“First time?” Xiao Che had really never considered this question before.
He began to think.
First time?
When was it?
Suddenly, Xiao Che remembered.
It was after he had returned from rebirth, after he had avoided danger and reversed his fate.
Why did it have to be that exact moment?
Xiao Che had never thought about it this way before. Now that Duoduo had asked, he naturally noticed what he had overlooked.
What was this person’s real intention?
If they wanted to help him, why hadn’t they given him a warning earlier to help him avoid the danger?
If they weren’t helping him, then why had he indeed escaped several dangers because of the notes?
Duoduo saw that Xiao Che was lost in thought. She yawned, feeling sleepy.
Duoduo ignored Xiao Che and went inside to take a nap.
She wasn’t a bodhisattva meant to save everyone.
Xiao Che had helped her once, so she repaid him once.
They were even!
She needed to rest well to have the energy to figure out how to retaliate against Song Shuyu!
Duoduo clenched her fists.
She hadn’t expected Song Shuyu to be so bold as to openly try to harm her.
But she had no proof.
And the one who had done the deed was Xiao Yunshi.
Duoduo was curious about why Xiao Yunshi had agreed to help Song Shuyu.
Wasn’t he afraid that if things were exposed, she would come after him?
Or did Xiao Yunshi think she was an easy target?
Hmph!
She would make Xiao Yunshi know that she was not to be trifled with!
When Duoduo woke from her nap, she found that Xiao Che had already left.
After tidying up, she took Lv Dou and headed to the Imperial Academy.
In the classroom, Xiao Yunshi was boasting loudly with a few of his usual close friends.
Duoduo noticed that when Xiao Yunshi saw her enter, he showed a flicker of guilt.
But soon, he puffed up his chest and raised his chin in a show of bravado.
Duoduo looked at Xiao Yunshi and suddenly broke into a smile.
Xiao Yunshi was startled, staring at her nervously.
Duoduo walked down the aisle to the spot between their seats.
Xiao Yunshi rushed over from the front in a panic.
Duoduo simply sat down in her own seat and opened her book chest.
Xiao Yunshi crouched down cautiously, leaning over the chair to inspect it closely.
Duoduo smiled sweetly at Xiao Yunshi. “What? Did someone put a needle in your seat too?”
Xiao Yunshi checked around and, finding nothing unusual, stood up and plopped down onto his chair.
“I’m not like some people, crooked-minded and always causing trouble!”
Duoduo rested her chin on her hands and nodded in agreement as she watched him.
“You’re right.”
“Some people really are crooked-minded and always causing harm.”
“People like that end up hurting only themselves in the end; they get what they deserve!”
After saying this, Duoduo smiled brightly at Xiao Yunshi.
“Don’t you agree?”
Xiao Yunshi turned sideways, showing his back to Duoduo.
“I won’t talk to a jinx like you, or I’ll catch your bad luck.”
Duoduo blinked.
“I wish you all the best, really!”
Her eyes shifted, and she noticed that Song Shuyu, sitting to her left and ahead, seemed to be keeping an eye on their movements.
When Duoduo looked over, Song Shuyu pretended to be chatting with Danyang and looked away.
The bell for class rang, and the stern-faced Grand Tutor walked in.
The Grand Tutor had a habit: when he read, he liked to pace back and forth in the room.
He walked from the front to the back, then turned around and walked forward again, holding a book scroll.
Suddenly, a pebble flew and struck the back of the Grand Tutor’s head.
“Ouch!”
Feeling the pain, the Grand Tutor turned around and saw the pebble rolling on the floor.
He glared intently at the students behind him, trying to figure out who had thrown it.
On his left was the demure-looking Princess Changle.
On his right was Xiao Yunshi, pretending to focus on the lesson.
“Xiao Yunshi, was it you?”
The Grand Tutor’s eyes seemed to spit fire.
Xiao Yunshi, who had been exchanging hand signals with a classmate in front, had no idea what was happening.
But seeing the Grand Tutor’s expression, he sensed something was wrong.
“Grand Tutor, I didn’t do anything!”
Xiao Yunshi’s words only made him sound guiltier.
Without another word, the Grand Tutor walked up to Xiao Yunshi.
“Hold out your hands!” the Grand Tutor said, his voice icy as he fixed his gaze on Xiao Yunshi.
Xiao Yunshi jumped up instinctively and backed into the wall.
“Grand Tutor, I really didn’t do anything!”
“If you don’t want to be punished, get out!” The Grand Tutor’s ferule flew straight at Xiao Yunshi.
The ruler struck Xiao Yunshi on the head, cutting a gash that bled, and then landed on the floor with a sharp clatter.
Xiao Yunshi felt a sharp sting, and when he touched his head, his hand came away red.
“Blood!”
Xiao Yunshi froze.
The entire classroom fell silent.
They had never seen the Grand Tutor lose his temper like this before.
“You’ve always been unruly, and now you dare to throw a stone at me? A student with no respect for his teacher is one I refuse to teach!”
“Pack your things and get out!” the Grand Tutor roared.
As an educator, he valued students who respected their teachers above all.
Even if they were dull or mischievous, he could tolerate it.
But throwing a stone at his head during class was an unforgivable offense!
Xiao Yunshi, now panicking, quickly tried to explain.
“Grand Tutor, it really wasn’t me!”
“He can vouch for me! I was talking to him just now; I didn’t throw anything at you!”
The classmate Xiao Yunshi pointed at hurriedly waved his hands.
“Grand Tutor, I was paying attention to the lesson. I don’t know anything.”
Xiao Yunshi couldn’t believe his usually close friend had turned on him in a critical moment.
“You! You were just talking to me—why are you lying?”
“You, pack up too and get out!”
The Grand Tutor didn’t want to hear their bickering and gave the order.
That student glared at Xiao Yunshi with hatred, then looked pleadingly at the Grand Tutor.
“Grand Tutor, I was truly listening. Please don’t believe his nonsense!”
Seeing they wouldn’t move, the Grand Tutor stepped outside.
“Guards!”
Soon, two guards came running.
“Throw them both out!” the Grand Tutor commanded, pointing at Xiao Yunshi and the other student.
Without a word, the guards grabbed both of them, picked them up, and carried them out.
The air was left with their cries for mercy.
The other students all lowered their heads, afraid the Grand Tutor’s anger might turn on them.
Duoduo picked up the ferule from the floor and respectfully handed it back to the Grand Tutor with both hands.
The Grand Tutor’s eyes swept over Duoduo like an eagle’s gaze, pausing briefly.
Duoduo obediently returned to her seat, and the Grand Tutor looked away.
“Now then, let’s continue with the explanation of this article…”
The Grand Tutor’s stern voice filled the room as he walked back to the lectern.
Duoduo let out a quiet sigh of relief and shifted slightly in her seat.
She then noticed Xiao Che beside her staring fixedly at her.
