Chapter 43
Chapter 43: Yeah, Some Service, But Not Much
The principal couldn’t make sense of it, but the money was already spent, and tickets didn’t come with refunds. At least Qian Qi hadn’t squeezed him for extra—so he told himself it wasn’t a total loss.
It was a miserable kind of comfort, but it was all he had.
And then the clock hit ten.
With a thunderous bang, the gates of Beast-Taming Plaza slammed shut. Grandpa Sun and several Old Ones strolled over and dropped into the seats beside the principal like they’d been there all along.
“Big crowd today,” Grandpa Sun said, smiling. “Beast-Taming Plaza hasn’t been this lively in ages.”
He tilted his head toward the principal. “Principal, you know that girl, Little Qian, pretty well?”
The principal’s eyelid twitched. He caught the subtext immediately—Old Sun didn’t want his identity exposed. So he answered in the same bland tone he’d use for any stranger.
“We’re… acquainted. I helped her once before.”
“Oh?” Grandpa Sun laughed. “What a coincidence. Looks like we both helped Little Qian.”
The principal’s ears perked up. “Y-you helped Qian Qi too? Like… paid out of pocket?”
“Out of pocket?” Grandpa Sun waved a hand. “No, no. Little Qian’s decent. She even gave me a cut.”
The principal: ?
A cut?
For a second, the principal thought he’d misheard. When he’d “donated” an arm back then, not only had he gotten no cut, he’d basically paid to advertise for her.
His mouth filled with bitterness. He wanted to say something—anything—but with Old Sun right there, he couldn’t risk it. So he swallowed the complaint and stared out at the plaza with the grim resignation of a man watching his own wallet get murdered.
Beside them, Su Ang sat in silence. His lips pressed together, and a faint, hard-to-catch amusement flickered through his eyes.
Right on cue, the ten o’clock bell rang. The north gate connected to the magic beast storage room boomed open with another bang, and a third-year senior from the Beast-Taming Department rode into the arena astride an iron bear beast nearly three meters tall.
The stands erupted.
Magic Beast Department students clapped and screamed like it was a concert. Skills Department students stared with wide, starry eyes like they’d never seen a beast that big in their lives. The commander-track students stayed calm, posture straight, as if this were merely “acceptable.” Beast-taming students looked smug enough to glow.
And the Magic Plant Department students?
They scoffed.
“It’s just d-rank,” someone muttered. “What’s there to show off? Wait till I grow a d-rank wind devil flower. Stuff like that won’t even get close.”
“Look at that bear,” another whispered. “Malnourished as hell. I bet it was abused and starved before it agreed to a contract.”
“Beast tamers will do anything to contract a magic beast,” a third said, righteous as a saint. “Unlike us. We won’t give up on magic plants until the very last second!”
A Beast-Taming Department student whipped around. “What’d you say? Looking for a beating?”
The Magic Plant Department group instantly went quiet and lowered their heads.
It wasn’t fair, but it was reality—at Awakeners University, Magic Plant Department was the coldest major with the lowest status. Even their trash talk had to be whispered.
With the iron bear beast soaking up the spotlight, Qian Qi finally arrived—hugging a few oranges to her chest and trotting down the aisle like she was late to her own wedding. She slipped into the front row and greeted Chen Tong and the principal with an overly bright smile.
“Well? Great view, right? Wide open. You can see everything crystal clear!”
Chen Tong snorted. He had to admit, this “exclusive” seat wasn’t bad.
He couldn’t wait to watch Qian Qi get wrecked. He was going to record it, frame it in gold, and hang it in his bedroom like a trophy.
“Our VVVIP package also includes extra thoughtful service,” Qian Qi said, switching into pure sales mode.
She pressed oranges into their hands one by one. “Snack while you watch. Don’t be shy.”
The principal stared at the orange in his palm.
…Yeah. Some service. Not much.
Fueled by the sacred urge of “I’ll claw back even a cent from this girl,” Chen Tong peeled his orange and took a bite—then his face went dead.
Fuck. Sour.
Chen Miaomiao took a cautious nibble, flinched, and set hers aside like it was poison.
This time, the principal had learned. One glance at their suffering, and he decided he’d rather keep his dignity than test his taste buds.
