly!” A mother rushed over, grabbing her son and giving him two quick, loud pats on his bottom.
Hearing the smacks, Ruan Shu nestled further into her dad’s arms, peeking over with wide eyes. Surprisingly, the child didn’t cry; instead, he squirmed even harder, growling as he tried to bite his mom’s hand.
The mother, unperturbed, simply pulled a bite guard from her bag and popped it into his mouth.
The child: “Awooo, awooo!”
The mother gave his bottom another pat. “Behave yourself!”
The other shoppers remained unfazed, clearly used to such scenes.
Ruan Shu: “…”
It didn’t feel like child-rearing—it felt more like animal training.
“Hello, sir, may I assist you with anything?” A store clerk approached politely, her gaze drifting repeatedly to the quiet little girl in Ruan Xiao’s arms.
So calm?
How strange. She couldn’t help but take another look.