CHAPTER 53: CHAPTER 53 PUBLIC APOLOGY

Hearing her brother’s words, Zhen Yu was visibly stunned.

She never knew, nor did she have the chance to know, what kind of person her brother wanted to become, or would become when he grew up.

Only now did she realize that her brother was such an ambitious and idealistic person.

Since his wishes were filled with positive energy, she must do her utmost to help.

Zhen Yu softly said, "Brother~ I know martial arts, but I don’t know how to teach! If you rise early with me every day, I will take you to train!"

Zhen Yan quickly nodded and agreed.

"But!" Zhen Yu’s tone suddenly turned serious: "You must be persistent!"

"Little sister, rest assured! If you can stick to it, I definitely can too!" Zhen Yan’s chest thumped loudly.

Zhen Yu frowned.

I’m an adult at heart! Can you compare with me?!

Besides, I studied hard in my previous life, now I’m just picking it back up.

But you’re like a young woman getting into a sedan chair—this is your first time!

Zhen Yu gave her brother a reality check.

"Practicing martial arts can keep you fit, but without actual combat training, you can’t even beat street thugs!"

"Ah? Then how can you win?"

"What I did doesn’t count as winning, that was bullying ordinary people."

"Uh..." Zhen Yan thought for a moment, and it indeed seemed to be the case.

Zhen Yu continued, "Let me make it clear! Practicing martial arts is okay! You cannot initiate violence! If forced to retaliate, you must hold back! You’re a male and your strength is growing, a little carelessness can cause injury!"

"I’m getting all confused by you! So after I learn martial arts, am I tough in a fight or not?"

"No fighting!" Zhen Yu sternly whispered, then explained, "You’ll be stronger than ordinary people, but not as tough as those who fight regularly."

"...Then I’ll learn too!" Zhen Yan firmly declared.

Zhen Yu encouraged her brother, "When you get admitted to the police academy, you can learn actual combat at school!"

Zhen Yan suddenly realized, "Right! I must get into the police academy!"

"To get into the police academy, you need to first go to high school! In high school, you can enroll in martial arts classes in Qi City~ For the sake of First High School, you should double your homework."

"Ah! No~way..." Zhen Yan moaned in a long tone.

-

A night without words.

The next day, during early self-study, Teacher Cao came to the classroom.

"Qian Duoduo!"

"Present!"

"Swap seats with Mou Jingjing."

Upon hearing this, nearly all the students began whispering, turning the classroom into a low murmur.

As if Teacher Cao hadn’t heard the students whispering below the podium, he patiently waited for the two girls to pack their bags and swap seats.

After both had settled into their new spots, he spoke again.

"Mou Jingjing! Zhen Yu! Come to the front!"

The entire classroom suddenly fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Zhen Yu stood up, her expression calm as she walked to the front of the classroom and stood to the side.

Mou Jingjing was slow and sluggish, and finally stood in front of Zhen Yu as everyone’s patience was nearly exhausted.

Teacher Cao first addressed the whole class, "Regarding the incident that occurred yesterday at noon, I presume all the classmates are already aware."

He then looked down at Mou Jingjing, speaking gravely, "Mou Jingjing! In this incident, your actions were disgraceful! I hope, in front of all the classmates, you sincerely apologize to your classmate Zhen Yu, whom you’ve hurt!"

As his words fell, almost all the students held their breath, spectators of the impending event.

Mou Jingjing fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, not speaking immediately.

Teacher Cao waited a while but seeing she wasn’t opening her mouth, urged, "Start."

With the entire class watching her, Mou Jingjing couldn’t resist the pressure and within a few seconds stuttered softly, "I’m, I’m sorry."

Zhen Yu stood there the entire time as if it hardly concerned her, her stance relaxed.

Hearing the apology, she replied expressionlessly, "Oh."

Then she turned her head towards Teacher Cao and asked, "Teacher, may I go back to my seat now?"

Teacher Cao was stunned for a moment, as this wasn’t the handshake and reconciliation scenario he had anticipated. However, he regained his composure and nodded with a ’hm hm,’ allowing Zhen Yu to return to her seat.

Turning his head, he saw another girl standing below the platform, and Teacher Cao lightly reprimanded, "You can go back too."

Mou Jingjing left upon hearing this and quickly walked back to her seat to busy herself with sorting quails.

Teacher Cao coughed loudly, and the students immediately stopped talking and looked towards the class teacher with wide eyes.

"This matter ends here! I don’t want anyone talking about it anymore."

"Whether you’ve just met or have been classmates since elementary school, from now on, everyone is a student of Junior High School First Class!"

"The teacher hopes that in the future, you can all get along harmoniously and become a united and loving class collective."

"Continue with self-study! Class monitor, supervise the discipline."

Qiao Xian stood up and answered, "Yes."

Teacher Cao gestured with his hand for him to sit down, then left the classroom.

-

Once the teacher left, the quiet classroom immediately erupted.

Qiao Xian sighed helplessly, not intending to intervene.

He felt powerless to manage the others, as not only the students, but even he himself wanted to discuss with his seatmate—some things are simply too pressing to hold back.

Luckily, they were only doing self-study. Everything would be discussed and settled soon, and it would be quieter once the class started.

Liu Ting was the first to turn around, "Zhen Yu~ she was so excessive! Have you just forgiven her like that?"

Zhen Yu, without lifting her head, said, "I haven’t forgiven her."

Liu Ting said, "Was it Teacher Cao who forced you to accept her apology?"

Hearing this, Qian Duoduo, who had been silent since changing seats, looked at Zhen Yu, curious if she was just saying it or if she meant it.

Liu Ting with an understanding look continued, "I knew you wouldn’t be happy inside!"

Zhen Yu looked up at Liu Ting, "I didn’t accept her apology."

"Eh?" Liu Ting was dumbfounded, and so was Qian Duoduo.

"She said sorry, but I never said it was okay."

Qian Duoduo: "..."

Liu Ting: "You, you..."

Liu Ting didn’t know what else to say to Zhen Yu.

Fu Yu had been kicking Zhen Yu’s chair since Teacher Cao left, creating a momentarily silent scene. Zhen Yu then turned away from Liu Ting, looking back.

"What’s up?"

Fu Yu initially wanted to ask about making peace, but after hearing the conversation between the two girls, he knew Zhen Yu was still holding a grudge.

So he said, "Can’t I call you if there’s nothing?"

Zhen Yu seriously replied, "No."

Fu Yu: "..."

After leaving everyone around in a speechless state, Zhen Yu sat upright and began to review her textbook.

-

Qian Duoduo, being a top student in both her past and present life,

Zhen Yu didn’t initiate a conversation with her, and the other party also showed no intention to speak.

Thus, the two did not disturb each other and minded their own business.

With no unpleasant smells to bother her, Zhen Yu was rather pleased with the quiet.

And like that, the two class periods slowly passed.

During the second long break, after the exercises, Wu Qiong and Qian Duoduo stood in front of Zhen Yu.

Zhen Yu watched them coldly, Wu Qiong inwardly resented but her expression was full of arrogance.

"Was it you who asked the teacher to swap Mou Jingjing with me?"

"No."