The morning sunlight filtered through the dewdrops, scattered across the window, and shone into the dorm room.
"Huo Yuhao, how about this? You only need to follow the first three rules from yesterday. From now on, we'll take turns cleaning the room," Wang Dong said with conviction.
Huo Yuhao looked at him through bleary eyes, then turned over. "Sure. I'm going back to sleep for a bit."
"By the way, class starts in just half an hour. You'd better watch the time."
With that, Wang Dong pushed open the door and left the dorm room.
Enjoying the pleasant morning sunshine, Wang Dong slowly made her way toward the teaching building.
Before long, he found the classroom, pushed open the door, and walked in.
Wang Dong was a little dumbfounded. Huo Yuhao was actually already sitting in the classroom.
Huo Yuhao propped his head on one hand, his eyes vacant as he gazed at the scenery outside the window.
"How strange."
Puzzled, Wang Dong found her seat and sat down, unable to make sense of it.
Out of everyone's sight, Huo Yuhao kept training his grip strength, silently counting to himself, 10,001, 10,002...
A small, soft hand landed on Huo Yuhao's shoulder and patted it.
Huo Yuhao turned to look, and a familiar baby face appeared before him.
"Hey, Huo Yuhao, we meet again! Who would've thought we'd be classmates too?" The little girl covered her mouth and giggled.
Confusion crossed Huo Yuhao's face. Who was this?
"Classmate, you are...?"
The little girl looked incredulous. They had only met yesterday, and he had already forgotten her?!
"We only met yesterday! You... you even called me Little..."
Xiao Xiao was truly about to go mad with anger, her little face flushed bright red.
"Wait, don't say it. I remember now. It's just that I really can't remember the names of unimportant characters..."
"Huh? What did you say?" the little girl asked in confusion.
Huo Yuhao yawned and answered with a smile, "Nothing, Little Potato. I remember you."
Xiao Xiao bristled at once and shouted, "I'm not Little Potato! I have a name! I'm Xiao Xiao!"
"All right, all right. I'll remember," Huo Yuhao replied softly.
The other students in the classroom were startled by her and all turned to look.
Feeling everyone's eyes on her, Xiao Xiao realized she had lost her composure. Her entire little face instantly flushed crimson, and she stammered, unable to get a word out.
Huo Yuhao tugged at Xiao Xiao. "All right, Little Potato, haven't you embarrassed yourself enough? Sit down..."
Xiao Xiao sat down beside Huo Yuhao, her face red with embarrassment and her little hands clenched tight. Unable to swallow her anger, she kept pummeling Huo Yuhao with her little fists.
"It's all your fault, all your fault! Huo Yuhao, you're absolutely hateful..."
Huo Yuhao could only let her hit him as he gazed out the window in boredom.
Seeing that the two were just fooling around, the surrounding students stopped looking and returned to their own business.
Wang Dong watched their intimate movements, feeling stifled inside and thoroughly uncomfortable.
"Huo Yuhao, I never thought you were this kind of person!"
"Class begins in five minutes. Students, please get ready."
The announcement sounded overhead.
Before long, the classroom fell silent.
Click! Click!
The sound of high heels striking the floor came from the corridor outside.
A teacher slowly entered the classroom and stepped up to the lectern.
Zhou Yi wore glasses and looked to be in her fifties or sixties, with deep nasolabial folds. The imposing presence she exuded sent a shiver through the nearby students.
She looked extremely strict.
"My name is Zhou Yi. I'm your homeroom teacher," Zhou Yi said, cutting straight to the point.
The students exchanged glances, all studying this so-called homeroom teacher curiously.
"In my class, no trash will ever pass the assessments. I'm here to cultivate monsters, not fools," Zhou Yi added.
Huo Yuhao paid no mind to these words. They were nothing more than stock phrases teachers used to establish their authority before students. There was no need to take them to heart.
Besides, there was no need for him to quibble with a teacher who needed to wear a mask to establish her authority.
Zhou Yi swept a cold gaze over the students before her. "Anyone who's been in a fight during these past few days of registration, stand up."
At those words, everyone began looking around, wanting to see whether anyone would really stick their head out.
Wang Dong hesitated at those words and looked toward Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao remained in his vacant pose, showing no intention whatsoever of standing up.
Wang Dong gritted her teeth, feeling somewhat petulant, and thought, If he isn't standing, neither am I!
Zhou Yi kept a stern face. Not a single student stood up.
"Hmph! No one? What a bunch of useless trash! In my eyes, anyone unwilling to stir up trouble is a mediocrity!"
Zhou Yi kept belittling the students, her face full of disappointment.
"Now, all of you, get outside and run a hundred laps around Shrek Square! Anyone who fails to finish will be expelled!"
Zhou Yi delivered her ultimatum.
At those words, the entire class erupted.
What kind of nonsense was this? They had to run laps for not fighting at the start of school, and they would be expelled if they couldn't finish?
A student immediately lost patience, stood straight up, and protested, "Teacher, I object! Why should we be punished with laps for not fighting?"
"And we'll be expelled if we can't finish? What kind of reasoning is that?!"
"Exactly, exactly..."
Seeing someone take the lead, the others also began talking among themselves, their voices full of dissatisfaction with Zhou Yi.
Xiao Xiao also felt uncomfortable hearing Zhou Yi's words. She tugged at Huo Yuhao's clothes. "Huo Yuhao, why is this teacher like this? A whole hundred laps! What is she thinking?"
Huo Yuhao said mildly, "This is just a way for the teacher to establish her authority. As long as you do what she asks, she won't make things too difficult for you."
Finding some sense in his words, Xiao Xiao obediently closed her mouth.
"You object? If you object, you can get lost!"
Zhou Yi gave the student no chance to speak. Soul Rings appeared one after another, six in all circling her as a terrifying pressure swept through the entire classroom.
"A Six-Ring Soul Emperor!" someone cried in shock.
No one dared dispute Zhou Yi's words again. They grabbed their companions and ran outside.
Seeing that it was about time, Huo Yuhao remembered that he had yet to finish his training plan for the day. He stood right up and headed for the door.
Xiao Xiao followed behind him, her petite figure like a beautiful porcelain doll, looking utterly obedient.
Seeing Huo Yuhao rise, Wang Dong stood up and followed without another word.
The students still standing there in a daze saw that others were already moving. With no time to marvel at Zhou Yi's cultivation, they hurried after them to go running.
Everyone began moving, and in less than thirty seconds, the classroom was empty.
Zhou Yi's gaze sharpened as she watched everyone leave, and an imperceptible smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.