Chapter 10.1: Discipline and Discovery

The next morning began like any other—until it didn't.

Shi Mo had barely stepped into the hallway outside Class 15 when she noticed the tension.

Several students were gathered outside, whispering.

Someone had graffitied the wall beside the class door.

Large black spray paint marked the white surface, spelling out crude insults:

"Dog Class""Criminal Breeding Ground""Garbage Dump for Trash Students"

Shi Mo frowned.

Class 15 may have had a reputation for being unruly, but this was an open declaration of war.

"Who did this?" Bei Ling muttered under her breath as she arrived behind Shi Mo.

The students began speculating.

"Class 12?"

"No way, they wouldn't risk it."

"What about Luo Kai? He was pissed after yesterday."

Before anyone could settle on a theory, the homeroom teacher, Old Huang, arrived.

He was in his late fifties, always wore wrinkled suits, and perpetually smelled like herbal medicine. Most students mocked him behind his back, but everyone knew—Old Huang didn't tolerate nonsense.

He took one look at the graffiti and turned to the class with an expression of cold fury.

"Which one of you did this?"

Silence.

Everyone looked away or down at their feet.

Old Huang's gaze swept the group, finally landing on Shi Mo—perhaps because she was new, or perhaps because of her unflinching stare.

"You," he said sharply. "What's your name?"

"Shi Mo."

"Come with me."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked down the corridor.

Shi Mo followed.

She was led to the school's small administrative building, into a narrow office lined with metal filing cabinets and dusty binders. Old Huang closed the door and sat across from her.

"You're new here," he said slowly, his voice low and gravelly. "So let me be clear—this school may tolerate misbehavior, but I do not. If you think you can come in here and disrupt the balance, think again."

Shi Mo remained quiet.

"I asked around. You've been living with Fu Yunshen, yes?"

"Yes."

"You two close?"

"No."

Old Huang narrowed his eyes. "Then why did you jump to defend him yesterday? The incident with Luo Kai."

Shi Mo didn't flinch. "I didn't jump to defend anyone. I just didn't want unnecessary trouble."

Old Huang leaned back and sighed. "That boy…" He tapped his fingers against the table. "He's not like the rest of you."

Shi Mo remained still.

"You probably know the rumors," Old Huang said. "They're not all false. But neither are they all true. The school keeps him because of the board's funding. But that doesn't mean I'll let him do whatever he wants."

Shi Mo said nothing.

Old Huang studied her carefully. "You don't talk much. That's fine. But remember—at Yingnan, silence doesn't mean safety. Watch where you stand."

He stood, walked to the filing cabinet, and pulled out a worn folder. "Take this to the library. It's overdue for record entry."

Shi Mo accepted the folder and left.