C24 My Fault

Shen Ruyu was bursting with excitement as she reached for her personal information sheet, but the teacher wouldn't release it.

"Do you realize what it means to be in Class D? At Blue Sky Academy, resources aren't distributed equally. Class A might have more than ten times the resources of Class D! Are you sure about this?" The teacher responsible for Shen Ruyu's awakening asked earnestly.

"Of course, I'm aware, but it doesn't bother me," Shen Ruyu replied, pulling the sheet from the teacher's grasp with a determined tug.

"May I ask why?" inquired the teacher, stroking his chin with a curious smile.

"Because he's in Class D."

With that, Shen Ruyu clutched her personal information sheet to her chest and hurried away.

The teacher watched Shen Ruyu's retreating figure, shaking his head in a mix of regret and admiration before laughing to himself, "Ah, the joys of youth to be envied!"

Feng Yixiu, spotting Shen Ruyu approaching, excitedly pulled her aside and asked eagerly, "Ruyu, did I just see you awaken a fireball?"

"A fireball? Silly brother, that was a fire spirit!" Shen Ruyu laughed at Feng Yixiu's mistake.

"Yes, yes, a fire spirit—an Elemental Spirit! So you must have been placed in Class A. Later, if you take on the Ice Spirit and Light Spirit, you'll become the class leader of Class A. I'm so thrilled for you!" Feng Yixiu was overjoyed, more so than when he had awakened his own Elemental Spirit.

"I've been placed in Class D as well," Shen Ruyu interjected.

Feng Yixiu froze, his brow furrowed as he stared at the girl before him, speechless.

He knew full well that someone of Shen Ruyu's caliber wouldn't normally be in Class D; she must have requested it herself, and he understood the reason why.

A whirlwind of emotions swept through him—pity, a touch of admiration, and a pang of self-reproach for feeling like he had let Ruyu down.

"How can I become so exceptional as to deserve your sacrifice?" Feng Yixiu mused to himself, feeling the weight on his shoulders increase.

Feng Yixiu composed himself, then cast a reproachful glance at Han Xiao and grumbled, "This is all your fault, you jinx! Your predictions are spot on once again!"

What does this have to do with me? Aren't you guys being a bit too harsh?

I can handle being fed a dose of PDA, but now you're making me the scapegoat?

However, just then, the turtle spirit pattern he was holding began to squirm restlessly. It climbed up Han Xiao's clothing and perched on the hood of his sweatshirt, peering forward.

With a resigned chuckle, Han Xiao conceded, "Fine! I'll shoulder the blame."

The three burst into laughter together.

"It seems our destinies are deeply intertwined! Feng Yixiu, Shen Ruyu, now that we're classmates, we'll have to look out for each other," Han Xiao declared with a hearty voice.

"Absolutely. I just turned fifteen this month, and Ruyu is a month younger than me. What about you, Han Xiao?" Feng Yixiu asked cheerfully.

"I'll be sixteen in a few days. Calling me 'big brother' shouldn't be too much to ask, right?" Han Xiao replied, beaming.