Miao Jing and Zhai Yaohui (24)

"Let me ask you. What have you been up to?"

"What did I do?"

Qi Minlan was confused. "You asked me to study hard because I can't lag behind Zhai Yaohui as he gets better. Otherwise, there will be people trying to drag me down."

Then, Qi Minlan felt a little guilty. "Dad, have people been gossiping around again? Don't trust them. They want me to fail. That's why they're speaking ill of me and trying to pull me down. I'm only with those boys because of my studies. If I don't try my best and study with others, how will I ever improve?"

"What? You're still with your male classmates?" Old Master Shi had gone down that path too. It was just that it had not caused him any trouble at that time.

As someone with experience, Old Master Shi didn't think that friendship between females and males could remain platonic.

Studying?

Old Master Shi didn't believe that in the least.