Senior Sister, Please Act Human! - Chapter 7

After Xiao Yuanzhi brushed Yan’er off with a few perfunctory replies, Yan’er noticed it was already time for morning lessons and dragged her along.

Only after arriving did Xiao Yuanzhi discover that Wei Zisu had actually requested an entire month of sick leave for her!

A whole month!

Was she trying to torment her to death?

Under Wei Zisu’s supervision, even if Xiao Yuanzhi did not die, she would end up crippled.

Once again, she could not help marveling at what an utterly rotten, black-hearted woman Wei Zisu was!

Next, the senior and junior brothers all came over to express their concern.

From their words, Xiao Yuanzhi learned that news of her memory loss had already spread throughout all of Cangfeng Manor.

She truly wanted to give Gao Yan a thumbs-up.

That level of efficiency was fucking impressive!

The senior and junior brothers were so enthusiastic in their concern that Xiao Yuanzhi could barely handle them all.

The senior sisters, however, were completely different.

None of them seemed particularly pleased to see her. Although they did not actually do anything to her, their gazes suggested that every last one of them wished they could take a swing at her. Quite a few even rolled their eyes openly.

Xiao Yuanzhi felt both helpless and confused.

However, before she fully understood the situation, she had no desire to intensify the conflict. She could only pretend not to see or hear any of it.

Fortunately, the situation did not last long, because class soon began.

A middle-aged man carrying a book walked through the rows of disciples and headed directly toward the lectern.

When he turned around, Xiao Yuanzhi saw everyone around her rise to their feet. She hurriedly stood as well and copied them by cupping her hands in greeting.

The disciples called out in unison, “Master Taiheng!”

Those who were not his direct disciples addressed him as, “Martial Uncle Taiheng!”

Xiao Yuanzhi raised her head slightly and glanced at the middle-aged man before lowering it again.

So this was the master Gao Yan had mentioned that day.

After Taiheng nodded in acknowledgment, all the disciples sat down.

Although Xiao Yuanzhi had always been restless and unruly growing up, pretending to be an obedient student came naturally to her—especially when the teacher was watching.

She had no idea what kind of person the body’s original owner had been.

But judging from her current situation, behaving herself was clearly the wisest choice.

Xiao Yuanzhi lowered her head and flipped through the book. Occasionally, she looked up at Taiheng as he lectured, her eyes radiating an intense thirst for knowledge.

Whenever Taiheng finished explaining something, she nodded repeatedly and wore an expression of sudden enlightenment, as though everything had finally become clear.

Taiheng naturally noticed her.

While searching for the intruder the previous night, he had accidentally overheard the disciples spreading the news that Xiao Yuanzhi had lost her memory.

Surprised, he had wanted to summon her and ask exactly what had happened.

Unfortunately, he had been occupied with other matters, and he still had to teach the following morning, so he could only postpone it.

Yet now that he saw her in class, Xiao Yuanzhi displayed no particularly strange behavior.

She appeared no different from usual.

No matter how carefully Taiheng observed her, he could not see any sign that she had lost her memory.

How could Xiao Yuanzhi know what Taiheng was thinking?

She simply continued pretending to listen attentively, even though everything he said went completely over her head.

Yan’er scratched the back of her hand.

Since class began, she had already yawned no fewer than thirty times.

Why had the lesson still not ended after so long?

She was both sleepy and bored.

Propping her chin on one hand, she let her gaze wander around the room until it finally settled on Xiao Yuanzhi, who was pretending to listen with great concentration.

Yan’er could not help sighing inwardly.

Little Junior Sister truly was still Little Junior Sister.

Even after losing her memory, she remained so diligent in class.

Yan’er leaned closer to Xiao Yuanzhi and lowered her voice.

“Little Junior Sister, what is Martial Uncle Taiheng talking about?”

She had expected an explanation.

Instead, Xiao Yuanzhi turned toward her and shook her head.

“I didn’t understand any of it.”

Her answer was crisp, and her expression was exceptionally serious.

Then why was she pretending to listen so intently?!

Yan’er had wasted all that time admiring her, only to discover that Xiao Yuanzhi had not understood a single thing.

She pursed her lips.

“As expected of Little Junior Sister.”

