The sky curtain makes you a useless class monitor, yet you act arbitrarily for eternity?

"Are you happy now?"

Ye Chen, carrying a pile of things, turned his head to look at her.

Jiang Liyu was in a low mood while she was in the arena.

He thought that girls probably liked shopping.

Who knew that once they started shopping, they couldn't stop?

Ye Chen felt a pang of heartache when he thought about the 6,365 Creation Coins he had just spent.

"Uh-huh!"

"Thank you, Master!"

As she said this, a rare hint of joy appeared on her usually aloof face.

Looking at her smile, Ye Chen felt less heartache.

Forget it.

Consider it as funding for raising children.

"As long as you're happy."

"Remember to return it to my master later."

"No need to pay it back."

"Yo!"

Ye Chen looked at her.

"You're still trying to renege on your debt?"

Jiang Liyu suddenly stopped.

She stood in the lamplight, staring intently at Ye Chen.

"No."

"It's not just because when that shopkeeper said I was Master's little girlfriend, Master didn't refute it."

"So, I'll work harder from now on, so that after I become Master's wife..."

She took a step forward.

"Then my money is Master's money."

"Everything I have belongs to my master."

"Would you even have the concept of repaying it?"

"Knock knock knock..."

The market was very noisy.

In the distance, vendors were calling out their wares, and players were haggling over prices on the street. The magic crystal lamps emitted a faint hum.

But Ye Chen could still hear his own heartbeat.

He looked into Jiang Liyu's icy blue eyes, and his fingers tightened unconsciously.

Ye Chen turned his head away, his tone remaining calm.

"I only refrained from arguing to make you happy, that's not it..."

"Master."

Jiang Liyu suddenly leaned closer, interrupting him.

The distance between the two suddenly shortened.

Her cool hair brushed against the back of Ye Chen's hand, bringing a soft touch.

The fragrance of lotus flowers wafted from her, a faint coolness mixed with the sweetness of the candied hawthorn she had just eaten, settling between Ye Chen's nostrils.

Jiang Liyu tilted her head slightly.

Her lips were very close to Ye Chen's.

There was no probing or evasion in those icy blue eyes.

She was waiting for his answer.

Ye Chen looked down at her.

He held the armor, medicine, and clothes in his arms very firmly, with only his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.

"Then can you keep making me happy?"

Her voice was very soft.

The sound reached Ye Chen's ears, but it was clearer than any other sound in the market.

She was saying such blunt things, yet her expression remained calm.

Ye Chen's gaze shifted from her eyes back to the red string on her wrist.

The red rope swayed gently in the night breeze.

Don't stand in the middle of the road.

"We'll talk about it when we get back."

Jiang Liyu did not move.

"Master has not answered me yet."

Ye Chen looked at her.

Her face was so close that he could see her eyelashes fluttering slightly and feel the warmth of her breath.

This time, Ye Chen did not immediately look away.

"I will take care of you."

"Your injuries haven't healed yet, and you'll be participating in the encirclement tomorrow. Don't focus on these things."

"I know."

Jiang Liyu nodded.

"But what I'm asking is, Master, can you always make me happy?"

Ye Chen pressed down on her shoulder, widening the distance between them.

His movements were steady, without the slightest hint of force.

"Let's focus on healing your injuries first."

"Think about these things when you no longer need anyone to take care of you."

Jiang Liyu looked at him.

She understood what he meant.

The master rejected her.

But there was no disgust or alienation in this rejection.

He simply saw her as someone who needed protection.

Jiang Liyu raised her hand and grabbed Ye Chen's clothes.

"When will this disciple no longer need Master's care?"

Ye Chen did not answer immediately.

Jiang Liyu continued to ask:

"To become a powerful figure like my master?"

"If I can never catch up with you, Master, will you never answer me?"

The night breeze swept through the market.

Ye Chen held the pile of things, his fingers slowly tightening.

He suddenly realized that Jiang Liyu was not as fragile as he had imagined.

She knew what she was doing, and she knew what he was hiding from.

"You're still young."

Ye Chen finally said.

Jiang Liyu blinked.

"Master, I am now an adult."

I'm talking about my state of mind.

"Then Master can teach me."

Her answer was quick.

"My master taught me how to fight, and I learned how to love people."

Ye Chen: "..."

Jiang Liyu looked at his unusually silent expression, and a smile appeared in her eyes.

"May I?"

Ye Chen looked away.

"I'm gone."

"If we don't go back now, we won't be able to get up tomorrow."

"Master is changing the subject again."

"Say less."

"oh."

Jiang Liyu followed in his footsteps.

This time, she didn't press her for answers.

But she reached out and took Ye Chen's hand.

Ye Chen's fingers paused for a moment, but in the end, he still didn't loosen them.

Jiang Liyu looked down at the red string on her wrist, and the corners of her mouth slowly turned up.

"Master."

"What's wrong?"

"You didn't say it wasn't allowed."

Ye Chen paused in his steps.

Jiang Liyu had already hugged his arm and pressed her cheek against his shoulder.

"So I'll take that as your agreement."

Ye Chen looked down at her.

"I didn't agree to anything."

"Then I'll keep trying."

"What are you trying to do?"

Jiang Liyu raised her head.

"Strive to become someone your master likes."

Ye Chen looked at her for a moment, then raised his hand and gently tapped her forehead.

"First, try your best to survive tomorrow's encirclement and annihilation."

"it is good."

Jiang Liyu hugged his arm tightly.

"Your disciple will obey your master."

The two figures gradually blended into the lights of the market.

Ye Chen walked ahead, his steps still steady.

This time, however, he did not push Jiang Liyu away.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

I heard someone in the comments section say that school starts tomorrow.

An extra chapter will be added.

May all the children be happy at school.