Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 1706 - 930: Shadows

Morning's second period was Chinese class.

Dai Yongquan, the Chinese instructor, was missing from the classroom. Jiang Ning swept out his Divine Sense toward the eastern playground, where he spotted Dai Yongquan locked in a fierce dispute with PE teacher Gu Wei.

Gu Wei had snatched his class yesterday morning. Today, bent on reclaiming every bit that was rightfully his, Dai Yongquan charged in to take it back and make Gu Wei cough up double.

'Hard to judge.'

No main subject teacher in sight and seats rearranged, the students started cutting loose.

Guo Kunnan and Dan Kaiquan occupied the second-to-last row on the north side, while Shang Caiwei, buried in her game studies, sat with exchange student Huang Xingyue right behind them.

Huang Xingyue had arrived in China to explore all its wonders. Just as she prepared to chat, the dark-skinned boy ahead spoke up first:

"Your skin is so fair, are you of royal blood in your country?"

Huang Xingyue: "Yes, I have some royal lineage."

Guo Kunnan was stunned—he'd nailed it. He clasped his hands hastily: "My bad, my bad, I didn’t use honorifics. I’ve been rude to Her Highness the Princess."

Huang Xingyue waved it off: "No need for that. Strictly speaking, my cousin is the true royal princess."

Guo Kunnan: "Oh wow, do you still have distinctions between Direct Lineage and others?"

Huang Xingyue’s Chinese wasn’t perfect, leaving her puzzled. She humbly sought an explanation from Guo Kunnan.

Guo Kunnan felt an unusual surge of confidence, like he could shine in front of girls for once.

Once she grasped it, Huang Xingyue probed further: "Do Chinese people care about lineage?"

Guo Kunnan pondered briefly: "Sometimes yes."

Huang Xingyue picked up fresh knowledge about the nation and pressed on: "Is it brought up at noble gatherings or...?"

Guo Kunnan shook his head: "It usually comes up when chatting while walking dogs in the neighborhood—that’s when folks boast about their dog’s lineage."

Huang Xingyue froze for a second, not fully grasping it.

Sensing the misstep, Guo Kunnan rushed to say: "I’m sorry if my words offended your customs. I sincerely apologize."

Huang Xingyue shook her head: "It’s okay. I’d like to be friends with you."

With that, she pulled out a chocolate: "Please accept my gift."

Guo Kunnan lit up with joy. Aside from his sister, he'd never gotten gifts from girls before.

To prove how precious this friendship was, he ripped open the wrapper and shoved it in his mouth right away, not sharing a bite with his buddy Kaiquan.

The princess’s treat demanded solo savoring.

Who could have guessed this chocolate was way bitterer than raw bitter melon? His face twisted in agony instantly.

Huang Xingyue inquired: "Not to your taste?"

Forcing it down, Guo Kunnan’s face greened up: "No, its taste is magnificent!"

...

Chen Siyu beamed at still sitting beside Jiang Ning.

She twisted around to chat: "Huang Xingyue is incredible, studying abroad so young!"

Admiration sparkled in her eyes.

"Tongtong, have you ever been abroad?" she asked.

Tongtong, a total homebody, stiffened: "Not really."

Why hadn't Chen Siyu gotten her expected reply?

"Yuxia, what about you?"

"Went once."

"Jiang Ning?"

"Been."

Xue Yuantong shot him a sharp glare—what escapades had Jiang Ning pulled off without her knowing!

Chen Siyu had meant to quiz Chen Qian next, but she was deep in her studies.

She considered Xin Youling too, who seemed lost and spiritless since the election loss, her old spark gone.

Among those three she'd asked, she alone hadn't traveled abroad, prompting a sigh: "Our school’s loaded—how great if they sent us overseas."

Jiang Ning: "Just dream on."

Bai Yuxia: "Going abroad isn’t all that. If you crave it, stash cash and head there post-job."

"Wouldn’t that take double the savings?" She had a sister to support too.

Jiang Ning: "You and your sister can hustle money together."

"Wow, right." Sisters rock.

"It’d be awesome to jet abroad now, but I’ve only got 500 yuan pocket money," Chen Siyu reflected.

Xue Yuantong jumped in: "You wanna go abroad just to brag? Hand over the 500 yuan—I’ll spread word you hit France!"

Chen Siyu nodded vigorously: "Oh, that works, but if I fork over the 500, should I lay low awhile?"

Jiang Ning grinned: "You’re pretty sharp."

Xue Yuantong smiled, her eyes bending into crescents: "That’s your affair, just claim you returned from overseas."

Chen Siyu’s face burst into a bright smile of joy.

Jiang Ning interrupted: "Hold on, this plan costs 500 too."

Bai Yuxia pondered silently: ’They’re joining forces to swindle a sucker.’

...

Fourth row on the classroom’s south side.

Chai Wei sat beside Qiang Li, with Pang Jiao and Wang Yanyan as his back-row neighbors, leaving him too scared to glance behind!

