Imperial Court Academy

"No problem. I've already thought it through. Besides, I can't let this matter delay the City Exam. I'll go back and rest first."

Su Ming replied calmly, then stood and headed toward his room. He needed to get a good rest and sort out what came next.

Su Yuan and Zhao Ning watched Su Ming's back as he went upstairs. The two exchanged a glance, worry filling their eyes.

The next day.

Thirteenth District · Mient Junior Academy entrance.

A black hovercar drove across the broad, level concrete grounds and came to a stop.

Inside the car, Su Ming gazed through the window at the solemn entrance built from blue-green stone and slowly let out a breath.

"Son, we're here."

Su Yuan turned around and spoke hesitantly.

"All right, Father."

Su Ming opened the car door and stepped out, heading toward the school.

However, after only a few steps, Su Ming stopped and turned around. He saw the short Su Yuan rubbing his hands together as he followed carefully with a broad smile.

"Father, is there something else?"

Su Ming looked at Su Yuan in confusion.

"Son, are you sure you're all right? You don't need me to walk you in? You always used to have me walk you in."

Su Yuan spoke with a hearty chuckle.

When Su Ming heard this, the corner of his mouth twitched.

Damn! This chubby guy isn't just a shut-in—he's a mama's boy too. He even needs someone to walk him into school.

He rubbed his forehead and said to Su Yuan helplessly, "No need, Father. I can do it myself."

"Really, you don't need me?"

Su Yuan was still extremely worried, as though his son were not going to school but heading onto a battlefield.

"Really, I don't need you. I can do it myself."

"All right, all right. If anything happens, call me immediately. Make sure you call me."

Su Yuan reminded him anxiously.

"Okay!"

Su Ming turned and walked toward the school.

Su Yuan did not leave. Instead, he stood there, watching Su Ming enter the school.

Inside the campus, Su Ming followed his memories toward the classroom building.

Along the way, he looked around at his school.

The school occupied a very large area. The classroom buildings were arranged in orderly clusters, while all the roads were paved with smooth concrete. In the distance, on the right, there was also a huge circular athletic field.

Overall, the school looked quite good. The only unfortunate thing was that he did not see a single real plant along the way—all of them were artificial.

At that moment, several students walking toward the classroom buildings noticed Su Ming. Surprise appeared in their eyes, and they began whispering among themselves.

"Isn't that Su Ming, who tried to hang himself not long ago?"

"It really is him. He's already back at school?"

"Heh, seriously, he should take a look at himself. He actually dared to pursue Lin Chuyu. He's become a laughingstock now, hasn't he?"

Su Ming naturally noticed the students pointing and whispering around him. Unfortunately, he did not care in the slightest, and his heart remained completely unmoved.

Soon, Su Ming arrived at the classroom door. It was ajar.

Before he even entered, he heard the students inside discussing him.

"Do you think that fat shut-in Su Ming is coming back to school?"

"Could he come back? He'll definitely transfer. Seriously, he should take a piss and look at himself. Just look at what he's like."

Creak~

Su Ming pushed open the ajar classroom door and walked in. The classroom, which had been bustling with discussion, instantly fell silent.

Everyone turned to look at Su Ming.

"No way, that guy actually came back to school."

"Stop talking, or you'll provoke him again."

Many of the students present stopped teasing and discussing him, but one person sneered disdainfully.

"So what if I say something? If he can't handle the pressure, who else can he blame?"

"Say a little less."

Facing the gazes and whispers of his classmates, Su Ming did not avert his eyes. He calmly walked to his seat and sat down.

For a moment, the students present felt something strange. They all felt that Su Ming seemed somewhat different from before. Yet they could not say exactly what had changed.

At that moment, three thin boys in blue-and-white school uniforms approached Su Ming. Each had a small tuft of yellow, green, or red hair at his temples.

Su Ming raised his head and looked at the three of them. His eyes did not ripple in the slightest. The three were Cheng Ran, Wang Chi, and Qin Lei, nicknamed Yellow Hair, Green Hair, and Red Hair.

The three of them were all Su Ming's roommates, and according to his memories, they got along fairly well. Of course, the original owner had been a shut-in, but he was quite generous when it came to spending money and had often shared all kinds of snacks with them.

"Bro, you're incredible. You're a celebrity at our school now, and you actually dared to pursue Lin Chuyu."

Yellow Hair spoke excitedly.

"Exactly. That was seriously awesome!"

Green Hair and Red Hair gave Su Ming a thumbs-up.

"It's nothing. Don't talk about that anymore."

Su Ming did not want to continue discussing the matter.

Yellow Hair turned to look around. Then he leaned close to Su Ming's ear and spoke solemnly.

"Bro, let me tell you something. Your public pursuit of Lin Chuyu has already angered the tyrant of Mecha Class One, Zhang Tai, and the class monitor, Li Fubai. They've announced that they're going to deal with you. Be careful lately."

When Su Ming heard Yellow Hair, he sighed softly. What a hassle.

Just then, Tang Yan entered through the back door. Seeing Yellow Hair and the other two surrounding Su Ming, he spoke sternly.

"Return to your seats!"

When the three saw Teacher Tang arrive, they hurried back to their seats, and the classroom, which had been full of whispers, also fell silent.

Tang Yan walked over to Su Ming and asked with concern, "Su Ming, are you feeling better?"

"I'm fine now. Nothing's wrong!"

Su Ming nodded in reply.

"That's good. Don't dwell on those matters."

Tang Yan patted Su Ming's shoulder consolingly.

In truth, Tang Yan genuinely cared about Su Ming, and the reason was simple. Although Su Ming's grades were only average, he had been a very well-behaved student since enrolling and had never caused trouble.

As for that incident, there was actually nothing strange about it. Who among teenagers did not have one or two people they liked? It was just that Su Ming's mental resilience had been too poor, and he could not bear the humiliation of being publicly shamed.

Su Ming nodded in response to Tang Yan.

Tang Yan then walked to the lectern and said sternly to the entire class, "Something happened in the class recently, but it's all over now. No one is allowed to discuss it anymore. Everyone must focus on the upcoming City Exam. There are only thirty days left until the City Exam. Don't think I'm nagging—the City Exam is extremely important and can practically determine your future! I hope you'll give it your all and leave no regrets in your lives. If you're lucky enough to be admitted to the Imperial Court Military Academy, our school will be proud of you, and your name will be carved into the Wall of Honor!"

"Ah, how could we possibly get in?"

The students in the classroom all sighed.

When Su Ming heard Teacher Tang's words, his brows also knitted tightly. He still had memories concerning the Imperial Court Military Academy.