Aftermath

Wang Sheng and the others wore strange expressions, feeling awkward. This new little girl had just become their boss?

Just then, a teacher walked in carrying two brand-new sets of bedding. He gave the stunned children an odd look before asking, "I'm Mo Hen. You can call me Teacher Mo. Who are Tang San and Zhao Xuan?"

Tang San and Zhao Xuan stepped forward in response. The teacher set the bedding down on a bed. "The Master asked me to bring these to you."

After saying that, he gave Tang San a strange look and could not help asking, "Did you really take the Master as your teacher?"

Tang San looked at him calmly, a faint, nearly imperceptible sharpness flashing through his eyes. "Yes."

"The Master is a good teacher." Mo Hen spoke with some feeling, his gaze sincere and earnest.

"Hm?!" Tang San looked rather puzzled. He had thought this teacher would mock the Master like the teacher they had encountered at the Academic Affairs Office, but he had not expected such admiration. Yet the man did not seem to be pretending.

Perhaps noticing Tang San's strange expression, Teacher Mo smiled freely. "Others in this academy may think the Master is merely a madman, but I don't."

"Although many of his theories have yet to be proven, from what I've observed over the years, many of the Master's ideas are correct."

"Though the Master isn't strong himself, his theoretical knowledge could be called the best on the continent."

"Since you've taken the Master as your teacher, study hard under him." With that, Mo Hen left the Seventh Dormitory with a sigh.

Tang San lowered his head thoughtfully. Zhao Xuan walked over and nudged him with an elbow. "Xiao San, looks like you got lucky."

Tang San smiled as well but said nothing.

At that moment, Xiao Wu, the newly appointed boss, looked around the Seventh Dormitory. Then she glanced thoughtfully at the two brand-new sets of bedding nearby.

Her lively eyes shifted, and she suddenly called to Tang San, "Hey, you there! Tang San, right?"

Tang San turned around and looked at the energetic girl before him in confusion. "What is it?"

She blinked. "I'm the boss of the Seventh Dormitory, so you all have to listen to me, right?"

Zhao Xuan raised a brow, sensing that things were not so simple. Tang San nodded helplessly.

"Then..." Xiao Wu pulled a feint, swiftly snatching one of the brand-new sets of bedding Mo Hen had brought over. She said with a sweet smile,

"Then this one is mine."

What fine tactics, young lady. Zhao Xuan really wanted to praise her, but at that moment... he glanced at the dumbfounded Tang San beside him and swiftly seized the remaining set of bedding.

This bed was his!

Zhao Xuan smiled. This little girl was impressive. If he had not noticed that faint, impish smile at the corner of her lips, he might not have reacted in time.

Watching the two of them, Tang San finally realized what had happened. Looking at the bedding Xiao Wu was holding, he felt depressed...

"Xiao San, hurry up and take it back! While you're at it, reclaim the prestige you lost earlier!" Zhao Xuan egged him on from the side, delighted to stir up trouble.

Tang San once again noticed the true culprit. He shot Zhao Xuan a fierce glare. "Tonight, we'll share one blanket."

Zhao Xuan's expression changed. Hugging his bedding, he abruptly turned away. "No! I move around a lot in my sleep."

Tang San smiled faintly. "I'll make you behave."

Zhao Xuan jumped in fright. Xiao San could not beat him, but the guy was skilled at making medicine. If he drugged him at night, there would be no way to guard against it.

"Boss Tang, why don't you use my mattress first? I can make do with my blanket spread under and over me," Wang Hu said weakly from the side.

Although Tang San had perhaps been the dorm leader of the Seventh Dormitory for the shortest time ever, that battle had left a deep impression on Wang Hu. So he still called Tang San boss.

Several quick-witted students immediately stepped forward. "Boss, use my blanket. I can barely manage with just a mattress."

Tang San looked at the blankets and mattresses the students had offered. They looked somewhat worn, but they were still quite clean.

Warmth flowed through Tang San's heart. This proved that his decision to protect them had not been wrong. Farm children were the most simple and honest; they deserved protection.

However, Tang San refused. He shook his head. "No need. I think he'll agree."

