The Penguin Hoodie and a Familiar Stranger

Zhuang Xun stood beneath the bus stop sign, phone in one hand, awaiting Shen Xian’s arrival.

“Why aren’t you wearing the outfit I bought you?” The voice reached her ears even before Shen Xian’s figure came into view.

She slipped her phone into her pocket and turned her head toward the source of the voice. Shen Xian, clad in a white hoodie adorned with a cute penguin print and a cross-body bag, waved at her.

Zhuang Xun stepped forward to meet her. “Senior Sister.”

Shen Xian’s gaze swept over Zhuang Xun, assessing her from head to toe. “Little Zhuang Xun~ Why are you wearing a jacket that covers your clothes so completely? You didn’t actually skip wearing the outfit I bought you, did you?”

Shen Xian blinked, a look of ‘Oh, so you really didn’t like it’ dawning on her face.

Zhuang Xun tilted her head slightly. “No.”

Shen Xian pressed on, closing the distance between them. “No… Does that mean you didn’t wear it, or you did?”

Zhuang Xun noticed a passing vehicle from the corner of her eye and immediately changed the subject. “Senior Sister, the bus is here.”

Once on the bus, Zhuang Xun sat in the last row, gazing out the window. Beside her, Shen Xian’s gaze was intensely focused on her zipped-up jacket.

She quietly called out, “Senior Sister.”

“Are you really keeping secrets from me? You won’t even tell me?” Shen Xian leaned closer, her expression one of utter grievance.

If Senior Sister had ears and a tail right now, they would definitely be drooping, Zhuang Xun thought.

“No,” she replied. She wasn’t trying to keep it a secret. It was just that the outfit… she wasn’t sure how best to explain it.

“Then why can’t I see it?” Shen Xian leaned in and stealthily reached out a hand.

Zhuang Xun clutched her jacket zipper tightly. “Senior Sister, why did you choose this particular outfit?”

“Hmm, I just thought it suited you perfectly. Are you really not going to let me see?”

Shen Xian’s eagerness caused a slight tremor in the sturdy walls of Zhuang Xun’s resolve.

Just then, a familiar yet unfamiliar voice rang out as the bus came to a stop.

“Tao Si?”

Zhuang Xun followed Shen Xian’s gaze and looked toward the speaker. Shen Xian, with a faint smile, reluctantly withdrew her hand from Zhuang Xun’s zipper.

“Tao Si, long time no see.”

Tao Si? That was the human who had transformed into the book monster.

Tao Si nodded slightly. “I’m sitting ahead of you two, do you mind?”

“Not at all. How have you been feeling lately?”

Tao Si sat in front of them, slightly turned, chatting casually. She offered a gentle smile. “My health has almost fully recovered. I’m truly sorry for all the trouble I caused you that day.”

Zhuang Xun sat by quietly, listening to their conversation and gathering information.

Shen Xian maintained her smile, speaking unhurriedly. “It was nothing. When anyone sees a classmate collapse, whether it’s me or someone else, they’d step in to help.”

Is that how Senior Sister explained the situation to her? And her tone isn’t as casual as usual, Zhuang Xun mused.

She knew that humans who transformed into monsters lost their memories of the incident, but she hadn’t expected Tao Si to accept the “collapsing” cover story so readily.

Tao Si gently stroked her hair. “Even so, I still have to thank you. If it weren’t for you, the exam would have been a disaster.”

“Is it convenient to ask about your exam results? You don’t have to say if it’s not.”

Zhuang Xun looked at Tao Si. Tao Si’s complexion was much better than it had been that day, and she visibly radiated happiness. She must have passed the exam.

As expected, Tao Si said the next second, “Yes, I passed.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Tao Si nodded and then turned her gaze to Zhuang Xun. She didn’t scrutinize her up and down but simply gave her a calm, polite glance. “May I ask if this is the junior you mentioned, Shen Xian?”

Zhuang Xun met Tao Si’s gaze, nodding slightly as she waited for Shen Xian’s introduction.

Shen Xian nodded, smiling genuinely. “That’s right! This is the junior I told you about—Zhuang Xun. I hope it’s not an inconvenience that I brought her today?”

