The butler’s voice drifted in, soft but pointed. “Didn’t Young Master dislike them before? Besides, I did mention that these things would be in the Patriarch’s or other young masters’ cars too.”
Ruan Shu, clutching her small blanket, nodded in agreement. She could vouch that Grandpa Butler had indeed said so before.
Ruan Fengsi hesitated. “…Well, I’ve changed my mind. Can’t I like them now?”
Despite his words, he felt a bit guilty. Besides, he didn’t exactly have the courage to snatch it from his dad.
Forget it. He could always buy a set himself to keep in his car.
“Bye-bye, Big Brother! Bye-bye, Grandpa Butler! Bye-bye, Xiaomi!”
As the hover car was about to leave, Ruan Shu leaned out the window, her little hand clutching the edge as she poked her head out, her soft voice calling out farewell.
Ruan Fengsi walked over and flicked her forehead lightly.
“Ow!” Ruan Shu clutched her forehead, pulling her head back into the car with a pout.
Big Brother was always bullying her.
But after a few seconds, she peeked out again, her eyes glistening with caution, as she took a deep blue cloud-knot charm from her crossbody bag and held it out to him.
“Big Brother, this is for you.”
Just moments ago, the little one had been fuming, but now, as if she had forgotten entirely, she held out the charm she had prepared for him.
“What’s this?”
Ruan Xiao glanced over, then down at the Chinese knot hanging from his own waist.
Hmm. He still thought his looked nicer.
Ruan Fengsi noticed the ornament on his father’s waist too but, while a bit surprised, decided not to question it.
Now, holding the charm in his hand, he understood; this little one probably gifted his father something similar.
“This is a cloud knot. It represents blessings. Goodbye, Big Brother!”
With that, she ducked back into the car, which sped off before Ruan Fengsi could fully react.
Ruan Fengsi rolled his eyes, muttering to himself. It was just a trip to school. It’s not like anyone’s going to steal her away.
He tossed the cloud knot in his hand a few times, then considered where to hang it.
On his waist?
No way. He wouldn’t copy the old man.
Maybe on his chest? But that felt a bit too deliberate.
Eventually, he managed to fashion it into a wristband, wearing it on his wrist.
Low-key but still visible—perfect.
And so, to Qiming Star Academy…
Ruan Xiao carried Ruan Shu to the school. Today was different from their last visit; it was recess, and the playground was teeming with children laughing and playing.
Ruan Shu clung tightly to her dad’s neck, with just the top of her fluffy little head poking out, her big, watery blue eyes filled with both curiosity and nervousness as she observed the children around them.
Some were in their star beast forms, while others were in a half-beast form. Not a single one was behaving like a regular human.
Even though they were all herbivorous star beasts, they were plenty energetic and playful.
Ruan Shu spotted a rabbit—one that was even larger than a grown orange tabby cat—pawing at a toy ball, gnawing on it with its front teeth.
The toy ball, which looked incredibly sturdy, had already been worn down with a sizable dent from the rabbit’s powerful teeth, which even glinted coldly, almost like blades.
She also saw a hamster-like star beast. Although still a young cub, it was already about the size of a basketball, with impressively strong teeth and an uncanny ability to stash things away.
A teacher chased the hamster down, finally catching it by one leg and giving it a little shake. Instantly, a shower of snacks and small toys tumbled out of its mouth.
“Shu Er, you’re hiding your classmates’ toys and snacks again!”
“Squeak, squeak!” The big hamster flailed its little legs, and once it hit the ground, it transformed into a chubby white ball.
“I traded with them fair and square! These are mine!”
The teacher pointed to the scattered toys. “And what about these?”
“I was just holding onto them for safekeeping!”
The hamster argued fervently but soon felt a chill of impending danger.
With a squeak of terror, Shu Er transformed back into a round, pudgy hamster and scurried far away before cautiously glancing back at the source of danger.
Other cubs mirrored Shu Er’s actions, some even bumping into each other in confusion, which soon escalated into a playful scuffle.
Herbivorous star beast cubs fighting was a comical sight. Unlike carnivorous star beasts who would use claws and fangs, these cubs relied on headbutts, nips, and rapid kicks like spinning wheels.
Ruan Xiao observed the little ones, then looked down at his daughter nestled in his arms.
Somehow… it didn’t feel all that safe here either.
Ruan Shu was silent, a single thought filling her mind.
That hamster—it was huge! And it was just a cub! How big would an adult hamster be?!
Not to mention, these hamsters only looked like the ones she knew; their fur was actually a bit rough and not soft to the touch.
Ruan Shu let out a sigh, slumping on her dad’s shoulder in defeat. As a ragdoll cat, life seemed bleak—there wasn’t a single star beast here she could hope to overpower.
She could feel the world’s hostility toward ragdoll cats.
At that moment, the cubs on the playground were also watching Ruan Xiao warily.
His presence was overpowering for the herbivorous star beast cubs, and their instinctive response was a mix of fear and dislike.
“Squeak, squeak, squeak.” Who is he? He looks so scary, even scarier than my dad.
“Chirp, chirp, chirp.” I don’t know. Why is he here at school?
“Tweet, tweet, tweet.” His aura feels like those carnivorous cubs who only know how to fight.
The cubs gathered together, whispering intensely among themselves. Ruan Xiao’s overwhelming presence kept them so distracted that they hadn’t even noticed Ruan Shu, who he was holding.
On the way to the principal’s office, Ruan Xiao patiently whispered reminders to her.
“Don’t play any dangerous games with them. If any kid bullies you, tell the teacher, then let me and your brothers know. Your Third Brother lives closest; if it’s urgent, go to him. He won’t ignore you.”
Ruan Shu listened carefully, nodding and quietly repeating his words in her mind.
Find a teacher, tell Dad, go to my brothers. I don’t have to be scared now—I have my family to back me up.
Principal Karina had been waiting eagerly for them, or more accurately, had been waiting since yesterday, though they hadn’t come then.
The moment she saw Ruan Shu, Karina’s eyes lit up.
“Welcome to Qiming Star Academy, Ruan Shu.”
Ruan Shu got down from her father’s arms and stood straight, greeting the principal in her soft, sweet voice.
“Hello, Principal.”
“Wonderful, wonderful! Come, let me introduce you to your class.”
Karina waved her over, and Ruan Shu instinctively glanced at her father.
“Go on, I’ll be right here.”
Though his tone was steady and calm, it gave Ruan Shu a sense of reassurance.
She stuck out her tiny foot, grasped the edge of her dress with her little fingers, and slowly made her way over to Karina.