Chapter 603

Though there were murmurs of criticism, no uproar broke out in the end. No one truly believed the director's words and withdrew from this mission.

Wasn't this sort of situation quite common?

A lecturer would stand at the podium and tell the students pleasantly, "If you don't want to attend class, you can leave right now..." Anyone foolish enough to believe that would probably suffer afterward.

So even though Olga Marie said that, no one would actually follow through on the implication of her words.

—Except for one oddball.

"I'm dissatisfied. I don't intend to participate in group activities."

Lianye stood up boldly and delivered those exceptionally face-slapping words.

"Y-you, you, you, you, you, you, you—!"

Without a doubt, Olga Marie pointed at the standing Lianye with a face full of fury, so angry that she could barely speak.

023

Someone actually answered like that?!

Lianye shrugged with an innocent expression. "All right, so can I withdraw from this group mission now?"

"..."

The murmurs of criticism grew denser, but this time, they were probably not aimed at Olga Marie, but at Lianye. Should he be called a brave man who dared to speak his mind, or a fool who understood nothing of the world?

Lianye held his head high with pride. Timidity, admiration, astonishment—such were ordinary human reactions, and no one was exempt from them. Why should he care?

"Pfft, hahahahaha~~~~"

Rather than whispering and gossiping in secret, someone expressed her thoughts and amusement in a far more straightforward manner.

The one who let out that barbell-like laughter, utterly lacking in ladylike grace, was none other than Fujimaru Ritsuka.

One hand clutching her stomach and the other banging on the tabletop, she laughed so exaggeratedly that tears nearly fell from her eyes. "I really never knew there was a