"Teacher Gu, did you come to see me? Please come in!" Xu Yi's tone was cheerful as she reached out and turned on the light in the room. The girl, who had just been a little gloomy, now became warm again.
Although she didn't smile much, you could tell from her voice that she was happy.
Gu Yueyue couldn't bring herself to refuse to go into the room, and besides, there were live cameras in the hallway; refusing at this moment would only embarrass the girl.
Gu Yueyue had no choice but to bite the bullet and go along with the mistake, following her into the room.
As Xu Yi closed the door, she peeked out to look at Zheng Wan and said, "Are you going out? It's late and chilly; you should wear a coat. Be careful on the road and come back early."
Zheng Wan stared at the closed door, completely dumbfounded.
Something seemed off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it, so she obediently went back to her room.
Gu Yueyue's body was so tense that it became stiff and numb as she mechanically entered Xu Yi's room.
During this time, her brain stopped thinking altogether. When she came to her senses again, she was already in Xu Yi's room, sitting on Xu Yi's bed.
"Teacher Gu? Is there something you need?" Xu Yi smiled with great effort. It was a smile she had practiced many times in front of the mirror. It wasn't a warm and friendly smile, but rather one with a calculating, insincere quality.
Gu Yueyue carried eight small gift boxes with her. When she heard Xu Yi ask her a question, she quickly came up with an excuse, took out a small bag, and handed it to Xu Yi.
"As your mentor, I came to visit you. I also brought you a small gift, a wool felt I made in my spare time."
Gu Yueyue presented a small gift bag, which Xu Yi was pleasantly surprised to receive. She stood up, accepted the bag with both hands, and then turned her attention to the other seven.
Xu Yi held the gift in her hands, sniffed unintentionally, then turned her head away and pressed the corner of her eye with her thumb until it turned red. Only then did she sit up straight and look directly at Gu Yueyue.
"Thank you, Teacher Gu!" Xu Yi said calmly, "This is the first time I've received such a gift. It's very special, and I'm very happy."
"As long as you're happy." Gu Yueyue could easily interpret people's subtle expressions, but she couldn't interpret Xu Yi's expression. He looked like he had a cold face, but it also seemed like he was both crying and laughing, so excited that he could hardly speak.
Xu Yi glanced at the remaining seven and said, "Teacher Gu, do you know? I was an orphan when I was little. My elderly grandmother took me in and raised me. I have never received a gift specifically for me."
Gu Yueyue felt sympathy, and then she thought that Xu Yi had taken on extra roles to earn money for tuition. Such a serious and hardworking child made her gradually let go of her doubts and begin to feel remorse.
Xu Yi appearing at her doorstep that day was probably just a misunderstanding.
Xu Yi added, "I used to receive gifts too. During the Spring Festival, the village chief would give couplets and the character '福' (good fortune) to every household, and I would receive one as well. When I was in school, the teachers would also give a reward to students with good grades, and I would receive one as well. When a new classmate transferred to our school, they would also prepare a gift for the class."
Hearing her words, Gu Yueyue felt even more heartbroken and felt even more pity for her.
“Although I received one of those gifts, it was the same as everyone else’s, a gift that everyone received. I have never received a gift that is specially made for me like today. Teacher Gu, I am really happy.”
"Ah, this..." Gu Yueyue looked at the seven small gift bags remaining in her hand, unable to find the words to explain.
Xu Yi spoke again, her face beaming with joy.
"And you gave me so many at once! Teacher Gu, I don't know how to repay your kindness!" Xu Yi's gaze fell on the remaining seven small gift bags, and her determined expression made Gu Yueyue a little flustered.
Gu Yueyue handed her seven small gift bags, saying, "I'm glad you like them."
"I love it! I'm so touched!" Xu Yi took the small gift bag, her voice rising with joy. She then asked Gu Yueyue, "Can I open it now?"
"sure."
Xu Yi opened each one in front of her.
Like opening a blind box, they exclaimed in surprise with delight every time they opened a small gift bag, praising it lavishly. In the end, Gu Yueyue blushed slightly and began to feel shy.
"It's just some little things I made on the spot, I'm glad you like them." Gu Yueyue's initial panic upon entering the room was soothed by Xu Yi's endless praise.
Xu Yi arranged eight different cute animal felted woolen items on her desk. Then, she had a sudden inspiration and said to Gu Yueyue, "Teacher Gu, I've also prepared a gift for you."
