"Sleep talk? What sleep talk?" Bai Bufan looked puzzled.
Lin Li finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling alive again.
It wouldn't matter much if he said those words to the guys, but saying them to the whole class of girls, Lin Li didn't really want to become an organism.
"So why is everyone looking at me?" Lin Li suddenly turned his head. The English teacher wasn't standing behind him giving a death glare, after all.
Then he looked towards the door: "Is there a senior outside calling me to confess?"
"Pretty much." Bai Bufan nodded.
"Really? Damn, is my hair messed up from sleeping?" Realizing it, Lin Li instantly perked up, starting to feel nervous.
Hoping it's a 175cm tall, deeply devoted, and exclusively 36D beauty millionaire senior.
"Pretty much, except it's not a senior; it's the principal calling you, whether it's a confession or not is still uncertain for now." Bai Bufan shook his head.
Lin Li: "?"
"What do you mean by 'pretty much'? What's Old Deng calling me for?" Lin Li's hand froze while fixing his hair, clenching his teeth as he spoke.
And as if to verify Bai Bufan's words, the broadcast repeated the previous announcement again: "Student Lin Li from Class 1-4, please report to the principal's office, student Lin Li from Class 1-4..."
At this time, the homeroom teacher, Xue Jian, appeared at the front door, not coming in, just waving to Lin Li in the back row by the window from afar.
There was no time to inquire about the situation now. Lin Li swallowed, stood up silently.
"If Bao Wei reincarnates into my aunt's house, I'm unwilling, but Lin Li, if you don't mind, discuss it with King Yama after you die. I will remember you forever." Bai Bufan's eyes were filled with tears.
"What on earth did you do to have Old Jian come and personally arrest you to the principal's office?" Zhou Baowei looked curious.
...
"Teacher, what happened?" Lin Li honestly walked over to Xue Jian, who was as tall as him, asking without much confidence.
"I just received the notice too. The principal asked me to bring you over; you don't know either?" Xue Jian shook his head.
"No."
"I see."
Then the two of them had nothing more to say.
Damn it, Bai Bufan, I completely understand your pain now. Can't some old thing come over and let me help you out too?
Nansang Middle School is divided into two areas, one for grades one and two, and a separate small campus for grade three. The administrative building is on the first and second grades' side, not requiring much walking.
But just thinking about facing the principal's office next, he felt even more anxious.
At the door of the principal's office, Xue Jian knocked: "Principal Wang."
"Has Lin Li and Teacher Xue arrived? Come in, come in." The door was actually ajar, and Principal Wang's voice immediately came through. Before Xue Jian could push the door open, it was pulled open from inside.
A strong light pierced his eyes, hitting Lin Li's head hard.
Not good, it's a show of authority.
It's over.
However, Lin Li soon realized he had judged wrongly.
It was just the morning sunlight reflecting off the principal's bald spot.
"Is this student Lin Li? Very good, very good, looks like a talented young man, very nice." Principal Wang's face smiled like a blooming chrysanthemum, appreciatively patting Lin Li's shoulder, recognizing him with admiration.
His tone was as warm as a spring breeze, though the middle-aged decay on his body (a fusion of smoke and tea scent) made Lin Li hold his breath.
What on earth is happening?
He turned to see Xue Jian, whose face also showed a trace of surprise.
"Good child, come in first and sit down, come, come in." Principal Wang led Lin Li into the principal's office.
Then Lin Li was stunned because he saw a familiar face he had just met a few days ago, Demon Suppression Envoy, Yangliang.
Next to him was another person he hadn't seen before but was also wearing a uniform, a female Demon Suppression Envoy.
"Come, Officer Yang, is this the kid you were talking about?" Principal Wang had Lin Li sit on the guest sofa, just beside Yangliang, and spoke to Yangliang with a smile.
"Yes," Yangliang nodded, then turned to Lin Li with an exceptionally gentle voice: "Xiaolin, we meet again."
