“This guy has a really sharp tongue. Especially when he says things in that cold, indifferent tone—it just makes you want to cough up blood.” Brian Cooper said with a somewhat forlorn expression, “Most people avoid hitting the face in a fight, and don’t expose people’s shortcomings when insulting them. But this guy? He only aims for the face in a fight, and only exposes your weaknesses when he insults you. He never plays by the rules, and yet he’s not afraid of anyone.”

“Don’t tell me you’ve been beaten up by him and had your secrets exposed too?” William Carter said with a smile.

“Sigh, the past is like the wind, best left unmentioned.” Brian Cooper waved his hand nonchalantly, looking as if he’d seen through the ways of the world.

William Carter teased, “Shouldn’t it be that the past is too painful to recall?”

Brian Cooper’s face fell, and he nodded, “Anyway, Brother Yuan, just don’t mess with him. White House’s family background is anything but simple. Even someone like Olivia Harris only dares to spar with him verbally, but every time he ends up humiliated.”

Speaking of Olivia Harris, William Carter became interested and asked curiously, “What was that about being rejected by a woman that White House just mentioned? Why did Olivia Harris look like he was on steroids the moment he heard it?”

“You don’t know?” Brian Cooper’s eyes widened, but then, remembering that William Carter had only arrived at the academy today, he nodded in understanding and explained, “Olivia Harris is Mr. Wang’s eldest grandson. A month ago, the Wang family proposed marriage to Dean Zeng. Olivia Harris wanted to marry the demoness, that is, Emily Bennett.”

“What! There’s actually a man in this world who dares to marry Emily Bennett, that little vixen!” William Carter’s eyes went wide, as if he’d just heard something out of a fairy tale.

Brian Cooper nodded in deep agreement and continued, “The Wang family is considered a prominent household in Shuzhou City, and they have family members serving as officials. Although they’re still a bit below the Zeng family, in Shuzhou City they’re at least a decent match. The dean even said that Olivia Harris had a good chance of passing the imperial exams this year, maybe even making the top list and competing for the top scholar. He’s one of the most sought-after young men in Shuzhou City. But unexpectedly, the marriage proposal was rejected by the Zeng family. I heard the dean just said five words: ‘Qingyi does not agree.’”

“Didn’t expect the teacher to be so cool about it.” William Carter sighed, then pointed at Olivia Harris and said, “That little vixen would never agree. With that scrawny body of his, she’d whip him twice and he’d be gone. If you ask me, she’ll have to find someone who can really take a beating in the future.”

After saying this, William Carter turned to size up Brian Cooper from head to toe, his eyes lighting up as he said, “Fatty, I think you’re a good fit. With all that meat, you could definitely take a beating. If your dad went to propose, maybe that little vixen would actually agree.”

Brian Cooper instantly turned pale, his whole body trembling, and he hurriedly waved his hands, “Brother Yuan, please don’t say that, that would be the death of me.” As he spoke, he glanced nervously at Emily Bennett, who was sitting at the very front, playing with her braid out of boredom. Only after confirming she wasn’t paying attention did he pat his chest and whisper with a bitter face, “Brother Yuan, don’t be fooled by my size. In front of that demoness, I’m no different from a kitten.”

“A kitten?” William Carter looked at Brian Cooper’s rather exaggerated physique, suddenly recalling something from years ago, and asked with a suppressed laugh, “Did Emily Bennett used to call you ‘Fat Cat’? Didn’t she beat you up for a whole month when you were fourteen?”

“Yeah! Brother Yuan, how do you even know that? What exactly is your relationship with that demoness?” Brian Cooper exclaimed in shock, his face full of astonishment.

“Ha... ha... hahaha...” William Carter couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst out laughing. But seeing Brian Cooper suddenly sit up straight with a solemn face, he quickly realized that laughing at this moment might not be a good idea.

David Harris was still discussing the question that Edward Clark had asked earlier, and the students below were listening intently. Just as he was getting to the most exciting part, the laughter interrupted him. David Harris’s face darkened, and even his long beard trembled. The students, who had been listening with rapt attention, all turned to glare angrily.

Emily Bennett covered her face with both hands and rolled her eyes, feeling a bit embarrassed. White House watched William Carter, who was now trying to stifle his laughter and whose face had turned a little red, with great interest, the smile at the corner of his mouth softening a bit. Olivia Harris’s gaze was gloomy; it was clear he didn’t like William Carter, who kept teasing Emily Bennett and repeatedly embarrassing his grandfather.

“William Carter, get out. From today on, you don’t need to attend the ‘Rites’ class anymore.” David Harris slammed the ruler heavily on the low table and said sternly.

“Yes!” William Carter stood up and replied, giving the other students an apologetic smile. It wasn’t that he’d meant to laugh out loud—he just couldn’t help it. But the reason for it was hard to explain to outsiders.

However, in the eyes of the other students, William Carter’s smile looked rather arrogant and menacing. William Carter couldn’t care less about their angry stares—what, were they really going to burn him alive? He walked straight to the door, paused in front of David Harris to give a slight bow, and as he lowered his head, he made a funny face at Emily Bennett sitting in the front row.

Leaving the lecture hall, William Carter walked deeper into the academy. The academy was filled with study halls; besides the four main lecture halls, there was also a large library and a grand Confucian temple. The other classrooms weren’t very big, used for daily teaching and student self-study.