At the main gates of Nevermore Academy.
Pugsley looked up at the building before him, which radiated a Gothic aura even heavier than their family castle, and mumbled softly:
"Will I make friends here?"
Gomez's large hand landed heavily on his son's shoulder, accompanied by a booming laugh.
"Of course you will! Look at this! Magnificent! The students here are outcasts just like us! You'll take to it like a fish to water!"
Morticia leaned down elegantly, adjusting Wednesday's already immaculate black collar. Her deep eyes held a trace of imperceptible tenderness:
"Darling, promise me... take care of your brother at school."
Wednesday's pitch-black eyes remained calm, stating a fact: "I have always taken care of him."
Seizing the opportunity, Pugsley secretly tugged at the hem of Vic's shirt. Standing on his tiptoes, he whispered his "heartwarming" childhood memories:
"My sister takes great care of people! When I was little and cried, she would nail me into a small coffin to rock me to sleep."
A look of nostalgia even appeared on his face.
"She even thoughtfully dug a matching small pit in the garden beforehand, saying it felt safer that way."
Vic's eyes lit up as he listened. He offered genuine praise, his voice not loud but perfectly clear:
"Whoa! She's going to be such a virtuous wife and mother!"
Swish—
A cold glare stabbed into Vic's face like a dagger.
Wednesday turned her head slowly. Her pale face showed no ripple of emotion, but the chill in her eyes was enough to freeze the air.
She ignored Vic. Instead, she reached out with her slender, pale, yet surprisingly strong hand, grabbed Pugsley by the back of his collar, and hoisted him to eye level.
"Listen. Here are the rules."
Wednesday's voice was cool. "First, no eye contact without permission."
Pugsley nodded obediently.
"Second, if you are subjected to inefficient or artistically lacking bullying, all requests for assistance must be submitted in writing. Detail the time, location, participants, and a creativity score for the bullying method. Verbal whining is invalid."
Pugsley continued to nod, his small face written with "I know the drill."
"Finally, and most importantly, Thing belongs to me. Understood?"
"Understood! Sister!"
Pugsley answered crisply, clearly accustomed to this protocol.
Vic watched this scene of "sibling affection" from the side, the corner of his mouth twitching.
The moment Wednesday let go, Vic immediately leaned in sneakily to Pugsley's ear, speaking rapidly in an even lower voice:
"Don't worry. I stuffed a few 'interesting guys' into your shadow."
Vic winked.
"If you run into trouble you really can't handle, shout 'Brother-in-law, help me!' at your shadow. I guarantee an instant response."
He was referring to several elite Shadow Khan ninjas, currently lurking like liquid shadows at Pugsley's feet.
Pugsley's eyes lit up instantly, like he'd been given the coolest toy ever.
After speaking, Vic straightened up, grabbed Enid who was standing nearby, and caught up with Wednesday, who had already turned and walked toward the school gate.
Gomez watched the retreating figures of the three young people, especially Vic's slightly hurried but energetic stride. He hugged Morticia's waist with satisfaction:
"See that, Cara Mia? I told you that boy is one of us deep down!"
Morticia's red lips curved slightly. Her gaze swept over Vic's back, then landed on her own children. Her tone carried lazy approval:
"Indeed... that thoughtfulness of 'arranging things in the shadows' does remind me somewhat of your style back in the day."
On the other side, Vic caught up with Wednesday and tentatively tried to hold her hand hanging by her side.
Wednesday didn't dodge, but her fingertips were ice-cold.
She stared straight ahead, her voice drifting over flatly: "How many Shadow Khan did you stuff into my brother's shadow?"
"Uh... a few... um... maybe a dozen?"
Vic tried to muddle through with cuteness.
Wednesday finally turned her head and glanced at him. That look seemed to say "I will settle this with you later," but ultimately, she didn't shake off his hand.
Enid smiled and linked her arm through Vic's other arm, her blue eyes curved: "Looks like our new semester starts with 'internal family management,' huh?"
Shoulder to shoulder, the three stepped into the light-and-shadow-dappled, destined-to-be-turbulent gates of Nevermore Academy.
Vic looked back and secretly flashed an "OK" sign to Pugsley, who was still watching him from the entrance.
Pugsley nodded vigorously, making the same sign by his side, his face wearing a smile mixed with nervousness about the unknown and excitement over having a "secret weapon."
---
Stepping into the Quad of Nevermore Academy, Vic, Wednesday, and Enid instantly became the focal point of attention.
The long shadows cast by the ancient buildings seemed to tremble slightly at their return.
"Look, they're back."
"It's Wednesday!"
Whispers spread through the courtyard like a tide, carrying unconcealed excitement and curiosity.
Young outcasts focused their burning gazes on the trio.
A few bolder girls, clutching notebooks and quill pens tightly, pushed each other forward.
Finally, led by a redhead with the same hairstyle as Wednesday—straight bangs and twin braids—they approached Wednesday timidly yet expectantly.
"Wed... Wednesday."
The redhead piled a fawning smile on her face, her voice trembling slightly with agitation.
"Can... can you give us an autograph?"
The girls behind her also cast longing glances.
Wednesday's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. The temperature around her dropped another few degrees.
Her pitch-black eyes swept over this group of fanatical "admirers." Her tone was as cold as a tombstone in a crypt:
"I only sign in blood."
Unexpectedly, the redhead wasn't scared off. Instead, an unhealthy flush rose on her face. Her breathing quickened, and her eyes flashed with near-ecstatic light:
"That... that is exactly what I hoped for!"
She even licked her lips subconsciously.
"I didn't say it would be my blood."
Wednesday's voice grew colder, carrying a trace of imperceptible annoyance.
She disliked being gawked at, and she especially disliked this superficial adulation.
"Oh~"
The flush on the redhead's face became more pronounced. Her eyes glazed over, as if she had fallen into some kind of reverie.
Seeing the atmosphere sliding toward a weird direction, Vic intervened at the perfect moment. He draped an arm naturally over Wednesday's tense shoulder, flashing his signature sunny, slightly cynical smile.
"Autographs? I can sign too!"
He winked playfully with his peach-blossom eyes.
"I know twenty-one different styles of artistic signatures. Guaranteed to be flowier than a vampire bat's flight path!"
However, the moment the redhead's gaze touched Vic, the temperature plummeted. The flush on her face receded rapidly, replaced by an icy indifference identical to Wednesday's.
Her gaze locked dead onto Vic's hand resting on Wednesday's shoulder. Her eyes were as sharp as poisoned blades, looking as if she wanted to rush up and chop off the paw "desecrating" her idol.
"No!"
Her voice was decisive, carrying unhidden rejection.
"I don't need your autograph."
Vic was stunned by this sudden hostility. His hand on Wednesday's shoulder loosened subconsciously.
Wednesday turned her head slightly, glancing at Vic from the corner of her eye. There seemed to be a faint trace of... "Serves you right" in that look?
Enid watched this dramatic scene from the side and couldn't help but burst out laughing pfft, her eyes curving into crescents.
She leaned into Vic's ear and teased in a whisper:
"Looks like your charm doesn't work on Wednesday's 'Solo Stans,' Vic~"
Vic touched his nose, withdrawing his hand somewhat sheepishly, but his mouth refused to admit defeat:
"Tsk, young people these days. Their taste is truly... too narrow."