Turn the Tide

An unexpected person had appeared, but Chabashira Sae did not panic. She was confident she could handle it.

They were just students. Was she really unable to deal with them?

Chabashira Sae cast a cold look his way.

She said reasonably, "When all is said and done, this is your own problem. If you had studied properly, you would not be worried about failing."

That was all she had to say.

It seemed she was not all that impressive either.

Based on the class rank system,

Shi Cheng had reason to believe that teachers were ranked too.

No wonder she was so incompetent. She could not even accurately convey changes to the exam content.

Having realized this, Shi Cheng immediately found the right way to punish her.

"Since you insist on remaining stubborn, we'll leave this matter to the Student Council. I believe we'll receive fair treatment."

Shi Cheng vaguely remembered Horikita Senior's speech on stage back then.

He was definitely an upright person.

And with his younger sister in this class,

they could receive a certain degree of favoritism. It might not be a guaranteed victory, but winning was practically certain.

As for why he believed the Student Council could handle this matter,

it was naturally because the person giving a speech onstage back then had been neither the top student of the grade nor the principal or a teacher.

That proved

the Student Council likely held considerable authority.

"Tch." Chabashira Sae clicked her tongue softly. She had not expected a student to be so difficult to handle, but unfortunately, no one heard her.

"Fine. This was indeed my mistake. I'll do my best to negotiate some compensation for you with the school."

She had not expected Shi Cheng to be so stubborn about this.

Chabashira Sae had no choice but to take a step back.

"Not do your best. You must." Shi Cheng emphasized loudly. He absolutely could not back down now, so he was not afraid of offending Chabashira Sae.

Besides, who did she think she was trying to brush him off like that?

"Fine, fine, I understand. Class begins now." Chabashira Sae pressed her hand down, already in no mood for this.

What compensation could she possibly negotiate?

When the time came, she would probably have to pay out of her own pocket.

Chabashira Sae was somewhat irritated.

She hoped these brats would not go too far.

At most, she could afford five points.

Anything more was out of the question.

It was not that she could not afford it, but that the rules restricted her.

Though she had let the matter go, Chabashira Sae still occasionally glared at Shi Cheng in annoyance.

A few careless words had cost her an entire month's salary.

Kid, you had better give me something to look forward to.

Otherwise, you'll regret it.

Well, well, the old woman had actually blown up. She even dared glare at him.

Shi Cheng fearlessly glared back.

Through her concession just now,

he had completely understood one thing.

The Student Council's authority was probably even greater than he had imagined.

So the Student Council was the teachers' superior?

Teachers were probably just mascots.

Why would I be afraid of you?

The situation had been reversed!

Shi Cheng fearlessly traded glares with Chabashira Sae.

Perhaps because she was in the middle of class and did not want to make a bad impression,

Chabashira Sae stopped looking in his direction.

Horikita Suzune beside him, however, kept glancing over.

She did not look remotely like a good student who was seriously paying attention in class.

Shi Cheng tugged at the corner of his mouth and tossed her a crumpled note. "What are you looking at? Good thing I never counted on you!"

Horikita Suzune unfolded the note, lowered her head, and tightly pressed her lips together, as though she might bite them until they bled.

No way, was it really that damaging?

Shi Cheng was deeply shocked.

Perhaps she truly was unwilling to accept it.

Horikita Suzune actually violated the principles of a good student by immediately throwing the paper ball back, with a message written on it.

"I clearly could have resolved this. Why did you have to trouble the Student Council?"

Shi Cheng's head filled with question marks when he read it.

No, if I really could have counted on you, I would not have stood up back then.

But what happened instead?

Shi Cheng did not want to talk about it.

Still, from the words she had left behind,

Shi Cheng gained a deeper understanding.

"Brother complex?"

Horikita Suzune caught the returned note and had barely opened it for one look

when her face instantly flushed crimson.

If they had not been in class, where everyone might find out,

Shi Cheng estimated she would have attacked him immediately.

"I do not! I just don't want to trouble my brother over something this trivial!"

That confirmed it. She definitely had a brother complex.

This time, Shi Cheng did not send the note back. Instead, he directly destroyed the evidence.

That way, she would have no excuse to suddenly attack him after class.

On the podium, Chabashira Sae's eyelid kept twitching as she watched everything clearly.

Were they treating her as though she did not exist?

Though she did not care about such things,

was this really appropriate?

Flaunting their affection so blatantly in front of her.

Careful, or you'll burn to death!

Chabashira Sae, who had remained single until now, miserably cast a useless curse.

Class ended soon afterward.

Sudo Ken was the first to rush over and slap Shi Cheng on the shoulder.

"Brother, from now on, you're my brother!"

He did not know what compensation they would receive.

But Shi Cheng had stood up to fight for it on his behalf, making him a true friend.

It did not feel very sincere to offer only words, but he happened to have no money.

After thinking it over and over, Sudo Ken finally came up with a rotten idea.

He hooked an arm around Shi Cheng's neck, glanced slyly to the side, and whispered, "Want me to work with you on a little damsel-in-distress act?"

He could see that Shi Cheng still had not won over Horikita Suzune.

He thought this method would definitely work.

Shi Cheng was instantly speechless. Are you really trying to help me? It looks more like you want me eliminated sooner.

Studying Sudo Ken's honest-looking face,

Shi Cheng became alert. Trying to use this method to steal someone away from him?

I'm telling you, that's impossible.

Shi Cheng decisively rejected his goodwill. "No need. I know what I'm doing."

"Fine, then. Contact me anytime if you need anything." Sudo Ken did not press the matter.

He was not the type who liked to talk too much in the first place.

After Sudo Ken left,

Horikita Suzune immediately came looking for trouble.

But it was not about the note.

"What did he say just now?"

Her powerful sixth sense told her it definitely had something to do with her.

"Nothing. He just said you're not as dependable as I am."

Naturally, Shi Cheng would not tell her the truth.

"Hmph, how shallow!" Horikita Suzune sneered, with no intention of pursuing the matter.

She could not be bothered to argue with a blockhead.

After all, the help she provided was all practical.

It was one thing if he could not learn it himself.

But he did not even have the slightest gratitude.

All he could see were the tiny gains right in front of him.

Horikita Suzune had already predicted that Sudo Ken would be expelled in the next exam.

Because learning was something that belonged to oneself.

Others could not help him forever.

No, perhaps he would be gone this time.

Horikita Suzune lightly shook her head, returned to her seat, and could not be bothered with whether he lived or died.

"Shi Cheng, you're amazing. You even convinced the teacher."

Kato Megumi, who had not had much of a presence for a long time, found a chance to speak and timely made herself known.

Shi Cheng shrugged indifferently. "Kato, you mean I've got guts, daring to talk back to a teacher like that."

"No, that's only what you assumed." Kato Megumi would not admit she had meant that.

It was all Shi Cheng's imagination.

"Even if I did." Shi Cheng said mysteriously, "Anyway, I won't be afraid of teachers anymore. I already know she's just a mascot."

"Huh?" Kato Megumi's cherry-red lips parted slightly. She looked quite surprised.

Students were not afraid of teachers?

That was not reasonable.

Before she could ask further,

Shi Cheng had already turned away, with no intention of continuing.

Kato Megumi puffed out her cheeks. Shi Cheng was quite mean, deliberately leaving her hanging.