Chapter 119: Chapter 119

When they turned around and saw the person standing at the door, they were suddenly dumbstruck.

The other three were also frozen in place.

Wen Yan was the first to react. Smiling, he stepped forward: "Aning, you’re finally back."

The young man walked in, his gaze sweeping across the room before finally landing on Wen Yan’s face.

"Why is it that when I’m absent, you all seem to lose your purpose? Wen Yan, do you think you’re all just the backdrop to my achievements?"

Wen Yan frowned slightly. Though the youth’s tone was gentle, he detected a faint sense of attack hidden within.

"You still have the nerve to say that?" Ge Qi bolted to Rong Xianning’s side.

"Do you know how much trouble you’ve caused us? We worked so hard rehearsing all this time, and you just disappeared without a word. Do we even mean anything to you as teammates?"

"I apologize. I had some personal matters to deal with. I’m back now and rejoining the team."

Rong Xianning shrugged off his jacket, tossing it into a corner, revealing the long-sleeved sweatshirt underneath.

Stretching his limbs out briefly, he said with an expressionless face, "I won’t let your efforts go to waste."

"And one more thing." His gaze grew determined as he looked straight at Wen Yan: "We’re a team. Together we rise, and together we fall. I hope you all understand this principle."

Wen Yan hurriedly lowered his gaze, his hands at his sides clenching tightly into fists.

The young man’s voice, clear and bright, echoed throughout the empty practice room, landing resolutely on every ear present.

It carried a deafening momentum and unwavering determination.

"From now on, let’s give it our all."

After Rong Xianning’s departure, everything went on as usual.

It was Friday, the last self-study period, and Shen You’an was buried in her work.

The desk was tapped lightly, prompting Shen You’an to look up.

Class monitor Wang Chiru said softly, "Shen, Mr. Meng wants you to go to her office for a moment."

Shen You’an closed her notebook and got up, leaving the classroom.

Gu Bichen’s hand, gripping a pen, paused, and he turned his gaze to Shen You’an’s desk.

It was a workbook for the physics competition.

It was well-known that October was the season for the high school mathematics league, and most students were focused on practicing math problems. Yet here she was, working on physics.

Late October marked the preliminary selection for the annual national physics competition.

It’s often said one cannot serve two masters, and many students were forced to choose only one subject to pursue.

When Gu Bichen was in middle school, he had participated in both math and physics competitions, and the schedules did not overlap. With sufficient preparation time, he had secured gold medals in both.

But to participate in two different subject competitions within the same month—and just ten days apart—was exhausting. Even Gu Bichen found it challenging and dared not attempt it casually.

After three years of silence, she was finally beginning to shine.

Gu Bichen curled his lips slightly, a restless stir flickering in some corner of his heart.

He had finally encountered a worthy opponent.

Surely, the days ahead would not be dull.

The first-year teachers were organized into three alliances based on their respective classes.

Teachers from Class A to Class D belonged to one alliance, sharing a large joint office.

When Shen You’an walked in, the subject teachers were all deeply focused on their lesson planning.

Even as Shen You’an entered, no one paid her any attention.

"Mr. Meng, you asked for me?"

Meng Junzhu looked up from her desk, pulling over a chair. "Shen, have a seat."

Shen You’an obediently sat down.

"There’s something I need to inform you about."

Meng Junzhu pulled her laptop closer, showing the screen to Shen You’an. On it was a post from the school’s online forum.

"Take a look at this first."

Shen You’an glanced over, immediately noticing the striking title.

"Don’t be deceived by a certain academic prodigy. Her uncle is a corrupt official!"

The title was incredibly pointed. Recently, a post on the forum digging into Shen You’an’s family background had gained significant traction. It was common knowledge that Shen You’an was an orphan raised by her uncle.

The poster was anonymous, claiming Shen You’an’s uncle was just a low-level bank employee. Yet Shen You’an resided in the penthouse of the Springtime Academy apartment complex. Attached were photos of Shen You’an leaving this upscale neighborhood and even an audio recording from her uncle’s bank colleagues. The recording alleged that Zhang Jian was merely a regular lobby manager, without official standing, just a contractor. Recently, however, he had suddenly landed a major project, raising suspicions and insinuating criminal activity.

Of course, the post never made it online, as the forum’s system flagged it for banned terms and removed it promptly.

When the forum administrator saw the post involved Shen You’an—who had recently topped the entrance exam, even beating Jingzhou’s valedictorian Gu Bichen, which solidified her position as Lanya Group’s pride—the administrator naturally ensured her exceptional protection.