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"Boss, is the principal really your grandpa?"
Li Erniu asked curiously. If he remembered correctly, their principal's last name was Su?
"Uh… I'm not any kind of boss. The principal was my parents' teacher, so I call him Grandpa."
Chu Chengzhou waved his hand dismissively.
As someone with less than Level 1 soul power—a complete "trash-tier" talent—Chu Chengzhou was well aware of his own limitations. He certainly didn't consider himself worthy of being called a boss.
"No, Boss! From now on, you're our Dormitory Seven leader!"
Hearing this, Li Erniu declared firmly.
Work-study students were always among the bullied groups in the academy. His title as "Dormitory Seven Leader" was more about being the tallest among dwarfs—it wasn't nearly as impressive as it sounded.
Though Chu Chengzhou was young, his strength unknown, and likely weaker than Li Erniu in combat, he had a principal for a grandfather. Naturally, these "little trash-tier" students were eager to latch onto his coattails.
As for why someone with a principal for a grandfather would end up in the work-study dormitory?
Uh… perhaps he was here to "experience life"?
"That's right, Boss! From now on, you're our Dormitory Seven leader!"
The former "Li Boss" promoted Chu Chengzhou to the new leader, and the other work-study students quickly chimed in with their support.
With a boss whose grandfather was the principal, they wouldn't have to worry about being bullied anymore, right?
'A burst of overpowering aura, and followers flock to me?'
Seeing the group of work-study students unanimously push him to become their leader, Chu Chengzhou couldn't help but think sarcastically.
"Cough, cough… Alright, I still won't be your leader. But if anyone bullies you, I can try to mediate. Though I can't guarantee the outcome."
Clearing his throat, Chu Chengzhou politely declined.
He knew the origins of the work-study student leader from the original story.
One should only take on responsibilities they could handle. Being a leader wasn't easy, and as a "trash-tier" talent, Chu Chengzhou didn't believe he had what it took to lead at the moment.
What if invoking his grandfather's name failed to intimidate others and instead backfired? That would be utterly humiliating.
Seeing Chu Chengzhou's firm refusal, the group was visibly disappointed. However, when he promised to help mediate disputes, their disappointment vanished instantly.
Work-study students: Now we've got someone to back us up!
After some introductions, Chu Chengzhou became familiar with all the work-study students in Dormitory Seven.
Among them was a minor character who would later become the initial Dormitory Seven leader next year—Wang Sheng.
After spreading out his bedding and arranging his belongings, it was already late morning, close to lunchtime.
"Come on, since it's my first day here, let me treat you guys to a meal!"
Chu Chengzhou invited the work-study students in the dormitory.
"It's lunchtime alright! But Boss Chu, let me cover this one!"
Glancing at the high-hanging sun outside the window, Li Erniu spoke up.
Though Chu Chengzhou had refused the title of "boss," the work-study students still clung to his coattails. After all, if they kept calling him "boss" long enough, even if he wasn't one initially, he'd eventually become one.
They simply added "Chu" before the title of "boss" to respect his earlier refusal.
"I'll handle it."
Glancing at the patched-up clothes Li Erniu wore, Chu Chengzhou shook his head.
Though he didn't have an income source for now, his grandparents hadn't skimped on his allowance. Treating them to a meal was no big deal—just a drop in the bucket.
Besides, living under the same roof meant they'd see each other often. Building good relations was necessary.
Subsequently, a group of over ten people left Dormitory Seven and headed toward the cafeteria.
Nuoding Academy's cafeteria was spacious enough to accommodate six classes plus teachers—over three hundred people in total.
The cafeteria had two floors. The ground floor alone had three hundred seats.
As for the second floor? That was reserved for wealthy families who could afford private meals.
By now, a long queue had formed at the ground-floor service window.
Seeing Li Erniu heading toward the line, Chu Chengzhou grabbed him and stopped him.
"What's wrong?"
Li Erniu turned back, confused.
"Let's go upstairs."
Chu Chengzhou pointed to the staircase leading to the second floor.
This was his first time treating others to a meal—how could he settle for cheap cafeteria food?
If not a luxurious banquet, at least they deserved private meals, right?
"But…"
Li Erniu hesitated.
The second floor was for private meals, and the food wasn't cheap. Having been at Nuoding Academy for five years now, and currently in his sixth, he had never eaten on the second floor!
"Let's go!"
Without further explanation, Chu Chengzhou gestured and led the way upstairs.
The group exchanged glances and followed him.
With a "rich benefactor" treating them to the second floor, there was no reason to refuse. After all, Boss Chu's grandfather was the principal—he surely wasn't short on money.
There weren't many diners on the second floor. Regardless of where you went, rich people were always a minority.
When Chu Chengzhou walked in with a group of patch-wearing work-study students, they immediately drew the attention of those already dining on the second floor.
"Well, well, isn't that Li Erniu and his gang of paupers? What brings them to the second floor? Did the sun rise from the west today?"
As expected, a discordant voice rang out almost immediately.
Following the sound, Chu Chengzhou saw a boy surrounded by a group of lackeys. His appearance was unremarkable, but his attitude reeked of arrogance.
"Who's he?"
Chu Chengzhou asked Li Erniu.
"He's Xiao Chentian, a sixth-year student. He became a formal Soul Master last year, and rumor has it he's the city lord's nephew."
Li Erniu shrank back, whispering nervously.
Clearly, this "second-generation elite" intimidated Li Erniu, who came from a humble background.
'Xiao Chentian?'
Chu Chengzhou raised an eyebrow. If memory served, this guy had a younger brother named Xiao Chenyu?
He remembered Xiao Chenyu because he was the son of Nuoding City's lord, yet his first soul ring was a measly ten-year white ring. And he had the audacity to demand that Xiao Wu become his pet rabbit. Where did kids like that get their confidence?
"The second floor of the academy's cafeteria isn't yours to dictate. Are you saying we can't eat here?"
Stepping forward, Chu Chengzhou shot back at Xiao Chentian.
"Kid, who are you? State your name!"
Frowning at the bold Chu Chengzhou, Xiao Chentian demanded.
"Chu Chengzhou, a new first-year student, Dormitory Seven."
"You dare talk back to me as a work-study student?"
Xiao Chentian sneered disdainfully.
Chu Chengzhou's clothes weren't shabby, so Xiao Chentian had initially assumed he was from a powerful family. But this?
"My grandfather—Su Nan!"
Before Xiao Chentian could finish, Chu Chengzhou dropped his grandfather's name.
"Su Nan? Who's he? Wait, did you say your grandfather is the principal?"
Just as Xiao Chentian was about to dismiss Su Nan as insignificant, he remembered—the principal of Nuoding Academy was indeed Su Nan!
Chu Chengzhou didn't speak, merely smiling and nodding.
Kids, after all, naturally sought protection from "authority figures" when facing oppression. Bringing up his grandfather was the obvious move.
Surely you didn't expect a six-year-old child to duel an eleven or twelve-year-old bully, did you?
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