Seeing Wang Dong's exasperated look, Xiao Xiao thought her words had struck a nerve, making her even more smug.
She faced Wang Dong, playfully making a face and sticking out her tender little tongue in provocation:
"Bleh bleh bleh—you're just jealous, I hit the nail on the head, didn't I?"
"Fine then, Xiao Xiao, you've got some nerve. Let's see if I don't give you a lesson you'll never forget today."
Wang Dong was completely provoked by this. He immediately rolled up his sleeves, making a move to grab her.
"Ah, help!"
Seeing this, Xiao Xiao's face paled. She let out a scream and turned to run.
She was quite clever, running in circles around Huo Yuhao and using him as a shield, all while constantly crying out to him for help:
"Yuhao, save me! Wang Dong is so embarrassed he's turned to violence!"
"You still dare to run? Stop right there!"
"No! Catch me if you can!"
Under the moonlight, the figures of the two youths chased each other in playful banter around another helpless boy.
Huo Yuhao helplessly covered his forehead. Watching these two clowns, a warm smile couldn't help but tug at the corners of his mouth.
This carefree playfulness seemed to dispel the last trace of sadness in the air caused by the impending departure.
Youth is truly wonderful.
As the sounds of laughter and play faded behind him, Caelus soon arrived at the entrance of the Outer Court library.
He presented his student ID, verified his identity with the old man in charge of registration at the door, and stepped into this hall of knowledge.
Inside the library, the lights were bright, yet it was exceptionally quiet.
Rows of tall bookshelves stood like silent giants, neatly arranged, emitting the unique fragrance of old paper and ink.
Although most students had already left the school, there were still a few scattered figures in the library, immersed in the sea of books.
Most were upperclassmen or diligent students like Caelus who wanted to continue recharging themselves during the holidays.
Caelus didn't mind the others. He set off, slowly wandering through the maze-like bookshelves, his gaze quickly scanning the titles on the spines to find the books he needed.
Structure and Mutation Analysis of Spirit Abilities, Introduction and Conjectures on Space Theory, Illustrated Guide to Ancient Spirits: Fragmented Volume... He needed a vast amount of knowledge from different fields to serve as the foundation for creating that brand-new Spirit Ability.
But soon, his steps came to a halt at the corner of a bookshelf.
His gaze fell not far away on a figure sitting quietly at a desk under the soft glow of a wall lamp, reading a thick tome with great interest.
It was a woman with a gentle and intellectual temperament.
She was the library's fixed spawn NPC, and also their Class 1-1 Assistant Class Teacher—Han Ruoruo.
"Sister Ruoruo, you really are in the library."
A knowing smile appeared on Caelus's face as he walked over and offered a soft greeting.
Since the start of the semester, he had visited the library quite often, and almost every time, he could see Han Ruoruo's figure here.
This Assistant Class Teacher truly loved reading and knowledge from the bottom of her heart.
"Caelus?"
Hearing the familiar voice, Han Ruoruo looked up from her book.
When she saw it was Caelus, a look of clear surprise appeared in her beautiful eyes.
"The holidays have already started, why are you still coming to the library? I thought you little rascals would have disappeared long ago."
She closed the book in her hand and spoke with a smile.
She knew that some students, whether because they lived far away or due to their personalities, had already quietly left the academy the very day the holidays were announced.
"I came to find a few books to take back and read."
Caelus didn't hide his purpose and spoke directly:
"I've been conceiving a new Spirit Ability recently and need to consult some materials."
"You..."
Hearing this, Han Ruoruo couldn't help but sigh. Her gaze toward Caelus was full of admiration and a hint of helplessness.
"Your talent is already so good that even we teachers feel jealous, yet you're still so hardworking. It's no wonder you've become so strong."
As Caelus's Assistant Class Teacher, she was much clearer about Caelus's strength than others.
Rank, that simple number, held no reference value at all for the boy before her.
She had even personally stepped up to spar with Caelus in private once.
Her evaluation of Caelus after that spar consisted of only four words—a bona fide Little freak.
She still clearly remembered that neither of them had gone all out that time.
As a teacher, it was naturally impossible for her to use powerful Spirit Abilities on a student, let alone her Spirit Avatar.
And Caelus likewise hadn't used his Fourth Soul Skill, "This Moment, That Moment."
As for the result of the battle... that was no longer important.
What mattered was that she could feel that even without using Spirit Abilities, this mere twelve-year-old boy already possessed the qualifications to hold his own against a Spirit Saint level teacher like her.
This was simply inconceivable.
"Sister Ruoruo, aren't you going home for the holidays?"
Caelus didn't follow up on her words but instead asked with some curiosity.
"Mm."
A gentle and tranquil smile appeared on Han Ruoruo's face. She lightly stroked the heavy tome on the desk and spoke softly.
"To me, Shrek Academy is my home."
Her tone was calm, yet it carried a deep sense of belonging.
"I see."
Caelus nodded and didn't press further.
He could feel that behind those simple words, there might be a hidden, unknown story.
But he respected her privacy and understood her deep feelings for this academy.
"What type of books are you looking for? Tell me, I'll help you look."
Han Ruoruo suddenly offered.
"Then thank you, Sister Ruoruo."
Caelus didn't stand on ceremony.
He knew that Han Ruoruo was stationed in the library year-round; her familiarity with this vast treasury of knowledge was far beyond his reach.
In this massive library, there were very few books whose location she didn't know.
With the help of Han Ruoruo, who acted like a human search engine, Caelus quickly found the few rather obscure and ancient tomes he needed.
"Sister Ruoruo, I'll be going then. See you next year."
Caelus held the thick books and went to the front desk to register his loan.
Then, he turned around and waved at Han Ruoruo, who was still sitting under the light.
"Mm, see you next year."
Han Ruoruo looked up, gave him a gentle smile, and also waved her hand lightly.
"Be careful on the road."
Watching the boy's departing back, the smile on Han Ruoruo's face didn't fade for a long time.
Her gaze fell back onto the book in front of her, but for a long while, she didn't turn another page.
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