Xiao Yuanzhi nodded with a smile.

“You flatter me.”

“…”

Yan’er was speechless.

She had not been praising her!

Scheming against others was not Yan’er’s strength.

Besides, whether Xiao Yuanzhi understood the lesson or was merely pretending had nothing to do with her.

More importantly, Yan’er was so tired that she could barely keep her eyes open.

She leaned even closer.

“Little Junior Sister, if Martial Uncle Taiheng comes over later, wake me up.”

In the past, Yan’er usually made this arrangement with the junior sister seated behind her. Unfortunately, that girl had taken sick leave today.

Yan’er was not close to the person sitting in front of her, so she had no choice but to ask Xiao Yuanzhi beside her.

Normally, even if Xiao Yuanzhi did not warn her, she would at least never deliberately attract Martial Uncle Taiheng’s attention.

Xiao Yuanzhi was quite familiar with this sort of thing.

She had done it plenty of times before. Back in school, she and her deskmate had often covered for each other.

“Senior Sister Yan’er, go ahead and sleep. I’ll keep watch for you.”

Seeing Xiao Yuanzhi agree so readily, Yan’er was delighted.

For this reason alone, she was beginning to like this amnesiac version of her little junior sister.

“Then thank you, Little Junior Sister.”

Xiao Yuanzhi playfully winked at her.

“We’re sisters from the same family. There’s no need to be polite.”

Watching Yan’er fall asleep made Xiao Yuanzhi sleepy as well.

Taiheng’s voice continued droning in her ears, and its hypnotic power was truly no weaker than a mathematics lesson.

She struggled to suppress her yawns and rising drowsiness, straightened her back, and continued playing the role of a student who was “listening attentively.”

After finally enduring until the end of class, Xiao Yuanzhi was about to lay her head on the desk and take a quick nap when Taiheng called her outside.

Taiheng’s sword-like brows drew together slightly.

He still remembered how, before his senior brother left, the man had repeatedly entrusted Xiao Yuanzhi to him and insisted that he take good care of her.

Yet now, she had lost her memory.

If his senior brother returned and learned what had happened, he would undoubtedly cause an enormous scene.

“You truly remember nothing?”

Xiao Yuanzhi wore a confused expression and shook her head.

Taiheng sighed softly and waved her away.

“You may go.”

Xiao Yuanzhi paused.

That was it?

On the way over, she had wondered whether she had accidentally exposed herself. Why else would Taiheng summon her?

She had considered countless ways to fool him if he began interrogating her.

Who could have expected him to ask only one question?

“Yes.”

One question was fine.

She could hardly stand there like an idiot and ask him to question her further.

Xiao Yuanzhi did not linger. She quickened her pace and slipped back to her seat.

The moment she sat down, a conversation behind her caught her attention.

Xiao Yuanzhi pricked up her ears and listened carefully.

They were discussing what had happened the previous night.

One woman said, “Was that intruder truly so skilled? Even the masters and senior masters couldn’t catch her?”

Another woman replied, “Of course. I heard Eldest Senior Brother, who was already confined to bed with injuries, was beaten again. It must have been the intruder’s doing.”

The first woman looked concerned.

“How badly was Eldest Senior Brother hurt?”

“Who knows what deep hatred that intruder bears toward him? The beating was vicious. I heard he was originally expected to get out of bed in a few days, but after last night, he probably won’t recover until next month.”

“What? His injuries are that serious?”

“It seems Senior Sister Wei asked for leave today because she is worried about Eldest Senior Brother.”

The moment she finished speaking, she sensed something was wrong.

Why did the senior sister before her look so concerned?

“Senior Sister, you… couldn’t possibly have fallen for Eldest Senior Brother, could you?”

Hearing this, the woman hurriedly covered her mouth and glanced around.

Only after confirming that no one was paying attention did she release her.

She lowered her voice.

“Junior Sister, don’t speak nonsense. How could I possibly like Eldest Senior Brother? Besides, Eldest Senior Brother already has Senior Sister Wei.”

There was not the slightest confidence in her voice.

Listening to this gossip made Xiao Yuanzhi feel increasingly uncomfortable.

So the scumbag she had beaten last night was actually Eldest Senior Brother.

