Part 3
Lu Qiujin had originally planned to take it slow, boil the frog in warm water, gain Luo Shizhen’s trust, and purify his own pollution.
But in just two days, Xiao Shan had appeared beside Luo Shizhen.
And Rong Nian. He hadn’t missed that Rong Nian placed a mark on Luo Shizhen.
Delaying further, who knew who else would pop up?
He had thought the claim that Purifiers could use abilities on trusted Awakeners during initial awakening was just talk to give hope to classmates, and that in reality, only lovers could do it.
Unexpectedly, the books were right.
Lu Qiujin clearly understood his own calculations. He originally intended to use Luo Shizhen’s ability to purify his pollution.
Only, the plan changed from becoming Luo Shizhen’s lover to becoming his friend.
Lu Qiujin seemed to hear his inner self sneering, mocking.
Yes, he, Lu Qiujin, was such a despicable person. To survive, he could exploit others’ emotions.
He hated his parents, yet he eventually became like them.
But to approach Luo Shizhen, he needed to keep the two blocking him busy.
Lu Qiujin hid all thoughts deep in his heart, showing only a standard smile, speaking casually:
“Say, will Luo Shizhen accept Chu Xiao’s pursuit?”
Xiao Shan’s brain crashed.
“What did you say??”
Lu Qiujin feigned confusion. “Can’t you tell? Chu Xiao likes Luo Shizhen.”
Xiao Shan really hadn’t thought in that direction. His pupils contracted, and he said subconsciously:
“Shizhen is straight. He doesn’t like men.”
“He is straight, but Chu Xiao isn’t.”
Lu Qiujin smiled.
“They grew up together; their feelings are obviously deep. If Chu Xiao pursues fiercely, given Luo Shizhen’s easy-going personality and his bond with Chu Xiao, maybe he’ll agree.”
Xiao Shan previously felt Chu Xiao’s words were weird. Now that Lu Qiujin said it, it was like opening a meridian.
Right. Luo Shizhen said he was straight, but Chu Xiao never did.
Lu Qiujin’s voice came slowly, like a demon’s whisper:
“After all, you know Awakeners repel the opposite sex. Usually, it’s either training or class. Even as Guardians, missions are required. Luo Shizhen doesn’t even have time to find an ordinary girl. With Chu Xiao grinding away beside him… right?”
“You haven’t awakened for long, but you must have heard plenty about same-sex relationships among Awakeners. Straight men… can be bent.”
Xiao Shan instantly felt a crisis. His fierce face looked even fiercer.
Right, straight men can be bent.
What was Chu Xiao? Not tall enough, not enough muscle, looks too weak, ability is ice with insufficient lethality.
How could he deserve his straight-man lackey?
Xiao Shan immediately decided to guard strictly against Chu Xiao.
Lu Qiujin watched the changing expressions on Xiao Shan’s face, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.
When the two arrived at the infirmary, Chu Xiao was still asleep. Luo Shizhen came out to greet them.
Seeing Lu Qiujin carrying a bag of snacks and holding a beautiful flower, Luo Shizhen was extremely confused.
“Thank you for bringing gifts, but are you saying these are for me?”
“But the patient is Chu Xiao.”
Xiao Shan stuffed the snacks into his arms.
“You’re my lackey. If I don’t give to you, who do I give to? Insisting on staying here to take care of him… he’s a grown man and an Awakener; what can happen?”
He glared fiercely into the ward, feeling Chu Xiao was the type to crawl into Luo Shizhen’s bed under the pretext of illness in the middle of the night. He announced loudly:
“I’m not leaving tonight. I’ll stay with you.”
Lu Qiujin smiled and stepped forward, handing the flower to Luo Shizhen. “Saw it on the way and thought it suited you, so I brought it. Hope you like it.”
Luo Shizhen was flattered by Lu Qiujin’s sudden kindness. “Thank you.”
He was a bit surprised. “Flowers can bloom in this weather?”
Lu Qiujin smiled. “I am also an Elemental User. Wood type.”
“Although training was tough today, making a flower bloom is simple for me.”
