Kong Xiyan was in the security guard’s office at the school gate. The guard had refused to let her enter Shi Yizhong on the grounds that she wasn’t wearing a school uniform and had arrived at an inappropriate time. Instead, he broadcasted a message over the school’s public address system, calling for the homeroom teacher of the senior year Jianzi Ban to come and collect her.
The homeroom teacher of Shi Yizhong’s senior year Jianzi Ban was nicknamed “The Ruthless Nun” by the students behind her back—a testament to her strict impartiality and iron-fisted efficiency.
And indeed, she lived up to the title.
As soon as she arrived at the school gate, the homeroom teacher gave Kong Xiyan a once-over, her eyes filled with displeasure.
At such a critical time, the school administration had suddenly forced a transfer student into her class. Even though this student’s grades wouldn’t be counted in the overall class performance, what if she disrupted the other students’ exam preparation mindset?
Moreover, Kong Xiyan had been late on her very first day of reporting. She didn’t look like a well-behaved student at all!
Her clothes were dirty, and there was even a wild grass stem hanging from the back of her collar. Anyone who didn’t know better would think she’d been rolling around on some hillside herding cattle!
She was in charge of Shi Yizhong’s Jianzi Ban, not some problem class or kindergarten. And now, she had to be summoned over the school’s public address system to collect a student—when had her students ever caused such trouble before?
Despite her deep displeasure, she couldn’t defy the school administration’s decision to force this student into her class. All she could do was lead Kong Xiyan back to the office with a sour expression, ready to lay down the rules for this troublemaker first!
“My surname is Li. I’m the homeroom teacher of Shi Yizhong’s Jianzi Ban,” Teacher Li said as soon as she returned to the office, sitting directly in her chair. “You can call me Teacher Li.”
“Teacher Li,” Kong Xiyan nodded to show she understood.
“Shi Yizhong maintains rigorous academic standards, and the Jianzi Ban has especially strict rules. Our annual admission rate to prestigious universities ranks among the best in the country.
Although you’re a transfer student, and your personal grades won’t be included in the class total, nor will you participate in the college entrance exam, you absolutely must not disturb the other students’ studies.”
Kong Xiyan nodded again. Her purpose here was to investigate the villain around Zhong Yangyang, not to bother anyone else.
“I don’t care who you were before or whose precious daughter you are. In my class, everyone is treated equally!” Teacher Li’s tone shifted, her voice growing stern. “On your very first day of reporting, you dared to be late!
What do you think the rules of our Jianzi Ban are?
You were supposed to arrive in the morning, but you dragged it out until evening self-study time, and you’re not even properly dressed!
Tell me, what should be done about this?”
Kong Xiyan blinked. “Shi Yizhong maintains rigorous academic standards, and the Jianzi Ban has especially strict rules… So, if someone in the class is breaking the rules right now, does that mean my lateness today can be overlooked?”
“Hah,” Teacher Li found Kong Xiyan’s words somewhat laughable. “Fine. If you can find a single student in our Jianzi Ban breaking the rules, today’s incident will be overlooked!”
In her strictly disciplined Jianzi Ban, there were no students who broke the rules!
Kong Xiyan nodded and gestured for Teacher Li to lead the way.
Teacher Li shot her a disdainful look before standing up and walking ahead. As they passed by classes where students were laughing and playing around, her brows furrowed tightly, clearly dissatisfied.
When they passed ordinary classes where students were whispering among themselves, Teacher Li’s expression remained unchanged.
It wasn’t until they reached the quiet Jianzi Ban, where everyone was intently focused on the books in front of them, that Teacher Li’s expression finally relaxed considerably.
Look, this was the Jianzi Ban under her management!
Teacher Li glanced smugly at Kong Xiyan and was about to raise her hand to push open the door when Kong Xiyan stopped her.
Kong Xiyan first made a shushing gesture to her, then quietly slipped an arm through the door, feeling for the light switch on the wall.
