Chapter 68: Shut Up!

“You’re asking me?” Ye Wuqi smacked him on the head. “I should be asking you—why on earth did you provoke her? Were you just bored out of your mind? Look at you, almost got your arm broken!”

Yan Baba burst out laughing at the sight of Qin Zhaoyu getting smacked. “Didn’t you see the banner outside? It’s to celebrate Sister Luo breaking our class’s all-time high score with a 130. That’s why we put it up—she’s amazing! To commemorate it, Wuqi told us to call her Sister Luo now. But what’s your story? How did you end up messing with her? Still, thanks to you, we all saw firsthand how fierce she can be. She’s truly one of Class 19’s own!”

Qin Zhaoyu finally caught on, his face falling. “So you guys are on good terms with her…”

Both Ye Wuqi and Yan Baba nodded. “Yeah, not bad at all.”

Qin Zhaoyu let out a loud groan. “Damn it!”

“Who are you cursing at?” Ye Wuqi and Yan Baba immediately shouted at him.

“Myself! Is that not allowed?!” Qin Zhaoyu shouted back, raking his hands through his hair, looking thoroughly frustrated.

Ye Wuqi and Yan Baba doubled over with laughter, the two of them beside themselves with amusement.

Ye Luo watched in silence.

Qin Zhaowen seemed used to these antics, only smiling gently.

“No wonder there’s a banner outside. I thought it was strange when I walked in,” Qin Zhaoyu said, growing even more annoyed as he tugged at his hair. “If you weren’t close, why would our class put that up for her?”

“So why did you mess with her in the first place? This is the third time I’m asking! Why is it so hard to get an answer out of you?” Ye Wuqi snapped.

Qin Zhaoyu finally replied, just as exasperated, “Wasn’t it all because of Gorilla! I called him this morning to say I’d be coming to class, and he just casually mentioned her—said if she gets first place in next week’s monthly exam, I’d better start studying hard. I heard that and lost it. Wasn’t that a threat? So I decided I had to teach her a lesson. And, well, you all saw it—I was the one who ended up getting taught…”

The last part he muttered, barely audible and full of grievance.

Before Ye Wuqi could reply, Yan Baba burst out laughing. “So you heard just that and decided she was threatening Wuqi? It was Wuqi himself who said that if Sister Luo got first, he’d start studying seriously. She never forced him!”

“Then I’m going to give Gorilla a beating later!” Qin Zhaoyu declared at once.

“Get lost!” Ye Wuqi laughed, lifting a foot as if to kick him. “You blame Gorilla when you didn’t even get the facts straight? Gorilla’s totally innocent. If you lay a finger on him, I’ll make sure you can’t get out of bed tomorrow!”

He raised his eyebrows as he spoke, daring Qin Zhaoyu to try.

Of course, Qin Zhaoyu didn’t dare.

Just then, Qin Zhaowen said quietly, “I told you to check the facts first, but you never listen…”

“Shut up!” Qin Zhaoyu turned and snapped at his brother.

Qin Zhaowen was unfazed, still smiling.

Ye Wuqi was used to the brothers’ bickering. He leaned against a nearby desk, jiggling his leg, pulling out a lollipop and peeling the wrapper, sighing as he did so, “Sister Luo’s a girl, you know. How could you bring yourself to go at her like that?”

Qin Zhaoyu shot back, “Didn’t you teach me that? You always said there are only two kinds of people in the world—those you can fight and those you can’t. Why should I care if she’s a girl or not?”

Ye Luo fell silent. So that was the wisdom her esteemed ancestor passed down…

Ye Wuqi froze mid-unwrapping, genuinely surprised. “I taught you that?”