"Student Xiu'er's heart is truly sincere. Only a master from a temple would give out so many safety talismans," her classmates chuckled, looking at the talismans in their hands.
Shen Xiu'er's lips twitched, almost rolling her eyes in exasperation. *Just take them and keep quiet. Why all the unnecessary chatter? I have to come up with an excuse for this...*
(→_→)
Just then, class monitor Jiang Jingshen stood up and addressed everyone. "Since it's a gesture of goodwill from student Shen Xiu'er, everyone should accept them. Class is almost over, so everyone, do what you need to do."
Hearing this, the classmates said no more.
Soon, the dismissal bell rang.
Shen Xiu'er recalled what their homeroom teacher had said earlier and walked towards the office.
"Knock, knock, knock—"
"Come in," a voice called out.
Shen Xiu'er pushed open the office door and stepped inside. After a moment of silence, she looked at the homeroom teacher and asked, "Teacher, is there something you wanted to see me about?"
Upon hearing Shen Xiu'er's voice, the homeroom teacher looked up and excitedly stood up. "Xiu'er, you're here!"
Still bewildered, Shen Xiu'er had her hand grabbed by the homeroom teacher. "Huh? What... what's wrong, Teacher?"
The homeroom teacher looked at Shen Xiu'er excitedly. "Xiu'er, where did you get that safety talisman you gave me last time?"
"Huh?"
Before Shen Xiu'er could speak, the homeroom teacher produced the talisman Shen Xiu'er had given her previously. However, the talisman had now turned gray. "This talisman saved my life."
When she came to school today, she was walking past a building. Suddenly, the safety talisman fell to the ground. As she stepped back to retrieve it, she saw a flower pot crash down exactly where she had been standing moments before. She then watched, wide-eyed, as the talisman turned gray before her very eyes.
If she hadn't stepped back to pick up the talisman, she would be in the hospital right now...
Shen Xiu'er: "???" (⊙_⊙)?
Looking at the talisman in the homeroom teacher's hand, Shen Xiu'er instantly understood. "Oh, that talisman? Actually, my grandfather taught me how to draw them when he was alive..."
The homeroom teacher was taken aback. "What did your grandfather do?"
Shen Xiu'er: "My grandfather was an old Taoist priest. He used to help people... catch ghosts..." kanδん
The homeroom teacher: "......" Well, this is awkward...
An awkward silence fell over the office for a moment.
Although the homeroom teacher didn't believe in ghosts or supernatural beings, she felt it was better to be safe than sorry. So, she didn't ask any further questions.
After a while, the homeroom teacher smiled and asked, "Do you... have any more of those safety talismans?"
Shen Xiu'er paused for a moment, then took out a talisman from her pocket. "Yes, Teacher, here's another one."
The homeroom teacher took the talisman and glanced at her desk, then picked up two copies of the "5 Three" study books.
Seeing this, Shen Xiu'er's mouth twitched fiercely, and she made to slip away. However, the homeroom teacher stopped her. "Shen Xiu'er, uh... Teacher doesn't know how to thank you. Coincidentally, I have two copies of '5 Three' here for you. If it's not enough, I'll bring you two more tomorrow."
Shen Xiu'er: "Th-thank you, Teacher..."
Shen Xiu'er gave an awkward smile and finally left the office with the two "5 Three" books, her face a picture of misery.