This Must Be Instinct at Work

This Must Be Instinct at Work

Fortunately, Bai Bufan did not actually dig in with gusto in the end. Otherwise, given Lin Li's noble character, he absolutely would not associate with someone like that.

...To be precise, he probably would not.

"Why aren't you eating?" Lin Li asked with a smile.

"I sat on it just now. It's already contaminated."

"Unbelievable."

Bai Bufan got back up and walked straight behind Lin Li, immediately putting him in a chokehold. Then, with a face full of gossip, he leaned over Lin Li's shoulder. "Tell me, tell me, tell me! What happened at noon? Chen Yuying actually sat with you all through lunch. Did you secretly win her over behind our backs? Weird. Chen Yuying is pretty, has a good personality, and studies well. No reason for her to be blind."

"Heh." Lin Li gave a cold laugh and put on an inscrutable air before honestly saying, "She came to ask why the principal called me in this morning."

"..."

After freezing for a moment, Bai Bufan released his chokehold, his expression like Da Li Wang trying not to laugh. "What did you tell her?"

"I made up a nicer explanation." Lin Li repeated the exclusive explanation he had given Chen Yuying.

That would also make it easier to keep their stories straight. Even if there was a one-in-ten-million chance that Chen Yuying discussed this matter with Bai Bufan and the others in the future, they would not give themselves away.

"Classmate Lin Li, you wouldn't want your Chen Yuying to know the truth, would you?"

"Cut it out, you Japanese bastard."

"I forgive you for violating my chair together. In fact, you're welcome to come again next time."

"Cuckold fetish? Bai Bufan, you really are a Japanese bastard. I definitely want to be your best brother for life!" Lin Li looked at Bai Bufan expectantly.

"?"

"I haven't even started dating, and you're already eyeing my girlfriend? I take back my forgiveness. You can both go die."

Lin Li smiled, then turned his attention to the system.

He had spent the entire lunch break making up a story for Chen Yuying. He still had not checked the Task Five reward he had earned through her.

You have received rewards: Mecha Synchronization Index +10; Random Talent ×1; System Currency ×50.

I sacrifice ten years of Bai Bufan's lifespan. Give me a top-tier talent! Talent, activate!

You have obtained a talent: Ballet (Ordinary).

"..."

"..."

Some dancing techniques suddenly appeared in his mind.

But—

What kind of ridiculous talent was this?

Lin Li was not demanding something practical like Tongbei Fist or Tai Chi Palm. A talent like piano or violin, something he could use to show off, would have been acceptable. But what was the point of giving him ballet? Was he supposed to go perform in Swan Lake as a Little Swan? No, this was only an ordinary-level talent. The Little Swan was an extremely difficult ballet role, and he probably could not even handle it.

In the Cultivation World, with a great enemy before them, Lin Li would shout, "Wait!" Then he would spin, leap, and close his eyes.

Lin Li did not even dare imagine that scene.

What amused him most was that this ability had not even been added to his status panel. Even the system itself looked down on this ability.

Damn, why had his sacrifice failed? Sacrificing Bai Bufan's lifespan had always worked pretty well before.

Wait! His balance was insufficient!

"Bufan, you won't even live another ten years!"

Bai Bufan: "?"

After fooling around for a while, Lin Li brought up his status panel again. It now looked like this.

Name: Lin Li (Blood Crow Slayer)

Age: 17

Constitution: Spiritual energy absorption speed increased by 200%; Charm Technique resistance increased by 100%; Yang Energy concentration within the body increased by 50%; memory increased by 100%; Mecha Synchronization Index 10

Passive Ability: Empty-Handed Blade Catch

Active Ability: None

System Currency: 400

Looking at his status panel, Lin Li could not help falling into thought.

He felt that he had been quite busy during the week since activating the system, yet looking back at the results, he suddenly had no idea what exactly he had been busy with.

Busy was good. Better to be busy.

The bell signaling the end of Evening Self-Study rang.

"Work hard. I'm counting on you for everything!" Bai Bufan did not stop Lin Li this time. Instead, he watched him leave with great anticipation.

Go for it, big brother from the Chicken Farm.

Today, Lin Li was unusually carrying his backpack home on a school day. The main reason was that it contained more than four thousand yuan worth of cash and supply cards.

