Lin Hao returned

Qian Mingyuan looked at Lin Hao. Though he had seen plenty of grand occasions, he was actually very nervous, his gleaming forehead covered in sweat.

He plastered a smile on his face, his Adam's apple bobbing, but not a sound came out.

Liu Wan stepped forward. Having only seen photographs of Lin Hao, she asked uncertainly, "L-Lin Hao?"

Beside her, Zou Jianmin raised his hand halfway, then slowly lowered it again, an unnatural smile on his face and an indescribably complicated look in his eyes.

Half of Zhou Lie's face was hidden in shadow. He said nothing.

Lin Hao glanced at Zou Jianmin and Zhou Lie, then turned to Liu Wan, his tone level. "I'm Lin Hao. Do you need something?"

"I... I'm a teacher at No. 1 High School, your... your homeroom teacher there, Liu Wan." As she spoke, Liu Wan introduced the principal beside her. "This is the principal of our No. 1 High School, Principal Qian Mingyuan."

Qian Mingyuan hurriedly plastered a smile on his face. "Nothing much. We just came to see you, see how you were doing. Your home is... quite lively. We won't go in and add to the commotion."

As he spoke, he stepped aside in the stairwell to make room for Lin Hao to pass.

But Zou Jianmin hesitated and ultimately did not move aside.

He forced a smile. "Lin Hao, I came specifically to see you today. About your removal from No. 2 High School... the school has discussed it again. As long as you're willing to return, your enrollment can be reinstated at any time."

He paused, watching Lin Hao's expression, then added, "As for Teacher Shi Tie, we've already verified several issues. There's conclusive evidence that he privately skimmed students' subsidies and allocated cultivation resources in violation of regulations over the years. The school is following the procedures to dismiss him.

"And Bai Cheng, too. The school will deal seriously with his prolonged monopolization of class resources and bullying of classmates. Under school regulations, he can be expelled."

The plastic bags in Lin Hao's hand swayed, and the corners of his mouth curved into something that could hardly be called a smile.

"You move fast, Principal Zou." His voice was quiet, but heavy with mockery. "I was only removed yesterday, and today you've already verified Shi Tie's misconduct and passed judgment on Bai Cheng while you were at it."

Zou Jianmin's smile immediately grew even more unnatural.

Lin Hao looked at him, his gaze calm and unruffled. "Shi Tie hasn't been skimming students' subsidies for just a day or two. Bai Cheng hasn't been bullying classmates for just a day or two, either. Did you only verify it today, Principal Zou, or did you only decide to investigate today?"

Zou Jianmin's Adam's apple bobbed. His lips opened and closed twice before he spoke in a dry voice. "Well... school investigations take time. Some circumstances previously..."

"So whether one student stays or goes determines how fast No. 2 High School investigates?"

Lin Hao cut him off. "I can't stand Bai Cheng, but whether he should be expelled isn't for me to decide. The school's rules should be written in its regulations, not in the value of a particular student.

"Aren't poor students still students? Do only promising candidates who can get into martial arts universities deserve to be called students? Then are you principals educating people, or running talent agencies?"

Zou Jianmin's face darkened at the questions. He had a bellyful of words he wanted to say.

But as the words reached his lips, he remembered the important figures currently in Lin Hao's home and swallowed them all back down.

Qian Mingyuan's lips moved. He wanted to say something, but nothing came out either.

Zou Jianmin remained silent for a long time before finally nodding, his voice dropping. "You're right, Lin Hao. The school was in the wrong. Then... we'll leave first and stop taking up your time."

Behind him, Zhou Lie had remained silent the entire time. Seeing Principal Zou leave, he immediately followed.

Qian Mingyuan watched Zou Jianmin's retreating figure disappear around the turn of the stairs, then turned to Lin Hao with a dry chuckle. "Lin Hao."

Facing the principal of No. 1 High School, Lin Hao's expression became much friendlier. "May I ask what you wanted to see me about, Principal Qian?"

"Nothing major." Qian Mingyuan smiled and waved a hand. "I just wanted to ask whether you need any help from the school with your transfer to No. 1 High School. I've already had someone handle your enrollment. It'll be done by the day after tomorrow at the latest."

Lin Hao nodded, then thought of something. "Thank you, Principal Qian. There is something I'd like to bring up."

"Go ahead, go ahead," Qian Mingyuan responded immediately.

"I don't plan to attend the remaining classes at school," Lin Hao said apologetically. "Could I just go straight to the Martial Artist Examination?"

Qian Mingyuan hurriedly nodded. "No problem! Of course there's no problem! Come whenever you want. It's fine if you don't come, too. The school fully respects your arrangements."

"Then sorry for the trouble, Principal Qian." As he spoke, Lin Hao looked upstairs. "I still have things to take care of at home, so I'll be going."

Qian Mingyuan smiled. "Go take care of things. We have things to do as well, so we'll head back to school."

Lin Hao nodded and walked toward his front door, carrying several large bags of groceries.

Seeing this, Qian Mingyuan and Liu Wan also headed out of the building.

Qian Mingyuan let out a long breath, raised a hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, and lowered his voice to tell Liu Wan, "Remember, right up until this Martial Artist Examination, we have to treat the poor students equally, too. Issue the city subsidies when they're due. Don't hold them up."

Liu Wan nodded. "Understood."

At his front door.

Lin Hao frowned at the scene before him.

A dense sea of people filled his view, crowding both the living room and the passageway.

Shoes were piled three layers deep on the shoe rack, with many more scattered across the floor.

Carrying the groceries, he squeezed two steps inside, his shoulder bumping a middle-aged man in a dark gray suit.

The man turned to look at him and frowned. "What's the hurry? Get in line."

Lin Hao ignored him and squeezed another step forward.

"Hey, hey, hey!" A young man wearing gold-rimmed glasses reached out to block him, his tone impatient. "Who are you here with? Go line up at the back. Can't you see everyone's waiting?"

Lin Hao glanced at the Yun City badge on the man's chest but still did not reveal his identity.

If these people found out he was Lin Hao, they would probably block the door even more firmly and keep him from getting home.

He could only stay silent and keep walking inside.

"What's wrong with you?" The young man reached out to press down on his shoulder. "Don't you understand the rules? Everyone in this room today is an important figure somewhere! And you're just a..."

Before he could finish, Lin Hao gently deflected his wrist.

There was little force behind it, but it caught him precisely at the point where he exerted his strength, leaving half his arm numb.

The young man's expression changed. Just as he was about to speak, a low shout came from behind him. "Shut up!"

A man in his fifties squeezed out of the crowd and first shot the young man a glare.

Then he turned to Lin Hao, his expression instantly switching from sternness to a smile. "Are you... Lin Hao?"

The clamor in the living room seemed to have had its pause button pressed.

Everyone's gaze swung toward the doorway in unison.

Lin Hao nodded. "That's me."

The young man went pale. His lips trembled twice, but he could not squeeze out a single word.

The middle-aged man from earlier hurriedly stepped aside to clear the passage, his face plastered with a smile. "So it's you, Lin Hao. Please, come in, come in..."

The people at the doorway moved to either side in unison.

Carrying his groceries, Lin Hao passed through the crowd and walked into his own living room with a strange feeling.