C87 I Won't Go Back!

I'll be tied up with some family matters for the next few days, but I'll resume updates starting tomorrow.

"Are you two really just simple teammates?"

Zhen Ye's voice carried a hint of malice.

"What does it matter?" Lee Zi countered.

Zhen Ye, slightly agitated, insisted, "It does matter!"

Lee Zi couldn't help but smile; she had already learned about the previous assessment's details from Chu Yi.

Zhen Ye used to embody the ideal image of a senior brother for Lee Zi.

He was protective, righteous, immensely talented, and undeniably handsome—a combination that had won over many at Adirang Academy.

But after learning the truth from Chu Yi, Lee Zi saw Zhen Ye for who he really was—a hypocrite.

So now, when Lee Zi faced Zhen Ye, she no longer possessed her once patient demeanor.

"If you insist there's something to it, then so be it," she said.

Zhen Ye pressed further, "Then shouldn't you offer an explanation?"

After a brief pause, Lee Zi declared with conviction, "Chu Yi was my childhood friend, and now he's my boyfriend. In the future, he will be my husband!"

Despite the tension, Lee Zi's cheeks flushed with a soft glow as she spoke.

Her words left Chu Yi momentarily stunned, but his eyes soon filled with warmth and tenderness.

Zhen Ye's gaze, however, was ablaze with jealousy, quickly turning into a cold, mocking sneer.

"Hmph, Lee Zi, you've truly let me down," he scoffed.

"To go to such lengths for a man!"

"Do you think you're living up to Teacher Sun's expectations and the nurturing you received from Adirang Academy?"

Zhen Ye bombarded her with questions, underestimating Lee Zi's resolve.

She might have appeared docile before her seniors, but that was only because she saw no point in engaging in petty squabbles.

After all, Lee Zi was a top student, consistently ranking first since elementary school.

"So, should I abandon Chu Yi?" she asked.

"Should I betray our core principles and abandon someone when I clearly have the chance to save them?"

Zhen Ye's eyes narrowed. "But he's not just anyone—he's your boyfriend!"

Lee Zi was growing increasingly frustrated with Zhen Ye's stubbornness and evasion of the truth.

"What's the difference?" she asked.

"Isn't Chu Yi alone?"

In the midst of Zhen Ye's attempted rebuttal, Teacher Sun's voice cut through from the other side, "Enough already!"

Lee Zi held a certain respect for Teacher Sun, who had been her instructor for nearly half a year. She was aware that Teacher Sun's interest in her was partly due to her extraordinary talent and the potential benefits it could bring him. Nonetheless, the fact remained that he had helped her, so when Teacher Sun spoke up, Lee Zi ceased her argument.

After a brief silence, Teacher Sun addressed her, "Lee Zi, come with me to Adirang Academy."

Lee Zi remained silent, simply nodding in response.

Chu Yi, however, stepped forward. "Lee Zi can receive treatment right here; there's no need to return to Adirang Academy."

Chu Yi was well aware of Lee Zi's condition and knew that treatment could be administered locally. Moreover, he was genuinely concerned about her well-being in their company.

"What, are you trying to stop me?" Teacher Sun challenged, his disdain for Chu Yi palpable. If it weren't for the crowd present, he might have taken drastic action against Chu Yi.

Of course, in a situation without witnesses, the outcome of such a confrontation would be uncertain, especially since Teacher Sun was no match for Zhao Jun.

"I'm not obstructing," Chu Yi clarified. "I'm simply stating the facts."

After a pause, Chu Yi proposed, "We can't make this decision for Lee Zi. Let her choose."

With that, all eyes turned to Lee Zi. The choice seemed clear: Chu Yi on one side, Adirang Academy on the other.

With a light smile, Lee Zi said, "I'll go with Chu Yi's suggestion..."

Teacher Sun's complexion turned a shade of iron. "Lee Zi, if you come back with me, you'll continue to be a student at Adirang Academy!"

The implication of his unfinished sentence hung in the air, leaving the crowd in a momentary silence.

"What authority do you have to expel a student?" Lee Guoqiang finally spoke up, unable to remain silent.

Teacher Sun glanced at Lee Guoqiang dismissively. "I may not have the authority to expel a student, as the process is quite complex. But let's not forget, Lee Zi isn't officially a student at our Adirang Academy yet."

"I'm just a student who's being supplemented, but I believe I still have the right to decide for myself!"

Many people had this thought.

Lee Zi was no longer a freshman; she was merely a senior in high school.

Yet, everyone seemed to have forgotten that Lee Zi had awakened her natural genetic power in her sophomore year, marking her as a true prodigy. Having chosen Adirang Academy, it was certain she would be admitted.

But now...

There was an overwhelming silence.

"Think it over for yourself."

"You're no longer the esteemed natural genetic warrior you once were."

