"Next, let's proceed with practical training."
"Please follow me to Arena No. 6."
Zhang Lingxue led everyone to the arena.
Ye Bai noticed that Zhang Lingxue had changed into a casual outfit at some point, and she had tied her hair into twin tails, looking like a girl next door who plays basketball.
The male classmates all liked it and collectively whistled, though this didn't include Ye Bai, who instead took a few steps back to distance himself from these people.
He had seen people who teased Zhang Lingxue get utterly humiliated.
He dared to do so earlier, only because he knew he was Zhang Lingxue's favorite student.
However, from Zhang Lingxue's merciless gaze sweeping over these people and finally settling on him, Ye Bai knew Zhang Lingxue planned to deal with him as well.
"Alright, future Pet Beast Masters, let me see the mental state of your pet beasts."
"Today's lesson is about how to correctly understand your pet beasts."
After hearing the homeroom teacher's words, everyone released their pet beasts.
What surprised Ye Bai was seeing the Boxing Rabbit abandoned by He Qingyuan, now standing with a chubby classmate.
This classmate occasionally took out a Ruby Carrot or Gold Carrot from his pocket and threw it to the Boxing Rabbit.
The Boxing Rabbit looked extremely pleased, showing no signs of being abandoned.
Whoa, he's found a long-term meal ticket.
Both the person and the rabbit were munching away, filling the arena with crunching sounds.
Crucially, Ye Bai's Thousand-Change Silkworm wasn't about to be left out, hopping over and circling this classmate with an ingratiating expression.
After a while, the chubby classmate noticed a chubby white Hundred-Change Silkworm at his feet, with its tongue hanging out, drooling.
The chubby classmate instinctively handed over a golden Gold Carrot: "Want it?"
The chubby classmate spoke in a muffled voice.
The Thousand-Change Silkworm nodded vigorously, its gaze practically glued to the Gold Carrot.
"Then go ahead and eat it."
The chubby classmate stuffed the Gold Carrot into the Thousand-Change Silkworm's mouth.
The Thousand-Change Silkworm instinctively bit through the Gold Carrot's outer skin, and a wondrous flavor exploded in its mouth.
At that moment, the Thousand-Change Silkworm felt that if it had wings, it would surely be flying from joy.
It looked at the chubby classmate with burning eyes, as if this guy was a walking food reserve.
Ye Bai silently put his hand to his forehead, wondering if he was starving the Thousand-Change Silkworm—why was it so gluttonous?
Originally, just the person and rabbit were crunching away loudly; with the addition of the gluttonous Thousand-Change Silkworm, the chewing sounds became even louder.
Zhang Lingxue looked at Ye Bai with a face full of resentment, signaling with her eyes for Ye Bai to control his pet beast.
Ye Bai just spread his hands, displaying a helpless expression.
Unless the Thousand-Change Silkworm was completely full, no one could interrupt its meal.
Unable to bear it any longer, Zhang Lingxue's fists clenched tightly.
The Thousand-Change Silkworm suddenly felt something watching it, sending a chill down its spine. It looked up in confusion and nearly jumped out of its skin—it was that woman looking at it lasciviously.
"Thousand-Change Silkworm, is the food tasty?"
"Let's have you be the first to demonstrate for everyone."
Zhang Lingxue showed a sinister smile, paired with her impressive looks, much like a witch brewing potions in the forest.
The chubby classmate and the Boxing Rabbit were still lost in the pleasures of the taste.
Zhang Lingxue sighed and said, this chubby classmate's name was Li Chen, the son of Jiaying City's richest man, Li Defu.
He had developed paranoia from a young age due to abuse by his nanny and always felt people were out to get him. Only eating could make him forget everything.
To treat his condition, Li Defu specifically took him to see the world's top psychological expert, Mr. Charles.
After examining him, Mr. Charles informed Li Defu that he was somewhat love-deprived and that encountering the right pet beast might improve the situation significantly.
Li Defu brought in many pet beasts, but every time Li Chen met a pet beast, he was so scared he trembled uncontrollably.
When Shen Mountain Middle School staff called Li Defu to ask when they'd be adopting a school pet for Li Chen, Li Defu, with nothing to lose, sent Li Chen into the Secret Realm to choose a pet beast.
And Zhang Lingxue, as his future homeroom teacher, attended them throughout the process.
In the end, as soon as Li Chen entered the Secret Realm, he was too scared to move a step and cowered in the vehicle, refusing to get out.
But when he arrived at the Boxing Rabbit's enclosure, he saw a lonely standout rabbit.
The rabbit was emaciated, looking as if it would topple over with a gust of wind.
It trained alone against a wooden stake, pounding it to pieces with its fists.
"That Boxing Rabbit had been abandoned and was wary of people, but it awakened a very unique skill: Frenzy."
"It hasn't eaten for days, just to prove itself, and refuses to listen no matter how staff members try to persuade it."
Zhang Lingxue explained to everyone.
Li Chen could feel the rabbit's unwillingness, loneliness, and solitude, just like himself.
So, for the first time, Li Chen walked over, even though he was very scared, step by step.
"Wait, approaching recklessly could be dangerous; the Boxing Rabbit still has a degree of aggressiveness."
Zhang Lingxue reminded out loud.
Li Chen heard but ignored the warning; he didn't want to leave a bad impression on the Boxing Rabbit.
The training Boxing Rabbit sensed Li Chen's approach. It looked up, raising an eyebrow, as if to say, "What's up?"
Li Chen saw an indelible sorrow in the Boxing Rabbit's jewel-red eyes, and his heart was touched once more.
The Boxing Rabbit was so emaciated its jawline was visible, its fists embedded with wood splinters, blood trickling down and dripping onto the ground from its hand's back.
New and old injuries covered its fists, with numerous scars, and dried bloodstains on the ground.
"What a coincidence, I don't have a contracted pet beast yet. Do you want to be my friend?"
"I can promise I'll never abandon you for a lifetime."
Li Chen scratched his head and asked the Boxing Rabbit.
Li Chen's words unknowingly touched on the Boxing Rabbit's sadness, and tears started falling uncontrollably, drop by drop, onto the ground.
Snot and tears mingled together.
"Letting it out will make you feel better."
Li Chen extended his chubby hand, gently wiping away the Boxing Rabbit's tears.
"Do you like eating Ruby Carrots?"
"I've got Sapphire Carrots and Gold Carrots too."
Li Chen placed a bulging backpack into the Boxing Rabbit's hands: "Try them out, I've carefully selected them; they're what I find delicious."