"I think the rewards you senior sisters are asking from Teacher are indeed a bit excessive, which makes Teacher very difficult."
"You are too…"
Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan were stunned, their worldview refreshed, upon hearing Ning Rongrong and the others' infatuation with Teacher. Even Ye Lingling's eyes showed surprise:
Although Teacher was a very excellent man, she would occasionally fantasize about how wonderful it would be if Teacher were her age and they could be childhood sweethearts.
After all, which maiden doesn't harbor spring in her heart?
But, this was their Teacher!
How could they truly treat Teacher as their future husband or lover?
And constantly ask for kisses as rewards!
How could this be?
Although she had only been studying at Taoyuan Academy for less than two months, she knew that these senior sisters were not the kind of fickle women; they only acted this way towards Teacher.
What was the reason for this?
Why did Teacher always wear a mask?
Seeing that Teacher seemed a bit helpless, Ye Lingling quickly spoke up, partly to smooth things over, and partly because her curiosity about Teacher had been piqued:
"Teacher, if we can achieve good results in the promotion rounds and the finals, could you let me see your appearance?"
Dugu Yan also nodded, looking expectantly at Teacher Xin:
"I want the same reward as Lingling, Teacher. I've been enrolled for over a year, but I've never seen Teacher's face even once."
There was a hint of resentment in Dugu Yan's tone. Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Meng Yiran, and Xiao Wu, who had entered earlier than her, had all seen Teacher's face, but she, ranked sixth, didn't even know what Teacher's features looked like.
This feeling was like she wasn't her parents' biological child, as if Teacher was guarding against her.
"Alright, if you can achieve first place in the promotion rounds and win the championship in the finals, I will reward each of you with a suitable Spirit Bone."
"And you four little heads, focus your energy on the competition first. Don't let your thoughts wander into wild fantasies about Teacher.
At least before you come of age and can be responsible for your own actions, you must focus on cultivation, understand?"
Xin took a cherry blossom branch and gently tapped Ning Rongrong, Meng Yiran, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing on their heads one by one.
Unexpectedly, Xin's words did not make Ning Rongrong and the others dejected; instead, their eyes lit up:
The philosophy Teacher taught was indeed correct!
[Heaven rewards the diligent!]
Teacher actually made a concession!
Their persistence was indeed meaningful.
Before, when they asked for kisses, Teacher would lecture them sternly!
But this time, he actually relented!
They would eventually abduct their handsome Teacher and bring him home!
It was just around the corner!
"Okay, so we can kiss Teacher when we come of age, right?"
Meng Yiran: "Um, Teacher, I'm already of age, so can I…"
"No, no, you're not allowed to speak anymore."
Ning Rongrong covered Meng Yiran's mouth.
Xiao Wu cooperated with Ning Rongrong and directly pulled Meng Yiran away:
"Being of age is so great? If you really calculate, I could be your ancestors' ancestor!"
"Junior Sister Meng Yiran, come, take this cherry blossom branch, let's have a Cherry Garden Sworn Sisterhood of Three! Recite with me:"
Falling cherry blossoms piled up into clusters of splendid blooms. Three young maidens solemnly vowed under the cherry blossom tree:
"Heart of Fire's Three Beloved Disciples—Little Warm Disciple, Little Soft Rabbit, Little Wet Girl—from now on, we will share joys and sorrows, and equally share the blessings. We do not seek to be born in the same year, same month, same day, but only to die in the same year, same month, same day."
"We will advance and retreat together! Bloom together!"
"Oh, right, we should pull Zhuqing in too! Little Cat Girl, come here!"
Meng Yiran, who was cornered by Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong working together, holding three cherry blossom branches and swearing to the cherry tree, was bewildered:
Huh???
…