This voice was so gentle and cordial that it felt a bit strange to Lin Li. A few days ago, this guy wasn't like this towards him, was he? Could it be that with a female officer present, he needed to present himself as a gentle man?
Hmm hmm hmm.
This is what men are.
Having understood it all, Lin Li didn't bother to expose it and simply nodded: "Hello, Uncle Yang."
"I'm Sun Ying." The female Demon Suppression Envoy introduced herself with a smile.
"Hello, Sister Sun."
Then Lin Li, somewhat hesitantly, asked Yangliang cautiously: "What's the purpose of your visit to our school today?"
Thinking of something, Lin Li's expression turned unsightly. Leaning in to whisper into Yangliang's ear, he said:
"Uncle, I admit I was a bit arrogant towards you the day before yesterday, but there's no need to report it to the school. I promise I won't do anything abstract in the future, okay?"
Why is Yangliang so petty? I only made a few jokes, didn't cause much trouble, did I?
Forget about the facts, isn't Yangliang in the wrong too?
Annoyed, trembling, cold, why does the world have so many biases against a seventeen-year-old handsome guy?
I beg you, don't mention it.
"No, Xiaolin!" Yangliang suddenly shook his head.
Abstraction was Lin Li's last protective shell, and asking him to remove it would make him inhuman; he didn't want to lose sleep again.
"Abstraction is great! Youngsters should stay abstract! Just continue being abstract! The more abstract, the better! Keep abstracting, keep symbolizing!"
Lin Li: "?"
Uncle, you are more abstract than I am now.
What are you even saying?
I wake up at four every morning hiding under my blanket memorizing memes just to be this abstract, but the esteemed Demon Suppression Envoy Yangliang before me...
Indeed, anyone able to get an official position must have some talent in some aspects.
Yangliang realizing Lin Li likely misunderstood something, further explained:
"Didn't I say before, you helped us break such a big case, of course, we have to return your money, and our agency will also offer you a reward.
Today, the two of us are representing the police station to deliver a commendation letter, banner, gifts, and a bonus to you. It's not a bad thing; it's absolutely a good thing!"
"Phew—gave me a scare." Lin Li heaved a long sigh of relief.
So it's about this after all.
No wonder Principal Wang was smiling like a blooming chrysanthemum, being so friendly to him.
"Yes yes yes! It's definitely a good thing! Student Lin Li, just by looking at him, I can tell he's a man of talent! A great representative of our Nansang Middle School's appearance, able to assist the police in solving cases, excellent, excellent!" Principal Wang still hadn't sat down, standing beside Lin Li, saying with satisfaction,
"This is also related to the educational philosophy and policies of our Nansang Middle School. I believe every one of our students, whether boy or girl, will stand out like Student Lin Li when assistance is needed, assisting just like him!"
Principal Wang's excitement wasn't fake.
What an achievement, this student Lin Li has greatly brightened the face of Nansang Middle School.
Even boosted his own reputation!
His position might even advance thanks to his help—principals generally hold more than just the title of principal.
For some, the principal role is more of a transitional post during job transitions.
He even planned out a grand announcement.
The official account must share, all teachers must repost to their circle of friends, announcements need to be posted, even find a few news video accounts to interview Lin Li and publish it!
Then pretend to unintentionally capture it, who'd have thought it would go viral online.
Listening to this, Lin Li suddenly felt something was off.
It wasn't strange for Principal Wang to boast about their thing; it's normal for the school to want to maintain its image if something like this happens.
But...
Is everyone supposed to assist the Demon Suppression Bureau in solving cases like this, just like me?
Lin Li looked towards Yangliang, asking quietly: "Uncle, how did I help you solve cases, did you tell the principal?"
Yangliang, hearing this, stayed silent.
Silence remained.
Silence.
Yangliang averted his gaze.
Yangliang.exe not responding.
Lin Li: "?"