Chapter 52: An Outing

At this moment.

Everyone in the classroom looked sideways, all whispering and discussing.

"How could someone beat him for no reason?"

"Exactly, he must have really done that kind of bad thing."

"This guy has always been lecherous, it's really possible!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Dafu became anxious and angry: "I really didn't do it! Whoever did it is a damn animal!"

"..."

Luo Zijun walked over calmly.

Fortunately, he hadn't done it either.

He had used force to hit someone, but as for molesting a young lady, he could be certain he hadn't done that.

"Brother Luo."

Seeing him, Su Bie waved to greet him.

"On the way to the Academy just now, Brother Wang was suddenly covered with a sack and beaten; people are saying he molested a young lady in the Hidden Book Pavilion."

Wang Dafu was furious: "Do you think I look like someone who would go to the Hidden Book Pavilion? I've been at the Academy for so long, and I still don't even know where the Hidden Book Pavilion is!"

Then, with teary eyes, he looked at Luo Zijun and said, "Brother, you have to believe your brother; I am truly not that kind of base and shameless person."

Luo Zijun nodded very seriously: "Brother Wang, I naturally believe you."

Wang Dafu was so moved that tears fell, and he hugged him at once: "Brother is still the best, brother still understands me! Although I am lecherous, I wouldn't do such a shameless thing as molesting a young lady in public! Which bastard is splashing dirty water on my head!"

"If I catch him, I'll kick his balls off!"

Wang Dafu said angrily.

The corner of Luo Zijun's mouth twitched, and he guessed: "It might be a young lady."

"Hm? Why?"

Wang Dafu immediately let go of him and looked at him with teary eyes.

Luo Zijun began to talk nonsense with a straight face.

"Perhaps some young lady has a secret crush on you, and since you ignore her, she has no other choice but to deliberately spread rumors about you, wanting all the women in the Academy to hate you and stay away from you. That way, she would have a chance."

Once this explanation came out, even Su Bie, who was nearby, suddenly clapped his hands and said: "That's really possible!"

Luo Zijun added: "So, Brother Wang, think carefully, which female students have you interacted with in this Academy?"

Wang Dafu opened his mouth, immediately wiped away his tears, and began to think excitedly.

At this time, someone nearby said: "That can't be right, how could any female student have a secret crush on him?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Wang Dafu was displeased, glared at him, and said: "Fang Shi, shut your damn mouth! I suspect you were one of the people who ambushed me just now! Let's go, come with me to see the teacher!"

"Tch..."

The young man named Fang Shi ignored him further.

Wang Dafu's eyes shone, and he looked at Luo Zijun with an excited face: "Brother, your analysis feels spot on. You know, my charm has always been very strong. There are so many girls in the Academy; it's very likely that I haven't even spoken to them, and they just caught a glimpse of me from afar and fell into a secret crush they can't escape from. So for a moment, I really can't think of who it is."

Luo Zijun nodded: "Then don't think about it for now; I feel that young lady will definitely have a next move."

Upon hearing this, Wang Dafu was even more excited and scratched his head: "Brother, do you think she will come to confess directly?"

Luo Zijun shook his head: "Girls are all shy, how could she come to confess directly? Brother Wang, just wait patiently, no need to be anxious; the one who should be anxious is her."

"Makes sense!"

Wang Dafu chuckled.

Although he was bruised and in great pain, he felt wonderful inside at this moment, sweeter than eating a large jar of honey, and the frustration and anger from being ambushed were immediately swept away.

"Brother Wang, you just said you were going to report this to the teacher, are you still going?"

Zhang Yitian, who was on the side, asked.

Wang Dafu grinned and waved his hand quite dashingly: "Not going! If the teacher really investigates and finds that young lady who spread the rumors, wouldn't she be punished? Forget it, forget it, she was just impulsive because of love; I can understand."

Luo Zijun: "..."

If only Xu Xian and Bai Niangzi could be this... simple.

The students arrived one after another.

After waiting for about another half-stick of incense, Huang Beicheng, who organized this spring outing, walked in and announced the results of yesterday's discussion.

"In the morning, we will first go to Qingshuiyuan below Hanshan Temple to play; there is a hot spring there, and a very large peach orchard where the peach blossoms are in full bloom, which is very beautiful. At this time, the flowering period should not have ended yet..."

"We will eat at the Taoyuan Building there at noon, and wander around the vicinity in the afternoon."

"In the evening, we will go hiking to enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery, and spend the night at Hanshan Temple; I have already sent someone to make arrangements with the temple. Of course, everyone must give incense money when we go."

Then he talked about the itinerary for tomorrow.

Everyone was very satisfied after hearing this.

At this time, Huang Beicheng smiled and said: "Yesterday I went to tell the Women's Academy, and they said they might go today as well."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone became excited at once.

Some even let out wolf howls, making the others laugh out loud.

Wang Dafu also said excitedly: "Maybe the girl who has a secret crush on me is among them!"

Luo Zijun said: "Brother Wang is looking down on himself too much; perhaps there are several girls among them who have a secret crush on you, not just one."

Wang Dafu immediately widened his eyes and looked at him for a full few seconds, then suddenly burst into laughter: "Right! Why didn't I think of that! Hahahaha..."

