Ji Huai piously took a bite of the pancake, closing his eyes in blissful savoring of the flavor. When Aunt Li asked her question, he merely nodded with an “Mm.”

His schoolhouse was located in such a remote area that hardly anyone visited. Few villagers likely knew about A Hua attending classes there, but Aunt Li certainly did being neighbors and with Yuan Yuan studying under him.

Lin Heyu held his pancake but had no appetite to eat it. His eyes were fixed intently on Ji Huai enjoying his meal, and he smiled along as Ji Huai ate with relish.

Like a lovesick fool.

Li Yuanyuan noticed his best friend’s odd behavior but only scratched his head before picking up a piece of cucumber and stuffing it into Lin Heyu’s mouth.

“Lin Xiaoniao, stop staring at the Teacher. He’s not going to make you copy texts as punishment. Don’t glare at him like a starving wolf.”

Lin Heyu snapped out of his daze, mumbling around the cucumber in his mouth: “I’m not… glaring… don’t… talk nonsense ”

Just as the two were about to start bickering at the table again, Aunt Li shot them a sharp look that immediately silenced the mischievous Lin Heyu.

Truth be told, Aunt Li’s strength was formidable having his ear pinched by her really hurt.

Having subdued the two youngsters, Aunt Li crunched through a cucumber stick. She hesitated for a long moment before speaking up just as Ji Huai was enjoying his food most.

Aunt Li set down her chopsticks, rubbed her hands, and said with grave concern: “Xiao Ji, do you know what the villagers are saying about you?”

The question took Ji Huai by surprise. After thinking for a moment, he shook his head to indicate he didn’t know.

He’d been keeping to himself lately either teaching or preparing lessons. The only time he’d gone out was to help Aunt Li’s family harvest wheat.

He truly had no idea what the villagers thought of him.

Suddenly curious, Ji Huai swallowed his pancake and asked: “What are they saying about me? That I’m knowledgeable and talented? Or that I have a gift for teaching?”

Aunt Li shook her head, somewhat awkwardly. “Neither.”

Now thoroughly intrigued, Ji Huai pressed: “Then what is it?”

“They say you, they say you…” Aunt Li hemmed and hawed, but ultimately spoke bluntly out of affection for having watched Ji Huai grow up: “They say having a girl studying with you means you’re up to no good. That you’re coveting the young girl’s beauty. That you’re… improper. I heard A Hua’s father has racked up huge gambling debts again, and they’re all saying he’s going to sell A Hua to you.”

The chopsticks clattered to the floor. Embarrassment, shock, grievance, and disbelief twisted across Ji Huai’s face. Wide-eyed and flustered, he stammered: “They’re saying… what about me?”

Aunt Li turned away, unable to bear seeing Ji Huai’s devastated expression. She waved her hand dismissively, trying to comfort him with forced nonchalance: “It’s all nonsense, don’t take it to heart. I know your character better than anyone.”

“I know too!” Lin Heyu shot to his feet, righteous indignation burning in his voice: “Ji Huai isn’t anything like what those people are making him out to be! They’re just ignorant villagers!”

“Lin Xiaoniao, where are your manners? How can you address the Teacher by his name?” Aunt Li took the opportunity to scold Lin Heyu.

Lin Heyu ignored her, focusing instead on Ji Huai with worried eyes, comforting him softly: “Don’t listen to their nonsense. Uneducated people love to gossip.”

Ji Huai numbly stuffed a corn pancake into his mouth, his eyes flickering with shifting emotions, but he remained completely silent.

This state only deepened Lin Heyu’s concern. He scooted his small stool closer to Ji Huai, waving a hand before his eyes: “Teacher, are you alright?”

Ji Huai stared at Lin Heyu’s slender fingers with their faint calluses, trying to digest Aunt Li’s words.

No teacher could avoid facing grievances, but this kind of slanderous malice wounded people invisibly.

Ji Huai was deeply shaken. From the moment he accepted A Hua into the Schoolhouse, he had prepared himself for gossip. Yet clearly, his preparations had been insufficient these narrow-minded villagers would resort to such vile talk.

What angered Ji Huai wasn’t the false accusations against himself, but how these people tarnished a young girl’s reputation simply because they couldn’t accept the idea of girls receiving an education.

The more Ji Huai thought about it, the angrier he became. He abruptly swatted away Lin Heyu’s hand still hovering before him, stood up, and marched toward the door.

He paused at the doorway, then turned back. The others watched in confusion as Ji Huai asked, “Aunt Li, where do these gossipers usually gather?”

Aunt Li, startled by Ji Huai’s sudden intensity, stammered and pointed, “O-over there… by the firewood stacks at the eastern end of the village.”

Ji Huai spun around and left so quickly that no one could react.

By the time Lin Heyu put down his pancake, all he saw was the flash of Ji Huai’s blue-green robe disappearing around the corner.

“Wait for me!”

Lin Heyu hurried after him, fearing Ji Huai might impulsively do something like assaulting elderly villagers.

