Chapter 2: The Beauty and the Snake Scourge

  The young man known as Blue Teacher closed his eyes, his gaze shallow and distant: "I was new here too, and I didn't quite understand the school's rules either. It seems that secretly trying to cultivate isn't a small matter, it's better for Wen Laoshi to handle it."

  Ansu's mouth curved up slightly, and Wen Zhan also let out a slight breath.

  Yunhai Fan stared at Teacher Lan's sea-blue eyes, and the enchanting pupils made her feel cool to the heart.

  Beautiful women...are indeed venomous snakes.

  "But—"

  Just as Wen Zhang opened his mouth, Teacher Lan seemed to have completed the rest of the sentence without realizing it, her tone was gentle and unhurried, as if she didn't notice Wen Zhang's anger at being interrupted: "Look at Yun Hai Fan classmate sweeping the snow here is still quite clean, although the starting point is not good but the result is still okay, considering it's the first time, let's give a lighter punishment."

  Yun Hai's eyes lit up as he looked at Teacher Lan with a hint of gratitude in his gaze.

  "What she swept away was clearly mine..." An Su hastily swallowed back the second half of her sentence, just as she caught sight of Teacher Lan's gaze.

  If it's said that the snow was removed by her magic, then the one who triggered the trial is not Yun Hai Fan but An Su. In this case, all the accusations against Yun Hai Fan will become self-inflicted wounds. Even if Wen Zhan wants to make things difficult for Yun Hai Fan again, he might be preempted. Sensing the malice in Teacher Lan's tone, An Su hastily fell silent and avoided her opponent's seemingly unintentional yet piercing gaze.

  Lan's gaze lingered on Yun Haiyan for a brief moment - despite being a dejected figure clutching a broom, it was easy to focus one's attention on those enigmatic and profound eyes. The pupils, like smoke and rain soaking through, seemed to be telling an inexpressible story, complementing the pale complexion that shone like snow. He hadn't intended to help her, but still found himself standing by her side of his own accord.

  Wen Zhan's face darkened, and in order to maintain unity among the teachers, he reluctantly nodded off Blue Teacher's face and said in a low voice: "Then... from today until the day of the school magic assessment, Yun Hai Fan will go to the Fire Department as an exchange student."

  Since you can sweep, then sweep the classroom for a month.

  Yun Hai Fan looked at Wen Zhan's lips, which were slightly parted but not speaking a word, and roughly understood his meaning. He only responded coldly. An Su relaxed her stiff expression, watched Wen Zhan and Lan teacher chat for a few sentences, then turned to leave, giving Yun Hai Fan a fierce glare before turning away.

  Yun Haifan swept a cold glance, grasping the broom and heading towards the classroom. In her mind were the words Wen Zhan had whispered to Teacher Lan after the exhibition: "Recently, there may be inspectors from relevant departments coming to check on our work, so we must be careful in our responses."

  Only when in trouble does one seek refuge in Buddha.

  Yun Hai Fan smiled with a wicked sense of humor.

  It's not yourself who is unlucky no matter what, so why worry?

  She looked at the back door and saw Yin Xiu hastily moving chairs, wondering if the researcher had gone to bed early last night to catch the first class of puppetry this morning. Recalling today's schedule, Yun Hai Fan suddenly remembered that the next class was Magic History, except for all the courses related to Puppetry.

  "Hey, Sailor," he said, tossing a hot water bottle into Sailor's hands, "warm up, it's freezing outside."

  Yun Hai Fan nodded, his icy fingers and joints, which had just touched the hot water bottle, felt a slight numbness like needle pricks. He involuntarily sat up straight: "What's going on today?"

  Researchers have come before, but making Wen exhibit such hostility is a first.

  Xiang Ke didn't directly answer her question: "Do you know that our class has a new head teacher?"

  "I've heard of it." Yun Hai Fan's mind conjured up the face of Blue Teacher, which was difficult to paint with even the most skilled brush. "He seems very young, I didn't make it to the morning meeting, he must have introduced himself to you all already."

  "Lan Senma is only twenty years old, and it's said that he's a relative of the person in charge of the relevant department. He'll just come here to get a bit of experience for two years and then leave." Xiang Ke held his thermos cup and took a sip of hot tea.

  "Going to the puppet class with gold plating?" Yun Hai Fan casually flipped over the hot water bottle, "Looks like it's going to change the weather."

  "Who says it isn't?" Xiang Ke nodded towards the familiar figure outside the door, "In the past, even Wen Zhan, our former head teacher, wasn't as enthusiastic as this. It's said that after this investigation, they'll be holding a hearing with our principal. This means..."

  "The principal, who is also Wen Xuan's father-in-law, will be stepping down." Yun Hai Fan smiled slightly, "Investigations and whatnot are just formalities, the only difference is whether you can avoid making too many mistakes, but it won't change the outcome."

  The two of them chatted casually, completely unaware of the sudden change in atmosphere in the classroom. It wasn't until Yun Hai Fan finished speaking that they realized the classroom had become eerily quiet at some point. Lan Si Cheng stood on the podium, looking at his textbook as he waited for class to begin. Apparently having already been stunned during morning assembly, there was hardly any gasping sound from the class, only a sea of pink bubbles wherever their eyes landed.

  "It was even more exaggerated during the morning meeting, with some people screaming. It's as if they've never seen a handsome guy before." Xiang Ke whispered to Yun Hai Fan, "But you don't seem to have any reaction at all."

  Clouds and sea sail but smile without words.

  Hehe, 360° no blind spot, you want me to take a photo for you.

  All the students know that attending classes is boring. Yun Hai Fan had one hand supporting his head, and with the other hand he was scribbling randomly on a piece of paper, a messy bunch of characters that didn't seem to be anyone's name.

  Lance's teaching rhythm was very steady, his voice itself was warm and elegant, with a rich magnetic tone that made listening to him speak a pleasure in itself, no matter how dull the content was, it wouldn't put you to sleep. The classroom was like a calm and sparkling pool, but then he would suddenly ask a question like a stone thrown into the center of the pool, breaking the existing tranquility.

  Yun Hai Fan raised his head somewhat dazedly, his first reaction was to recall what he had just said, and his second reaction was to meet Lan's piercing gaze.

  Now it's your turn to answer this question.

  Why?

  I only know you.

  I won't answer.

  I only know you.

  You can call out names from the list, which is ranked by grades, and I'm at the bottom.

  I only know you.

  Suit yourself.

  Yun Hai's eyes were clear, but they made Lan Si feel an indescribable chill. It wasn't a threat, but there was a subtle sense of coercion that made him raise an eyebrow in disbelief. He changed his mind just as he was about to speak: "Xiang Ke, you answer."

  A faint smile appeared on Yun Hai's lips, and the brief clarity was replaced by a bewildering haze, as if all the chaotic thoughts had just been an illusion of his own.

  Lance nodded and let the students who answered correctly sit down, although he continued to teach, his mind kept thinking of Yunhai's lips moving silently.

  What she just said is——

  There is no one who can make me answer questions I don't want to answer.