Chapter 29: Don't Touch the People By My Side!

The director of academic affairs looked at Gu Zhiran’s composed demeanor, his mood brightening considerably, and his tone softened as he addressed her, “Is there something you need?”
He glanced toward the door, his brows furrowing even more.
Not only had Gu Ci and her group, along with the entire Class Twelve, crowded into his office, but students from Class One and various other classes were all gathered outside, peering in.
What could possibly bring them all here?
Gu Zhiran bit her lip, hesitating as she began, “Director, it’s like this: my cousin wants to make a wager with Jingyi about the weekly exam results. If Jingyi’s scores don’t surpass my cousin’s, she’ll have to hand over the spot. So we’re here to ask you to witness the agreement.”
With these words, Gu Zhiran skillfully glossed over the fact that it was Duan Jingyi who had initiated the conflict. To anyone unaware of the full story, it would seem as if Gu Ci was the troublemaker.
The director thought exactly that, his dislike of Gu Ci deepening.
Students who don’t focus on their studies and are intent on stirring up trouble—how could he possibly like them?
He let out a cold laugh, his tone dripping with disdain. “So, Gu Ci, are you questioning the school’s decisions?”
Normally, a student faced with such a stern question from the director would at least be intimidated.
Yet Gu Ci didn’t hesitate for a moment. Without the slightest pause, she replied bluntly, “Yes. I do have doubts about your school’s decisions.”
At that instant, a single word flashed through everyone’s mind.
—Bold.
Gu Ci was truly bold.
Whether they had liked her before or not, everyone now felt a surge of admiration for Gu Ci.
The director was taken aback, his expression darkening completely. “Fine, then! I’ll make sure you lose, fair and square! You want a competition? I’ll witness it!”
Gu Ci pulled Jin Jieqiao forward, every word sharp as a blade. “If Duan Jingyi loses, she must apologize to my teacher in front of the entire school. You suspended my teacher on unfounded charges. If my teacher is vindicated, shouldn’t you also apologize publicly and restore all her teaching duties?”
Her words left everyone in shock, their eyes nearly popping out.
How did Gu Ci dare to say such things?
This was the director renowned for his strictness, the one everyone feared!
Jin Jieqiao opened her mouth, gazing at this student whom she had only known for a few days, her eyes filled with complex emotion.
The director was furious yet laughed, “Fine! You don’t even need to beat Duan Jingyi’s score. As long as you rank in the top fifty in the whole school, I’ll write a self-critique and apologize to your teacher in front of everyone! If your score surpasses Duan Jingyi’s, I’ll even hand my position as director to your teacher!”
Everyone who heard this drew a sharp breath.
Anyone could tell—the director was truly enraged.

Now, Gu Ci was really in trouble!
“Agreed, it’s a deal!”
Having settled the wager with Duan Jingyi and the director, Gu Ci pulled Jin Jieqiao along and left the office.
Pausing at the sight of the crowd outside, she suddenly spoke.
“It’s true, my previous scores were all zero. You’re free to judge me however you wish, that’s fine. But…”
Her gaze swept slowly across the director and the others, her eyes dazzling, each word deliberate and powerful, “Once my results are out, I want you all to keep your mouths shut! Especially… don’t touch the people around me!”
Though her tone remained calm, there was an ineffable authority in her words, silencing everyone—including the director.
All at once, the surrounding noise faded to nothing.
Gu Ci, accompanied by Class Twelve, made a grand exit.
The director took a long time to recover, and seeing the stupefied students still outside, he slammed his desk in anger, stormed out, and shouted, “Not going to class, are you? Is someone else’s drama that entertaining? Maybe you’ll all end up at the bottom of the rankings like Class Twelve!”
“Get back to your classrooms, now!”
The crowd snapped to attention, fleeing in all directions after the scolding.
On the way back to their classroom, the spirits of Class Twelve soared.
Back in the classroom, Wen Zixin threw herself at Gu Ci, shrieking, “Ci-jie, you were absolutely amazing just now! Oh my god, I’m in love!”
Gu Ci caught her with a sigh, then pushed her aside in annoyance.
A boy with a baby-faced swagger stretched out his hand to Gu Ci, grinning, “Gu Ci, welcome to Class Twelve. I’m Lu Youming.”
Lu Youming—the proud little prince of Class Twelve, known for his sharp tongue, round face, and explosive temper.
A girl with shoulder-length hair and glasses followed suit, introducing herself, “Hello, I’m Yan Moyu. Looking forward to working together.”
Yan Moyu—equally sharp-tongued, incisive, and cool-headed, the icy little queen who often left people doubting their own existence after a verbal spar.
With Lu Youming and Yan Moyu leading, the rest quickly introduced themselves one by one.
Gu Ci responded to each.
If Class Twelve had once held reservations about Gu Ci because of Huo Shuyue’s attitude, those doubts were now completely erased.
From now on, Gu Ci was one of their own, protected by Class Twelve.
But as thoughts turned to the afternoon’s exam, everyone’s mood sank again.
They looked at Gu Ci, hesitating to speak.
Jin Jieqiao, relieved at how quickly Gu Ci had integrated into the group, felt guilty for being unable to protect her student—instead, it was the student protecting her.

Tears welled in her eyes. “Gu Ci, you shouldn’t have done this for me…”
Gu Ci felt a headache coming on, “Enough, teacher. I’m just after the math competition spot; helping you is just incidental.”
Jin Jieqiao couldn’t help but smile through her tears, moved beyond words.
How could she not know whether Gu Ci was helping her or after the spot?
But Gu Ci only wanted to spare her the guilt.
“And what about today’s weekly exam? You’re risking your future, do you realize that?” The thought that Gu Ci might be forced to drop out made Jin Jieqiao unable to stay calm.
Gu Ci promised earnestly, “Don’t worry, Jingjing. I’ll be fine.”
Hearing that, Jin Jieqiao recalled the homework Gu Ci had submitted these past few days.
For reasons she couldn’t explain, Gu Ci gave her a sense of security.
If Gu Ci said she could do it, Jin Jieqiao instinctively believed her.
But aside from her, the classmates weren’t so confident about Gu Ci’s grades.
Wen Zixin drooped, “Ci-jie, you don’t understand. Our school’s pace is way faster than all the others…”
And Gu Ci’s grades had always been zeros…
Wen Zixin sighed again.
Lu Youming scratched his head, annoyed, “Should we just steal the exam papers?”
At that, everyone’s gaze focused on him, clearly agreeing, and they even began discussing how to do it.
Jin Jieqiao’s head throbbed with anger. She raised her hand and knocked Lu Youming on the head, “Lu Youming, stop giving Gu Ci bad ideas.”
Seeing the thoughtful expressions around her, she reiterated, “It’s good to want to help your classmate, but don’t break school rules.”
Gu Ci added, “I’m pretty good at several subjects. I just never had a chance to take the exams before.”
Wen Zixin nearly wrote ‘I don’t believe you’ across her face. “Once or twice, maybe, but how could you miss every exam?”
Thinking a moment, Jin Jieqiao said, “Gu Ci, wait here. I’ll go get the key points I’ve compiled for you.”
With that, she hurried off to the office for her notes.
No one noticed a figure slipping away quietly outside the classroom door…