Luo Shizhen realized, thanked him again, and prepared to take Lu Qiujin to see Chu Xiao.
Lu Qiujin said, “No need. I came for you. Rong Nian is in confinement, and you and Xiao Shan are staying at the infirmary. Staying alone in the dorm is boring.”
He showed some expectation on his face. “Can I stay here tonight too?”
Xiao Shan: “?”
“Is your brain broken?”
Lu Qiujin ignored him, focusing solely on Luo Shizhen.
“I happened to read a case similar to Chu Xiao’s. He needs to adapt to the internal Qi. If other Awakeners are present, our Qi can stimulate him to adapt faster and recover sooner.”
Luo Shizhen’s eyes lit up, ready to agree, but he remembered this was the infirmary.
“If you all come to stay, the dorm will be empty. Will the doctor teachers agree?”
Lu Qiujin calmly took out a medical form.
“They agree. I happen to be treating an old injury here.”
“Okay! I’ll help you move beds!”
Luo Shizhen lost his doubts and felt happy that Chu Xiao could recover faster. He asked:
“Do you two want to be next to each other? Being closer feels like being in the dorm.”
Luo Shizhen was self-aware. He just arrived at the dorm; Lu Qiujin couldn’t be here for him.
Maybe Lu Qiujin wanted to sleep with Big Brother?
Luo Shizhen was happy Big Brother was so popular. “You have such a good relationship; sleeping together is better, right?”
The standard smile on Lu Qiujin’s face froze for a second. “No, no need.”
Xiao Shan also showed a disgusted expression. He still didn’t know what illness Lu Qiujin had caught to insist on staying in the infirmary.
But his aggro was all drawn by Chu Xiao, so he didn’t bother analyzing Lu Qiujin’s thoughts.
Luo Shizhen was happy, feeling integrated into the dorm environment. He found a bottle, put the flower in, placed it on the bedside table, and actively helped move beds.
Thus, that night, the order of beds in the ward became Lu Qiujin—Luo Shizhen—Xiao Shan.
In front of them in the middle was the sleeping Chu Xiao.
Luo Shizhen was closest to Chu Xiao. He got up occasionally to check if Chu Xiao had a fever, tossing until past midnight before falling asleep groggily.
So good.
Before sleeping, he thought: When Chu Xiao wakes up tomorrow and sees so many people keeping him company, he should feel comforted, right?
Before passing out, he said he accepted Big Brother as his friend.
Now Big Brother actively came to keep watch and help him adapt to Qi faster. Big Brother is so nice. Chu Xiao will definitely be moved.
At 1 AM, Xiao Shan climbed up gloomily, glared fiercely at Chu Xiao on the hospital bed, then considered Luo Shizhen beside him, and could only lie back down to sleep.
At 2 AM, Lu Qiujin turned over. An Awakener’s good vision allowed him to see the flower Luo Shizhen carefully cherished in the bottle in the dark.
Just a flower, yet he was as happy as if given a house.
Lu Qiujin closed his eyes coldly, thinking: Next time, might as well give a house. Maybe the effect will be better.
At 3 AM.
Outside the student dormitory building, a figure flashed by. The two teachers on night duty saw clearly who it was and sighed.
“That kid really doesn’t rest.”
Inside the Yuheng dormitory.
Rong Nian, having secretly broken out of the confinement room in the middle of the night, was incredibly excited.
So what if his ability was temporarily locked in confinement? His body was still robust, his senses keen. He could still sneak out.
With his ability locked, Rong Nian couldn’t sense Luo Shizhen’s location, but that didn’t stop him from holding his breath and running toward Luo Shizhen’s bed.
Unable to contain his excitement, he crawled into Luo Shizhen’s bed in the dark.
And pounced on empty air.
“…”
Rong Nian’s exquisite, beautiful face was filled with confusion.
He snapped the light on.
The huge dormitory was empty. No one was there.
Rong Nian: ???
In the middle of the night, inside the soundproof dormitory where sound couldn’t escape, only his angry shout echoed:
“WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE!!!!”
T/n: Hahahaha. Poor Rong Nian!!! LOL
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