Ferdinand''s final, full-throated shout echoed across the entire training ground, a sound that pped across the faces of the animation students like a physical blow. Their earlier arrogance now seemed like a distant, humiliating memory.


    Having gotten what she wanted, Juniper shot the dejected boy onest indifferent look and walked past him without another word.


    As she opened the door, Farrell was there to meet her, his face a mask of fury. "What do you think you''re doing? Publicly bullying a fellow student?"


    Juniper slowly raised her eyes, her expression one of pure annoyance. She was already exhausted, and being challenged again and again had pushed her temper to its limit.


    "I''m talking to you! Are you deaf?" Farrell seized on her ''bullying'' as the perfect excuse to finally punish her.


    "Shut up," Juniper snapped, her voice so cold it could freeze blood.


    Farrell was taken aback.


    "How dare you speak to an instructor like that?" Ferdinand''s own instructor rushed over, pointing a finger at Juniper. "You think you''re special just because you were the top scorer on the entrance exam? You-"


    "You shut up, too," Juniper''s gaze shifted to him, her tone just as merciless.


    The animation instructor was left speechless.


    "Got a problem with it?" Juniper stuffed her hands in her pockets and smirked. "If you''ve got the guts, go ahead and get the school to expel me."


    With that parting shot, she turned and strode away. But after a few steps, she paused, nced back at Farrell, and added, "Don''t forget our bet. You owe me a milkshake."


    Watching her walk away so defiantly, Farrell''s face turned an ugly shade of red. Bullying a student... expulsion was too light a punishment. In his opinion, someone like her belonged in jail.


    "With the way this has blown up, that student''s family won''t let her off the hook," the animation instructor remarked. Ferdinand''s father wa after all, a man of some standing in* Ectara City.


    ...


    Two hourster, the students of Company 22 headed back to their dorms, happily sipping on milkshakes. With a day off tomorrow, the atmosphere was jubnt, like a holiday.


    "Goddess," a few students from the broadcasting major said respectfully as they passed Juniper. If it weren''t for her, their department''s reputation world be in tatters, to say nothing of their day off. They now admired her from the bottom of their hearts.


    Juniper just gave a slight nod, her demeanor cool and distant.


    "Juniper, you were amazing," J said, her eyes shining with adoration as she handed Juniper a milkshake.


    "Seriously, Juniper, you''re the perfect model of a well-rounded student," Hattie, Cynthia, and L chimed in, circling around her with endless praise.


    "But those two instructors looked really angry..." Queenie, who hade over to their group, said with a worried frown. "They might report you for assault."


    Juniper took a sip of her milkshake, her expression unconcerned.


    As if on cue, Queenie''s words had barely faded when an instructor walked up to Juniper. "Juniper, you''re needed in the office," he said sternly.


    The incident had be a big deal. Some students had secretly filmed the entire confrontation and posted it online, where public opinion was sharply divided. Some praised Juniper as cool and courageous, a new age woman standing up for herself Others called her a bully, saying she was a disgrace to the university.