Other teachers would see male and female students exchange a few words and react as if they were facing a formidable enemy.

And yet, Mr. Sun was actually creating so many opportunities for them to spend time together?

Finally, one of the boys spoke up with a grin. "Mr. Sun, aren’t you worried we’ll pick on the girls?"

Mr. Sun’s eyes were still crinkled in a smile. He said, "I don’t mind the usual horseplay when you guys tease the girls. But after evening study hall, it gets very dark. If they were to run into real danger, would you protect the girls in our class?"

"Of course we would!" most of the boys shouted back.

Mr. Sun took another sip from his large tea mug and said with a smile, "Well, there you have it, then." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

With just a few words, he had ignited a powerful sense of honor in the hearts of the boys who had been planning to cause trouble.

Protecting their classmates was now their mission.

Finally, a satisfied Mr. Sun left the classroom.

Qin Jiao once again gave the teacher a mental thumbs-up. ’At this age, kids’ emotions are tinged with a bit of rebellion.’

’They don’t really understand what love is, but they’re already starting to develop vague feelings of attraction.’

’When those feelings are discovered, teachers and parents try to crush them, and that suppression only leads to rebellion.’

’Yes, teenagers are at their most rebellious and most curious.’

’But Mr. Sun managed to frame it all within the context of supportive, platonic friendship. They could be close, and it wasn’t a big deal.’

’There was no need to think of it in any other way, and no one would come to shut them down.’

"School’s out. Let’s go."

Qin Jiao was still lost in her thoughts when she suddenly heard those words. She turned her head in surprise to look at her deskmate.

Shen Yi’s dark, deep eyes were fixed on her. The orange classroom lights cast a warm glow on his fair skin.

His appearance, somewhere between a boy and a young man, was actually the most captivating.

Qin Jiao knew he was handsome, but she also knew he had issues.

She asked, "What did you say?"

Shen Yi’s expression remained impassive, though the corners of his mouth twitched, threatening to form a smile before he suppressed it.

He said, "In the groups the teacher just made, we’re together."

Qin Jiao: "!!!!!!!!!!"

Qin Jiao had been so lost in thought that she hadn’t been listening when the groups were announced. It was only now that she realized her group consisted of just her and Shen Yi!

Qin Jiao took back all her earlier praise for their homeroom teacher, Mr. Sun. ’It feels like everything this teacher does is specifically designed to mess with me!’

There were still too many students in the classroom. Qin Jiao decided she’d talk to Shen Yi after they left the school grounds. There was no way she was going to let this young master wait for her every day.

Lin Nian was in a terrible mood. She walked with Chen Feng to the bike shed, hoping for a chance to talk to him more. Specifically... she wanted to move out of the dorms and rent an apartment nearby.

The problem was, Lin Nian had no money.

She had run away from home, and Chen Feng had even fronted her the money for this semester’s tuition.

Still, Lin Nian wanted to become a day student.

She was looking for the right moment to bring it up with Chen Feng when she looked up and saw Qin Jiao and Shen Yi getting their bikes together at the shed.

Lin Nian cleared her throat and said, "Qin Jiao, don’t you have any sense of propriety?"

Qin Jiao was busy mentally drafting a speech on how to tell Shen Yi they shouldn’t walk home together. When she heard the comment, she looked up and saw the pair standing there.

She let out a soft laugh. "Lin Nian, are you just looking for trouble? Why do you have to stick your nose in everything?"

Chen Feng frowned. "Qin Jiao, can’t you just speak normally? Why do you have to be so snide every time you open your mouth?"