Su Ang lowered his eyes to the orange in his own hand. After a brief pause, his long, pale fingers peeled it with slow, precise ease. He broke off a segment and placed it in his mouth.
He chewed calmly. His expression even… softened, slightly.
The principal stared.
Wait. Was it not sour?
Was he just weak?
He peeled his orange, took a bite, and immediately teared up.
Damn it!
That little demon had given Su Ang a sweet orange.
The principal looked up and caught Qian Qi watching him with a sly grin. The moment their eyes met, she wiped her face clean and stared straight ahead like she’d seen nothing.
The principal: …
Fine. Just wait.
After she’d finished bullying the front row, Qian Qi was about to head down to the arena when Chen Tong suddenly grabbed her sleeve.
His gaze flicked to her lightbrain—fast and hungry—before he forced himself to look away and spoke in an annoyed, condescending tone. “Qian Qi, this match is dangerous. Put anything valuable with Miaomiao first. If it breaks, don’t try to pull tricks and make me pay.”
Qian Qi blinked, then clapped her hands like he’d just performed an act of charity. “Senior! You’re so considerate! I almost forgot!”
She unhooked her lightbrain and leaned toward Chen Miaomiao.
Chen Miaomiao didn’t know what Chen Tong was plotting, but she knew better than to refuse a gift-wrapped opportunity. She reached out—
—and Qian Qi stopped mid-lean.
Instead, Qian Qi turned and walked over to the principal. She held her lightbrain out like she meant to hand it over, hesitated, sighed dramatically…
…and pivoted toward Su Ang.
The principal: ?
What was that sigh supposed to mean?
Did she think the principal would steal her lightbrain?
“Senior Su,” Qian Qi said, putting on her purest face, “you hold onto it for me. I’ll feel safer.”
Honestly, she had reasons. She’d scammed the other three at some point or another. Su Ang was the only one she hadn’t wronged. And she’d heard he was strong and responsible—if something went sideways, he’d be the safest set of hands.
From the back row, Su Xing Le shot his hand up with shameless enthusiasm. “Junior~ Junior~ I can help you~”
Qian Qi slapped him away without even turning her head. “Can’t you see I’m flirting with a beauty? Stop meddling!”
Su Xing Le: ?
Su Ang lifted his eyes. Qian Qi looked perfectly natural—like she genuinely didn’t realize what she’d just said. He opened his hand and took her lightbrain.
“All right,” he said, voice cool.
For the sake of the sweet orange.
With her most valuable possession secured, Qian Qi rolled her shoulders and loosened her wrists. Then she grabbed the microphone connected to the loudspeaker, sprang onto the railing in one smooth hop, and spread her arms wide.
“How are we doing back there, viewers?” she shouted. “I’m Qian Qi, a freshman from Magic Plant Department! On this grand, sunny day, I’m going to show you my newest product—defense fruit! Ten minutes of immunity to all d-rank magic beast damage!”
Heads snapped up. The air shifted.
“And first,” Qian Qi continued, “let’s introduce today’s sponsor—Magic Beast Department sophomore, Classmate Chen Tong!”
She yanked out a homemade thumbs-up staff and pointed it straight at Chen Tong like she was dubbing him the villain of a drama.
Chen Tong’s face darkened on the spot.
“Classmate Chen Tong bet 100,000 with me. He already paid a 50,000 deposit. As long as I can stay immune to all d-rank magic beast damage for ten minutes, he’ll pay the remaining 50,000 right here on the spot!”
She swept her arm toward the stands. “And you’re all witnesses to this bet! Cheer! Let me see your passion!”
The students roared back, loud and wild. The noise swelled like a wave, instantly turning the plaza into a boiling pot.
“Now!” Qian Qi shouted, grinning like she’d just lit a fuse. “Witness the first-ever showdown between human and beast!”
She leaned backward and dropped off the stand—then flipped, clean and sharp, landing in the plaza like she’d rehearsed it.
She sprinted straight at the iron bear beast.
“Timer—start!”
Above the arena, the countdown board blazed to life: 09:59.
The entire Beast-Taming Plaza exploded.
Students surged forward, spilling out of the back rows, crowding the front railings with shaking hands and bright eyes, desperate to see.
The principal watched them—young, excited, burning with adrenaline—and felt something in his chest flare to life.
His blood was boiling too—
And then, in the next second, something felt… off.