"Oh? You don't need to prepare a gift for me." Gu Yueyue couldn't bear it. The girl's financial situation was not good, and she didn't have a wealthy life. Accepting a gift from her would make her feel guilty.
"Yes, Teacher Gu, wait a moment. I'll go get it for you."
The room wasn't very big, and Xu Yi hadn't prepared any gifts, so she had to conjure one up on the spot. She went straight to the bathroom.
After she left, Gu Yueyue sat on the bed, looking at the bathroom door with a puzzled expression. What kind of gift required her to go to the bathroom to get it? Her thoughts drifted away again. She was quite certain that Xu Yi was her fan, after all, Xu Yi had attended her concerts and held up her support sign.
However, her certainty about whether Xu Yi was her sasaeng fan often wavered, and now that the atmosphere was becoming increasingly strange, her inner unease began to resurface.
Gu Yueyue felt extremely uncomfortable while waiting.
Xu Yi just wanted to find a place away from Gu Yueyue's sight and didn't think there was anything wrong with locking the bathroom door to get the gift.
She held her breath and began to draw from the depths of her soul the natal sword that had accompanied her for tens of thousands of years.
In reality, this natal sword is just a sword spirit following her; the true natal sword has already merged with her body and is now lying with her on the Cangshan jade bed.
After drawing out the spirit of his natal sword, a long sword with a light blue body like ice, trembled gently inside its scabbard.
In this era, she certainly couldn't directly give Miss Gu a longsword, even if it was a divine sword that everyone in the world longed for.
Xu Yi whispered to the sword spirit, "Be good. Times have changed. In this era, you are a dangerous contraband and cannot be taken out easily. I cannot give you to Miss Gu."
The sword spirit began to move in her hand, as if trying to break free. Xu Yi scolded it, "If you keep causing trouble, I won't let you see Miss Gu again."
The sword spirit quieted down.
Xu Yi then said to her, "I would like to give Miss Gu a necklace. I think the purple vein spirit marrow stone inlaid on your sword sheath is quite nice."
One of these stones is worth a whole mine of spirit stones, and it's a top-grade spirit stone at that. Back then, many ordinary sects and families didn't even have a single high-grade spirit stone mine. This purple vein spirit marrow stone is extremely rare, and countless cultivators have lost their lives for it.
After Xu Yi finished speaking, he gently shook the sword in his hand, and soon seven or eight high-grade spirit vein ores appeared in his hand, but the purple spirit marrow stone was not among them.
The natal sword emitted a faint, thread-like hum, inaudible to ordinary people, but extremely grating to Xu Yi's ears.
Xu Yi explained to it, "I'm not stingy! I've said it so many times, times have changed, and you can't cultivate here. Even if I give Miss Gu these high-ranking ones, she won't be able to use them."
"Just give me that purple vein spirit marrow stone. Although it's a bit inferior to the others, it's of high quality, and Miss Gu will definitely like it."
The natal sword swayed, and the high-grade but dull-looking spirit vein ore in Xu Yi's hand disappeared, replaced by seven or eight beautiful, shiny, and gorgeous gems.
Blade & Soul: Take it! Take it all! Give Miss Gu the prettiest ones, give Miss Gu the most!
"One is enough!" Xu Yi coaxed it, making it put away all the other gems and take only the most beautiful one, which it then used to create a necklace.
Just as Gu Yueyue was on the verge of a mental breakdown, Xu Yi emerged with the newly made necklace.
"Teacher Gu, do you like it?" Xu Yi held the necklace in her palm for Gu Yueyue to see.
Gu Yueyue fell in love with it at first sight, but this necklace looked extraordinary and must be quite expensive.
"It's too valuable, I can't accept it." Gu Yueyue looked away from the necklace and refused.
Xu Yi explained to her, "It's not expensive. These are small stones I picked up and polished by hand. They're worthless."
There's no way to estimate the value of the Purple Vein Spirit Marrow Stone; its worth is truly unknown.
Gu Yueyue's eyes brightened slightly as she looked at the necklace again. It was impossible to tell that it was handmade by a young girl; it seemed to be the culmination of a master craftsman's painstaking efforts.
"It's true, the materials are all very cheap. You can buy it online. Teacher Gu, are you looking down on it?" Xu Yi silently held the necklace, her tone becoming lower.
Gu Yueyue's heart tightened, and she explained, "No, no. How could I dislike it? It's very beautiful, I like it very much."
"Really? Then, Ms. Gu, may I put it on you?"