After saying that, he turned to Zhao Xuan and gave him a smile that Zhao Xuan found rather threatening. Zhao Xuan shuddered all over and forced a smile. "Ah? Right! Right!"

Tang San nodded, then turned back and thanked each of the students who had offered him bedding.

Zhao Xuan secretly resolved to go out and buy his own bedding tomorrow. He still had several Gold Soul Coins Zhao Shi had given him, and a set of bedding would not cost much.

Seeing that everyone had reached an agreement, Xiao Wu quietly breathed a sigh of relief. She stuck out her cute little tongue, then happily carried her bedding to an unoccupied bed.

By the time the beds were arranged, it was already late. If they kept fooling around, they would even miss dinner.

So Wang Sheng, the former former boss of the Seventh Dormitory, called the dorm's students to the cafeteria. "Boss Tang, Sister Xiao Wu, and... Zhao Xuan, right? It's time to eat. Let's go together."

The moment she heard there would be food, Xiao Wu jumped up excitedly. "Sure! What delicious food are we having?"

Wang Sheng and the other Work-Study Students exchanged looks and smiled bitterly. "What good food can Work-Study Students eat? We'll just buy some cheap food in the cafeteria and make do."

Tang San shook his head. "You go ahead. I won't be going." His family was dirt poor, and Tang Hao's money had all gone toward alcohol. To avoid going hungry, he had deliberately brought some provisions: coarse cakes he had made himself. They were enough to fill his stomach. Once he started work the day after tomorrow, he would have wages.

Zhao Xuan naturally understood Tang San's family circumstances. He could not bear to let Xiao San gnaw on those coarse cakes, especially when he was still growing.

So he threw an arm around Tang San's neck and said with a grin, "Xiao San, come on. I'll treat you to a meal."

Tang San hesitated before shaking his head. "No need."

Zhao Xuan reached toward Tang San's waist and suddenly pulled his arm inward, trapping both of Tang San's arms. Tang San's rosy face went pale, and he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.

Seeing this, Zhao Xuan awkwardly loosened his grip and coughed dryly a few times. "Ahem, Xiao San, I'll treat you for the next few meals. You can pay me back later."

Tang San circulated the Mysterious Heaven Skill to regulate his internal energy. Hearing Zhao Xuan's words warmed his heart. He knew Zhao Xuan did not want to embarrass him, so after thinking it over, he nodded and did not refuse again.

Wang Sheng and the others' eyes nearly popped out. They had clearly seen that move from Zhao Xuan. Their former boss Tang San had nearly been unable to breathe. Was Zhao Xuan, who had been silently watching from the side, also such a formidable figure?!

At once, their gazes toward Zhao Xuan gained several degrees of respect.

Suddenly, Xiao Wu's hesitant and shy voice came from the side. "Um... do you need those... Soul Coins to eat?"

Wang Sheng and the others nearly spat blood. Sister Boss, what deep mountain forest did you come from? Wasn't that common sense?

At this point, even Zhao Xuan and Tang San looked at Xiao Wu strangely.

Embarrassed and angry, Xiao Wu glared fiercely at everyone. Wang Sheng and the others hurriedly took several steps back. They had no desire to experience Xiao Wu's Soft Skill.

At that moment, Zhao Xuan said, "How about this? I'll cover your meals for the next two days too."

After all, two days of meals would not cost much. Once school started in a few days, the Work-Study Students would have a source of income.

Xiao Wu was naturally overjoyed. "Really? Ahem... since that's the case, Sister Xiao Wu will look after you from now on."

Zhao Xuan raised a brow and said leisurely, "Of course, you'll have to pay me back."

Xiao Wu's expression stiffened. Then she shot Zhao Xuan a fierce glare and walked out the door. The other Seventh Dormitory students quickly followed her.

Zhao Xuan laughed. This little brat was still so arrogant?! Just wait until you order food. If he did not pay, what could she do? The more he thought about it, the more he laughed.

Tang San, who had been watching from the side, could not help backing several steps away from Zhao Xuan, eyeing him uncertainly.

What was he thinking about?

