Chapter 207: Chapter 207: Apology
The gentle smile vanished from Yan Huoshui’s eyes. He casually adjusted his glasses, his voice cold. "What are you all doing here?"
A dozen or so students glanced at each other, then at Shi Lan, before stammering, "Teacher Yan, we’re, we’re here to... to apologize."
"Hmph. Are you sure this is everyone?"
His gaze swept over the familiar faces in the crowd, his expression growing more severe. The students didn’t dare to breathe, their heads bowing even lower.
Shi Lan secretly sized up Yan Huoshui from the side. This was the first time she had seen his expression so frosty. Even through his glasses, the sharp glint in his eyes was hardly softened.
She didn’t interrupt him, instead finding a chair behind her and sitting down.
"Apologize!"
Yan Huoshui spoke abruptly. The students’ hearts skipped a beat in fright, and they hurriedly said, "Teacher, we’re sorry. It’ll never happen again."
"I didn’t say you should be apologizing to me."
He stepped aside, gesturing toward the seated Shi Lan.
These students knew full well that Yan Huoshui was suppressing his rage. They were also aware of their own mistake, but seeing Shi Lan and realizing they now had to apologize to her face, their faces flushed red with reluctance, and their apologies were barely audible.
Yan Huoshui let out a questioning "Hm?" and they immediately repeated their apologies several more times. Perhaps breaking the ice made it easier, as their voices gradually grew louder.
Shi Lan watched them, no great emotion stirring in her eyes. ’I’m not the original owner of this body,’ she thought. ’Their gossip doesn’t hurt me much. The one who was truly hurt is no longer in this world.’
She paused for a moment before speaking softly, "Sometimes, being a ’useless female’ isn’t something a person can control. I hope you’ll all be more mindful of your words. Cruel words can cut deeper than any blade, and once spoken, they can’t be taken back, like water that’s been spilled."
Hearing this, the males’ faces flushed an even deeper shade of red. One by one, they lowered their heads, crimson with shame.
Yan Huoshui’s heart ached for her, and he pulled her into his arms.
He looked at the students before him. "In the next class, I will be testing your etiquette and conduct. If you fail, there will be no need for you to attend my classes in the future."
"Yes, we understand..."
For them, this punishment was a heavy blow. Beastmen with 2S Spirit Power were already rare. Although they often complained that Yan Huoshui was too strict and sometimes went too far in class, for males who admired strength, the opportunity to fight with him and be coached by him was an honor—a precious learning experience.
Mindful that Shi Lan was still there, Yan Huoshui didn’t spend too much time on them. After a few more scolding words, he dismissed the dejected students.
As for the other students who had tried to slip by and hadn’t shown up, he silently made a mental note of them.
After the students left, Shi Lan looked up at him, her gaze soft. "Thank you."
Although she didn’t truly accept their apologies in her heart, she was grateful to Yan Huoshui for standing up for her.
Yan Huoshui looked down at the woman beside him. Even after all the slander and ridicule from those people, her eyes remained serene, calm, and gentle. She might seem somewhat frail, but the resilience in her gaze was impossible to ignore.
’Yes,’ he thought, ’that was what had attracted him to Shi Lan in the first place—that spirit of hers.’
No matter what setbacks she faced, she never blamed heaven or earth or let it affect her. She could always find a way to make herself comfortable anywhere, and it seemed nothing could easily bring her down.
But he felt she was too independent. ’Maybe,’ he thought, ’she could try relying on us a little more sometimes.’
’Then again, it also proves we haven’t done enough for her.’
Yan Huoshui’s arm around her tightened, and his lips curved into a slight smile. "No need to thank me. It’s what I should do as your suitor."
For some reason, Shi Lan’s face turned a little red.
The two of them set off to get some food. Yan Huoshui was just feeling relieved that Mu Tangfeng hadn’t shown up to cause trouble when, the moment the thought crossed his mind, he heard a familiar voice.
"Lanlan, I’m here."
Yan Huoshui frowned. Without looking back, he kept his arm around Shi Lan’s shoulder and summoned his Hovercar. Just as he was about to help Shi Lan get in, Mu Tangfeng grabbed her other hand, saying with some vexation, "I’m late."
Utterly oblivious, he followed them onto the Hovercar as if it were the most natural thing in the world, even explaining, "It’s my mom’s birthday today, so I stayed home to keep her company for a bit longer. I couldn’t get away."
Yan Huoshui’s brow furrowed slightly, and his tone was subtle. "You’re only spending one afternoon with your mom for her birthday? What about tonight? Aren’t you having a party?"
Mu Tangfeng looked at Shi Lan. For some reason, his face suddenly grew hot. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Well, I’m here now, aren’t I? My mom asked me to invite Lanlan over for dinner."
With that, he turned the tables and said to Yan Huoshui, "Since you’re here too, you might as well come along."
Yan Huoshui almost laughed in anger. A cold smile touched his lips. "You seem to have forgotten, this is my Hovercar."
"Besides, with so many people at a family gathering like that, and since Lanlan has no real connection to you yet, how would it be appropriate for her to go?"
Hearing this, Mu Tangfeng retorted unhappily, "What do you mean, no connection? Lanlan said she likes me too."
A shadow passed through Yan Huoshui’s eyes. "Lanlan, you promised you would have dinner with me."
His voice was a little hoarse, and his crimson eyes were filled with earnest expectation.
Shi Lan looked from one to the other. She had no choice but to refuse Mu Tangfeng. "I’m sorry, Mu Tangfeng, but I already promised him I’d have dinner with him."
Besides, she did feel a bit awkward about it. After all, it was Mu Tangfeng’s mother’s birthday. The people attending would almost certainly be close friends and family, and she didn’t feel it was her place to be there.
’Still,’ she thought, ’I know the ’meet the parents’ stage is bound to happen sooner or later, but I don’t want our first meeting to be in a big crowd like that.’
Seeing Mu Tangfeng’s crestfallen expression at her refusal, she continued, "What does your mother like? We can go buy her a gift later, to show her I was thinking of her."
"As for meeting them, we have plenty of time. I’ll come visit your family when I have a chance next time, okay?"
At first, Mu Tangfeng had thought Shi Lan was still reluctant to acknowledge their relationship, but after hearing her out, his mood slowly improved.
"Okay."
To the side, Yan Huoshui quietly clenched his fists. ’I don’t have any family,’ he thought. ’Mr. Lu Sr. could probably be considered an old friend, but Lanlan has already met him.’
At this thought, he felt a little better. ’At least Lanlan met my ’family’ first.’
Mu Tangfeng had to rush off to his mother’s birthday dinner, so after Shi Lan bought the gift, Yan Huoshui unceremoniously kicked him out of his Hovercar. Then, he took Shi Lan to the restaurant he had picked out earlier.
Watching the Hovercar speed away, Mu Tangfeng, though reluctant, didn’t try to bother them any further.
No longer delayed by Mu Tangfeng, Yan Huoshui quickly brought Shi Lan to their destination.
He had booked the restaurant in advance. He led Shi Lan to a private room, inside of which sat a large, beautiful bouquet of flowers.
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