Feng Song's expression was both ingratiating and sincere, so convincing that it seemed genuine. Fortunately, Zong Jincheng had just encountered the hypocritical Madam Liu and could instantly spot such lies.
"How exactly is it for his own good?" The little devil crossed his arms, looking down arrogantly as he waited for Feng Song to weave his tale.
Feng Song immediately began, "His talent is just too poor. He’s been studying for six or seven years, but he’s still not as good as his eight-year-old brother. I don’t think he has any aptitude for academics, so it’s better for him to drop out of the academy early and make room for other students."
Zong Jincheng quickly grasped the key point, narrowing his eyes as he asked, "Are you from Hanlin Southern Academy?"
Feng Song hesitated for a moment before replying, "Yes, I am. How did you know?"
The little devil sneered, "You want him to make room for you, which means you couldn’t even get into Hanlin North Academy, right?"
If Hanlin North Academy was full of his defeated opponents, then Hanlin Southern Academy was just a group of even less capable rich kids who weren’t even qualified to be his sparring partners.
Zong Jincheng glanced at him and added, "A rookie like you dares to look down on Qin Shi from Hanlin North Academy? Did you forget to look in the mirror before leaving the house?"
"You..." Feng Song’s face immediately twisted in anger. He hated it when people said he was inferior to Qin Shi. His fists clenched tightly, but remembering the other’s status, he forced himself to loosen them.
The little devil continued to berate him, "I just saw you pushing him and trying to smash his books. And you call it for his own good? Don’t dress up your bullying with such excuses. Even I, the so-called troublemaker, have never done something so shameless. How dare you twist the truth like this?"
By the window on the second floor, Cui Liu was still acting as an emotionless messenger.
Xu Wan chuckled as she listened to her monotone voice, "Cui Liu, can you put a bit more emotion into it? Such scolding needs some feeling to be truly satisfying."
Cui Liu: "..."
Your expectations are too high. She just wanted to switch places with Bu Yan.
Feng Song’s chest heaved, but he still tried to salvage the situation, "I... I just went a bit too far, but my intentions were good. I was just trying to..."
"Good intentions my foot," the little devil said coldly, extending his hand. "Give me the book."
Feng Song immediately handed it over with both hands, his palms sweaty and his body trembling slightly. He forced a smile and said, "Here you go, here you go."
Though the little devil wasn’t as tall as him, he held his head high with an air of arrogance, like a tyrant bullying an ordinary person. Meanwhile, the original bully, Feng Song, had now become submissive and drenched in sweat.
Sometimes, even Zong Wenxiu had to admit:
Using force to counter force was highly effective.
Zong Jincheng took the book and glanced at it. It was *Meng Qiu*.
He had already mastered this book with his brother long ago. Why was Qin Shi still reading it?
Though puzzled, the little devil handed the book back to Qin Shi and said, "Here, it’s yours."
Then he turned to Feng Song and ordered, "Apologize to him."
Feng Song quickly turned around and said loudly, "Qin Shi, I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have bullied you. Please forgive me!"
Qin Shi had never expected this day to come. Feng Song, who had been bullying him for years, was now being forced to apologize to him.
It was unexpected, but also deeply moving.
Qin Shi replied, "I accept your apology."
An eye for an eye would only lead to endless conflict. He just wanted to focus on his studies like his brother and avoid any further entanglement with Feng Song.
Zong Jincheng kicked him and said, "If I see you bullying Qin Shi again, don’t blame me for using my fists."
"Yes, yes, I won’t dare to do it again!" Feng Song scurried away in an instant.
When Qin Shi took the book back, he was still in a daze. In the past, the books Feng Song had taken from him had never been returned intact. This was the first time.
All because of the child known as the leader of the troublemakers who had helped him.
But he didn’t seem bad at all, Qin Shi thought.
"Thank you, Zong Jincheng," Qin Shi said with a smile, remembering the name Feng Song had called him.
The little devil snorted arrogantly, "No need to thank me. Just remember my name, because it’s the one that will defeat you in the next joint exam!"
"Huh?" Qin Shi was confused.
Was this kid here to challenge him?
But he looked about the same age as Xiao Ye.
Thinking of Xiao Ye, Qin Shi felt reassured. Perhaps this child was also exceptionally talented and highly knowledgeable, just like Xiao Ye.
Zong Wenxiu, worried that Qin Shi might misunderstand, quickly explained on his brother’s behalf, "Qin Shi, don’t misunderstand. My brother means no harm. He just talks like that."
Zong Jincheng was full of questions and turned to ask, "Brother, what did I say wrong?"
Zong Wenxiu whispered, "Your tone. It makes you sound like Feng Song, like you’re trying to intimidate him."
"Then how should I phrase ‘defeating him’ in a nicer way?" Zong Jincheng asked humbly.
"Hmm..." Zong Wenxiu thought for a moment and said, "Surpass him?"
"Isn’t that the same thing?"
"It sounds more polite."
"But it doesn’t sound as good. It doesn’t show my dominance."
Zong Wenxiu: "..."
Showing dominance...
Isn’t that exactly what intimidation is?!
The Zong brothers whispered back and forth for a while but couldn’t agree on the right wording, so they eventually gave up.
Qin Shi, watching them, smiled and said, "It’s alright, I understand what he means. But are you also from Hanlin North Academy? I don’t think I’ve seen you before."
Zong Jincheng proudly replied, "We study at home, but we take exams at Qingbo Academy every month."
Qin Shi nodded in understanding, "My younger brother also studies at Qingbo Academy."
"I know, your brother is Qin Ye," Zong Jincheng said through gritted teeth. "That rude kid is nothing like you. I seriously doubt you share the same parents."
"You know my brother?" Qin Shi was amused and couldn’t help but say, "You’re probably the first person to think that. Xiao Ye has always been more likable than me."
He was the one who had been doubted for not being as smart as his brother, not the other way around.
Zong Jincheng rolled his eyes and retorted, "Not at all. I don’t like him. He always acts like he’s better than everyone, cold and arrogant, and his words are just begging for a punch."
Zong Wenxiu silently thought to himself, You’re not much better.
Qin Shi scratched his head, unsure how to respond. He earnestly explained, "Xiao Ye might seem hard to get along with, but he’s actually a good person."
Zong Jincheng snorted, "I don’t care if he’s good or not. I’ll never be friends with him. Never, ever."
Zong Wenxiu silently added in his mind: Qin Ye probably doesn’t want to be friends with you either…
But then he suddenly remembered something and asked Qin Shi, "By the way, the results of the joint exam between Hanlin North Academy and Qingbo Academy just came out today. How did you do?"
All fifty students from Hanlin North Academy had passed, and Qin Shi was surely among them. However, when Zong Wenxiu had checked the results that morning, he hadn’t known Qin Shi and hadn’t noticed his ranking.
Qin Shi nodded and replied, "Not bad, second place."
Zong Wenxiu: "..."
Not bad…
Second place in the joint exam is "not bad"…
As someone who ranked nineteenth, he felt deeply wounded!
