On the Way to the Institute:
The morning sun was shining, birds were chirping, and I was walking with a slight limp.
Why?
Because my ass was on fire.
"Tch… old hag… damn demon spawn… ow," I muttered under my breath as I adjusted my steps, trying not to look like I had a stick up my butt.
Every now and then, I'd glance around, hoping no one noticed how I was half-squatting with each step like a constipated duck.
"Spank me like that again and I swear I'll put a soul crystal under your pillow that explodes in your sleep," I growled to myself, remembering the orphanage director's furious face.
At the Institute – In Class:
I slumped into my seat, still wincing as the chair made contact with my poor, flattened backside.
Ruò bù leaned over. "Yo, Aiden, why are you sitting like you just fought a bear and lost?"
Jìn fēng chimed in with a grin. "Don't tell me… you got rejected by that widow we talked about?
"Don't worry" I muttered, narrowing my eyes. "It's nothing."
Ruò bù squinted. "Wait… did someone bully you again?" He looked left and right.
I sighed. "Let's just say the director didn't appreciate something I bought for my own protection… and so I got my ass handled."
Before I could even utter what led me to it, Jìn fēng cut me off.
Jìn fēng blinked. "You got spanked?"
I stayed silent.
With a dark face, I knew what was about to come.
"You got spanked!" he burst out laughing, nearly falling off his chair. "How old are you again? Five?!"
There it is, I sighed. Again.
"Shut up" I hissed in a weak voice, trying to stay calm as my butt throbbed with betrayal.
Moments Later…
The teacher walked in.
"Open your books to Chapter 8: The Origins of Spirit Energy Flow and its Impact on—"
I zoned out.
Fifty pages of theory. A hundred years of boring historical context. And not a single part of it could heal my ass.
As the class droned on, I leaned forward, trying to sit on the edge of the chair to ease the pain.
Ruò bù passed me a note.
"Director's spanking: Critical hit."
I glared at him.
Jìn fēng passed another.
"Maybe the scythe can slice the pain away?"
I was surrounded by idiots.
And my butt still itched.
End of Class
The bell rang, and just like that, class was over. Again.
We stepped into the corridor, and surprise, surprise — it was packed with students whispering, chatting, and spreading gossip like wildfire.
Another day, another rumor. Yesterday it was Nie Li getting into it with the new teacher.
Today?
Apparently, he's involved with Xiao Ning'er.
Yep. Xiao freaking Ning'er — one of the top beauties of the institute.
As we let ourselves get dragged along by the current of students moving through the hallway, the noise only grew louder.
"Did you see it?"
"She actually gave him a breakfast box!"
"Xiao Ning'er, of all people!"
"I swear, that guy's luck is illegal."
And then we saw him.
Right in the middle of the crowd — standing out like a sore thumb with that ridiculous red hair — Nie Li.
There he was, looking completely uninterested, holding a beautifully wrapped breakfast box, while surrounded by jealous boys and curious girls.
Student 1 nearly choked. "No way. She gave him breakfast?!"
Student 2 shook his head in disbelief. "Bro, I haven't even talked to her once, and he's getting handmade meals?! What's this world coming to?"
Student 1 looked at him in disbelief. "Bro, don't talk like you even have a chance."
I said nothing, just narrowed my eyes as we stood at the back of the crowd.
Nie Li, huh…
Something about him really doesn't sit right. First the teacher, now Xiao Ning'er. The guy's like a magnet for trouble — and attention.
Ridiculous.
Meanwhile…
Shen Yue, being the self-centered noble brat he was, strutted through the hallway like he owned the place. Chin up, hair perfect, ego bigger than the library.
But then he saw it.
Ye Zi Yun.
His imaginary wife, dream girl, future duchess — in his head, at least.
And she… she was staring at Nie Li.
With starry eyes.
Eyes that should've been looking at him.
His expression twitched.
What does that bumpkin have that I don't? he thought bitterly.
He puffed out his chest and approached her, confident as ever. "Ye Zi Yun," he greeted, voice smooth. "Did you hear the nonsense Nie Li was saying earlier in the lecture?"
She looked at him — and smiled.
That soft, sweet smile.
Shen Yue's heart fluttered.
She's smiling… she must be happy that I came to talk to her.
But before he could continue basking in his delusions, Ye Zi Yun tilted her head and replied, "I actually thought what Nie Li said about the inscription patterns was fascinating. No one else in class could explain the soul force flow like that."
Shen Yue blinked.
"Even though the technique sounds impossible… the way he explained it made it feel real," she added, eyes drifting back toward Nie Li in the distance.
She looked genuinely… happy.
Shen Yue stood frozen, fake smile twitching at the corners. Meanwhile, Ye Zi Yun continued talking, clearly impressed by Nie Li's explanation on inscriptions.
In Shen Yue's mind, thunder cracked.
That peasant? Impossible techniques? Why is she—?!
And just like that, another crack formed in the perfect world Shen Yue built for himself.
---
Let me know in the comments if I missed anything or got something wrong!
Comment on the exact sentence so I can fix it!
Thanks for reading!