Chapter 42: Substituting the Class

“Students Han Xue and Fei Yue.”

“Why?”

While inquiring, Bai Yuze flipped through their files. The former was easy to understand: from a single-parent family, financially poor, which often comes with feelings of inferiority and introversion.

The latter’s file was quite normal—not exactly from a billionaire family, but at least without worries over daily necessities.

“Well, Han Xue often has bruises, suspected to be a victim of domestic violence or school bullying. The previous homeroom teacher wanted to help her but was rejected. Senior Bai, I hope you can keep an eye on her.”

Bai Yuze nodded quietly, making a mental note.

Students like Han Xue, coming from impoverished backgrounds, usually receive special attention from homeroom teachers. They tend to be diligent and bright, relying on the college entrance exam to escape their circumstances.

“As for Fei Yue, it’s more complicated. Her family is very wealthy, she’s extremely intelligent, but her character is quite terrible. You’ll need to be extra cautious.”

“Huh?”

As he listened, Bai Yuze felt uneasy. Fei Yue? Terrible character? A teacher needing to be cautious about her?

In his teaching career, he had yet to encounter a truly problematic student. Some students had lower grades, but all were of good character.

After three years, he had heard plenty of gossip from other classes, but his own class had a good reputation.

Now, with Teacher Xingye suddenly warning him that problem students would appear next semester, his reaction wasn’t annoyance but curiosity.

As the saying goes, without being bruised by society, one thinks shit smells sweet.

With this in mind, Bai Yuze planned to visit the sophomore classes to meet these two students in advance.

---

In the Grade One office,

Chen Yuyi held a thermos cup, her lips pressed thin as she glanced sideways at Bai Youqing, waiting for an explanation.

Bai Youqing didn’t know how to explain why she kept encountering disaster beasts; the room fell into silence.

“Do you really want to become a magical girl?” Chen Yuyi finally broke the silence, her tone calm.

“Yes. I want to protect Ye Qiu City, and also my family and classmates,” Bai Youqing answered firmly.

“Fighting disaster beasts isn’t child’s play; people really die. I hoped you’d undergo a summer of training before dealing with these beasts. You can still back out.”

“I don’t regret it. I want to use my own strength to protect those who need it, not hide behind you.”

Bai Youqing lowered her head. She wasn’t as noble as she sounded; after becoming a magical girl, the first thing she thought about was having the power to protect her brother. She wanted to get stronger quickly—to protect her family first, then everyone else.

Chen Yuyi looked into Bai Youqing’s determined eyes. The words she wanted to say hovered on her lips but remained unsaid. She could only nod resignedly.

“Alright. Then this afternoon after school, you’ll have class on the library’s fourth floor with Xia Qing and Han Xue. I’ll handle things with your brother.”

Outside, Bai Yuze’s figure flashed past.

Passing by the Grade One office, Bai Yuze didn’t stay long—he only wanted to check on his sister’s studies but found her seat empty.

Yet, he caught sight of the girl in the corner. A faint smile crossed his lips.

Once a proud skylark,

Now wilted like a shy quail.

He cast only a distant glance, unable to hear the exact words, but guessed the scolding might be about what happened two nights ago.

A few more reprimands wouldn’t hurt; after all, fighting wasn’t a game—people really could die.

“Teacher Bai!”

At the stairwell, a voice suddenly called out behind him.

Bai Yuze halted and turned to see a familiar middle-aged face.

Zhang Qiang, the homeroom teacher of Sophomore Class D, was a man in his forties or fifties, wearing black-rimmed glasses and carrying a serious demeanor.

---

“Ah, Teacher Zhang,” Bai Yuze greeted him.

This was the teacher whose class he would take over next semester. They had exchanged a few words at the last meeting.

“Teacher Bai, may I ask, do you have a class during the second period?” Zhang asked hurriedly.

“No,” Bai Yuze thought for a moment and replied.

Zhang’s eyes brightened immediately. “That’s great! I have an urgent family matter and need to go home. I couldn’t find a substitute teacher. Could you cover one class for me? They can just self-study.”

Bai Yuze nodded slightly, agreeing. He was curious to meet his new students anyway, especially those two flagged by Teacher Xingye.

“Is it Sophomore Class D?” Bai Yuze asked.

“Yes, thank you so much.”

After expressing gratitude, Zhang left hastily, seemingly rushing to catch a high-speed train.

---

More than half an hour later, as the bell for the second period rang—

Bai Yuze, holding his lesson plan, entered Class D. The noisy room instantly quieted, curious eyes fixed on him.

