"What do you mean?"
Cai Mei'er narrowed her eyes and fixed Yan Shaozhe with a look of dawning irritation.
She had known that slippery man would bring trouble the moment he returned to the academy.
"Well... I haven't submitted Ma Xiaotao's application to join the Tribunal yet."
Yan Shaozhe instinctively took half a step back and raised both hands in surrender, looking shifty and guilty.
"So you'll need to file the paperwork later and officially enroll her at Shrek."
Cai Mei'er gripped the calligraphy brush on her desk so tightly her knuckles turned white, struggling to hold back her anger.
"File it yourself! Do you have any idea how complicated the Tribunal's procedures are?"
"Everyone at the Tribunal is in the Heaven Dou Empire handling the awakening pilot program. I have to get back and wrap things up right away, so I'm counting on you."
Before Yan Shaozhe had even finished speaking, he was already edging toward the door. He clearly meant to dump the work on her and run.
The next instant, the brush shot through the air!
Yan Shaozhe reacted at once, slipping neatly aside.
The tip grazed his ear before striking the solid wooden doorframe with a sharp thunk. The brush quivered where it stuck fast.
He did not dare linger. Without looking back, he fled down the hall and vanished.
From the corridor came Ma Xiaotao's soft, bewildered voice. "Teacher, why are you running?"
"Your Aunt Cai is angry right now. I'm going to stay out of her way.
Be good and listen to her."
His voice faded with his footsteps until both disappeared at the far end of the corridor.
Cai Mei'er stared at the trembling brush in the doorframe. After a moment of silence, she felt equal parts exasperated and annoyed.
She looked down,