C2 Teacher

"Your father is quite the celebrity; I'd wager everyone here knows of him, though of course, he wouldn't know them," the homeroom teacher, well aware of Xia Liang's family background and the stature of his father, remarked.

"You can be reckless with your food choices, but not with your words, Teacher Yao. Enough is enough," Xia Liang warned through gritted teeth, his fists clenched out of sight.

"You think by telling me to stop, I'll just stop? I don't have to consider your feelings," retorted the homeroom teacher, his cheeks flushed with a triumphant air as if he had just prevailed in a debate.

He threw Xia Liang's earlier sentiment, "I don't need to care about others' opinions," right back at him.

"Come to think of it, I never properly introduced Xia Liang to the class when he transferred here two weeks ago. That was a failing on my part, and I intend to rectify it now."

The homeroom teacher was set on revealing Xia Liang's background. "Pay attention, everyone. The truth is, Xia Liang's story is quite tragic. He's an orphan. And his father—perhaps you've heard his name..."

Casting a glance at Xia Liang, whose face had turned a steely shade, the teacher continued with a smirk, "His father is none other than Xia Quanhai!"

Before the students could digest the news, he added, "The Amber Great Wall, Xia Quanhai."

"What? He's the son of Xia the Hero?"

"The Xia Quanhai with supernatural powers?"

"No way, he's the son of the Amber Great Wall, the recipient of our city's Medal of Honor for Guardians of the City?"

The teacher's revelation rippled through the classroom, stunning the students who then turned en masse to stare at Xia Liang, now cornered.

Their gazes were a mix of shock, skepticism, pity, and even envy.

"No, I'm not the son of that man. He's not worthy of being my father," Xia Liang protested, shielding his eyes instinctively as he staggered back into a chair.

The stares of his classmates pierced him like a multitude of needles, leaving him feeling wounded all over.

For him, those looks were all too familiar. Each time his identity was exposed, he was met with an endless sea of such stares. While he could tolerate the looks of envy and shock, it was the pitying glances, the disdain, and the frustration that he found insufferable.

"Really? Then explain how someone like you, who barely scraped together a hundred points on the placement test, managed to get into this class of elites, where nearly every student is college-bound? It's only because your father was the Amber Great Wall, the country's guardian, a great hero, and you..."

The class teacher, hands outstretched, eyes dripping with scorn, said, "He's the beloved and protected orphan of a hero."

The teacher's words cut through Xia Liang like a knife, triggering a flood of inescapable memories.

"Xia Liang, your father was a hero. You must carry on his legacy and one day join the military to become a soldier..."

"Xia Liang, why are your grades so poor? Are you living up to your father's legacy?"

"Xia Liang, I've secured a spot for you at the best school. You need to study hard, understand? Otherwise, your brother's spirit won't rest easy..."

"Enough! Just stop!"

Faces brimming with pity and 'kindness' pressed in, filling his entire field of vision until he could see nothing else.

"Mind your own business!"

Clutching his head in agony, Xia Liang let out a furious roar. He grabbed something from beneath his desk and, with a fierce swing of his hand and a whoosh, a white blur hurtled towards the teacher's face—precise and merciless.

The teacher, startled, jerked back reflexively, but it was too late. The white object struck his temple, and blood began to flow.

"Ah! You..."

The teacher, clutching his bleeding forehead, looked down to see a cell phone had hit him. A cracked Xiaomi phone lay on the floor, its corner stained with blood.

"You... You dare to attack a teacher..."

Enraged, the teacher pointed his finger at Xia Liang, mouth opening to unleash a torrent of reprimands, but the words caught in his throat as fear washed over his face.

Realizing that Xia Liang had vacated his seat, the homeroom teacher watched as the boy dragged a wooden chair from the desk, making his way toward the podium with deliberate steps. The teacher's gaze fell upon the unforgiving chair, then to his own forehead, which was bleeding. He knew all too well that his skull was no match for the chair's sturdiness, prompting him to involuntarily retreat until his back pressed against the blackboard, smudging his pricey shirt with chalk dust.

"Xia Liang, what do you think you're doing? Put that chair down right now," the teacher demanded, his voice shaking despite his efforts to sound stern. "If you don't stop this instant, you're going to be expelled. You're dishonoring your father, a renowned hero, and yet his son is acting like...” He couldn't finish his sentence, his body trembling under the scrutiny of the entire class.

Xia Liang responded with a dismissive "Tsk," his expression indifferent, his eyes lifeless. "What does his being a hero have to do with me? Must an eagle's son fly? Must a mouse's son burrow? I've never aspired to be a hero. I just want to be a regular person, someone who can say no to things I don't enjoy."

He had put up with this teacher's targeted criticism for far too long.

"Damn it, do you really take me for one of those docile kids, who just let you mock and manipulate them without a word of protest?" Xia Liang had resolved to stand his ground, no longer willing to cower. He was ready to confront the teacher with the chair if necessary.

He was well aware of the potential fallout, but to him, transferring schools was a small price to pay.

"Stop right there! I'm warning you, I won't hold back if you come any closer..." The homeroom teacher's voice cracked as Xia Liang reached the middle of the aisle, the chair screeching against the floor, sweat beading on his forehead.

Despite being an adult, the teacher was no physical match for Xia Liang, who towered over him with the defined muscles of his arms visible beneath his short sleeves—a clear indication of his regular exercise routine. In a real scuffle, it was likely the teacher who would end up pinned to the ground.

The homeroom teacher inhaled deeply, setting aside his pride in a moment of desperation. He whipped out his cellphone and brandished it in front of Xia Liang, feigning an urgent call.

The classroom fell eerily silent, the students motionless and wide-eyed as they watched the scene unfold. A flicker of anticipation could be seen in some of their eyes.

"No need for formalities, go ahead and call for backup! It's not like you've ever extended any courtesy to me. Ever since I joined your class, you've treated me like an irritant, constantly making life difficult for me. I've put up with it for far too long!" Xia Liang stated coolly, his stride unbroken.

"Hello, is this the Discipline Office? I need two campus officers in the senior year, Class 1, immediately. A student has assaulted a teacher, and my head is injured. If you don't get here soon, it could be a matter of life and death..."