Chapter 30

Chapter 30

The whole conversation was straightforward. To an outsider, it might not seem like anything was amiss.

But everyone there was from the Mechanical Engineering Department.

They all knew exactly what the green building in their department symbolized.

No one there was naive; they instantly understood the malicious intent behind Jiao Rong's directions.

Jiao Rong's craving for the spotlight was satisfied right then.

Facing the scornful, repulsed, and dismissive looks from everyone, Jiao Rong's pent-up emotions, stifling him all class, suddenly burst out.

Overcome by emotion and nearly losing his judgment, Jiao Rong suddenly stood, spun around, and lunged to smash Bai Xingshu's tablet, which was playing the recording.

But Bai Xingshu was faster.

Bai Xingshu smoothly snatched the tablet away first, holding it high above his head, immediately making Jiao Rong's attempt to destroy the tablet all the more clumsy and ridiculous.

Seeing Jiao Rong's reaction, everyone there instantly believed the recording Bai Xingshu played was genuine.

But Jiao Rong's voice, seething with clenched teeth and bitterness, was even more telling: "You actually recorded it! How dare you record it!!"

Bai Xingshu gazed at Jiao Rong's face, his eyes twinkling with mirth, his tone leisurely and offhand: "Oh, my bad, I must have hit it by mistake earlier."

At Bai Xingshu's remark, some students burst out laughing.

Their study tablets, built for easy classroom recording, had a one-tap record function, making it super quick and simple.

So many students had also hit the button by accident while walking, ending up with a random recording.

When Bai Xingshu mentioned this, no one questioned its truth, but instead thought Jiao Rong, that jerk, was just unlucky to be caught red-handed.

It was truly karma coming around, retribution served right.

Hearing the scattered chuckles, Jiao Rong instantly held a deep grudge against Bai Xingshu, glaring at him with a venomous look.

Though Jiao Rong stayed silent, Bai Xingshu could plainly read 'you're done for' in that threatening glare.

Even then, Jiao Rong displayed no remorse.

Confronted with this spite, Bai Xingshu just smiled.

Who was really done for? It seemed the other guy hadn't caught on yet.

"I'm a student from the Combat Department, not very familiar with the rules of your Mechanical Engineering Department," Bai Xingshu's voice was clear and tinged with confusion, dragging the issue between them straight into the arena of departmental politics. "In our Combat Department, on the battlefield, we have to be able to trust each other with our backs."

Bai Xingshu's last sentence even carried a hint of grievance.

A feeling of having given trust, only to be betrayed by the one trusted, was palpable.

Without directly accusing anyone, it felt as if everything had been said.

Air their dirty laundry in public.

Some students with stronger empathy showed signs of shame and anger on their faces, their gazes at Jiao Rong filled with even more hatred.

Withdrawing his gaze from Jiao Rong, Song Xiyan looked at Bai Xingshu: "I will give you an explanation."

The voice was cold and clear, resonating with authority.

Bai Xingshu looked up at Song Xiyan and smiled happily.

However, he did not stop speaking because of Song Xiyan's promise. Instead, he took a step closer and immediately continued in a plaintive tone, "All combatants rely on mechs designed and built by your Mechanical Engineering Department. We are putting our lives in your hands."

Hearing this, Song Xiyan frowned and looked at Bai Xingshu without saying a word.

But not all students from the Mechanical Engineering Department remained silent.

Someone immediately jumped up, furious, and berated Bai Xingshu, "Jiao Rong does not represent our entire Mechanical Engineering Department! Our behind-the-scenes efforts are just as significant!"

Bai Xingshu stared at the speaker, momentarily taken aback, and then quickly shifted to an apologetic and embarrassed expression, "I'm sorry, I misspoke. That's not what I meant. I'm a bit worked up right now."

Seemingly in a hurry to explain, Bai Xingshu's words were somewhat jumbled.

The angry student was immediately disarmed by Bai Xingshu's swift apology, not knowing what to say to him, so their pent-up emotions could only be vented at Song Xiyan.

"Professor Song, someone like Jiao Rong has no place in Class S! Our Class S doesn't have people like him!"

"Professor Song, this incident has caused too much harm. If Jiao Rong stays, what will the Combat Department think of us?"

"And Fu Chuan and Ji Hanqiu, the three of them always attend classes together. When Jiao Rong was giving directions, were you two just standing by? Have you sold your souls to be his lackeys?"

"Professor Song..."

Young students are naturally quick to get riled up, and in the midst of the collective outrage, someone even hurled an object at Jiao Rong.

The uproar in Class S quickly drew the attention of other teachers.

In the end, Jiao Rong was rescued from the classroom by security guards. After a quick assessment of the situation, Jiao Rong was taken away by the administrative teacher responsible for such matters.

Song Xiyan observed the entire scene unfold.

Silent.

He had promised Bai Xingshu an explanation, but it seemed that in the end, this matter had little to do with him personally.

The other students followed Jiao Rong out, and students from other classes caught wind of the gossip and started discussing it. Meanwhile, Bai Xingshu, the other party involved, was left behind.

Regarding this, Bai Xingshu, who had swiftly brushed it off as if nothing had happened, smiled at Song Xiyan, "Professor, let's go fix the mechs."

Song Xiyan pursed his lips, looking at Bai Xingshu with some displeasure, his voice low, "You could have a bit more faith in me."

"Huh?" Bai Xingshu looked at Song Xiyan in confusion.

"I promised you an explanation. You didn't need to add those comments," Song Xiyan said coldly.

Bai Xingshu didn't mind Song Xiyan's reproach and continued to smile at him, "So, Professor, do you think I'm the type to cause you trouble?"

Song Xiyan was taken aback.

"This matter has nothing to do with you personally, Professor. Isn't the current situation just right?"

"The Jiao Family is a prominent family in the Empire. Professor, you should stay out of these matters. It's just too much hassle."

"Given the current situation, even if the Jiao Family can suppress this, Jiao Rong won't have the face to stay in Class S, or even in the entire Capital Military University."

"I think this is enough."

"The fact that you came down from the podium to hear me out already speaks volumes."

Bai Xingshu's tone stayed casual. After explaining his words to Song Xiyan, he made sure to calm Song Xiyan down, offering some reassurance.

Even though he was lodging a complaint, Bai Xingshu had no intention of dragging Song Xiyan into the matter from start to finish.

In Bai Xingshu's eyes, Song Xiyan was a newly arrived teacher at the school. Although excellent in his own right, he lacked standing and was often taken advantage of, assigned to the Combat Department to work overtime, fixing mechs all by himself.

He came off as this poor, defenseless teacher from the Mechanical Engineering Department.

When Bai Xingshu sensed that Song Xiyan wanted to take full responsibility for the matter, he was taken aback.

Was this something Song Xiyan could handle?

He didn’t hesitate to fire off that jab at the entire Mechanical Engineering Department.

Song Xiyan hadn’t expected Bai Xingshu’s words to be a way of shielding him.

At that moment, all Bai Xingshu could think about was... protecting him.

Song Xiyan just stood there, staring at Bai Xingshu, stunned.

His heart pounded loudly.