Cherishing You As Always - Chapter 9

Suddenly, the sound of a bell rang out. I looked toward the direction of the noise. It came from the academy.

The academician quickly stepped forward and, seeing the confusion on my face, explained, “That’s the bell for class. When the bell rings, it means the lesson is about to begin.”

I nodded absentmindedly and continued walking. He suddenly seemed to remember something and said, “I just recalled — it seems the girls’ quarters don’t have enough rooms…”

I immediately turned and snapped, “Academician, what do you mean by that? I came here to study, and you can’t even provide a place for me to stay? Are you even qualified to be the academician?”

I blurted this out without thinking. In truth, the last sentence came from remembering that girl who was bullied. Why could something like that happen in this academy, and yet the academician could still sit calmly in his courtyard reading? If I didn’t speak up, the fire in my chest wouldn’t die down.

His handsome face turned red and pale in turns, his thick brows tightly furrowed — but he didn’t seem angry. “Actually, I just got here. I’m the new academician at this academy.”

I retorted angrily, “I know you’re the academician. Then, Academician sir, please help me find a place to stay. Don’t tell me you expect me to stay in the servants’ quarters?”

I, Song Lanlou, am a proper young lady from a distinguished family — stay in the servants’ quarters? I’d rather give up studying and go home to take care of my brother. At least that would ease the guilt in my heart.

He lowered his head and thought for a while, then suddenly looked as if he’d figured something out and excitedly grabbed my sleeve. “I have an idea. Come with me.”

I quickly swatted his hand away, annoyed. “Speak if you have something to say, walk if you need to walk. You’re a scholar, aren’t you? Haven’t you ever heard of the saying: Men and women should not touch?”

Seeing a grown man blush in front of me was a little strange. What was there to blush about? I’ve never liked men who blush like monkey’s behinds.

I hurriedly walked ahead and said, “So where are we going? Lead the way.”

Being impatient by nature, I didn’t want to be around this academician any longer. Something just felt off about him. I really don’t know what my father was thinking, sending me here to study.

He didn’t say another word and took a few quick steps ahead to lead the way. I followed, watching his back. Not bad looking — probably the type many girls would like.

But what did that have to do with me?

I spaced out a little, not paying attention to where he was taking me. When I finally looked up, we were already standing at the entrance of the classroom.

I froze, pointing at the classroom and asked, “I said I needed a place to rest, and you bring me to a classroom? You’re not that cruel, are you? Making me start studying the moment I arrive? Even a donkey pulling a mill gets to rest.”

My anger kept rising, but he didn’t seem to mind and even gave me a small smile — revealing a row of white teeth.

I had to fight the urge to punch that handsome face and forced myself to listen to his explanation.

“I brought you here to find someone to share a room with. Your dorm area is already full. Since you can’t stay in the servants’ quarters, the only option is to find another girl for you to room with.”

I couldn’t hold back and shouted, “Share a room? Is this academy so poor? Why does everyone else have their own room and yard, but I have to share? Fine. If I can’t find a place to stay today, you’ll give me your room and go share with someone else!”

Although the classroom was still some distance away, the nearby area was empty, so my yelling didn’t attract a crowd. But the man in front of me definitely looked shocked by my voice.

He frowned, raising his voice a bit too. “Can you stop being so unreasonable? This is an academy! Yelling like this at the academician — if word gets out, it won’t look good for either of us.”

I didn’t care who he was or if he would write to my father and tattle on me. I was shorter than him, but just because I was shorter didn’t mean I’d let my momentum drop. I raised my voice and said, “Oh, so now you care about reputation, Academician? Then can you explain to me why I saw someone bullying a girl in your academy? Is this what you call a virtuous school? And you’re telling me not to yell? Those people earlier were louder than me, and their words far more vulgar. Why don’t you go manage them?”

He replied irritably, “They’re at it again?”

I glared at him. From what he said, this sort of thing has happened more than once? Just thinking that I’d be stuck in the same academy as those vicious people made my skin crawl.

“A weak girl being bullied like that in your academy — and you call yourself an academician?”

My heart was full of disdain for him. Clearly just another coward too afraid to offend the rich kids.

No point arguing anymore. I took a few quick steps and stormed into the classroom. Share a room? With the way I look when I’m angry, who would dare room with me?

The moment I stepped into the classroom, the previously noisy group of students instantly went silent.

I glared around the room, letting my sharp gaze sweep over everyone — until I locked eyes on someone.

She was still wearing that white robe, holding a book in her hands, reading attentively and softly reciting to herself, as if completely unaware of what was going on around her.

Her face wasn’t particularly beautiful, but under the light it carried a soft glow. Among the crowd of students, though not the most dazzling, she was the first person I noticed.

I quickly looked away and scanned the entire classroom.

Compared to the academies I’ve attended before, this place was a thousand times better — matching uniforms, matching book boxes, matching small desks. Everything was standardized.

Where I stood, I was directly facing the teacher. But that person had their back to me, so I couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman.

Just like the girl reading intently, the teacher had a scroll in hand, holding it up to the light, carefully studying the tiny characters…

In fact, the only two people in the entire room who didn’t notice my arrival were that teacher and the girl — I think her name was something like Yin Chi.

After a while, the teacher must have sensed something was off and turned around — finally revealing her face.

Can a woman be a teacher? The breathtaking beauty standing before me — was actually the teacher?

She wore the same outfit as the students, except her robe had a white cloud embroidered in the center, edged with fine gold thread. Was this the attire of the teachers?

She was stunning, with gentle willow-like brows and naturally rosy lips. Her eyes didn’t fall on me, but rather on the academician behind me. Immediately, the frost on her face melted into something more tender — a look of deep affection.

Clearly, this was an ice-cold beauty.

She asked me in a voice far sweeter than her appearance, “Who are you? How dare you barge into the academy like this?”

The room erupted into whispers. Some students had seen me earlier, so their gossip was particularly animated.

I turned and shot them a fierce glare. As expected, some of the girls quickly shut their mouths. The boys, however, continued whispering to each other — though I couldn’t quite make out what they were saying.