“A few brave lads, before classes officially began, got into a brawl with students from a brother academy on Beta Town Pedestrian Street and were apprehended on the spot by the Patrol. How honorable! No freshman has ever received such treatment!”
“You should write a letter home and tell your families about your heroic deeds!”
Lao Yao waved his arms from the podium.
Zhang Jixin lowered his head and let out a strange whimper.
Xiao Xiao’s hushed sigh of relief came from beside him: “Good, we weren’t warned.”
Zheng Qing’s face was pale as he read the notice again.
On Beta Town Pedestrian Street, the plump Professor An had confidently told the freshmen that they would receive a Level 3 warning from the school—which meant greater academic credit pressure.
However, this official disciplinary notice did not mention a Level 3 warning.
A little color returned to Zheng Qing’s pale face.
His fragile little heart could not withstand any more torment.
“Three freshmen from Nine Provinces, one freshman from Alpha, and one freshman from Starry Sky Academy. Five newcomers who haven’t even stepped into a classroom dared to throw punches at four senior students from Alpha!”
Lao Yao clutched his pipe and raised his voice:
“Simply suicidal! Do you know how lucky you are?”
“There were others too,” Zhang Jixin muttered softly.
“What did you say?” Professor Yao, keenly aware of the slight resentment, pointed at the red-faced boy.
Zheng Qing tugged at Zhang Jixin’s sleeve, trying to make him calm down.
But the short-tempered, red-faced boy stood up without the slightest hesitation.
“I said, there weren’t just five of us newcomers there,” Zhang Jixin shook off Zheng Qing’s tugging arm and said loudly, “There was also an exchange student, a few senior students from Starry Sky Academy. And there were people playing Black Hand on the side of the road, we didn’t see who it was.”
“Is that your reason for fighting?” Lao Yao raised an eyebrow and retorted.
“No,” Zhang Jixin’s head drooped again, and he mumbled, “It’s not.”
“What about you two? Do you have any opinions you’d like to express?” Lao Yao’s gaze fell on Zheng Qing and Xiao Xiao.
Cold sweat broke out on Zheng Qing’s back, and he opened his mouth, feeling his tongue stiff and numb.
Beside him, Xiao Xiao silently stood up, head bowed, looking at his notebook, not saying a word.
“Professor, this… I can explain this matter!” Zheng Qing stood up hastily, almost knocking over his chair.
“No, no, no, I don’t need an explanation,” Lao Yao shook his pipe, lowering his head to look down at the young men, “And you don’t need an explanation either. I only need your performance for the Patrol.”
“Professor An mentioned to me this morning that Nine Provinces College hasn’t had students who dared to break the rules in a long time. Since you dared to challenge certain injustices, then show some real achievements to convince others!”
Zheng Qing’s face was a mess, and he obediently sat down, following Lao Yao’s gesture, feeling bewildered.
Xiao Xiao and Zhang Jixin also quietly returned to their seats.
“You need to follow the arrangements of the School Affairs Committee and complete the tasks they assign. At the end of the semester, the School Affairs Committee will grade each of you. I must see the excellent evaluations they sign for you, otherwise, I will forget what I just said.”
Lao Yao spoke while flipping through his lecture notes:
“This Friday after class, you will go to the School Affairs Committee’s office to receive your assignments. Remember, don’t be late!”
Zheng Qing nodded in agreement, letting out a heavy sigh, a weight in his heart finally lifted.
“This is the first time we’ve sat together since the semester began, and there will be more opportunities like this in the future, and often. As per custom, I announce that seven o’clock every Saturday evening is our class’s regular meeting time. Attendance is mandatory, no exceptions.”
Lao Yao pulled out a pouch of tobacco from his pocket, stuffing it into his pipe as he continued:
“The first week has a lot going on, but I will be waiting for your weekly life reports at seven this weekend.”
A chorus of groans rose from below the podium.
“Oh, right, one last thing.”
Before leaving, Professor Yao paused, exhaled a puff of thick smoke, and looked back at the restless freshmen in the classroom:
“For well-known reasons, the opening ceremony has been postponed. It will likely be scheduled for the end of this month or early next month, the exact time is TBD, but it will definitely be held before the School Hunting Competition.”
“This matter doesn’t have much to do with you, just be aware of it.”
After speaking, he pulled open the classroom door and disappeared into the quiet corridor.
...
The classroom was quiet for a few seconds, then erupted into a roar, as if instantly transforming into a noisy market.
Everyone was excitedly discussing something.
The conflict on the Walking Street.
The selection of the class president and chief.
Publicly Funded Students.
The incident on the special plane.
Even the gossip about Su Shijun, which had disheartened many.
This matter seemed to have been weighing on Xin Fatty’s mind, and only after class could he truly express himself.
“The Goddess must have been coerced!” The Fatty’s jowls jiggled as he glared with his small eyes, shouting fiercely, “If I find out who that man is, I…”
“What do you plan to do?” Xiao Xiao squinted, mocking him.
Xin Fatty was immediately choked.
Indeed, a man who could capture the heart of Su Shijun, the most beautiful woman in the Wizarding World, would certainly be stronger than Talbot, the Werewolf Prince, or Milton, the Vampire Duke.
The Fatty dejectedly lowered his raised fist.
Beside him, Zheng Qing held up his fist:
“Help me block that little girl!”
While Xin Fatty was indignant about the news of Su Shijun having a child, Zheng Qing’s gaze was fixed on the girls in the first row.
After class, a group of girls swarmed around Liu Feifei, complimenting Nine Provinces College’s new chief, praising her for bringing honor to the girls.
Li Meng and Liu Feifei sat together, chattering non-stop amidst the group of girls.
After discussing for a while, the topic shifted from one Publicly Funded Student to another.
The girls’ curious gazes probed towards Zheng Qing, who was sitting in the back row of the classroom.
Li Meng seemed to finally remember something and once again jumped onto the desk.
“Zheng Qing!” She pointed aggressively at the boy in the back of the classroom, shouting loudly, “You just wait for me!”
Beside her, Jiang Yu helplessly pulled the little girl back down from the desk.
Zheng Qing looked at Xin Fatty with a pale face: “Help me block that little girl, and I’ll arrange a meeting with Su Shijun for you!”
His mind was in a whirl, and he had no idea what he was saying.
But for Xin Fatty, a Publicly Funded Student’s promise carried exceptional weight.
“Leave it to me!” Xin Fatty showed his white teeth and turned to look at the girls in the front row.
Li Meng had just burst out of the girls’ encirclement and was aggressively charging towards the back of the classroom.
“Meng-mei! Let’s get acquainted! I’m Blue Giant Xin! You can call me Lan Xin~” Xin Fatty approached with a lecherous grin.
“Pervert!!” Li Meng shrieked, darting back behind Jiang Yu.
Zheng Qing took the opportunity to slip away through the crowd from the back of the classroom.
