Elena smiled faintly, long accustomed to Cherie’s dramatic outbursts!

“Pfft~ Women are just too emotional!” Thomas announced with a smug look, but when he noticed Elena watching him, he immediately sensed his slip-up and quickly corrected himself, “Teacher Elena, I wasn’t referring to you, you are excluded!”

“Thomas, I’ve noticed lately your audacity is growing. You actually dared to imply that Teacher Elena isn’t a woman,” Solomon quipped from the side, stirring the pot.

“Exactly, exactly!” Cherie immediately jumped in to kick him while he was down.

“You two know that’s not what I meant!” Thomas grew flustered, astonished that these two had caught him in such a blunder.

“That’s hard to say. Isn’t it often said that ‘you know a person’s face but not their heart’? Maybe you accidentally blurted out the truth just now,” Solomon remarked, looking completely unbothered.

“Yes! Teacher Elena, hearts are hidden behind barriers! Now you finally see what kind of person Thomas truly is. I strongly demand that we keep him isolated from us!” Cherie was so agitated she almost fetched a small rope to tie Thomas up.

“You… the two of you…” Thomas was overwhelmed by their combined assault and stammered to a halt.

“How about that, speechless now?” Cherie wore a triumphant grin.

“It seems someone’s true colors are finally about to show!” Solomon fanned the flames further, adding fuel to the fire.

“When did you two conspire together?” Thomas roared in anger.

Cherie and Solomon exchanged a glance, both seeing awkwardness reflected in the other’s eyes.

“Teacher Elena, look how bad Thomas is, won't you discipline him?” Cherie, being a girl, still had a degree of youthful softness and couldn't quite handle Thomas’s barrage.

“Teacher Elena, please allow me to discipline this loose-tongued fellow!” Solomon surprisingly offered a very formal bow to Elena!

“Granted!” To everyone's surprise, Elena joined in their madness.

“Ah, I suddenly remembered I have something to buy, I’ll take my leave first!” Seeing the situation turning sour, Thomas immediately bolted!

“It won't be too late to leave after I finish disciplining you. Don’t worry, I’ll leave you enough breath to run!” Solomon, however, chased after him.

“Only a fool would believe your sweet talk!” Though Thomas was merely a mage, his ability to flee seemed remarkably proficient, perhaps honed by Solomon’s training!

Watching the two chase each other, Cherie covered her mouth and chuckled softly!

After quite some time, Solomon returned alone, his first words being: “He got away!”

“Then let’s just make a note of it for now!” Elena said with a smile.

Just then, Cherie actually pulled out a small notebook and began writing. A moment later, Cherie put the notebook away, offering Elena a gentle smile: “All done, Teacher, I’ve recorded this incident for him too!”

Elena secretly sweated buckets!

Zhong Shenxiu had been silently observing these clowns, and a smile unexpectedly crept onto his face. No one knew what thoughts were swirling in his mind at that moment.

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

On a patch of lawn within the “Buzhadi Magic and Martial Arts Academy.”

Angelia, Robin, and Betty were reclining lazily.

“Angelia, can Robin sleep with me tonight?” Betty suddenly asked Angelia, who was deep in thought.

“What?” Angelia blinked, not quite processing the request.

“I mean, I want to share a bed with Robin tonight, is that okay?” Betty repeated.

“What???” Angelia’s eyes widened, but she wasn’t looking at Betty; she was looking at Robin.

“I’ve asked twice, haven't you understood? Never mind, I won’t discuss it with you then. This is settled!” Betty had a rather bossy, take-charge manner.

Before Angelia could object, Betty cozied up to Robin again: “Little sister Robin, come sleep with big sister tonight, okay! Big sister will tutor you some more tonight on the theory of ‘How to Interact with Others.’ I hope you’ll graduate soon!”

As she spoke, she flashed an exceedingly sweet smile that gave Angelia, who knew her well, instant goosebumps!

Robin seemed unconcerned, merely nodding lightly. Her mind was currently busy digesting the concepts Betty had been pouring into her!

(Sigh~ Let’s pray Robin doesn’t get led astray by Betty!)

Angelia felt entirely excluded at that moment. She even found herself wondering: Is this the legendary ‘Nice girls finish last’?

Angelia and Betty were like two piles of dry kindling; Betty had set hers roaring hot, only for a splash of water from Angelia to extinguish the fire! Angelia’s heart felt utterly chilled!

“Little sister Robin, what are you thinking so intently about? Listen to big sister, if you can’t figure something out, just stop thinking about it. As the saying goes, ‘The ship will straighten itself when it reaches the bridge, and hearts will connect through unspoken understanding.’ Some things are best left to run their natural course,” Betty lectured with an air of deep experience. In truth, she felt uneasy, afraid Robin might actually understand her nonsense and realize she was a fraud.

But Robin truly obeyed; she stopped thinking and simply looked at Betty, awaiting further instruction.

At this moment, Betty practically adored Robin. She had never met such an obedient child; it was as if Robin existed purely to accommodate her!

Delighted, Betty gently pulled Robin into an embrace and murmured softly, “Little sister Robin, can big sister chat with you about your Master?”

The mention of Zhong Shenxiu immediately brightened Robin’s eyes, and she suddenly seemed full of energy.

“Yes!” Although the tone was flat, Robin’s expression clearly indicated her willingness.

A cunning old fox like Betty certainly noticed this. While pleased, she couldn't help but develop a strong interest in Robin’s Master—Zhong Shenxiu!

“You like your Master very much, don’t you?” Betty inquired tentatively.

“Yes!” A note of pride entered Robin’s voice.

“How much?”

“I can die for my Master.”

Betty looked at the young girl before her with shock. Frankly, Robin’s statement genuinely startled her! She hadn't expected Robin’s feelings for her Master to run that deep; was this the proper emotion for a young girl to possess?

In that moment, Betty felt a wave of bewilderment!

Composing herself, Betty asked again, “Does your Master have any other servants besides you?”

“No,” Robin shook her head gently. It had always been just the two of them.

Once more, Betty fell into silence, not speaking for a long time.

Angelia was boredly watching her classmates in the distance, her mind preoccupied with how to complete the task Zhong Shenxiu had assigned her.

It was then that one of Betty's questions to Robin caused Angelia to snap her head back in astonishment.

“Do you love your Master?”