CHAPTER 154: CHAPTER 154: IF YOU DISAGREE, FIGHT ME!

The newly graduated Scholar Parade was the setting where the second male lead Xue Shaojian and the female protagonist first met.

This scene was quite elaborately described in the book, and Tang Xiaobai still remembers it.

"She slightly raised her jade face, with beautiful eyes watching the young man approach like a spring breeze, a gentleman of unparalleled elegance... Xue Shaojian seemed to sense her gaze. As if destined by fate, he looked over with eyes bright as stars, and in that instant, the apricot blossoms bloomed everywhere—"

Surprised upon recalling it, Tang Xiaobai was shocked to realize she used to enjoy such sentimental content.

But now, the problem is, with Ye Qingrong cross-dressing as a man, how could Xue Shaojian fall in love at first sight?

Tang Xiaobai looked at Ye Qingrong beside her, then at the approaching Xue Shaojian, feeling a bit expectant.

Xue Shaojian had excellent manners; even sitting on horseback, he remained upright with a warm and gentle demeanor, yet he didn’t look at anyone, only gazing straight ahead, occasionally nodding and smiling at some unknown point in the distance.

However, being young and handsome, Xue Shaojian was clearly more popular than the previous two.

As he approached, Tang Xiaobai was drowned in screams from all directions.

In such a situation, normally he wouldn’t notice her, right? But Xue Shaojian looked her way.

Seeing her, Xue Shaojian smiled and nodded, then moved his gaze away, as if by fate, looking at Ye Qingrong.

At that moment, there were no apricot blossoms blooming, as they had already bloomed a few days ago.

But Xue Shaojian’s gaze was indeed moved, lingering on Ye Qingrong’s face noticeably longer than on hers.

The parade continued, and Xue Shaojian finally withdrew his gaze and moved on.

Tang Xiaobai remained silent.

She had always vehemently opposed adding a BL line in romance novels, and if this was love at first sight, she...

Could she abandon the novel?

Tang Xiaobai suddenly found it quite uninteresting and lost her interest in watching the fun.

"Take your time, Miss Ye, I’ll be going first!" She said, planning to turn around and get back into the carriage.

Just then, a young scholar passing in front of her stopped.

"Junior Sister Tang—" He called out slowly, his tone up and down, "Long time no see!" His tone undisguised in self-satisfaction.

Tang Xiaobai turned back to look.

Ha! Gongsun Yi actually passed the examination!

One’s appearance is thirty percent inborn, seventy percent cultivated.

Gongsun Yi’s inborn three percent was quite proper, yet it couldn’t suppress at the moment the little man’s glee spilling from eyes and brows.

Before Tang Xiaobai could respond, Gongsun Yi continued walking forward.

As he walked, he turned back toward Tang Xiaobai, cupped his hands, and said, "Junior Sister Tang, now that I’ve achieved this day, I won’t forget your guidance!"

Tang Xiaobai: "I don’t—"

She hadn’t finished her words when Gongsun Yi was urged to move away by those behind him.

Tang Xiaobai was so angry she gritted her teeth, turning to meet Ye Qingrong’s astonished gaze, brusquely clarifying: "I’m not! I didn’t! He’s talking nonsense!"

Ye Qingrong gave a silent laugh, unclear whether she believed or not.

"This person is Gongsun Yi, a former student of Huntian Academy, expelled for disrespecting his teachers!" Li Mu said.

In fact, when the academy expelled Gongsun Yi, they didn’t publicly announce the reason, only saying he was no longer allowed to associate under the name of Huntian Academy.

But the reason provided by the little ancestor received Tang Xiaobai’s wholehearted agreement, nodding without hesitation: "He has nothing to do with our academy now or in the future, and I am not his junior sister!"

To hell with junior sister!

No one ever called her junior sister!

In the academy, apart from Gu Hui and Zhu Qi calling her cousin, Wei Sui calling her "Little Tang," everyone else called her "Second Miss," even the teachers.

Though she didn’t pride herself on the title "Second Miss Tang," being called "junior sister" by such a newly risen little man was truly disgusting!

But the disgusting things were just beginning.

The next day, when Tang Xiaobai went to the academy as usual, she encountered Gongsun Yi again at the gate.

In a wide-sleeved robe, hands behind his back, looking up and squinting, he gazed at the plaque of "Huntian Academy" for a long time. When the crowd gathered, he declared in a loud voice: "Student Gongsun Yi, by a stroke of luck, has achieved the scholarly title, especially here to give thanks to my honored teachers!"

The sentence was still spoken slowly and rhythmically, but not having been given an official position yet, he already had a full-fledged bureaucratic tone.

Tang Xiaobai’s fists hardened at the sight.

At this moment, a little boy walked out of the academy, bowing to Gongsun Yi and said: "Mr. Lin says that Scholar Gongsun is no longer related to Huntian Academy, and none of the teachers dare to claim to be your teacher. If you want to thank your master, you should go to Vice Minister Zeng’s mansion."

This provincial exam’s chief examiner was another vice minister of the Ministry of Rites, surnamed Zeng.

But Gongsun Yi wasn’t genuinely there to express gratitude. Seeing only a little boy came out, his expression cooled, but upon hearing those words, he laughed and said: "In those days, the teachers thought I was inferior and unworthy of recommendation. Now, having attained the scholarly title, I’m here specially to surprise you all? Why won’t the teachers come out for a meeting? Are they afraid to face their own words?"

Tang Xiaobai clenched her fists harder, whispering to Li Mu: "Should we drive him away?" Wondering if the academy had any other arrangements.

Li Mu glanced at her: "Should I go?"

Tang Xiaobai held him back: "Is anything worth you going?" Saying this, she gestured, and two of the top ten guards following her stepped forward.

Then, unexpectedly, a voice sounded that, although surprising, felt oddly fitting: "Why don’t I have a match with you?"

Tang Xiaobai stiffly turned her neck, seeing the crowd parting automatically, as if welcoming, watching a white-robed youth walking toward Gongsun Yi.

"Her again?" Tang Xiaobai blurted out.

Her again! Ye Qingrong again!

Truly worthy of a protagonist, having so much screen time!

So much that it reminded her of the derogatory term "haunting."

Li Mu frowned, looking deeply at Ye Qingrong, said: "Ignore her, let’s go inside."

Tang Xiaobai nodded and got off the carriage.

Looking over again, the unlucky Gongsun Yi had already agreed to a competition with Ye Qingrong.

Even if the subject of the contest was unknown, competing with the protagonist, who could compare to the protagonist?

Tang Xiaobai couldn’t help but show sympathy: "Gongsun Yi lacks wisdom, daring to compete with anyone."

This prompted Li Mu to look askance: "Second Miss believes in Ye Qingrong that much?"

"Of course, Gongsun Yi will surely lose!"

As she said this, it seemed to be when Ye Qingrong was either declaring the topic or stating the rules, and the onlookers quieted down expecting the protagonist to speak.

With such silence, Tang Xiaobai’s voice suddenly stood out.

Firm and resolute, unmistakably clear.

In the spotlight, Tang Xiaobai hesitated for a moment, then forced a calm glance at Gongsun Yi.

Only to see his face change continuously, his expression gradually twisting.

Tang Xiaobai quietly grabbed the sleeve corner of the little ancestor, yet gave Gongsun Yi a beaming smile: "You just can’t do it! If you’re unhappy, come hit me then!"