"Wow, how romantic!"
"What is Senior Sister doing?!"
"Oh~ What big plan is Senior Sister Rongrong secretly cooking up again?"
"Oh! Senior Sister is so brave! She actually dared to hug Teacher like that! Wow!"
"I want that too, isn't that amazing? Half my body would be pressed against Teacher~"
Under the night sky, where the bloody hue slowly receded and faint starlight began to emerge, the atmosphere of Slaughter City shifted into an eerie calm. The earlier oppressive aura had vanished, leaving behind a quiet that felt almost unreal, as though the city itself was recovering from the shock.
In that stillness, Hu Liena hid in a shadowed corner of the Slaughter Hall, her figure blending seamlessly into the darkness as she secretly observed the scene unfolding in the distance.
Seeing Ning Rongrong rush forward and boldly embrace Xin, Hu Liena's eyes widened slightly. A strange, ambiguous light flickered within them—part curiosity, part admiration, and something deeper that even she did not fully understand.
There was also unmistakable envy.
Being a Heart of Fire student, can one pursue their teacher?!
The thought lingered in her mind, lingering longer than she expected. It challenged something ingrained, something she had never questioned before.
Just then, three exquisite little heads peeked out almost simultaneously beside her, appearing so suddenly that even Hu Liena was slightly startled.
Xiao Wu, Ye Lingling, and Zhu Zhuqing had all quietly returned, unable to suppress their curiosity.
They crouched together like conspirators, their eyes fixed on the distant figures, each wearing an expression of astonishment mixed with fascination. The boldness of Ning Rongrong's actions had clearly left a deep impression on all of them.
"Can you understand what Senior Sister Rongrong is saying? I'm so curious!"
"I want to learn from Senior Sister Rongrong!"
Their whispers overlapped, barely contained, as excitement bubbled beneath their hushed tones.
Xiao Wu volunteered, raising her hand eagerly as if in a classroom:
"I can read belly language and lip-read. Do you want me to be your translator?"
Her confidence was immediate and unshaken, as though this was a skill she took great pride in.
"Sister Xiaowu actually has this skill? Quick, quick, tell us what blushing words Senior Sister Rongrong is saying to Teacher!"
Ye Lingling leaned closer, her eyes shining with anticipation. Even Zhu Zhuqing, who was usually reserved, could not hide the faint curiosity in her gaze.
Hu Liena also widened her eyes slightly, shifting her attention toward Xiao Wu.
Clearly, none of them wanted to miss a single detail.
Xiao Wu lightly coughed, straightened her posture, and cleared her throat with exaggerated seriousness. Then, mimicking both Ning Rongrong and Xin's voices with surprising enthusiasm, she began her "translation":
"This is simply absurd! How can you hug Teacher? You must know there's a distinction between teacher and student, and men and women should not touch intimately. If word gets out about you hugging Teacher like this, how will you get married in the future? Only Xiao Wu can hug me, her teacher; she's different, Rongrong girl, do you understand?"
She even altered her tone to sound more authoritative, attempting to imitate Xin's calm demeanor—though the result leaned more toward theatrical than convincing.
Without missing a beat, she switched voices again:
"No, I won't, I just want to hug Teacher. I like Teacher the most. We'll hug secretly, and the other sisters won't see us~"
Her performance was animated, complete with exaggerated expressions and subtle gestures, as if she were fully immersed in the act.
For a brief moment, silence fell.
Then—
"Oh my, Xiao Wu, is your lip-reading really accurate? Why do I feel it's a bit unreliable?" Ye Lingling questioned, her brows knitting slightly as skepticism replaced her earlier excitement.
Hu Liena and Zhu Zhuqing also gave Xiao Wu a strange look, their expressions clearly saying the same thing.
"You're adding your own bias, aren't you?"
There was no accusation in their tone, but the doubt was obvious.
After all, Xiao Wu's "interpretation" seemed a little too… personal.
Xiao Wu's small face instantly flushed red, her confidence faltering under their scrutiny.
"There's just a tiny bit of deviation~ Alright, I really can lip-read, I'll read the real thing for you!"
She waved her hands quickly, trying to defend herself, though her slightly embarrassed expression made her words less convincing.
Still, her eyes soon refocused on the distant pair, her playful demeanor settling into something more attentive.
This time, she leaned forward slightly, squinting as she carefully observed Ning Rongrong's lips, determined to prove her credibility.
Around her, the others instinctively quieted down.
Even Hu Liena leaned in just a little closer, her earlier teasing thoughts replaced by genuine curiosity.
The night seemed to grow still once more.
Four pairs of eyes, filled with anticipation, fixed themselves on the same scene—waiting to uncover the true words being exchanged beneath the quiet starlit sky.
…