Someone liked a piece of trash like him?

Xiao Yuanzhi wanted to see who could possibly be so blind.

She turned around and glanced at the two senior sisters who had been speaking, only for her eyes to meet theirs directly.

What a pity.

The girl looked perfectly decent. She had all four limbs and appeared physically healthy.

How could she possibly like something that looked human but behaved like a dog?

The senior sister saw Xiao Yuanzhi staring straight at her while repeatedly shaking her head and immediately interpreted the gesture in an entirely different way.

Perhaps because of her guilty conscience, she was the first to bark, “Junior Sister Xiao, do not attempt to sow discord!”

Her voice was so loud that it instantly attracted the attention of everyone in the room.

She was terrified that Xiao Yuanzhi would expose the fact that she liked Eldest Senior Brother, so she continued, “Do not think you can act however you please and maliciously frame others merely because the masters favor you!”

Xiao Yuanzhi’s mind filled with question marks.

What the hell was she talking about?

“Senior Sister, did I say anything?”

Xiao Yuanzhi had not said a word.

But the woman feared what she might say, so she hurriedly blocked her path first.

“This is Cangfeng Manor, not some lawless place where Junior Sister Xiao can behave however she pleases!”

Was this woman a fucking idiot?

Xiao Yuanzhi refused to play the role of scapegoat.

Instead of becoming angry, she smiled.

“Senior Sister, you still haven’t answered my question. What exactly did I say that offended you? Please explain it clearly.”

Before the senior sister could answer, she noticed that the room had somehow filled with people.

Most of them were senior and junior brothers.

The many eyes fixed upon her immediately diminished more than half of her earlier arrogance.

Ordinarily, Xiao Yuanzhi had always been gentle and mild. She had never seriously argued with anyone and rarely cared about grievances.

No one had expected her personality to change after losing her memory—or that the commotion would draw all the senior and junior brothers over.

The senior sister now found herself riding a tiger and unable to dismount.

She was unwilling to back down.

Xiao Yuanzhi was her junior sister and ranked beneath her in seniority. If she yielded today, where would she put her dignity?

Who would respect her afterward?

She could only continue stubbornly.

“How you offended me—does Junior Sister Xiao truly not know in her own heart?”

Xiao Yuanzhi met her gaze with genuine confusion.

“I truly don’t.”

“You…”

The senior sister was so furious that she could not form a complete sentence.

One senior brother could no longer stand watching.

They had argued for so long without clarifying anything.

He asked, “What exactly did our little junior sister say?”

Another senior brother added, “Since you insist that Little Junior Sister offended you, then repeat the offending words so everyone can hear them. Why are you being so evasive?”

A junior brother said, “I doubt she can produce anything. She is merely causing trouble and twisting the facts. I fear she has falsely accused Little Senior Sister.”

“I agree. Who in Cangfeng Manor does not know that Little Junior Sister is pure-hearted and kind? How could she possibly say anything offensive? She must have been framed. Perhaps certain people noticed that Martial Uncle Jiuji was absent and deliberately chose this opportunity to bully her.”

The senior sister pointed furiously at the man.

“Chen Shaoyuan, you—!”

The man named Chen Shaoyuan glanced at her, his eyes and the curve of his lips filled with disdain.

This nearly drove the senior sister mad.

It was always like this.

Every single time something happened to Xiao Yuanzhi, these senior and junior brothers became unbelievably attentive, arriving faster than dogs.

Not only that, every one of them would side with Xiao Yuanzhi without the slightest regard for principle.

This was precisely why Xiao Yuanzhi was so disliked by all the senior and junior sisters.

“If you want to bully Little Junior Sister, you’ll have to get past me first.”

“And me.”

“Me too.”

“And me.”

Every one of them spoke with passionate righteousness, as though they were prepared to sacrifice their heads and spill their blood for her.

Smack—!

Someone accidentally knocked a book onto the floor.

The sound caused an unknown senior brother in the crowd to draw his sword.

When the senior sisters on the opposite side saw that the other party had already drawn a weapon, what else was there to wait for?

They drew their own swords as well.

Shing—!

Shing—!

Dozens of blades left their sheaths one after another.

In an instant, fellow disciples of the same sect were pointing swords at one another.