Qian Zhuye was startled as well and jumped to his feet, rushing to see what was wrong.

The teacher at the head of the class was also startled by the sudden commotion. He rushed over, asking, "What’s wrong? What’s wrong?"

Ye Qianning coughed violently a few times before she could breathe again. Her little face was flushed bright red, and she gasped, "I’m... I’m fine. I just choked on something."

The three people gathered around her all sighed in relief when they saw she had recovered.

The teacher had noticed the little girl snacking from the very beginning and had planned to turn a blind eye. He never expected her to cause such a scene. If he didn’t punish her now, what would the other students think?

"The three of you were eating in class. You’re punished to copy the Student’s Code ten times."

"COUGH, COUGH... Yes, Teacher."

"Yes, Teacher." Qian Zhuye lowered his head.

Sang Zhi said, "Yes, Teacher, but I wasn’t eating."

"She was eating right next to you, and you didn’t stop her. You just watched her make a mistake. Students who lack solidarity and camaraderie are also at fault. You’ll copy it ten more times. Do you have any objections?" The teacher didn’t dare vent his anger on Ye Qianning, so he seized the opportunity to heavily punish someone else.

"I accept the punishment," Sang Zhi said, bowing his head.

The bell for the end of class rang. The teacher gave a cold huff, flicked his sleeves, and left.

Half the day was barely over, and Ye Qianning had already been sentenced to copy the Student’s Code twenty times. Sang Zhi had twenty, and Qian Zhuye had ten...

When class was over, everyone else left. Only the three of them remained, staring blankly at one another.

"What are you looking at? Just start copying," Qian Zhuye lamented.

"You should actually read the Student’s Code," Sang Zhi told Ye Qianning.

"I know, I know," Ye Qianning said, but didn’t pick up her brush.

"Why aren’t you copying?" Qian Zhuye asked.

"I’m saving it. I’ll get to it when I have a spare moment."

"You can save it?"

"The teacher didn’t say when we have to turn it in. I’ll write them when I feel like it, and right now, I don’t feel like it." Ye Qianning wasn’t in the mood today.

"How did you finish your copies yesterday?" Qian Zhuye asked, confused.

At his words, Ye Qianning shot a glance at Sang Zhi and said cryptically, "A secret weapon."

Sang Zhi paused for a moment but ignored her.

"What secret weapon?"

"I already said it’s a secret weapon, so why are you still asking? Hurry up and do your own copies." Ye Qianning leaned back lazily in her chair. A flicker of movement caught her eye, and she glimpsed a figure through the window.

Ye Qianning’s eyes lit up as a plan came to mind. She hopped off her chair, leaned on the windowsill, and called out to the figure, "Gao Qi!"

Outside, Gao Qi was talking with another student. He turned at the sound of his name and saw a cute, chubby girl grinning and waving at him.

A flicker of delight crossed his face, but he quickly composed himself, affecting an air of arrogance. He said something to the other student before finally striding toward her.

"You got caught eating in class and were punished with twenty copies of the Student’s Code, yet you can still smile," Gao Qi said mockingly, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I wasn’t smiling before, but I am now that I’ve seen you," Ye Qianning said, her eyes curving into crescents.

Gao Qi froze for a second, then immediately puffed up with pride. ’The chubby kid smiles when she sees me,’ he thought. ’That must mean she likes me!’

"Didn’t you say I’d have to rely on you in the future?"

"I did."

"Let’s not wait for the future. How about right now?"

Gao Qi glanced over. "Seeing as you’re so cute, I’ll allow it."

"Then come here," Ye Qianning beckoned.

Gao Qi complied, walking to the entrance and into the classroom.

Ye Qianning ran to her seat and beckoned to him again.

"What did you call him for?" Qian Zhuye asked, baffled.

"Something good, of course."

Sang Zhi also looked slightly puzzled.

Gao Qi walked up to them, his arms still crossed over his chest.

Ye Qianning pulled him into a seat and placed a brush in his hand. "Go on."

"What?" Gao Qi was baffled.

"Didn’t you say I’d have to rely on you? Well, here are twenty copies of the Student’s Code. Start writing." ’Never let free labor go to waste.’