Although Zhang Fei was fierce, he knew the seriousness of the "Proposed Scholar" incident, so he did not reveal his reasons for doing so.

Compared to his second brother becoming a notorious student, dying, getting injured, or becoming an idiot, he would rather be expelled from school himself.

He truly couldn't believe that the guild leader, who outwardly treated them like brothers, was so ruthless in secret. And Ye Siwu, wasn't she his elder brother's friend? Why would she collude with Cao Cao?!

That's absolutely outrageous!

Everyone was puzzled, but no one said anything more.

—President's Office—

“Zhang Fei might have overheard what we said last night. Think about how to explain it to them.” Xia Xiang was very unhappy.

She believed Zhang Fei was a good person; she just hadn't yet discovered his shining qualities.

"No need," Cao Cao said without even looking up from the document. "This is also a test of our friendship. Moreover, I have fallen out with the Five Tiger Generals, and Dong Zhuo and his men may also make a move to muddy the waters."

"Aren't you worried?" Xia Xiang asked.

"Don't worry, I'm only worried about whether your friendship with Brother Liu is strong enough," Cao Cao said with a smile.

Xia Xiang understood and joked, "President, aren't you worried that our friendship might not be stable?"

“I’m not worried,” Cao Cao said confidently. “It’s just my intuition.”

"Okay," Xia Xiang said, seeing his confidence, and didn't say anything more.

Cao Cao's love-hate relationship with the Five Tiger Generals was complicated by his reluctance to speak, which led to Xia Xiang being ostracized by Zhang Fei as well.

—School Rooftop—

"Siwu, do you and the president have any plans?" Xiu asked tentatively.

The next second, Cao Cao appeared directly behind Xiu—

"Brother Liu, you can ask me anything. Why make things difficult for Siwu?" Cao Cao said.

Xiu: Am I putting myself in a difficult position?

"There's nothing to hide," Xia Xiang said.

"What? I want to hear too!" Sun Shangxiang emerged from the corner.

Three people: ←_← (ー_ー)!! →_→

"So it is, and so it is," Cao Cao explained.

“The plan is correct,” Sun Shangxiang said, “but Guan Yu is highly skilled in martial arts. Who in the world can defeat him without hurting him? Given his personality, he probably wouldn’t cooperate with the charade.”

All three eyes were fixed on Cao Cao: (each one) →⊙▽⊙

"I can't beat him," Cao Cao admitted directly. His martial arts skills weren't yet fully developed, so it was highly likely he wouldn't be able to win.

"Besides, if I were to be subdued by Guan Yu, wouldn't that confirm Zhang Fei's suspicions? No way."

“Brother Liu, Yu is your second brother, so you are the one who can handle this situation. You can do it.”

Xia Xiang, Sun Shangxiang, and Cao Cao then looked at Xiu: (个_个)→∑(??д??lll)

"I probably can't," Xiu said, glancing at Xia Xiang and then at Sun Shangxiang. "I can't bring myself to do it to my own second brother, and besides, I probably can't beat him."

Xia Xiang, Cao Cao, and Xiu looked at Sun Shangxiang again: (__) →=????=????(●???● |||)

"Hey, don't look at me like that, I'm just a marksman, you want me to go toe-to-toe with a warrior???" Sun Shangxiang refused.

Cao Cao, Xiu, and Sun Shangxiang exchanged glances before looking at Xia Xiang: (个_个)→∑(￣□￣;)

"Good grief, they're coming for me!" Xia Xiang was speechless.

"Auntie, you beat my brother so well, just be a little harder on Guan Yu," Sun Shangxiang advised.

"I don't think it's a good idea," Xiu said worriedly. Although in his memory, apart from the Flame Messenger, Xia Xiang had never been defeated, she shouldn't be allowed to make a move.

“Actually, when I graduated, my master made me swear that I would never use force against good people in this life,” Xia Xiang said with a melancholy expression. “But now is a special time. If Guan Yu takes the initiative to make a move, I can do so too.”

She could only manage to attack her master's clone; she was so heartbroken, waaaaah~ (￣▽￣)~

Swift Walker: Ah Qiu~(′-﹏-`？)～