Chapter 29: Mind Your Own Business

Sike Academy.

A wave of discussion broke out on the forum:

1L: 【Heard the news yet? The Academy is hosting an Art Association next month. What performance is your class putting on?】

3L: 【What's the point of going up there to sing and dance?】

18L: 【I heard that Shao Yu and the others will all be attending this Art Association, though I don't know if it's true or not.】

52L: 【Inside scoop, Jing Shao will be performing at the Art Association's opening ceremony.】

101L: 【The post above is obviously fake. I even heard that Yin Shao is going to perform in a stage play. Do you believe that? It's pure fantasy!】

10024L: 【Then I have to sign up for the Art Association and shine bright; maybe Jing Shao will notice me...】

10025L: 【Someone get the person above some medicine. Their terminal delusion is hopeless, carry them away quickly!】

Ling Wu stood at the office door and knocked.

——A woman's voice came from inside: "Come in!"

Seeing him arrive, Zhang Lijuan looked as if she had seen a savior. She hurriedly rose from her chair, strode forward on her high heels to Ling Wu, pulled him over, and pressed him down into her chair.

Ling Wu thought to himself that when things are abnormal, there must be a demon: "Teacher Zhang, what is this?"

"Long story short, the Organization has assigned you a task." Zhang Lijuan was wearing a black suit, its excellent tailored fit making her look even more capable: "Our Academy is hosting an Art Association next month, and every class is required to have at least three people perform."

Ling Wu raised an eyebrow: "And so?"

Zhang Lijuan pressed her palms together: "So we're just missing one person, student Ling Wu. You are the legendary chosen one; Teacher believes in you!"

"I..."

Zhang Lijuan interrupted him, using her hand to gesture a number: "5 credits!"

Ling Wu changed his tune: "Deal."

As he walked out of the office, he ran into Jin Bei coming the other way. The other party was holding a blue folder; he froze upon seeing him, then said: "Brother, what a coincidence."

Jin Bei was also studying at Sike Academy.

Ten years ago, after Ling Wu's mother Ling Tingwan passed away, Jin Liangjin brought his mistress Xiao Yu and his illegitimate son into the Jin Family that same year. Strictly speaking, Jin Bei was two months older than Jin Shaoyu.

A secret of the wealthy family: to avoid the spread of scandal, the Jin Family only claimed to the outside world that Jin Bei was younger than Jin Shaoyu, ranking third at home. To cover this up, Jin Bei enrolled in school a year late.

Thus, he was only a freshman this year.

Ling Wu naturally heard the mockery in his words; he couldn't be bothered to waste his breath and walked straight around him.

Jin Bei felt irritable: "What are you acting so high and mighty for?"

He pushed the door open and entered.

Ling Wu left the teaching building quickly. While passing through the European-style corridor, someone called out to him from behind: "Ling Wu!"

He turned his head and saw Ming Tan standing under the wisteria flowers.

After only a few breaths, Ming Tan stepped onto the corridor along the pebble path. His eyes were pitch black, but his gaze toward others was not very friendly: "I apologize for yesterday's matter."

【Ming Tan, if you're willing to apologize, you're still a good baby.】

【My son is so well-behaved, apologizing just like that.】

【The protagonist shou apologizing to a Cannon Fodder male supporting character? That's rare.】

Ling Wu found it interesting and asked him: "And then?"

"Then I'll speak plainly. Even without you, I could still bring Qi Yu out." The obedient look on Ming Tan's face was put away, replaced by sharpness: "You and Qi Yu are not on the same path at all. An Eldest Young Master like you, who stands so high above, will never understand the difficulties we commoners face. Stay away from him."

"Someone like you will only ruin him!"

The clash in that brief moment was so sharp and exposed.

Ling Wu was unconcerned: "Isn't that what you are doing to him?"

He was always able to decisively and swiftly grasp the point of a conversation and strike back.

Ming Tan clenched his fists: "..."

Ling Wu calmly and composedly threw out a second question: "In what capacity are you speaking to me?"

Ming Tan choked for a moment: "Of course, of course as Qi Yu's friend!"

"Oh, so just a friend." Ling Wu's expression was calm, hitting the nail on the head: "Possessiveness that is too strong will most likely become a burden to a friend."

"Have you clearly confirmed with him that he needs this uncontrollable emotion of yours?"

Ming Tan's complexion grew increasingly ugly.

Wasn't this just saying that as a mere friend, he had no qualifications to boss around Qi Yu's friends?

Ming Tan loathed the aura surrounding Ling Wu.

It was a state he could never reach no matter how he disguised himself or schemed. It was a noble posture, engraved into the soul and carved into the bones, capable of calmly watching an opponent jump around like a clown while possessing the power and status to remain invincible, without needing to spare them a glance.

Ling Wu patted his shoulder: "In the new era, don't interfere too much with other people's personal freedom."

"Put your focus on yourself."

Ming Tan was so angry his spine was trembling.

He looked at Ling Wu's back and, as if venting his frustration, shouted that line: "Then when you are drifting between several men at the same time, is that putting your focus on yourself?!"

His voice was somewhat exasperated.

Almost piercingly shrill.

"It seems you still don't understand." Ling Wu's own good upbringing meant he didn't even frown, remaining calm and composed: "What I just said applies equally to this moment."

"You should be glad you are speaking to me like this."

"Remember to be cautious and prudent when facing others."

Ming Tan pondered his words.

Applies equally to this moment...

Isn't that just—mind your own business!

To put it crudely: stop your damn meddling and mind your own business!

Chirping and whining, never-ending.

Ming Tan was half-dead with anger; how could someone use the most civilized, polite, and plain language to say the most heart-piercing things?

It must be because he is the protagonist, so his magnetic field is incompatible with a Cannon Fodder male supporting character like Ling Wu!

Yes.

It must be like that!

Anyway, he is just a Cannon Fodder, who knows when he might die.

Ling Wu went to Class A to find the study committee member to sign up for the art festival; because there were no classes, there were only a few scattered people in the classroom, and Bai Yinan was holding the registration book, spinning a pen at his seat in boredom.

Then, he looked up and saw Ling Wu walking in, stepping on the sunlight, with a slender waist and long legs, an extraordinary temperament, and a collarbone vaguely visible beneath a neck with smooth lines.

Wait!

He is walking towards him...

The image of the beauty drunk in the private room yesterday lingered; Bai Yinan had already imagined countless Mary Sue scenes, for example: Ling Wu suddenly discovering his good points, or perhaps being captivated by him.

In short, he started daydreaming.

"Bai Yinan."

"Bai Yinan..."

It wasn't until Ling Wu called the third time that he came back to his senses, looking at him obsessively: "What's wrong, is there something you need me for? Just command me."

Ling Wu pointed at the registration book in his hand: "I'm here to fill out the form."

"Ah? Oh... oh!" Bai Yinan only then remembered his main job for the day, handed the form to him, and rested his chin on his hand, watching Ling Wu lower his head to fill out the form: "Are you okay about yesterday?"