He headed to the office, intending to retrieve his Merit Banner from his homeroom teacher, though Lin Li felt it did not really matter if he gave it away.

Teacher Xue without a Merit Banner was so pitiful, even though the man himself refused to admit it.

Lin Li arrived at the office door.

Nearly all the subject teachers were there.

As a boarding school, Nansang naturally provided staff dormitories. Bai Bufan had said that after they returned to their dorms at night, Xue Jian would occasionally raid the dormitories for inspections even at eleven o'clock.

However, most teachers were middle-aged. Most teachers who were not homeroom teachers still lived in their own homes outside the school and simply drove to and from work.

The reason all the teachers were gathered tonight was mainly because there was a staff meeting every Monday evening.

But where was Xue Jian, the person Lin Li was looking for?

After knocking and entering, Lin Li asked Li Binbin, who was closest to him, "Teacher Li, is Teacher Xue not here?"

"He probably went to the restroom. He'll be back soon. If you're looking for him, wait here for a bit," Li Binbin said.

"Okay."

Lin Li stood beside Xue Jian's desk and waited, his gaze wandering around the room.

It eventually settled on the English teacher's legs.

Based on Lin Li's school experience, so long as the English teacher was female and young, she was generally the prettiest and most fashionable among the teachers. Lin Li's English teacher, Coco, was exactly that kind of person. Lin Li usually called her Kou Kou. She was in her twenties, though he had heard she was already married.

Nansang's school rules did not allow teachers to wear heavy makeup or teach in clothes such as short skirts. In truth, no teacher would do that anyway.

Women dressed up for those who appreciated them. Who would spend half the day grooming themselves for a bunch of bratty kids whose hair had not even fully grown in?

But Kou Kou had probably returned from outside just for the meeting today. She was not wearing the same outfit she had worn that morning. Her makeup was quite refined, her hair seemed to have been specially curled, and she wore a carefully chosen dress. She looked quite pretty.

Everyone loved beauty.

Nice legs.

One glance was instinct. Nothing to say about that.

Continuing to look was continued instinct. Nothing to say about that either.

Instinct really was hard to resist.

"Lin Li, remember to study your text properly when you get back. I'll call on you tomorrow," Kou Kou said after noticing him.

He had spoken too soon.

Instinct was actually pretty easy to resist.

Lin Li immediately did not want to look anymore.

"Got it, Teacher." Lin Li nodded.

Kou Kou thought about it and decided to scold Lin Li. Recently, he had really gone too far.

During English class, he was either spacing out or sleeping. In any case, he was always doing something completely unrelated to the lesson.

Kou Kou did not want him to continue like this.

She had just opened her mouth—

"You've been in great form in class lately, very attentive, Lin Li. Keep it up, and your grades will definitely keep getting better." Li Binbin, who had already stood up to go home, suddenly remembered and praised him.

"That's true. Lin Li has been unusually attentive in class lately." The biology teacher beside her also chimed in.

"Indeed. He's been doing his homework well too. Keep it up, Lin Li." The geography teacher nodded as well.

"Right..."

"..."

Li Binbin's words resonated with all the teachers present, and they lavishly began praising Lin Li.

Only Kou Kou: "?"

Her open mouth suddenly froze, and she could not say a word.

What was going on?

Hadn't Lin Li been getting less and less interested in studying lately?

Why was every teacher except her praising Lin Li? Encouragement-based education was one thing, but they should not be praising him this much, unless—

Kou Kou's gaze fell on Lin Li, who was scratching his head and chuckling sheepishly.

Meanwhile, on Lin Li's side—

A teacher's attitude toward students was nothing more than strict criticism born of deep concern.

But the balance differed depending on the student: poor students received strict criticism, while top students received deep concern.

Top students and poor students both received their own distinct end-of-term comments, with targeted praise or encouragement, while average students usually got: "You are a quiet student..."

Lin Li was rather mischievous, so he had always belonged in the "strict criticism" category. Suddenly becoming someone teachers deeply cared about honestly made him a little unaccustomed to it.

But Lin Li suddenly broke out in goosebumps. He felt as though someone was staring at him, and a chill ran through his entire body.

When Lin Li turned around—

"Why... why... I won't accept this... why..."

Holy shit.

One minute apart, and how had my beautiful, fashionable Teacher Kou Kou become a vengeful spirit? Please vote with monthly passes.