Chapter 106: Mouths Say No

Shi Kun’s eyelid twitched. Being made to stand was actually no big deal for him. He had grown accustomed to being watched over the years, and with his unparalleled charm, he was always the center of attention wherever he went.

If he were merely standing on the sports field, he could turn the punishment into a fan meet-and-greet. Therefore, his earlier display of anger wasn't entirely due to it being unacceptable.

But being made to stand with a sign changed the nature of the punishment entirely, making him feel like a domesticated animal put on display.

"What do you mean?" Shi Kun glared at him fiercely.

Anger value from Shi Kun: 444!

"I'm thinking of your reputation," Zu An said with a smile. "It would be quite a spectacle, and not in a good way, if the distinguished Sixth Young Master Shi were to be surrounded and mocked. That’s why I specifically warned those people not to laugh. Why aren't you grateful?"

Thinking of me, my foot!

Shi Kun felt like he was going crazy. He suddenly thought of a question: "When did you make that sign? Did you plan to target me from the very beginning?"

Zu An spread his hands. "I was just being prepared for any eventuality. Who knew you'd be so cooperative and walk right into it? It would have been a shame not to use it."

Shi Kun was speechless.

Anger value from Shi Kun: 813!

Everyone was waiting to watch the show, convinced that Shi Kun was about to erupt. They expected Chu Chuyan to step in and help, potentially even alarming the academy's higher-ups.

Hmm, this kind of class was far more interesting than the one Yang Wei taught!

We want a dozen teachers like him!

Chu Chuyan also secretly prepared herself. She knew that if Shi Kun truly lost control, Zu An would be in danger, so she was ready to intervene and help at any moment.

To everyone’s surprise, Shi Kun took a deep breath, then suddenly smiled warmly. "Indeed, I was impulsive just now and offended the teacher. A little punishment is deserved. Rules are essential for order."

After speaking, he picked up the sign in his hand and calmly walked out. His entire demeanor exuded an inexplicable sense of calm and elegance.

Many girls in the class started to have stars in their eyes:

"Wow, he's so handsome!"

"Young Master Shi is indeed a refined gentleman."

"He must have lost his composure just now because he saw his love rival."

"So he's also deeply affectionate; I like him more and more."

Zu An was also quite taken aback. He had expected Shi Kun to retaliate aggressively and had prepared a host of counter-strategies, but who knew he would concede so readily?

Was he truly trying to salvage his image as a humble gentleman? To curry favor with his female fans?

But no matter how he thought about it, it didn't seem very logical.

By this point, Shi Kun had already left the classroom, his cheerful smile instantly vanishing, replaced by a cold glint in his eyes. *Hmph*, he thought, *I was careless earlier, openly clashing with that fellow and giving him an excuse.*

If something truly happened to that man, he would be the primary suspect. Therefore, no matter how angry he was, he had to appear amicable on the surface. At the very least, if questioned later, he would have an excuse.

He had now made up his mind to make sure this disgusting fellow disappeared from the world as soon as possible.

Upon reaching the sports field, he certainly wasn't foolish enough to hang the sign around his neck. Instead, he casually wiped its surface, and the words instantly vanished, leaving behind only a blank wooden board.

He simply tucked it under his arm, using it like a cane, and his entire demeanor exuded a sense of nonchalant grace.

Just then, a figure appeared out of thin air beside him—the old man who had been following him. The man said, "Young Master, should I eliminate that little bastard?"

Shi Kun waved his hand. "No rush. If he dies immediately after our conflict, everyone will suspect us. The Chu family's power is not to be underestimated. If we force them to side with Prince Qi's faction because of this, the gains won't outweigh the losses."

"But that little bastard dared to treat you like that; it infuriates me just watching it," the old man snorted, clearly indicating that the events in the classroom had not escaped his notice.

"Someone will deal with him. Tomorrow is the grand family competition between the Chu and Yuan families. Later, invite Yuan Wendong over… No, I won't show my face. You figure out a way to handle the Yuan fellow and have him pretend to accidentally kill Zu An on the arena tomorrow, or at least cripple him." Shi Kun said coldly. Over the years, those who offended him had never come to a good end.

It was now dismissal time, and students from many classes noticed Shi Kun on the sports field. They gathered around him curiously, wondering why he was standing there.

However, gossip spreads the fastest in any world, and soon the news of Shi Kun being punished for clashing with a teacher in class spread throughout the entire school.

Many of Shi Kun’s female fans immediately became indignant and began to curse:

"This Zu An is too shameless! Isn't he clearly trying to make Young Master Shi suffer?"

"Exactly! A teacher openly favoring his wife, yet giving Young Master Shi such difficult questions? I'm going to report him to the authorities!"

"Yes, let's report him together!"

Compared to the indignant female circles, the male students were much more pleased. Ever since Shi Kun's arrival, these women had been acting like lunatics, which considerably annoyed the male students, so they were quite happy to see Shi Kun get his comeuppance.

Many people went to join the fun, planning to seize the opportunity to mock him, but they were forced back by a powerful aura before they could even get close.

"Get lost!" the old man beside Shi Kun said coldly.

Those people involuntarily shivered, then remembered that Shi Kun was not someone they could afford to provoke, and none dared to approach any closer.

From an upper floor afar, Director of Discipline Lu De witnessed this scene, and his pupils constricted slightly. This person's cultivation was unfathomable, yet he was merely a servant of the Shi family. Was the Shi family's foundation truly so profound?