With a “click,” the lights went off.
The students in Jianzi Ban were all taken aback, and two faces were illuminated particularly clearly and brightly by the light from their phone screens.
Seeing this, Teacher Li’s face turned pale with anger.
“All settled, right?” Kong Xiyan looked at Teacher Li with a meaningful smile.
Teacher Li squeezed out a “Hmm” through gritted teeth, then abruptly pushed open the door, turned on the classroom lights, and accurately called out two names: “Zhong Yangyang! Gao Qianqian!
Evening self-study is for studying, not for entertainment!
Each of you write a thousand-word self-criticism and present it in front of the whole class during Monday’s class meeting!
Now! Hand over your phones!
No locking the screens!”
Zhong Yangyang jolted, reluctantly handed her phone to Teacher Li, the screen still on the WeChat chat interface.
[Where are you?]
[Second period is already over! Where are you!]
[It’s lunch break, sis…]
[No! Are you coming or not? The teacher has asked about you twice already!]
[Where on earth did you go? If you don’t come soon, school will be over!]
[It’s evening self-study… why aren’t you here yet?]
[Did you get lost or something?]
[At least say something! If you don’t reply, I’m going to call the police!]
[Was that person at the gate without a uniform just announced over the broadcast you? If it’s not you, I’m calling the police!]
[I’m really going to call the police!]
After glancing at the chat history, Teacher Li realized Zhong Yangyang was worried about Kong Xiyan’s whereabouts and didn’t say much, only warning, “Don’t bring anything unrelated to studying here in the future. It’s confiscated. You can get it back from me after graduation.”
Meanwhile, Gao Qianqian’s eyes flickered a few times before she stood up, pretending to bump into the edge of the desk out of nervousness, causing her phone to slam hard against the corner of the desk in front of her.
The screen went black instantly.
“Oops… my brand-new phone!” Gao Qianqian’s voice was full of grievance.
Everyone looked at Gao Qianqian with sympathy in their eyes.
Seeing that Gao Qianqian’s phone was damaged, Teacher Li didn’t force her to hand it over, only telling her not to bring it to school again after taking it home.
Standing at the classroom door, Kong Xiyan noticed Gao Qianqian’s series of actions and narrowed her eyes dangerously.
“This time, thanks to the new student, who assisted me in catching two students violating the rules, I hope everyone takes this as a lesson and doesn’t bring unrelated items to school anymore.” Teacher Li looked at Kong Xiyan at the door. “Come in.”
Kong Xiyan raised an eyebrow. The word “assisted” was cleverly used!
Seeing Kong Xiyan walk into the classroom, Zhong Yangyang was completely dumbfounded.
No way!
I had your back, and you stabbed me in the back!
If she hadn’t been worried about Kong Xiyan, would she have used her phone during evening self-study?
On the other side, Gao Qianqian glared at Kong Xiyan with a sinister gaze.
The other students also looked at Kong Xiyan with clear displeasure.
Kong Xiyan gave a brief self-introduction before taking the empty seat arranged by Teacher Li.
Back row, by the window—the king’s domain.
Kong Xiyan was quite satisfied with this spot, as it allowed her to survey the entire class at a glance.
As soon as evening self-study ended, a group led by Gao Qianqian surrounded Kong Xiyan: “Classmate, you owe me an apology!”
Several other girls chimed in: “Because of you, Qianqian’s phone got smashed!”
“You just got here and already stabbed the whole class in the back? What kind of person are you? So arrogant?”
Gao Qianqian stared coldly at Kong Xiyan: “Classmate, don’t you have anything to explain?”
“What is there to explain?” Kong Xiyan stood up nonchalantly: “Better you die than me.”
“You!” The group’s expressions changed, hardly believing Kong Xiyan would say such a thing.
“It wasn’t me who told you to play with your phone during evening self-study,” Kong Xiyan curled her lips at Gao Qianqian. “Besides, didn’t you break your phone on purpose? Hmm?”