Gu Yueyue nodded subconsciously. Then Xu Yi went around to the side of the bed and knelt on one knee. Gu Yueyue turned to the side to cooperate, and soon felt the warm touch of jade on her neck.
Xu Yi got off the bed and stood in front of her, looking at her fair neck with admiration. A light purple gemstone lay nestled in the middle of a smooth, beautiful bone, faintly shimmering with the unique light of a spiritual vein stone under the illumination of the light.
Xu Yi couldn't tell whether it was Miss Gu's fair, smooth, and even bone structure that made the gemstones shine brighter, or whether the gemstones made Miss Gu's bone structure more alluring.
Being stared at by an undisguised and direct gaze, even if that gaze contained no intention of offense, still gave Gu Yueyue a strange and unpredictable feeling.
"It's getting late, and you have training tomorrow. I won't bother you any longer, Xiao Xu, you should get some rest." Gu Yueyue stood up, wanting to leave, avoid Xu Yi's gaze, and escape this strange atmosphere.
Xu Yi called out to her just as she was about to open the door and leave.
"Teacher Gu."
"Hmm?" Gu Yueyue turned to look at her.
Xu Yi smiled at her, a rare and successful smile that warmed the heart.
"Teacher Gu, will you wear it all the time?"
Gu Yueyue has many high-end brand endorsements. Because of her exceptionally beautiful collarbones, she has endorsed many necklaces and pendants from a certain brand, so it's unrealistic for her to wear this necklace all the time.
The girl's eyes held a pleading look, and she spoke in a cautious tone.
Gu Yueyue sighed softly and smiled, "Except when I have to change it for work."
"Thank you, Teacher Gu! I will cherish the little pig, pufferfish, and sheep you gave me..." Xu Yi read out all eight felted animals.
Gu Yueyue's face flushed from the girl's delighted attitude. Those items were not originally meant for Xu Yi, but ended up in her hands by accident, yet the girl treated them with such care.
Gu Yueyue quickly left, afraid that if she stayed any longer, her guilt would only deepen.
Zheng Wan had been listening to the sounds from next door. When she heard the door open and close, she quickly opened the door and came out, wanting to invite Gu Yueyue over.
As soon as Zheng Wan opened the door, all she saw was Gu Yueyue's departing figure. Moreover, she left so quickly that, despite her elegant, dignified, and composed demeanor, her speed was almost like that of a race walker.
(Second update)
After Gu Yueyue left, Xu Yi lay on the desk looking at the cute little animals.
The sword spirit inside her was making a fuss about coming out, but Xu Yi refused it, saying, "You don't have eyes, so even if you come out, you won't be able to see what Miss Gu's gifts for me look like. You can't touch them either; if you touch them even lightly, they'll all be gone."
The sword spirit roared in resentment, accusing her of selfishness, but Xu Yi pretended not to notice.
After a long while, Xu Yi spoke lazily.
"By the way, can you do something for me?"
Xu Yi picked up an adorable little rabbit, holding it preciously in her palm. She gently stroked the rabbit with her fingertips, but the words that came out were chilling: "Spiritual energy is beginning to recover, and demons and monsters in this world should start to appear one after another. Go and find me a few lecherous ghosts and send them to Fan Weiwei's room."
Although Miss Gu had already secretly taught Fan Weiwei a lesson, that was Miss Gu's doing, and it didn't conflict with her wanting to take action against Fan Weiwei.
The sword spirit felt deeply wronged. It had been sealed away for tens of thousands of years, and its first time out was being asked to do such a trivial task.
"Get things done well. After I marry Miss Gu, I will tell Miss Gu all about your hard work and achievements."
As soon as Xu Yi finished speaking, the sword spirit moved faster than a shooting star, sliding directly out of the window.
They returned just before dawn.
When Xu Yi merged her into his soul again, the sword spirit protested. It had been sealed inside her body for tens of thousands of years, and now that it finally had a chance to come out, it was unwilling to go back.
"Alright, go have fun then. Be careful... never mind, just remember to come back." Considering this world where spiritual energy is still scarce, no one can take away a Heavenly Rank sword spirit.
The next morning at seven o'clock, Xu Yi was woken up by Zhang Ya knocking on the door.
After getting ready, Zhang Ya changed into her red and white team uniform. Perhaps to match the outfit, she wore a red headband today, which made her look very sunny and youthful.
Xu Yi closed the room door and went to the cafeteria with her.