"You know our institute emphasizes more on foundation." He added and this ti Lana narrowed her eyes.
Understanding dawned.
This had been deliberate.
He had escalated the difficulty to embarrass her.
Lana did not confront him.
Instead, she nodded again.
"I understand."
Then she looked at him carefully and added,
"Your right cuff is misaligned. It is not properly buttoned."
The lecturer glanced down instinctively, then back at her.
"You are very observant," he said. "If I did not know better, I might think you were my admirer."
More quiet laughter followed.
But this ti, Lana did not retreat.
"In our institution," she said with a small smile, "basic etiquette is emphasized above all else. That is why I tend to notice such details. When soone makes even a simple foundational mistake, it becos quite obvious."
Her smile was bright, almost dazzling.
The lecturer fell silent.
To an outsider, her words sounded polite.
Yet anyone who listened carefully could recognize that she had returned his earlier disdain, mirroring it perfectly.
He took a slow breath, studying her anew.
"You are quite clever," he finally said.
Lana nodded lightly.
"Of course," she said. "Otherwise I would not still be sitting here, patiently listening to all the snickering, sneering, and mocking voices."
She paused, letting her gaze sweep across the classroom before adding in a calm tone,
"This is supposed to be a university. Who would willingly co here just to hear a group of monkeys making noise?"
The mont those words fell, every trace of amusent vanished from the students’ faces.
The room turned cold.
They stared at her with hostility, but Lana remained completely unbothered, leaning back in her chair as though nothing had happened.
’Do they really think I would be frightened by a few cold stares? ’ she thought calmly. ’I endured far worse in my previous life. Compared to that, this is nothing.’
Back then, she had learned not just how to survive ridicule but also how to respond.
She could crush them if she truly wished.
Yet she had chosen restraint until now, believing it better to avoid unnecessary conflict. Apparently, they had mistaken that restraint for weakness.
’If kindness is not appreciated, then perhaps they should see another side of .’
anwhile, Mr. Crow almost wanted to clap on the spot. If he had possessed a physical body, he would have been grinning from ear to ear.
’Beautifully done. Absolutely clean.’
Lana simply smiled at the class.
The lecturer cleared his throat, trying to regain authority.
"Since you are so proficient in etiquette," he said, "perhaps you should compile a book on the subject and present it to . It would help better understand your culture."
It was clear that he wanted to make things difficult for her by making her do extra assignnts, and God knows how long it would take for him to ’approve’ of what she had written.
Lana chuckled softly.
"I would have loved to," she replied.
"Unfortunately, I still need to catch up with my cultivation. Just this morning, I heard quite clearly that I belong to the lowest division and do not stand a chance against my classmates."
Her words were light, but the faint glance she cast toward the room made their aning unmistakable.
In a single sentence, she declined his request while exposing the earlier insult. It was clear that she wasn’t there to endure.
Several students gritted their teeth.
’This woman is troubleso.’
Lana stretched her arms slightly just as the bell signaled the end of the session. Her shoulders loosened, and she rotated her wrist to ease the stiffness.
The lecturer seized the mont.
"What do you think you are doing? I haven’t dismissed the class; you can’t leave yet! You are acting inappropriately," he demanded sharply.
Lana blinked, then smiled.
"I did not realize that stretching to prevent muscle strain had suddenly beco improper etiquette," she said calmly.
"I will refrain next ti, even if my hands cramp or suffer permanent damage. If necessary, I will inform the principal that such instructions were given."
The lecturer’s fists tightened.
He forced himself to remain composed.
"You are overreacting," he muttered. "I did not realize you were rely stretching."
He began packing his materials, clearly eager to end the exchange.
Then, as if rembering sothing, he turned back.
"Since today’s understanding seems insufficient, everyone will write a summary of this lecture ten tis and submit it tomorrow."
The class nodded automatically.
"And," he continued, "each of you will compile reports on ghosts you have encountered. I expect one hundred case studies."
The mont he said this, Lana understood.
This was not an assignnt.
This was punishnt disguised as academic work.
The satisfied expression on his face, combined with the way so students glanced at her, confird everything.
Lana raised her hand.
The lecturer nearly flinched but forced himself to remain still.
"Do you need sothing?" he asked stiffly.
Lana smiled politely.
"I simply wish to confirm. Is this assignnt for alone, or for everyone?"
He frowned. He could not admit targeting her directly.
"It is for everyone."
Lana nodded thoughtfully.
"In that case, soone here should demonstrate the required format for ," she said. "I am unfamiliar with your system. Perhaps a senior could guide ?"
Silence.
The atmosphere turned icy.
The lecturer stood frozen for a mont before abruptly placing his materials back down.
"On second thought," he said quickly, "there is no need to continue with this assignnt."
He walked out almost imdiately.
He had no desire to remain in a situation where every logical response from Lana risked exposing his intentions.
Until now, he had used similar tactics to pressure and humiliate many students.
But this was the first ti he had encountered soone sharper than him.
Soone capable of turning his own thods against him.
As he left, an uncomfortable realization crept into his mind.
’If I am not careful, this girl will make regret every word I say.’
And for the first ti, he began considering a different way to deal with her.
User Comments
0 comments from readers