Rushing to catch up, Lin Heyu finally reached Ji Huai’s side as they arrived at the eastern village. Sure enough, they found a group of elderly men and women gathered together, exchanging idle chatter.

With the busy farming season just ended, everyone had leisure time to gather and gossip.

Ji Huai’s sudden appearance before the group startled them.

“M-Master Ji,” they stammered, avoiding eye contact with the scholarly figure who stood so distinctly apart from them.

Ji Huai gave them no chance to speak, unleashing a torrent of words:

“Uncles and aunts, at your age, shouldn’t you have outgrown such malicious gossiping? If you’re so fond of wagging your tongues, why not chew them up as appetizers?”

One particularly sharp-tongued woman stood up, hands on her hips, her face flushed with anger. “We call you Cultivated Talent out of respect! How dare you insult us? Shouldn’t you be ashamed to face us after what you’ve done?”

Though Ji Huai appeared to be a gentle scholar, his fury made him formidable. Unflinching before the withered finger pointing at his nose, he retorted, “My conscience is clear upright people fear no shadows. But you, at your age, spreading filthy rumors about a young girl aren’t you ashamed? A Hua is just a child! Who here should feel disgrace?”

The woman showed no fear, continuing her tirade with flying spittle: “Pah! The young one’s shameless, and the older one’s no better! A Cultivated Talent? I worry you’ll corrupt the village children! Since ancient times, girls haven’t attended school who knows what wicked thoughts you harbor, keeping a girl under your watch all day? Perhaps you think A Hua is pretty enough to ”

“Aiyo”

Her malicious expression and exaggerated gestures were cut short when she noticed Lin Heyu suddenly appearing behind Ji Huai, causing her to swallow the rest of her ugly words.

Lin Heyu appeared behind Ji Huai like a ghost, his tall frame completely enveloping Ji Huai’s slender bamboo-like figure in a protective stance.

When Lin Heyu wasn’t acting like a mischievous child, he could be quite intimidating especially with the roguish aura honed from military training. His furious glare and knitted brows carried a formidable presence.

Pulling Ji Huai behind him, Lin Heyu calmly rebutted the scolding woman despite her flying spittle: “Auntie, use your words, not your hands. And,” his expression shifted, shedding all traces of childish mischief as the masculine vigor cultivated in barracks emerged unmistakably just when Ji Huai needed protection most.

Sheltered behind him, Ji Huai stared blankly at the broad, imposing back. This was the first time he’d been shielded by his own student a novel experience indeed.

But Ji Huai was no pushover either. Bolstered by Lin Heyu’s formidable presence, he unleashed a thorough denunciation upon those slanderous gossipmongers who judged without evidence.

He left the elderly group crestfallen and speechless.

When they finally departed, Ji Huai walked tall with the dignity of a scholar and the fearlessness of a warrior, striding like a triumphant general.

Tugging Lin Heyu’s sleeve, he declared smugly: “Let’s see who dares slander a young girl again. A Hua is so kind and outstanding how dare they reduce her to a tradable object? I won’t tolerate this.”

Lin Heyu merely nodded in agreement, his ferocious aura melting away as he reverted to the earnest student before Ji Huai.

“Teacher, you were amazing just now.”

Lin Heyu had assumed Ji Huai was merely a frail scholar needing protection an untainted blue-robed intellectual too delicate to be bruised. Yet Ji Huai proved to be a piercing bamboo shoot breaking through soil: sharp, unyielding, neither timid nor insecure, fiercely confronting all forces that maligned him and his students.

Watching the once-conventional teacher shed his rigidity, Lin Heyu grew increasingly fond of Ji Huai. Even when scolding others, Ji Huai radiated charisma just like when he shone on the lecture platform.

The cascade of praise and post-confrontation catharsis gradually quelled Ji Huai’s anger. Patting Lin Heyu’s shoulder with a smile, he advised earnestly: “Never swallow your anger settle scores on the spot. If they love spreading rumors, I’ll shut them up with my words. Who says teachers must be paragons of virtue? I’m no dough to be kneaded at will.”

“Teacher is right. I’ll learn from you from now on.” Lin Heyu genuinely admired Ji Huai. In his experience, scholars merely spouted classical quotes when bullied he’d never seen one retaliate so directly like Ji Huai.

Fresh. So refreshing.

Clutching the shoulder Ji Huai had patted, a faint blush surfaced on Lin Heyu’s wheat-colored skin as he vowed resolutely: “Teacher, charge ahead fearlessly from now on. I’ll always guard your back.”

Ji Huai chuckled at this, teasing: “With that build of yours able to take on three men singlehandedly you’re more than capable. I’ll be counting on you, my dear bodyguard Lin.”

Ji Huai was merely teasing; as a teacher, how could he possibly need a student to stand up for him? He went along with Lin Heyu’s words only to avoid disappointing her.

“Alright!” Lin Heyu responded brightly.

Little did he know, these words would be remembered by Lin Heyu for a lifetime, and she would spend her entire life protecting Ji Huai.