"And after such a severe injury, your potential for future achievements is limited."

"If you can't get into Adirang Academy, your future accomplishments..."

There would be no future accomplishments.

With her foundation shattered and her genetic power lost, no matter how dazzling Lee Zi had been, her future now seemed bleak.

Lee Zi remained silent.

It wasn't her own future she was worried about, but Teacher Sun's attitude had left her feeling disheartened.

"If that's the case, then perhaps it's best I don't attend Adirang Academy!"

Chu Yi's resolute voice echoed through the room.

All eyes turned to Chu Yi, but they were filled with mockery.

They believed Chu Yi was being too naive, oversimplifying the gravity of the situation.

This was about Lee Zi's future. It didn't matter that Chu Yi and Lee Zi weren't married yet; even if they were, Chu Yi should have no influence over Lee Zi's decisions.

Yet, Lee Zi's next move took them by surprise.

"I'll listen to Chu Yi."

She chose to heed Chu Yi's advice...

The smug look on Teacher Sun's face vanished. He stared at Lee Zi in disbelief, "Lee Zi, do you realize what you're saying?"

"I can forgive you this once, but I hope you'll think this through. This concerns your future!"

Lee Zi smiled.

She gazed at Chu Yi with tender affection. Turning to Teacher Sun, her eyes were resolute.

"I stand by everything I've said!"

Silence enveloped the room once more.

Just when everyone expected Teacher Sun to storm out in fury, he spoke up again.

"No!"

"You must return to Adirang Academy!"

Chu Yi's brow furrowed. Initially, he had thought Teacher Sun's insistence was an attempt to salvage what could be saved for Lee Zi.

But now it was clear...

The situation was far from straightforward...

"Is this what's happening at Adirang Academy now?"

"You disagree, yet you still insist on taking her back by force?"

Lee Guoqiang was growing impatient.

Adirang Academy might be a formidable institution, but Teacher Sun alone couldn't speak for the entire academy!

Besides...

Lee Zi was his student!

As long as she remained his student, Lee Guoqiang would not stand by and watch her be mistreated!

Lee Guoqiang turned to the soldiers beside him.

Though they were merely soldiers, they still represented the government's authority.

"I'm curious about the officers' views on this matter..."

These soldiers were reluctant to cross Adirang Academy, but they weren't overly concerned either.

Adirang Academy was influential, one of the top three academies, but ultimately, it fell under government jurisdiction.

And in the current situation...

If they didn't take a stand, once Lee Guoqiang brought these issues to light, they too would likely face difficulties.

In today's world of rapid communication, any small incident could become widely known.

Therefore...

"Adirang Academy has no right to act this way!"

That was their stance. It wasn't that Adirang Academy shouldn't do this, but rather that they lacked the authority.

Of course, if the other party could produce some special authorization, then they would be powerless to intervene.

"No way, Lee Zi will absolutely not go back with you!"

"The student status at Adirang Academy means nothing to her!"

Chu Yi, now grasping something of the situation, certainly wouldn't agree to send Lee Zi back!

"And who do you think you are?"

"I've said it, Lee Zi must return with us!"

As he spoke, Teacher Sun turned to Lee Zi, "Lee Zi, don't forget who nurtured you!"

"Our Adirang Academy has paid a great price for you!"

He wasn't wrong.

Lee Zi began to waver.

She wasn't someone who would forget a debt of gratitude.

Yet upon hearing his words, Chu Yi sneered coldly, "What do you mean Adirang Academy has groomed Lee Zi!"

"I'd like to ask, were the academy's resources donated by you, or by him?"

"Or perhaps, are the teachers at Adirang Academy volunteering their services without pay?"

Chu Yi's words left Lee Zi speechless.

"The Adirang Academy I'm familiar with was established under the leadership of the Ministry of Education, with all resources provided by the Ministry."

"In essence, the Adirang Academy is nurtured by the government!"

"And this nurturing you're talking about is simply working for the compensation provided by the government. That's your job!"

"So please, spare us the self-righteous grandeur. You always come across as if you're bestowing favors!"

Had Lee Guoqiang made these comments, Chu Yi would have had no comeback, because Lee Guoqiang genuinely devoted himself to the welfare of countless students.

But coming from the man before him...

Chu Yi's eyes brimmed with scorn.

Such a person did not deserve the title of teacher.

Chu Yi's remarks not only enlightened Lee Zi but also the rest of the audience.

Indeed, setting aside whether Teacher Sun could represent the Adirang Academy, what would it matter if he could?

The resources used by the Adirang Academy to educate students are all provided by the federal government. And these teachers...

If they were volunteering their services to the students, they would undoubtedly command immense respect.

However, the issue is that they're leveraging resources far beyond what ordinary people receive from the federal government, yet they still lord over others and spout so-called profound truths. This is what turns people off.