Indeed, it's best to avoid provoking these influential aristocratic families. *Hmph*, he thought, *ever since that Zu An fellow arrived, the school hasn't had a peaceful day.*

Meanwhile, Zu An was calculating the anger values in the backend, and he couldn't help but sigh as he watched the constantly refreshing incoming data. He mused, *No wonder studies in my previous life showed that spending power often came from children, women, the elderly, and men who dote on their partners. The anger values from these women are far more substantial than what the male students contributed earlier.*

"Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, what kind of expression did Sister have during class just now? Tell me quickly!" Chu Huanzhao ran over, her face alight with excitement. She had originally planned to skip class to secretly watch, but as soon as she stepped out, she ran into Lu De patrolling nearby. Frightened, she had no choice but to return to the classroom. Her heart had been restless throughout the entire lesson, so she rushed over as soon as class ended.

"How could you conspire with him to trick me!" Seeing her expectant face, Chu Chuyan couldn't help but flare up, pinching her sister's ear.

"Hehehe, judging by how Sister is now, her expression back then must have been truly priceless," Chu Huanzhao giggled, hiding behind Zu An and using him as a shield as she spoke excitedly.

Chu Chuyan glared at her impatiently, then looked at Zu An curiously. "How did you become an arithmetic teacher?" In her opinion, these were two completely unrelated identities.

"You'll discover many more amazing things your husband can do in the future," Zu An said with a hint of pride.

Chu Chuyan couldn't help but smile. "You certainly surprised me today, but you openly offended the Sixth Young Master of the Shi family, so I'm afraid you might be in danger later."

"Who told that kid to covet my wife? If I don't teach him a lesson, he'll just run wild," Zu An snorted.

"Who's your wife!" Chu Chuyan’s face flushed slightly, but as soon as the words left her mouth, she realized their current identities and couldn’t help but sigh. It seemed she hadn’t quite gotten used to her new status.

"In any case, be careful these days. Stay by my side so Shi Kun doesn't send people to secretly deal with you," Chu Chuyan warned.

"Wife, even though you say you don't want to, you're actually very concerned about my safety, aren't you?" Zu An's eyes lit up.

"I told you not to call me that," Chu Chuyan couldn't help but glare at him. "I simply don't want you to get into trouble because of me."

Zu An looked at Shi Kun in the distance and smiled slightly. "Don't worry, no one should try to ambush me these next two days. After all, the family competition is tomorrow. They can openly kill me on the arena then, so why would they bother taking extra steps now?"

He liked to analyze from the enemy's perspective, musing that if he were Shi Kun, he would definitely choose to make a move during the family competition. It seemed that bad guys all over the world were indeed cut from the same cloth...

Chu Chuyan’s expression shifted; it wasn’t impossible. She was about to say something when she looked up and noticed Zu An’s confident expression. She suddenly felt that this guy was truly different from before.

After this small interlude, the day's classes quickly passed. When school was dismissed, Zu An had originally intended to return Shang Liuyu’s conch, but seeing Chu Chuyan and Chu Huanzhao, the two sisters, he decided against it.

Bringing up other women in front of women was certainly not a wise thing to do.

After boarding the carriage at the school gate, the Chu family guards escorted them toward the Chu residence. Cheng Shouping, who was following outside, felt a bit depressed. Usually, he could walk with the son-in-law and the Second Young Lady, but now he could only trail behind, eating dust. He felt that the Eldest Young Lady was still not as approachable as the Second Young Lady. He thought it would have been great if the son-in-law had married the Second Young Lady instead.

However, he soon started thinking from another perspective. Now that the son-in-law and the Eldest Young Lady were getting closer, it seemed he would truly become the Chu family's son-in-law someday, and his own status would rise. *Hmm, if the son-in-law also married the Second Young Lady, would my status be even higher?*

Of course, this thought was extinguished as soon as it flashed. *What a joke*, he thought, *the son-in-law is just a bit handsomer than me, and a bit luckier. He’s not necessarily stronger than me in other ways, so how could such a thing happen?*

Back at the Chu manor, the Chu couple summoned them again for dinner, evidently to remind them about tomorrow's grand competition.

Zu An, however, was struck by a thought. When he first arrived, he was only fit to eat alone in his room, but now he could often sit at the main table, and Chu Chuyan even seemed to have smiled at him a few times today.

*Pah, pah, pah! Just a few smiles and you’re this pleased with yourself? Look at how much you’ve accomplished!*

Zu An analyzed his own psychology, finally concluding that Chu Chuyan was simply too beautiful. Humans are visual creatures, so he truly couldn’t blame himself for his weakness.

But then again, I'm quite handsome myself. Why doesn't my wife get infatuated with me?

That's unscientific!

While he was lost in thought and grinning foolishly, Chu Huanzhao had already, with much embellishment, chattered about him being an arithmetic teacher at school. She had been holding it in all day and felt she would go crazy if she kept it in any longer.

"Oh, Xiao An actually became an arithmetic teacher? What a pleasant surprise!" Chu Zhongtian laughed heartily. He had originally thought he had found a useless son-in-law, but now that he discovered he wasn't entirely worthless, how could a parent not be pleased?

Qin Wanru was also stunned, staring at Zu An for a long time. It was truly hard to connect the lazy fellow in front of her with an academy teacher. Just then, she saw him grinning foolishly again and couldn't help but snort. "Just an arithmetic teacher, and you're acting so proud? And it's not even a formal position! According to what Xiao Zhao just said, you even deliberately targeted Young Master Shi in class? Getting carried away with a little bit of power is truly disappointing!"

Zu An was helpless. Having such a mother-in-law who found him displeasing no matter what he did, he wondered what bad karma he had accumulated.

Chu Chuyan, who was beside him, couldn't help but speak up. "Mother, it was indeed Shi Kun who went too far first today, so he can't be blamed. I'm now worried that someone will take the opportunity to harm Zu An on the arena tomorrow."