“Your teacher Zhang has an emergency and had to leave. This period is self-study, but I want to ask you a question.”

“What question?”

The diligent students, upon hearing self-study, buried their heads in work. The rest, including the mischievous ones, perked up, eyes on him.

“Do you think I’m handsome?”

“Handsome!!”

“Good. If you think so, I won’t feel pressured next semester.”

The class erupted in chatter. Could this be their new homeroom teacher next semester?

He looked good, cracked jokes—definitely easier to get along with than the stuffy Chen.

“Quiet! Since you’re so welcoming, let’s get to know each other with a little game.

Here’s how it works: in groups, you’ll say your names one by one. After your group finishes, I will try to identify each student exactly. If I get one wrong or miss one, your group can ask me a question—math, Chinese, English, history, geography, chemistry, biology, politics, anything.

If I identify everyone correctly, your group must answer a question I ask. Don’t worry, the questions will be from material you’ve studied in first or second grade.”

Instantly, enthusiasm soared. Even the studious top students looked up—who doesn’t like challenging the teacher?

As students called out their names, Bai Yuze quietly observed Han Xue and Fei Yue.

Han Xue was diligently focused, ears closed to distractions—a truly hardworking student.

But when he saw Fei Yue, his pupils contracted sharply.

Good heavens, this was the same Ye Qiu City girl he had rescued that morning.

Images flooded his mind—split screen—

On one side, the girl crying at the fireworks site, lamenting her tragic family background.

On the other, her file showing a father who graduated from Ye Qiu University’s law department, a renowned lawyer, and a mother from the University of Tokyo—a typical elite family.

Before officially interacting, he already sensed the danger this girl posed.

---

The forty-minute class flew by. He asked thirty-nine questions to thirty-nine students and confiscated a novel from Fei Yue.

Dozens of resentful eyes stared at Bai Yuze.

Especially Xia Qing, sitting beside Han Xue, glaring with resentment at the podium, irritated in her heart: “Alright, alright, so you’re Xiao Qing’s brother!”

Weren’t they supposed to not know each other yet?

Until now, except for Xia Qing and Han Xue, no one knew each other’s names, yet Bai Yuze could call every student’s name correctly.

A proctor even peeked in and stayed for a few minutes, amused.

---

When the bell rang to end class,

Bai Yuze stretched, waved to the students, and left.

“I wonder how Xiao Qing is doing.”

Thirsty, he went to the first-floor vending machine.

After scanning and paying, he pressed the button for a cola.

“Hmm?”

Three or four seconds passed.

The machine displayed “Dispensing,” then seemed stuck.

“Don’t waste your time; that machine’s broken,” someone said.

Bai Yuze ignored it and delivered a swift, elegant spinning kick.

“Clang!”

A can of cola dropped.

As he took the drink, Bai Yuze turned and saw a familiar face—

Fei Yue.

He wasn’t surprised; earlier in Class D, he caught a look of confusion and surprise in her eyes.

“You’re definitely not just an ordinary Chinese teacher,” Fei Yue said, making him pause.

“Why do you say that? Isn’t it normal for teachers to know some martial arts?” Bai Yuze asked.

“My intuition tells me you have a secret,” Fei Yue’s eyes burned with intensity. Then expressionless, she added, “Also, Teacher, you don’t want anyone to find out about what happened on the Red Light Street in Dongcheng District, do you?”

Bai Yuze looked deeply at the girl before him, then said nothing in defense, asking directly:

“What do you want me to do?”

“Pay me a hush fee,” Fei Yue said, extending her palm.

“Is this robbery?” Bai Yuze stared, feeling oddly as if they were conspiring in some illicit deal.

“Compensation!” Fei Yue suddenly smiled. “You ruined my gaming experience this morning.”

Bai Yuze didn’t refuse. He instinctively patted his pockets, but they were empty.

“Name your price. If I agree, I’ll pay.”

“Give me your cola.”

“...”

Bai Yuze looked puzzled. “Just this? It’s not expensive; why don’t you just scan and buy your own?”

“I’m not foolish enough to kick a vending machine. And look at how you dress—you really don’t look rich,” Fei Yue said disdainfully.

“Then why rob me?” Bai Yuze looked down at himself. Nothing wrong here. Why do people say I dress poorly?

“It’s fun,” Fei Yue said, opening the can and taking a comfortable sip. Then she turned and waved.

“See you around, rude handsome teacher.”

Bai Yuze was utterly baffled by what young students thought nowadays.

Just a greeting and extorting a soda before leaving?

Purely for fun?