Cracks in Their Relationship

The five of them left the teaching building and walked onto Spirit Ice Plaza. Many people were on the plaza: some strolling, some chatting, some basking in the sun. In the distance, the silver body of the Spirit Pagoda glittered beneath the sunlight, its summit hidden amid the clouds, appearing and vanishing from view.

Xie Xie looked somewhat dejected. His wild hair swayed in the sunlight, and his dark green eyes were filled with exhaustion and unwillingness. With both hands in his pockets, he lowered his head and stared at the bluestone slabs beneath his feet, a bitter smile on his lips.

"We're done for. The person we offended at the start of school is our homeroom teacher. The next few years probably won't be easy for us."

His voice was soft, carrying an indescribable helplessness and frustration. He kicked a pebble on the ground. It rolled far away, struck the edge of a flower bed, bounced once, then stopped.

Xu Xiaoyan walked on Zhong Shenxiu's left, her pale blue eyes full of impatience. She turned to Xie Xie, parting her lips slightly, her voice tinged with irritated disappointment at his lack of resolve.

"Xie Xie, are you done talking like that? If she targets us, then we'll just drop out!"

Xie Xie raised his head and looked at Xu Xiaoyan, his dark green eyes full of irritation. His brows furrowed, his lips pressed tightly together, and there was a hint of anger in his voice.

"You make it sound easy. Who on the entire continent doesn't know that Shrek Academy is the best academy? Even Sun Moon Academy, ranked second, falls more than a level behind."

Xu Xiaoyan snorted coldly, lifting her chin slightly as a trace of disdain flashed through her pale blue eyes.

"That's just what you