The next day, when Yu Manman came downstairs fully dressed to assemble, she didn’t see Ackman’s figure.
And their instructor, for some reason, had suddenly been replaced by someone else.
"I’m Li Kai, the instructor taking over for you!"
Yu Manman felt a flash of doubt.
Where is Instructor Ackman?
Isn’t Li Kai one of the male leads in the heroine’s harem?
Is it that damned plot influencing things again?
Yu Manman frowned, silently glancing at Mu Yaoyao who hurried past, and successfully caught a glimpse of joy and pride in Mu Yaoyao’s eyes.
But in her gaze, there was no surprise, as if she knew Ackman would be replaced?
Could the replacement of Ackman have something to do with Mu Yaoyao?
Perhaps learning from yesterday’s lesson, Mu Yaoyao wasn’t dragging today, but because Ackman was replaced by Li Kai, she seemed to have gained more confidence.
"Instructor, I was taken away yesterday and haven’t recovered yet. I might not be able to run..."
Li Kai, facing Mu Yaoyao’s pitiful look, softened his heart, "Then... why don’t I have someone send you over directly?"
Mu Yaoyao was secretly pleased, but hesitated, "Isn’t that unfair to everyone if I go over directly..."
Li Kai looked at Mu Yaoyao, quite appreciating her, "Since you have this concern, Mu Yaoyao, I’ll agree to it."
Mu Yaoyao’s face stiffened; she was just making an excuse and hadn’t planned on actually running ten kilometers! Li Kai still didn’t understand her words.
But having said this, Mu Yaoyao couldn’t just take it back, saying she didn’t want to run, especially with so many people here watching. Wouldn’t that earn her glares?
Mu Yaoyao smiled, gently expressing, "It’s just... the instructor yesterday said that if everyone isn’t here, other students would have to stand in military posture. I’m a bit worried about dragging everyone down."
"It’s okay, Mu Yaoyao. You were frightened yesterday, and it’s normal to be in a bad state. I won’t count your time; you only have to run slowly."
Mu Yaoyao stopped struggling, hating herself for speaking too much, but outwardly had to thank Li Kai, "Thank you, instructor. You’re really so kind!"
"Alright then, get ready..."
"Wait..." Mu Yaoyao spoke again, turning her gaze to Yu Manman.
Yu Manman’s heart skipped a beat. What does Mu Yaoyao want to do now?
"Mu Yaoyao, do you have something else to say?" Li Kai was quite patient, not angered at all by Mu Yaoyao’s interruption.
"Instructor, can Yu Manman accompany me? We’re both females, so we could look out for each other!"
To get Li Kai’s approval, Mu Yaoyao even praised Yu Manman’s performance yesterday, "Manman is really amazing! She easily met the exemption condition! I wish I were as excellent as Manman!"
Mu Yaoyao pulled at Yu Manman, "Manman, you’re so nice, you’ll surely help me, right?"
Yu Manman moved her hand away, thinking, Is this moral coercion?
Li Kai was surprised at Yu Manman.
Wasn’t yesterday’s instructor Ackman? Getting through his assessment?
Could Ackman have gone easy on her?
This thought flashed in Li Kai’s mind but was quickly dismissed. Even with leniency, passing Ackman’s test showed considerable ability.
"Student, are you willing?"
"Sorry, instructor, I’m not willing." Who knows how much trouble Mu Yaoyao would cause along the way?
"I don’t want my rhythm disrupted."
Being tied to Mu Yaoyao was simply a waste of her time. She was too lazy to deal with Mu Yaoyao.
"I’m sorry, Manman, I didn’t mean to burden you." Mu Yaoyao’s eyes were red, looking very desolate, "You’re so great, I really want to be with you."
Li Kai frowned, "This student, having joined this team for training, makes you a part of a group. A qualified group should support each other and have mutual understanding."
Yu Manman met Li Kai’s gaze, "Then why can’t she understand me? If I’m not willing, she has more options."
Li Kai hesitated, "Student, you shouldn’t be selfish! As part of a team, will you abandon your companion?"
Yu Manman raised an eyebrow, "Is being selfish? With so many people here, are you forcing just me? I believe plenty of males here would be willing to accompany her..."
"Manman, they are males; I am female, that’s not appropriate..."
"Then what was yesterday?" Yu Manman countered.
"Yes, yesterday was unavoidable.... Everyone else left, so I could only follow them..."
"You seem quite ungrateful; they helped you yesterday, yet you assume ill of them. Is this paranoia?" Yu Manman crossed her arms, "Honestly, you should worry more about me than them."
"You’re protected by the Female Association, they’re unlikely to harm you, but it’s different for me; I’m female, and even if I hospitalized you, it’d at most end in an apology and some compensation."
"So you’d better not provoke me." Yu Manman smiled, her gaze warning.
Being a pushover once means you might be forced to be one countless times afterward.
Isn’t she the villainess? Then let her show Mu Yaoyao a ’villainess.’
Mu Yaoyao’s face turned pale; what Yu Manman said was probably sincere. If she kept pushing Yu Manman to accompany her, she’d be the one suffering! She wanted to find opportunities to frame Yu Manman, like what Yu Manman did to her in her past life, but it didn’t mean she wanted to be beaten.
"I’m sorry..." Mu Yaoyao bowed her head in tears, "I didn’t know you hated me so much!"
Why is Yu Manman different? In the past life, Yu Manman always stuck around her, tried to hook her Beast Husband, and framed her every chance she got!
Why, in this life, does Yu Manman distance herself and make her dislike so obvious instead of feigning innocence?
Could she also have been reborn?
Mu Yaoyao bit her lip. No! She had to find a chance to test Yu Manman!
"Manman, since you’re unwilling, let’s forget it." Mu Yaoyao wiped her tears.
Li Kai looked at Yu Manman with displeasure, "Yu Manman, students need to look out for each other! You can’t isolate or bully others! Apologize to Yaoyao immediately!"
"Did I hit her, or curse her? I’m merely warning her not to provoke me. As long as she doesn’t, we’ll stay out of each other’s way." Yu Manman locked eyes with Li Kai, "Instructor, if you can’t be fair and impartial, and choose to favor her, then please leave, this isn’t your courting ground!"
Li Kai was furious, "What nonsense are you spouting?"