Zane Langley stepped in front of Wren Wynter, his tall frame completely shielding her.

The expected pain never came. Wren Wynter slowly opened her eyes, a hint of confusion in their depths.

’Did someone step in to right a wrong?’

"Can’t you see she doesn’t want to?"

A familiar voice reached her ears. Wren Wynter whipped her head around. Seeing that figure once again, she felt a sudden daze come over her.

’It’s him.’

’The man who saved me from Nathaniel Quinn.’

’He saved me again.’

"Zane Langley, mind your own business! Get lost!"

The leader of the group tried to push Zane Langley away, only to be shoved back himself.

"Silas Fawcett, can’t you see she’s not interested? Do you really think no one in all of A University dares to put you in your place?"

"Zane Langley, you’re asking for it!"

Silas Fawcett raised his fist and threw a punch at Zane Langley’s face.

Zane Langley easily dodged it, catching the fist securely in his hand.

"With your shoddy skills, you should just save your breath. Now, scram!"

"You!"

"Boss," one of the guys behind Silas Fawcett said, grabbing his arm. "Let’s just drop it. We can’t afford to mess with Zane Langley."

"Yeah, Boss. His dad is one of the school’s board members. We’re just regular people. We really can’t afford to cross him."

"What the hell is there to be afraid of? My old man is a board member, too."

Silas Fawcett was furious. ’A bunch of cowards, backing down at a time like this.’

"Silas Fawcett, I’d suggest you drop whatever little scheme you’re planning. Have you already forgotten your lesson from last time?"

"You!"

Zane Langley gave a slight raise of his eyebrows, the corners of his lips lifting into a smirk. The mockery in his eyes, tinged with a hint of contempt, thoroughly infuriated Silas Fawcett.

But the memory of last time made him hesitate. With a final, fierce glare at Zane Langley, he turned and left with his lackeys.

Zane Langley helped Wren Wynter up from the ground. When he got a clear look at her face, his own filled with surprise.

"It’s you!"

’What a small world.’

He hadn’t been back from the military for long before his family enrolled him in the university.

"You remember me?" A hint of amusement played in Wren Wynter’s eyes.

Zane Langley nodded, a bright, sunny smile spreading across his face. He looked genuinely excited.

"You’re so beautiful, it’d be hard to forget you. What are you doing here? New student?"

"Do I look that much like a student?" Wren Wynter asked again.

’Is my outfit today really that juvenile?’

"Haha, not really." Zane Langley scratched his hair in embarrassment. He glanced at his watch and suddenly exclaimed, "I can’t talk anymore, I’m going to be late for class! Quick, let’s exchange contact info. If you ever need anything in the future, just call me."

He pulled up his QR code. Amused, Wren Wynter scanned it. After they’d added each other, he took off.

Wren Wynter paid the small incident no more mind and headed to the principal’s office.

The principal’s face lit up with pleasant surprise when he saw Wren Wynter. She had been a famously good student at A University.

He remembered her well.

"Elder Hawthorne only said he was sending a student over. I never imagined it would be you."

"Principal, it’s been a while."

"Perfect timing. There’s a class starting right now. You can just make it if you head over."

Wren Wynter was surprised. "So soon? I’m not prepared..."

"Nonsense, I have full confidence in your abilities. Go on." With a grand wave of his hand, the principal sent Wren Wynter off to the classroom.

With no other choice, Wren Wynter had to bite the bullet and go.

She arrived at the assigned classroom to find it packed to the brim with students—a sea of people.

As Wren Wynter walked into the classroom, the once-raucous room fell instantly silent.

All eyes turned to the breathtakingly beautiful teacher on the platform.

"Silas, look! Isn’t that the girl you were cornering at the school gate?" 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Silas Fawcett followed his gaze and saw it was indeed Wren Wynter. A contemplative look crossed his face.

"It really is her. Well, well. Looks like our paths were bound to cross. This time, she definitely won’t escape my grasp!"

His tone oozed confidence. The next second, all the color drained from his face.

"Hello, everyone. I’m your new substitute teacher. My name is Wren Wynter—that’s Wren, like the bird, and Wynter, spelled with a ’y’."

What?!

’She’s the new substitute teacher?’

The lecture his family elders gave him last night echoed in Silas Fawcett’s mind.

"This teacher is a student of Elder Hawthorne. You be on your best behavior. You should try to get to know her, find a way to get on her good side. It would be beneficial for our Fawcett Family."

"That’s right, Silas. If she agrees to help with the Fawcett Family’s project, we could make a fortune. We might even be able to break into the ranks of The Capital’s top elite families."

’I can’t believe she’s the substitute teacher.’

’It’s over. I’m so screwed...’

’Forget getting on her good side. I’ll be lucky if she doesn’t take her anger out on the entire Fawcett Family.’

Zane Langley, who was also in the classroom, was just as surprised.

’I can’t believe she’s my substitute teacher.’

He gazed at her exquisite face, the corners of his mouth curving into a smile. Propping his chin on one hand, he watched Wren Wynter, his eyes fixed on her.

Since she had no lesson plan prepared, Wren Wynter didn’t delve into the professional curriculum for her first class. Instead, she just shared some of her own past experiences.

Her stories from her time as a medical student resonated with many in the class, and not a single person found the lecture dull.

After class, Silas Fawcett fled the classroom in disgrace.

Wren Wynter was so beautiful that many students crowded the podium after class, asking for her contact information. She politely turned them all down.

’I’m just here to teach, not to network. There’s no need to add so many people.’

Meanwhile, Zane Langley stood at the edge of the crowd, watching her get swarmed and sighing with a sense of helplessness.

He stepped forward, placing himself in front of Wren Wynter and yelled, "Alright, that’s enough everyone! Ms. Wynter has her own business to attend to. Don’t cause trouble for her. Break it up!"

But no one was willing to give up. They finally had a young, beautiful teacher, and everyone wanted to add her contact info for a private chat.

Seeing that the students wouldn’t leave, Zane Langley was at a loss. He turned to Wren Wynter and gave her a quick wink. While she was still stunned, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her through the crowd.

Wren Wynter hadn’t expected Zane Langley to be so bold. He pulled her out of the academic building, not stopping until they reached the sports field, leaving them both panting for breath.

"I can’t run anymore... Stop."

"Haha, I didn’t realize you had such bad stamina. You’re already worn out after just a short run."

Zane Langley’s hearty laughter rang out from above her.

Wren Wynter rolled her eyes, but she was still grateful he had pulled her out of that crowd.

"Thank you."

"It was nothing, Ms. Wynter."

"I don’t just mean now. I mean this morning, and the other day, too."

He had rescued her twice and helped her out of a jam once, and she hadn’t even had the chance to ask his name.

"What’s your name?"

"I’m Zane Langley, Ms. Wynter. ’Zane’ like... ’rain’? And ’Langley’ like... ’strangely’?" Zane Langley asked, playfully mimicking her style.

A blush crept up Wren Wynter’s face, and she felt a little embarrassed.

’Being mimicked by my own student like this makes me feel so silly.’

"Ms. Wynter, I’ve saved you twice now. How are you going to repay me?" Zane Langley suddenly leaned in closer to Wren Wynter. "How about you offer yourself to me?"