Bai Tang sat in his position, observing everyone making friends. When he saw She Rao approaching Xiao Feige, Bai Tang expressed some concerns to the system, “Why does it feel like the snake looking for the pigeon gives off a vibe like a weasel wishing the chicken a Happy New Year?”
The system looked at Bai Tang with care, “Do you know that I’m also worried like this every day?”
Bai Tang: “…Huh?”
The system coolly remarked, “You are like a mud Bodhisattva crossing the river, struggling to protect yourself, yet you still have the leisure to worry about others.”
Feeling that the system’s resentment was quite heavy, Bai Tang closed his mouth and silently paid attention to the dynamics between the pigeon and the snake. He saw the snake chattering away, and the pigeon remained silent for a long time before nodding ever so slightly.
So, the snake became incredibly happy and laughed foolishly. With slender features, she looked exceptionally cold when not smiling, but when she laughed, it seemed as if bubbles of silliness were popping.
It seemed like there was really no need to worry.
Bai Tang withdrew his gaze, ready to turn around, when he saw Qing Dai approaching him.
The young man carried a drawing board, humbly lowered his head, and softly said, “Hello, classmate Bai Tang, I’m Qing Dai. If you ever want to take a photo or have a portrait done, you can come find me.”
“My hobby is photography,” Qing Dai said somewhat shyly, “I consider myself to have a first-class skill among amateurs.”
Qing Dai didn’t know how to describe his current feelings. He felt that Bai Tang was well-suited for painting and photography. Whenever he saw Bai Tang, he had a strong desire to capture him, to paint him. This emotion had nothing to do with love, only with the pursuit of beauty.
After listening to Qing Dai’s explanation, Bai Tang paused for a second. The system clicked its tongue incessantly, “You, this man who attracts all kinds of little fairies, they all gather around you.”
“He is a Stone Spirit,” Bai Tang corrected the system’s wording. He then looked back at Qing Dai and smiled friendly, “Sure.”
The young man in front of him happily went back.
Watching the other’s joyful appearance, Bai Tang fell into contemplation. He had thought before that liking someone just because of their appearance was shallow.
But seeing Qing Dai genuinely happy at the moment, he felt somewhat uncertain.
Being liked by someone must be due to some unique trait of one’s person. An interesting soul can be liked, and astonishing beauty can also be appreciated.
Appearance is something that can be seen at a glance, starting with looks. But being loyal to character is also a beautiful thing.
After thinking so much, Bai Tang just wanted to confidently tell himself that being liked by Su Siyuan…
Isn’t it a wonderful thing?
Fortunately, the system couldn’t hear Bai Tang’s inner thoughts, allowing it to calmly and peacefully help Bai Tang take notes in class.
The content of the class was quite interesting. Before starting the lecture, Chu Li divided She Ruo and Xiao Feige, Zhen Aichi and Tang Jinlang, and Bai Tang and Qing Dai into groups, with each person having a deskmate.
The theme Chu Li was going to teach was “restraining one’s nature.” She wrote this line on the blackboard and then told them a little story.
It was a very old story.
Once upon a time, there was a weasel who was very fond of a scholar. It wanted to marry the scholar. So, the weasel went to beg the gods to grant her marriage and expressed its willingness to pay any price for it.
The gods were moved by the weasel’s determination, so they turned the weasel into a beautiful girl. The weasel, now a girl, met and fell in love with the scholar. Finally, on the day of their wedding, the weasel, dressed in bridal attire, happily sat on the bed, waiting for her husband to arrive.
The gods decided to test the weasel one last time, to see if the weasel could truly become a human.
The deity transformed into a mouse and threw the mouse under the bed.
The mouse squeaked, and the weasel, unable to resist its hunger, grabbed the mouse and stuffed it into its mouth—
It transformed back into itself.
Because humans do not eat mice; only animals do.
“This story tells us that to become a human, the most important thing is restraint. There are many things monsters can do, but humans cannot,” Chu Li said solemnly.
“To be human, we must know what things to do and what things not to do. The requirements for obtaining the certificate of becoming a spirit are not high. Just remember what things you shouldn’t do.”
“No harming others, no violating human laws, no exposing your monster identity,” Chu Li became serious as she spoke, “Those who knowingly violate will have their spirit certification revoked, and they will be forever barred from entering human society!”
Bai Tang focused on taking notes, and the mottled light and shadow fell on the young man, casting reflections on the swaying green sprouts.
The little green sprout bathed in sunlight, thriving and growing.
Whether human or monster, they both need proper guidance during their growth. Once a sprout grows crooked, it’s difficult to straighten, and the same goes for humans if they deviate from the right path.
The training class concluded, and Su Siyuan, dressed in a suit, stood outside waiting. It was the height of summer, and the deafening sound of cicadas echoed like a torrential downpour.
Su Siyuan, holding a black umbrella, stood quietly under the tree. Behind him were seven chubby snail babies. When Bai Tang stepped out, the snail babies excitedly opened their little hands and rushed toward him. Su Siyuan watched Bai Tang from a distance, then slowly revealed a gentle, faint smile.
“How was your learning today?” Su Siyuan asked softly, observing Bai Tang surrounded by the snail babies.
“It was alright,” Bai Tang replied confidently, thanks to the courage given to him by the system.
After hearing the adults’ conversation, Chi Yi eagerly raised his hand and spoke, “Tang Tang, I did great in class today too! The teacher even gave me a little red flower.” The chubby little hand pointed to the red flower sticker on his forehead, and Chi Yi smiled like a New Year’s painting doll.
The other snail babies also eagerly showed off their little red flowers, and Bai Tang quickly encouraged them by patting their heads.