Tao Si shook her head. “Of course not.” She then greeted Zhuang Xun politely but distantly. “Hello, my name is Tao Si.”

“Hello, Senior Tao. My name is Zhuang Xun.”

Tao Si added, “As new club members, you won’t have much to help with for today’s activity. You can find a place to rest for a bit.”

Shen Xian rested her arm on the back of the seat in front. “It’s fine. But Tao Si, I just realized you’re actually in the picnic club.”

Tao Si looked a little shy. “I find it quite surprising myself, but organizing an event once or twice a month is quite enjoyable. Exam week is very stressful, so this is a good way to relax.”

“I just never expected you, Shen Xian, to be interested in picnics.”

“Hmm… I’m a little bit interested. Plus, let me tell you, my junior is an excellent cook.”

“Really?” Tao Si looked at Zhuang Xun with a hint of surprise.

Zhuang Xun hadn’t expected Shen Xian to suddenly throw the topic to her. She nodded slightly. “If Senior would like to try some, I can make something.”

Shen Xian proudly declared, “Of course it’s real.” Then she paused. “But didn’t you say that new club members don’t have to help? Tao Si, you can’t make my junior the main chef just because she’s a good cook, okay?”

Zhuang Xun was momentarily stunned by Shen Xian’s words. She had thought her senior wanted her to help, but the meaning of the sentence was clearly just to boast about her.

Tao Si covered her mouth and chuckled softly at Shen Xian’s teasing. “Of course not. We’ll talk about that when you’re finally willing to share your junior with us.”

Zhuang Xun felt a fleeting gaze land on her, which then vanished.

“That, we’ll definitely do when there’s an opportunity,” Shen Xian replied.

“Good.”

“We’ve rented this area for today. You two can go explore the vicinity first. I’ll message you later, and you can just come back then.”

Tao Si, carrying a box of supplies, said this to Shen Xian and Zhuang Xun after they disembarked.

Zhuang Xun’s gaze fell on Shen Xian. They could choose to stay and help, but all decisions would be made by her senior.

“Alright~ If you’re short-handed, be sure to contact me early. Zhuang Xun and I are quite strong!” Shen Xian even struck a small pose to demonstrate her strength after speaking.

Tao Si nodded in agreement. “Okay, okay.”

From a distance, another voice called out, “A-Si! Come over quickly!”

“I’ll be right there!” Tao Si shouted back, then immediately turned to Shen Xian and Zhuang Xun. “If anything comes up, just call. I’ll get busy now, Shen Xian, Zhuang Xun.”

Zhuang Xun nodded.

Shen Xian waved. “Go on~ Your friend will be waiting impatiently soon.”

“Mm.” Tao Si said, then hurried off alone. “Coming!”

After Tao Si left, Shen Xian stretched and turned to Zhuang Xun, speaking very seriously.

“Now that we’re alone, isn’t it time you showed me the clothes underneath?”

‘……’ Could Senior Sister have been thinking about this the entire ride?

“I’ve been waiting for nearly an hour of bus travel! Are you really not going to let me see?”

Zhuang Xun was utterly defeated the moment she saw Shen Xian’s expression. All the mental preparations she had made on the bus vanished in an instant.

“Senior Sister, please don’t laugh at me when you see it,” Zhuang Xun sighed, slowly pulling down her jacket zipper.

“Senior Sister, Senior Tao Si seems very familiar with you?” Zhuang Xun walked beside Shen Xian, inquiring carefully.

Shen Xian was still covering her mouth, trying to suppress her laughter.

Zhuang Xun’s ears were slightly red. “Senior Sister… please don’t laugh anymore.”

She had only worn it because her senior had told her to.

“My apologies, Little Zhuang Xun, but you look too adorable in it,” Shen Xian said, wiping away non-existent tears from the corner of her eye. “If only I could take a photo…”

Zhuang Xun said decisively, “No.”

“Alright.” Shen Xian wasn’t disheartened. Instead, she finally answered Zhuang Xun’s question. “We aren’t very familiar, it’s just that she realized I had helped her before when she collapsed. We can chat, that’s all. More importantly, let’s start investigating the surroundings.”

Shen Xian finished speaking and pulled an item from her pocket.