Apocalypse Era, December 21, 2019.
For the people of Winter City, it was just another mundane day.
Winter City Magic Library.
"(～﹃～)~zZ"
A short-haired boy was slumped over a desk, snoring away as he used a stack of Low-tier Magic books as a pillow.
A series of voices drifted over from not far away.
"Curator Jin Kela, the biggest loser in the history of the Winter City Magic Library—Shen Xuan—is slacking off again. How should we punish him this time?"
"Hmm... beat him to death, then toss him out to feed the dogs."
"Σ(????)? Oh, wait, that—that’s a bit much, isn't it?"
"Hmm? Well then, Luo Xiaoxue, do you have a better idea?"
"Reporting to you, Curator, my suggestion is to lock him in a room with ten starving Flash Pipi Tigers for three days and see how he fares!"
Curator Jin Kela: "=(????(???????)"
He gave a dry cough, thinking to himself: *You're even more ruthless than I am.*
Ten starving Flash Pipi Tigers would devour a guy like Shen Xuan—who had zero magical talent and basically zero defensive ability—in three minutes flat. If they were locked together for three days, all that would be left would be a pile of foul-smelling, glowing dung.
As the two talked, Shen Xuan, drool dripping from the corner of his mouth, stirred.
Curator Jin Kela: "He seems to be waking up."
Luo Xiaoxue shook her head with absolute certainty, saying in a crisp, musical loli voice: "No, he's just trying to change positions."
Sure enough, Shen Xuan simply and calmly shifted his face to the other side and continued to sleep like a log, seemingly unaware that the arm he had been crushing had turned purple from poor circulation, nor that two people were currently scrutinizing his sleeping face.
Luo Xiaoxue: "Curator, hide first, and let's see just how terrible he's really been acting!"
Hearing this, Curator Jin Kela nodded and cast an Intermediate Magic invisibility spell on himself.
Then, Luo Xiaoxue stretched out her chubby little hand, expertly grabbed the boy’s ear, and gave a sharp tug!
"Awoooo! Ouch, ouch, ouch!!!"
The boy let out a blood-curdling howl and leaped to his feet, bellowing at the top of his lungs:
"Help! Someone’s attacking the librarian! Catch this villainous, daring scoundrel at once!"
Luo Xiaoxue: "......"
Curator Jin Kela: "......"
Realizing no one was responding, Shen Xuan squinted and saw a white-haired little loli with pigtails standing before him, hands on her hips, looking quite fierce.
However, due to her height, she was only a head taller than the desk.
If Shen Xuan hadn't leaned forward to look, he wouldn't have even seen anything below her neck.
"What is it? So it’s just you, kid."
Shen Xuan yawned, patted her little head, and dismissed her casually:
"Go on, go play somewhere else. Don't disturb Big Brother Shen Xuan while he's working hard."
"If something goes wrong and Curator Jin Kela gets angry and beats me up, I'm going to have to catch you and spank your bottom!"
The white-haired loli instinctively covered her backside, then realized she shouldn't be afraid of him, so she puffed out her cheeks in anger, looking almost like a little pufferfish.
"Curator! He's bullying me again!" Luo Xiaoxue pointed at the boy, accusing him.
"Curator? That old man is probably off finding Grandma Stanley again under the guise of delivering books. He doesn't have time to deal with you. If he can appear within three seconds, I, Shen Xuan, will eat these magic books on the desk right now!" Shen Xuan curled his lips in disdain.
Luo Xiaoxue’s dark, bright eyes rolled around with a cunning glint.
"Curator, did you hear that?"
"Yes, I heard it..." This response carried the volcanic fury of an impending eruption!
Shen Xuan’s expression froze, and his arrogant grin became comically distorted, so much so that even his exceptionally handsome face couldn't save him.
The invisibility spell was lifted, and the elderly figure of Curator Jin Kela reappeared—his face, black as the bottom of a pot, was striking.
"Oh, heavens! Look! What wind blew you here, sir? Surely you didn't hear anything just now, did you?" Shen Xuan forced a smile.
*I suggest that hateful wind blows you right back!*
"Curator? As an old man, I’m afraid I can’t accept such a respectful title," Curator Jin Kela chuckled coldly. "From what I just heard, if I appeared within three seconds, you’d eat these magic books?"
Shen Xuan: "Hiccup~~"
......
@#$&++)/_#
After being thoroughly disciplined, a bruised and swollen Shen Xuan returned to his post to continue his life as a corporate slave—007, no holidays, no insurance.
Luo Xiaoxue sat nearby, browsing through some Intermediate Magic books, though she would occasionally sneak a glance at the boy who had been taught such a harsh lesson.
"Hmph! See what happens when you bully me!" Luo Xiaoxue thought triumphantly. Seeing Shen Xuan get taken down was better than eating dessert.
Shen Xuan naturally noticed the mocking gazes from the white-haired loli and began plotting how to teach her a lesson so she'd know why flowers are so red!
"Ahem, Little Sister Xue, what book are you reading? Do you even know how to read? Do you need Big Brother to teach you?" Shen Xuan stood up with a grin, hands behind his back, and sauntered over toward Luo Xiaoxue.
The little loli, who had been gloating, jumped up in a frenzy: "Little sister your head! I’m eighteen years old! Do you hear me? Eighteen!"
Shen Xuan paused for a moment, then reached out to place his hand on the girl's head, before moving it to his own lower abdomen to compare their height difference. His eyes filled with sympathy and benevolence:
"Little Sister Xue, don't deceive yourself. Big Brother knows your actual size. Even Grandma Wang’s ten-year-old granddaughter next door is taller and more imposing than you. So, just accept reality. Don't worry, Big Brother won't laugh at you—hahahaha—hiccup~~"
Luo Xiaoxue clenched her little fists, and "╬" marks began to pop up on them...
"Water Sphere!"
Hearing her shrill cry, Shen Xuan didn't seem to realize what was about to happen. Before he could stop laughing, a water sphere suddenly flew straight into his mouth!
"Gurgle, gurgle... cough, cough, cough!!!"
Mid-laugh, being hit like that, Shen Xuan nearly choked to death on the spot!