The snail babies, encouraged and even more joyful, chattered incessantly. From the teacher’s lessons to the little cactus spirit, and then to how amazing they were. Their lively chatter was louder than a hundred sparrows. It continued until they were led away by Grandpa Su. Only then did Bai Tang and Su Siyuan find peace.
Bai Tang looked at the snail babies reluctant to leave, and couldn’t help but laugh, “Are all little monsters this cute?”
“Yes,” Su Siyuan gazed at Bai Tang, nodding in affirmation.
Bai Tang was climbing onto the back of a Magpie Spirit and didn’t notice Su Siyuan’s gaze. After he settled, Su Siyuan easily sat behind him.
The magpie spirit took off, flapping its wings and flying into the sky.
Bai Tang was still lingering on the previous topic. He was curious about what Su Siyuan was like when he was young, so he asked.
“Very lazy,” Su Siyuan succinctly replied.
Bai Tang became even more curious. Although Su Siyuan’s movements were not fast now, they couldn’t be described as slow either. He moved with a calm and composed manner, the kind of unhurried and methodical approach that came from strategic planning. Bai Tang couldn’t imagine what a lazy young Su Siyuan would be like.
“Would rather sit than stand, would rather lie down than sit, and didn’t want to walk even a bit,” Su Siyuan noticed Bai Tang’s curiosity and added with a hint of amusement in his voice, “Just like this—”
The man opened his arms and gently embraced the young man in front of him. He rested his chin on the other’s shoulder and lazily said, “Carry… me… away…”
Brown eyes reflected the sky filled with drifting clouds and the bewildered expression of the young man.
Su Siyuan chuckled and said, “It’s okay if you don’t carry me. After all, I’m holding onto you now, and you can’t shake me off.”
“Kid, let’s give him a demonstration of shaking off.” The system spoke indifferently.
In the instant the system finished speaking, Su Siyuan let go of his hands. He straightened up, appearing like a proper gentleman. He continued speaking earnestly, “Aside from being lazy in this aspect, I was also lazy to eat. I only wanted to be fed. When I was even younger, I wouldn’t even help hold the milk bottle if it spilled.”
Bai Tang listened to Su Siyuan’s words with a confused expression. He felt like there was a “hit and run after flirting” sloth standing in front of him, and behind the sloth was an angry system.
“At three years old, I looked at my grandpa and realized being such a lazy sloth wasn’t good.” The system seized every opportunity to criticize Su Siyuan.
“Later, my grandpa thought it was unacceptable, so one day, he pretended to be sick, lying in bed and saying he couldn’t move.” Su Siyuan spoke about the past with a soft gaze. “I was scared and nervous at that time. I didn’t want my grandpa to carry me while walking or feed me. I moved a small stool, fetched hot water, and tried to give it to my grandpa myself.”
“But I was usually too lazy. I couldn’t even do something as simple as carrying water properly. The short distance from the kitchen to the bedroom, and I managed to spill half of the hot water.”
“At that time, I suddenly understood that if I continued to be lazy like this, I wouldn’t be able to protect anyone,” Su Siyuan spoke softly. “I couldn’t protect the people I wanted to guard.”
“Laziness is my inherent flaw. Being in a lazy state is indeed comfortable, but I can’t let myself indulge in it,” Su Siyuan reached out to touch the flowing breeze and looked towards the distant horizon. “I should be strong enough to be a tree that can shelter others from wind and rain, not a lazy sloth clinging to others.”
After finishing, Su Siyuan looked back at Bai Tang. “And you, what were you like when you were a child?”
Bai Tang’s memories were incomplete. Many past events had faded from his recollection, leaving only a few fragments, like whispers of plants, such as how comfortable the sunlight was and what a nice weather it was.
There was also a deep male voice.
“Your blooming appearance…like white magnolias…”
Bai Tang shook his head, “I can’t remember.”
Su Siyuan didn’t press for more information. He continued to tell Bai Tang about his childhood stories, like going to kindergarten, and how the little monsters would go for snacks after waking up from their nap, with him and Chi Cainan always being the slowest.
Other little monsters were getting out of bed; they had just put on their clothes. While other little monsters were finishing their snacks, they were just getting out of bed. So, Chi Cainan quickly swallowed his snack, pretending he had caught up with the rest of the group.
Here, let’s introduce snails. Snails have the most teeth of any animal in the world, with a saw-like tongue. So, clever Chi Cainan held the snack in his mouth, chewed, and devoured it with his tongue.
“And then?” Bai Tang asked eagerly.
“Then, I was still eating snacks, and Chi Cainan shamelessly called me ‘Su Slowly’ on the side,” Su Siyuan said. “So, I became the slowest little monster in the entire kindergarten.”
Although it was pitiful, it somehow made him want to laugh.
Bai Tang tried hard not to laugh, but the amusement in his eyes and the corners of his mouth betrayed him.
“You’re laughing,” Su Siyuan asserted.
“No, no,” Bai Tang quickly denied, and then accused Chi Cainan with righteous indignation, “Chi Cainan is really too much.”
Su Siyuan gazed silently at the theatrically expressive Bai Tang, nodding as if convincingly persuaded.
My dear little monster, I know you’re laughing.
Because the intention behind sharing these embarrassing stories is to make you laugh.
Author’s note:
I’ve read the story of the weasel before, but I can’t remember the source~
When writing about Su Siyuan’s childhood, I suddenly thought of a saying, roughly: “Why are you dragging your feet, little child? The tiger has chased you to your buttocks, and you still want to turn around and count how many hairs are on the tiger’s mouth.”
I couldn’t stop laughing for a long time. How can there be such a cute metaphor?