Yet Chai Wei still felt lucky.

Comparisons reveal one’s fortune. Unlike Gong Jin and Wang Yong, mired in chaos, he had it good—at least his desk mate seemed ordinary, right?

Chai Wei’s desk mate chatted softly with Lu Qiqi about ladies’ outfits and trinkets, lost in their lively talk.

"Hmm, why don’t I look feminine in those sexy outfits?"

"Not happy!"

Chai Wei’s lips twitched, and he blurted out bluntly, "Because you’re a boy!"

Zhao Qianqian wagged a finger, lips pursed: "Oh, you’re so annoying!"

‘Damn, that was too rash!’ Chai Wei felt a twinge of regret.

‘With better social skills, would I be in this mess?’ He couldn’t stop thinking.

Suddenly, a shadow zipped past the window, and Director Yan stormed through the front door, fury etched on his face as he scolded sharply:

"Who’s your class monitor, and why is discipline in such shambles?"

Xin Youling stirred at last, only to recall she wasn’t the class monitor anymore.

While sweet-talking Huang Zhongfei, Yu Wen heard the outburst and finally rose to enforce order.

Director Yan demanded coldly, "Where’s your class teacher? Morning class, and no lesson underway?"

Yu Wen replied: "No clue, teacher hasn’t shown up."

"You don’t know? Why not hunt down the teacher? What sort of class monitor are you?" Director Yan tore into her harshly.

‘Where am I even supposed to search?’ Yu Wen fumed inwardly but held her tongue.

Director Yan ripped into her several more times, leaving her thoroughly humiliated.

As class monitor, Yu Wen suffered public embarrassment, watched by every classmate.

Once Director Yan departed, Yu Wen recalled abruptly: "In self-study sessions, the class monitor always sits at the podium to supervise."

Huang Zhongfei nodded: "Yeah, that’s right."

But heading to the podium would end her cozy chats with Huang Zhongfei.

She craved the class monitor title’s prestige, not its tiresome chores. Yu Wen hadn’t foreseen this snag.

For an instant, she faced a tough bind.

Director Yan’s visit hushed the classroom briefly. With him gone, pandemonium erupted once more.

Soon, a thick hum of chatter filled the air, the racket pounding Yu Wen’s head!

Glancing around, she saw Tang Jing not just chatting with Huang Yuzhu but smacking him with a book.

This infuriated Yu Wen; Tang Jing had led the charge against her in the class monitor vote!

Revenge time arrived!

Yu Wen shot to her feet, jabbing a finger at Tang Jing: "Tang Jing, self-study means no talking! Quiet down!"

Tang Jing froze.

The whole class froze, eyes turning their way.

Tang Jing dismissed her completely, fresh off Director Yan’s scolding.

Tang Jing clapped a hand over her mouth, giggling: "Acting so superior. Past monitors weren’t this strict—hilarious!"

Yu Wen shot back: "How am I strict?"

Tang Jing fired back undaunted: "Ha, someone should check a mirror before judging others, huh?"

Yu Wen burned with rage, itching to tear Tang Jing’s mouth off!

She scrambled for a comeback when Wang Longlong cleared his throat softly:

"Yu Wen’s the class monitor picked by the teacher. Take complaints to the teacher."

Buoyed, Yu Wen declared boldly: "I’m the class monitor—shut it!"

Tang Jing avoided dragging the teacher in. If Yu Wen dug in, she’d likely lose out.

Once seated again, Yu Wen grew even more thankful to Wang Longlong.

Class needed order, but she loathed the podium. An idea struck: "Wang Longlong, why not handle discipline from the podium for me?"

A spark of thrill lit Wang Longlong’s eyes—this was his awaited chance!

He played it modest, declining politely: "That doesn’t seem right?"

The more Yu Wen mulled it, the better it fit. She urged: "What’s wrong with it? I’ll cover for any trouble. Manage freely!"

With that, Yu Wen gave him a quick shove.

"Not appropriate, not appropriate, oh well!" Pretending to hesitate, Wang Longlong clumsily grabs a stool.

Beside him, Ma Shicheng watches the entire scene.

He realizes Wang Longlong instigated Dan Qingrong to hold a re-election for class officers, Wang Longlong leaked the information to Yu Wen through Little Spirit, and Wang Longlong provided support to Yu Wen during crucial times...

In silence, Ma Shicheng admires: 'Longlong, you're truly remarkable!'

Carrying the stool, Wang Longlong moves down the aisle amid the curious stares from everyone, ascending the podium step by step.

Warm rays from the morning sun rising in the east gently illuminate his clothes.

Positioned on the podium, the vanquished Xin Youling stands below him.

Gazing down upon his classmates, countless ideas race through his thoughts, converting former fixations into a solid scepter right at this instant.

'I declared it earlier, whatever I desire, I shall obtain!'

'I, Wang Longlong, have shed the role of Class 8's mere shadow.'

'I am the Regent King!'