The two of them arrived later than the others from the Seventh Dormitory, but as soon as they entered the cafeteria, they heard an unpleasant voice.

"Isn't this Wang Sheng and his bunch of poor fools?"

Tang San looked toward the voice and saw a group of older students standing on the stairs between the first and second floors, looking down at them.

The speaker was a handsome male student around eleven or twelve years old. His eyes were filled with disdain as he wagged a finger at Wang Sheng. "Poor fools are poor fools. You'll probably never get to eat on the second floor."

On the way to the cafeteria, Wang Sheng had already told Xiao Wu about the rule that the boss of the Seventh Dormitory had to stand up for the Work-Study Students. Xiao Wu had readily agreed. Now that someone was provoking them, anger immediately surged in her. "What are you? What's so great about the second floor?"

"What's so great about it? Haha, you poor fools will never be able to afford it." The leading student laughed mockingly, as though he had heard a hilarious joke.

Xiao Wu was so furious that she hopped in place, her little silver teeth grinding. Zhao Xuan could not help smiling. It suited her martial soul perfectly—she really did look like an angry little rabbit.

However, Zhao Xuan could not stand by either. Or rather, his restless heart could no longer contain itself. Perhaps he had been suppressed as a shut-in for too long in his previous life. In this life, he wanted to cause some trouble.

He immediately pointed at the older students upstairs and shouted, "You bastards upstairs, if you've got the guts, come down and trade a few moves with me!"

The cafeteria's clamor fell silent in an instant. Everyone stared wide-eyed at Zhao Xuan as though they had witnessed something unbelievable.

Seeing the atmosphere freeze, Zhao Xuan felt a little awkward as he posed there alone. He grew anxious inside. Would you all hurry up and say something already?

"Brat! Are you looking to die?!" A roar suddenly erupted from the second floor. The entire floor immediately exploded into an uproar as the older students glared at Zhao Xuan like they wanted to eat him alive.

Wang Sheng and the others trembled, but Zhao Xuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. His expression remained calm as he looked at them disdainfully and crooked a finger, becoming even more provocative.

The older students were naturally furious. Several had already rolled up their sleeves, ready to teach this ignorant junior a lesson, when a clear voice suddenly rang out from the entrance.

"Stop right there!"

A girl about the same age as Tang San and the others walked in through the entrance. She had large hazel eyes, an angry look on her pretty face, and fluffy golden hair that trembled slightly as she walked.

"Xiao Lang! You're bullying the Work-Study Students again!" Although the little girl was dressed elegantly, she unexpectedly spoke up for the Work-Study Students. She glared angrily with her large eyes and spoke without any courtesy.

The leading male student was Xiao Lang, the boss of the sixth grade, also known as Boss Xiao.

Boss Xiao and the older students nearly exploded on the spot. Heaven and earth bore witness: although he loved bullying Work-Study Students, this time he truly had not started it.

But Boss Xiao knew himself well. Given his usual reputation, any explanation would be useless. So he merely glared at Zhao Xuan as though he could kill him with his eyes.

Seeing Boss Xiao say nothing, the girl took it as an admission. She said furiously, "If this happens again, I'll have Grandpa expel every one of you!"

Boss Xiao fell silent, then turned and left in a huff. This was exactly what he feared about the little girl. Though she was not powerful herself, her grandfather was Dumbledore, the headmaster of Nuoding Academy.

Once Boss Xiao left, the anger on the girl's face faded. She walked over to Zhao Xuan and said calmly, "Hey, work-study student. Don't provoke those older students next time unless you want to get beaten up."

After saying that, the little girl turned and headed toward the second floor. She actually knew Zhao Xuan had been the one to provoke them first!

Zhao Xuan stared blankly at everything. Who the hell are you? Not only did you ruin my script, you even lectured me?!

Wang Sheng quietly slipped over to Zhao Xuan's side and said, "Her name is Hermione. She's the granddaughter of our headmaster, Dumbledore, and she usually takes good care of us. Oh, right. She enrolled this year too."

Hermione? I'll remember you!

Zhao Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly. What an arrogant little brat.