Chapter 52:Weird Campus 21 Treatment

Shen Musi’s brows furrowed, panic in her eyes. She gently pushed Xu Nian, slumped on the desk, but got no response.

“Xu Nian!”

She shook her more urgently—still nothing.

Playfulness gone, she was fully alarmed.

Propping Xu Nian against her, Shen Musi’s palm met her scalding forehead. Xu Nian’s eyes were closed, lips pale, her fever radiating through her clothes.

The heat tightened Shen Musi’s frown. Her mind flashed to the sports storage room—a cool breeze that day. Had Xu Nian caught a chill?

Regret surged. She’d gone too far.

The scar-faced teacher’s sharp gaze swept over. Shen Musi met it evenly, fearless.

He looked away, the other players lowering their heads.

“Hand in your homework.”

His cold words jolted everyone but Xu Nian and Shen Musi.

They’d forgotten homework.

The teacher smirked chillingly, descending toward them. The players trembled.

Pausing at Yuan Shen and Qi Dong, his hawk-like eyes pinned them.

Yuan Shen handed over his homework, earning Qi Dong’s resentful glare. She stomped his foot under the desk for not sharing.

The teacher, unsatisfied, stared at Qi Dong. “Why didn’t you do it?”

Shaking, she mimicked Xu Nian, standing on her chair. “S-sorry, teacher, I didn’t know how…”

His gaze bored into her, nearly breaking her, before moving on.

Qi Dong collapsed, legs weak.

As the teacher approached, Qi Ye scribbled frantically, finishing just in time to hand over a paper.

The teacher studied it long, then moved to Ran Feng.

Ran Feng submitted calmly.

The teacher neared Xu Nian, unconscious in Shen Musi’s arms.

He stopped. Shen Musi handed over two papers. “Teacher, our homework.”

He noted their closeness, unsurprised—they’d been inseparable since day one, now practically fused.

He took the papers, eyeing Xu Nian briefly.

Good for a question later.

On the podium, he began the lesson.

Halfway through, he said, “Some students will solve problems now. Wrong answers will be punished.”

His gaze landed on Xu Nian.

Before he could call, Shen Musi swapped seats, taking Xu Nian’s place. Blinking earnestly, she said, “Teacher, I’d like to answer.”

The others gaped. Volunteering?

“Given the function ( f(x) = e^x – ax – b ) (where ( a, b \in \mathbb{R} )), it is known the minimum value on ([0, 1]) is 0, and there exists ( c \in [0, 1] ) such that ( f(c) = 1 ). Find all possible values of ( a ) and ( b ).”

The players sweated. The question was daunting.

Shen Musi stepped one foot on the chair, one on the floor, answering expressionlessly, “((a, b) = (e – 1, 1)) or ((a, b) = (1, 0)).”

The teacher’s face showed regret. “Correct.”

Ignoring others’ stares, Shen Musi sat, cradling Xu Nian.

The players were stunned. They couldn’t even grasp the question, yet Shen Musi answered effortlessly?

Had she been faking her clueless act all along? The original Shen Musi was low-key but aced exams.

Qi Dong, realizing something, glared at her but shrank back under the teacher’s fierce look.

Half the class passed, the lesson done.

The teacher grinned, frustrated after two days of no rule-breakers. “Well done, you’ve followed the rules. Class dismissed.”

He reached the door, opened it, and glanced back at Shen Musi, tightly guarding Xu Nian. Tossing the black-scaled snake out, he smirked and shut the door.

The snake vanished on landing.

The players, thinking it was a teaching tool, paid little mind.

Ran Feng’s eyes glinted with amusement.

Qi Dong waited until the teacher left to shout across the desks, “Shen Musi! It is you! Haunting us even as a ghost?”

What a lunatic.

Shen Musi ignored her, uninterested in anyone but Xu Nian.

A warm hand tugged her. Xu Nian, half-conscious, eyes teary and feverish, murmured weakly, “Evidence… help me collect…”

“Okay, rest now,” Shen Musi said, worry pooling in her eyes. She held Xu Nian tighter, hands trembling around her waist.

Xu Nian, hearing her agreement, closed her eyes and drifted off.

Qi Dong, seeing Xu Nian’s vulnerability, smirked. Dragging Yuan Shen, she taunted, “No one’s protecting you now, Shen Musi.”

Shen Musi ignored her, one arm around Xu Nian’s waist, the other under her knees, attempting to lift her.

Xu Nian didn’t budge.

She tried again. Nothing.

…

Shen Musi cursed inwardly. This body was too weak.

Had crossing worlds drained her too much?

Already irritated, Qi Dong’s jab pushed her further. “Let us go, or those photos from back then…”

Bang!

Shen Musi’s fist slammed the desk behind her, wood cracking under her knuckles.

Qi Dong froze, terrified by the splintered desk and Shen Musi’s slender arm, falling silent, fearing the next punch would land on her.

The blow drained more energy. Shen Musi inhaled deeply, a faint black-red glow flickering in her palm, her pupils flashing crimson. Summoning her strength, she lifted Xu Nian.

The girl rested trustingly in her arms, flushed cheeks tempting.

Shen Musi’s hands shook, legs unsteady. Channeling more energy, she carried Xu Nian out under the others’ gazes.

Ran Feng watched her leave, musing, “What’s their deal?”

They’d entered so close—did they know each other before?

So many players knew each other: Yuan Shen, Qi Dong, Zhang San, and now Xu Nian and Shen Musi. Was there a conspiracy?

“Dunno… but their bond’s strong,” Qi Ye sighed.

Such beautiful friendship—girls’ connections were enviable.

Not friendship.

Dormitory

Shen Musi gently laid Xu Nian on the bed, her forehead touching Xu Nian’s.

Their breaths mingled, Xu Nian’s feverish heat and rapid breathing trembling Shen Musi’s eyes.

So hot.

She fetched a thermometer from the drawer, checking Xu Nian’s temperature.

Seeing 39.8°C, panic flashed in her eyes.

Her fault.

“It’s okay, sleep it off,” she whispered, her warm palm on Xu Nian’s flushed cheek, love and guilt spilling from her gaze.

Only when Xu Nian couldn’t see did she dare look at her so openly.

Resolved, she ignored restraint, closing her eyes and kissing Xu Nian’s pale lips.

The contact burned, citrus-sweet breath mingling, intoxicating. Cool energy flowed into Xu Nian, spreading through her body, soothing every inch, eliciting a shiver.

Xu Nian was now wholly marked by her scent.

Shen Musi’s heart pounded like a drum, joy bursting like fireworks. She deepened the kiss, claiming every breath.

“Mmm…” Xu Nian murmured contentedly, her furrowed brow smoothing, breathing steadying.

Sweat beaded on Shen Musi’s forehead, her strength waning.

Relieved at Xu Nian’s improvement, she exhaled.

Her mischievous thoughts stirred. Smiling at Xu Nian’s sleeping face, she calculated her remaining energy.

Not much, but enough for a dream.

Her energy wasn’t free.