Why on earth is he protecting us, of all people

The face of the pretty boy who had taken the lead in hitting on them turned pale. He hurriedly waved his hands, his voice pitching up in panic.

"No, no, no, Director, it's not like that! We... we just wanted to ask the senior girls a few study-related questions. Our attitude is absolutely sincere!"

Such nonsense could only fool a three-year-old. Using this kind of excuse, they really took Li Yan for a fool.

Li Yan's face darkened completely. Just as he was about to lose his temper, Lin Mo suddenly raised his hand. With a light motion, he immediately drew everyone's attention back to himself.

"Director, calm down."

Lin Mo's tone was as gentle as if he were breaking up a fight, but the words he spoke made the five pretty boys feel as if they had plunged into an ice cave.

"That's exactly what they told me just now. Since these junior schoolmates have such high enthusiasm for learning, I feel that, as their senior, I should give them a hand."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the five pale-faced juniors one by one, and the smile on his lips deepened.

"I suggest we immediately communicate with their homeroom teacher. In order not to let down the thirst for knowledge of these students, they should be given extra homework and mock exam papers, ideally at a rate of two sets a day. What do you think of this idea, Director Li?"

As soon as these words fell, the legs of the five boys went soft.

Extra homework and exam papers?

This was even more terrifying than getting a direct disciplinary warning, or even having their parents called to the school!

A warning would pass without much pain, and calling the parents would just end with a scolding.

But this doubled homework and exam papers would be a day-after-day torment! Moreover, they had brought it upon themselves using the excuse of loving to study. It was like a mute eating bitter herbs; they had to suffer in silence!

They wanted to retort, but how could they? Admit that they were just lying? That would make the nature of their offense even more serious.

In an instant, the five of them broke out in cold sweat, their clothes soaked through at the back. They could only lower their heads, lacking the courage to even glance at Li Yan.

Li Yan looked at Lin Mo. The irritation in his eyes faded, replaced by a scrutinizing gaze.

This kid was ruthless.

Killing without spilling blood, destroying the mind without leaving a trace.

He snorted heavily and stopped looking at Lin Mo, turning to roar at the surrounding students who were still craning their necks to watch.

"Alright, what are you all looking at? Don't you have classes to attend? Disperse!"

The students scattered like birds and beasts.

Finally, Li Yan's gaze fell on the five boys trembling like sifted chaff, and he raised his chin.

"You five, come with me!"

With that, he turned and walked toward the G1 teachers' office. His back carried the imposing aura of an approaching storm.

The five pretty boys looked ashen. With drooping heads, they looked like five defeated sick roosters, dragging their feet as they followed. Before leaving, they all uniformly cast a terrified glance at Lin Mo.

That look was as if they were looking at a devil.

As for what punishment they would ultimately receive, Lin Mo didn't really care.

He simply turned to look at Jiang Yunlu.

Jiang Yunlu pursed her lips, bypassed Lin Mo, and walked upstairs.

As for Chu Miaomiao behind her, she looked at Lin Mo, then at Jiang Yunlu, thought for a moment, and tugged at Lin Mo's clothes.

"I'm going up first."

After saying that, she followed behind Jiang Yunlu upstairs.

Lin Mo did not leave immediately; instead, he cupped his hands in a salute to the students upstairs.

"Thank you all for your support just now."

"Great show! Loved it! Next time, God Mo has to stand up for us too."

"Yeah, if we ask study questions, God Mo shouldn't refuse us."

Lin Mo looked up in the direction of the voices and made an OK gesture.

"I won't say definitely, but it's guaranteed!"

Just as Lin Mo was about to step upstairs, an arm like an iron hoop suddenly wrapped around his neck from behind.

Fang Jun's magnified face leaned in, smiling with malicious intent.

"Hey! Old Mo, you're getting ready to participate in the competition. Let's hang out together on Saturday night, otherwise we won't see you for a while."

Lin Mo annoyedly peeled his arm off. "Speak human. Are you trying to use my name to ask Cai Junhuang out again?"

"Hey!" Fang Jun slapped his thigh with an exaggerated expression. "What kind of talk is that! Am I, Fang Jun, the kind of person who values women over friends? Besides, to ask her out now, do I need to use your name?"

"And do I look like that kind of guy? Hanging out with you is definitely more important."

Lin Mo glanced at him sideways, twitching the corner of his mouth.

"Alright then, don't invite Cai Junhuang."

Fang Jun made an OK gesture; he really wasn't using Lin Mo as an excuse.

He then excitedly began to plan: "Then it's settled! A pure guys' night out! Saturday night at six, meet at the usual internet cafe. First, we'll team up for a five-man queue and slaughter until the sky turns dark! Then we'll go next door to play a few rounds of pool, and the loser buys midnight snacks!"

The more he spoke, the more excited he got, as if he were already in the midst of that fiery scene.

"Finally, we'll hit the midnight food stalls for some barbecue and fried noodles. How about it, Old Mo, is this farewell banquet interesting enough?"

This guy, it seemed he really wanted to give him a farewell party.

Lin Mo felt a warmth in his heart and raised his hand to punch Fang Jun in the chest.

"Alright, since you're being so sincere, it would seem like I'm not giving you face if I don't agree."

"That's a must!"

The two put their arms around each other's shoulders and walked upstairs laughing and joking, their voices gradually fading at the corner of the stairs.

In the shadows of the third-floor corridor, a cold gaze was already locked onto Lin Mo's back.

Zhou Nianqian leaned against the cold wall, pulling his mouth into a mocking curve.

You really know how to put on an act, Lin Mo.

"Just keep playing the hero."

He murmured in a low voice, full of disdain.

"When you come back from Tianjing, you'll find that everything you have now will be completely unrecognizable."

In the classroom, Jiang Yunlu returned to her seat. Pursing her lips, she stared silently at the textbook on her desk, her eyes out of focus.

"Yunlu."

Chu Miaomiao sat in Wang Qin's seat, right next to Jiang Yunlu, her voice still carrying a slight tremor of lingering fear.

"Just now... thank you. If it weren't for you, I really wouldn't have known what to do."

The girl's sincere gratitude slightly eased Jiang Yunlu's tense emotions.

She raised her hand and somewhat clumsily but very gently patted Chu Miaomiao's head, as if comforting a frightened little animal.

This action made her realize why Lin Mo liked patting it so much.

Chu Miaomiao's hair was indeed very soft and smooth.

"It's nothing."

Her voice was very soft.

After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Yunlu couldn't help but ask the confusion in her heart, her voice even lower than before.

"Being protected by Lin Mo like this all the time, don't you feel... awkward?"

This question was like a tiny thorn piercing her heart.

Chu Miaomiao froze for a moment, then raised her head. Blinking her clear eyes, she looked at her with some puzzlement instead.

"Awkward? Why would I feel awkward?"

She leaned in closer and lowered her voice, but her tone carried a wonderful, reassuring certainty.

"Yunlu, think about it. Why didn't he protect those five boys just now, why didn't he protect Geng Xiao, and why didn't he protect Su Mingzhao?"

"Why is it that the ones he insists on protecting are us?"