"Everyone must observe discipline after we go, do not run around at will, and do not do anything that damages the reputation of our West Lake Academy..."

Huang Beicheng gave another reminder before announcing the departure. He was tall and sturdy, and had the highest rank of scholar in the class; he usually protected everyone, and if anyone had a conflict, he would take the initiative to step forward and resolve it, so everyone trusted him exceptionally.

Therefore, whenever the class had activities, he was the one to organize them.

The other teachers were also at ease.

There are twenty-six students in the class in total; except for Xu Xian, no one is absent.

Everyone followed behind Huang Beicheng, marching out of the Academy in a grand procession.

"Wasn't it said that Brother Xu would also be going today?"

Luo Zijun could not help but ask.

Wang Dafu was still immersed in his beautiful dreams; although his face was bruised and swollen, the corners of his mouth were split wide in a grin, and he was in high spirits, looking around everywhere as if trying to find that girl who had a secret crush on him.

Su Bie shook the folding fan in his hand and said, "Brother Xu will probably go there on his own. I reckon the injuries on his face haven't healed yet, and he's afraid of being laughed at, so he didn't come directly to the Academy."

"Go there on his own?"

!

Luo Zijun frowned slightly.

That guy had better not run into Bai Niangzi on the road; if he were to walk along with Bai Niangzi and act ambiguously, that would be troublesome.

The group left the Academy and headed toward the outside of the city.

Looking at the scenery and chatting about gossip along the way, they didn't feel tired at all.

They soon arrived at West Lake.

As Luo Zijun and the others lagged behind and were talking, a woman's low-voiced cry suddenly came from under a large tree nearby.

"Husband! Husband!"

Luo Zijun turned his head to look.

A thin woman wearing a coarse cloth dress stood under the large tree, holding a robe in her hands and waving toward them.

The woman was small and thin, her skin somewhat rough, but her appearance was quite pretty. Seeing the gazes of the group turn toward her, she became somewhat flustered, blushed, and said, "It's... it's cold in the mountains at night, take a thick garment with you."

Wang Dafu was full of confusion: "Who is she talking to?"

Su Bie also shook his head in bewilderment.

Zhang Yitian smiled and said, "She must have mistaken us for someone else, let's hurry on."

He glared fiercely at the woman.

The woman immediately lowered her head and dared not speak again.

At this moment, Luo Zijun really wanted to use Mind Reading to see the inner thoughts of these two people.

However, this skill could only be used once a day, lasted only half a quarter of an hour each time, and could only be used on one person. There might still be danger on the road, so he naturally could not waste it casually.

The group didn't think much more about it and continued forward.

Outside the city gate, the carriages were already waiting.

If they wanted to go to Hanshan Temple, relying on walking alone, they probably wouldn't arrive by noon, let alone go sightseeing.

The twenty-plus people divided into four groups and boarded the carriages.

The journey continued with idle chatter.

Su Bie, Wang Dafu, and the others suddenly started talking about the Inner City Four Great Families.

"Bai, Jia, Shi, and Xue—although these Four Great Families have always been harmonious and stand together, I hear there are all sorts of competitions in the dark..."

"Naturally, there is competition even within the same family, let alone among the Four Great Families. However, these Four Great Families all rely on the protection of their ancestors to inherit their titles, but now..."

"Don't underestimate these hereditary nobles; even if they just pull out a single hair, they can still crush you to death."

"That is the truth; among the Four Great Families, the Bai Family is clearly a bit stronger..."

At this time, Zhang Yitian also spoke up: "I have seen that young lady of the Bai Family... tsk tsk, that young lady's appearance is even more beautiful than the legends say; even if a celestial maiden descended to earth, she probably wouldn't compare."

"Indeed, I have also seen her once; she truly surpasses a celestial maiden. Especially that noble temperament she carries that makes one feel intimidated—at the time, we were watching from afar and didn't dare to get close at all."

"I heard that the mansions of those Four Great Families are even larger than our Academy, with hundreds or thousands of maids and servants inside, and those maids are all as fresh and lovely as can be..."

"Sigh, they are born with silver spoons in their mouths, while we..."

Su Bie couldn't help but say, "I haven't seen that Bai Daxiaojie; I heard she only came to our Academy a few days ago. You guys guess who the prettiest girl I've ever seen is?"

"Who?"

Everyone's interest was piqued, and they asked hurriedly.

Su Bie glanced at Luo Zijun beside him and smiled without saying a word.

Luo Zijun suddenly said, "I think Brother Xu Xian's sister is very beautiful."

Once these words were spoken, Wang Dafu immediately clapped his hands and said, "Right! Brother Xu's sister—I caught a glimpse of her that night, and she is indeed charming and lovely, with a good temperament; she is a rare beauty!"

Zhang Yitian, who was to the side, also nodded.

Su Bie, however, just smiled and didn't say anything more.

This topic was thus dropped.

When the carriages stopped at Qingshuiyuan, a burst of chirping and laughter suddenly came from under the peach blossom forest not far away.

A group of young girls dressed in colorful dresses were there, youthful and lively, admiring the flowers and chatting.

Sun Yan'er, Huang Zhaodi, and the others were among them.

Seeing the carriages stop and the male students get off, the gazes of those young girls all turned toward them in unison.

(End of this chapter)