-088- The Nurturing Class of Unity (2/3)

“So, you want us to respect your Breeder Department?” Liu Min’s brow furrowed, her reluctance plain. “That would require you to have the strength to deserve it.”

Hearing this, every student from the Breeder Department, including Xia Yan, bristled with indignation. Was this really one of the academy’s teachers? Even if she wasn’t their instructor, this level of mockery was far too much!

“Liu Min, I ask you to apologize to my students at once and then leave. Otherwise, I will report this matter to the Academic Affairs Office.” Xia Yan’s tone was stern, her demeanor upright.

“Tch! Xia Yan, is this all you ever do? Always playing the goody-two-shoes—this is what I dislike about you the most.” With that, Liu Min turned on her heel and walked away, ignoring Xia Yan completely.

“You—” Xia Yan wanted to protest further but was stopped in time by Tong Si.

“Tong Si?” Xia Yan and all the girls in the class turned their gazes toward him. Did this mean Tong Si sided with Liu Min, looking down on the Breeder Department from the bottom of his heart?

“Ms. Xia, if you trust me, let me handle this.” Tong Si flashed a smile, his white teeth shining. Xia Yan and the other girls were left puzzled.

Let Tong Si handle it?

“Hey! The woman with the red hair over there!” Tong Si called out loudly.

Since Liu Min had shown no respect for their department, he saw no reason to show her any courtesy.

“Hm?” Hearing someone mention red hair, Liu Min turned her head.

“Red-haired woman? Is that how you address a teacher?” Liu Min’s annoyance was obvious as she demanded an explanation from Tong Si.

“What else should I call you? Old woman?” Tong Si replied half in jest.

That remark instantly infuriated Liu Min. What could be more intolerable for a woman than being insulted about her age?

“You brat! What’s your name? Which department are you from?” Because there hadn’t been a male student in the Breeder Department for years, Liu Min instinctively assumed Tong Si belonged to another faculty.

“Breeder Department. Tong Si.” A faint smile played on Tong Si’s lips.

“Breeder Department? Tong Si?” Liu Min could hardly believe it. A male student in the Breeder Department? More than that, the name Tong Si rang a bell—as if she’d heard it somewhere before.

“Xia Yan, is this your student? So rude!” In a matter of moments, Liu Min regained her composure and began to reproach Xia Yan directly.

“Liu Min—” Xia Yan tried to speak, but Tong Si gestured for her to let him handle it. Seeing the earnest look in his eyes, Xia Yan could only step back.

“I heard you’re a teacher in one of the departments?” Tong Si asked Liu Min.

“That’s right. I am the homeroom teacher for the Grass Department, Liu Min. Unlike your Breeder class, our Grass class is a key group under Jia Hua University’s special attention, and we boast a cohort of outstanding students. For this afternoon’s practical assessment, we not only have two arenas for battles, but both are tailored to grass-type matches.” Liu Min’s pride overflowed, and she took the opportunity to sneer at the Breeder class.

Yet Tong Si’s expression remained unchanged. “Perfect. Why don’t we have a match?” He fixed his gaze on Liu Min. “Let’s make the arenas our wager. If we win, your Grass Department will take our field, and we’ll use yours. What do you say?”

Liu Min’s eyelid twitched at his words. “Are you issuing a challenge to our Grass Department?”

She was baffled. A freshman from the Breeder class daring to challenge the Grass Department—it was laughable. Xia Yan and the other girls watched Tong Si in astonishment. They hadn’t expected him to be so bold.

“That’s right. Do you dare accept?” Tong Si responded.

“Hmph! You think your Breeder class is worthy to compete with us?” Liu Min looked down at him, clearly disdainful of his challenge.

“What’s the matter? Afraid you’ll lose to us? Didn’t you just say your class is full of outstanding students? Or was that just for show? Outwardly, you belittle us, but deep down, you’re scared, aren’t you?” Tong Si’s taunt had its intended effect; Liu Min’s expression shifted ever so slightly.

Chu Xuanxuan quickly chimed in, “Could it be that there are actually people who think the Grass Department can beat the Breeder class?”

“Exactly!” “Our Breeder class is much stronger than theirs!” The girls of the Breeder class, having just been stifled by Liu Min’s words, now seized the chance to voice their defiance.

It’s said that unity is strength. Although this was the first time everyone in the Breeder class had met, now they stood together as one, united against an outsider.

Liu Min’s face darkened. She hadn’t expected that coming here to mock her old rival Xia Yan would result in her being provoked by the Breeder students instead.

“Fine! I accept, but what if you lose?” Liu Min fixed her haughty gaze on Xia Yan and the students beside her.

Even though the Grass class Liu Min led was not the top among the single-type classes, compared to the Breeder class, the difference was like heaven and earth. And they were to compete in Pokémon battles? It was like an egg trying to break a stone—utter folly.

Xia Yan stood tall. “If we lose, I will resign from my position as homeroom teacher of the Breeder class.”

“What? You would actually—” Liu Min hadn’t expected Xia Yan to raise the stakes so high.

“Ms. Xia…” Tong Si and the Breeder students called out in unison. Unlike the others, whose outrage at Liu Min had driven their earlier words, Tong Si felt a surge of gratitude toward Xia Yan. Her willingness to make such a wager meant she truly believed in them.

“Tong Si, and everyone, I believe in you. Since you’ve all chosen to step forward, how could I, as your homeroom teacher, cower behind you?” Xia Yan was deeply moved by their united stand—even though it was only their first day meeting, their solidarity was unwavering. Perhaps this was the key to their victory.

Of course, Xia Yan was not blindly putting her faith in them. Aside from Tong Si, the other twenty-eight girls might not be particularly strong. But when it came to Tong Si’s ability, she had no doubts.

Leaving aside the written test that morning, the achievements Tong Si had racked up over the summer were more than enough to impress her. As a responsible homeroom teacher, she had already thoroughly researched all twenty-nine students in her class. She knew well that Tong Si had been awarded Best Newcomer, and she had watched all three of his matches repeatedly. They were, without a doubt, flawless victories.

Xia Yan even suspected that Tong Si had held back some of his strength in those matches. As for why someone like Tong Si would choose to join the Breeder Department, Xia Yan was still curious to ask him herself. With his abilities, even if he had entered the Battle Department, he would have been considered a prodigy.

…(To be continued)