Chapter 22 The Unyielding Spirit nished Under the intense , scrutinizing gaze of the entire class , Leander slowly lifted his head , his eyes locking with Yvette's striking gaze , a spark of unspoken tension crackling in the air between them . " I understand . " His voice was calm , almost dismissive , as he offered a single nod in acknowledgment . Without another word , he slumped back over his desk , assuming a posture that made it clear he intended to sleep , his disinterest as palpable as the stunned silence that followed . The students of Class 4 were left momentarily speechless , their expressions a mixture of shock and disbelief . Leander's demeanor was unmistakable - he had no interest in Yvette whatsoever . In the storied halls of Ravenridge Senior High , where Yvette's mere presence commanded admiration , Leander was the first to show such blatant disregard . Yvette's brow furrowed slightly , her usually composed exterior betraying a hint of irritation . Though she did not see herself as some untouchable deity , she had never been so openly ignored . Leander's repeated indifference , his refusal to even acknowledge her presence , sparked a simmering frustration deep within her . The more indifferent Leander appeared the more displeased Yvette became . It was unthinkable -while the wealthy and influential students of Ravenridge clamored for her attention , this outsider , a stranger with no connections or familiarity with their world , carried himself with an air of arrogance that she found utterly infuriating . He acted as if he were above them all , and she could not conceal the disdain that welled up inside her . " Why should I care about his attitude ? " she asked herself , her thoughts simmering as her gaze lingered on Leander for a few more moments . But then , with a sudden clarity , she reminded herself that , regardless of Leander's attitude , she remained who she was - Ravenridge's proud campus beauty , the daughter of a family whose wealth reached into the hundreds of millions . She was the sought - after heiress , and Leander was nothing more than an ordinary high school student , one who dined at makeshift diners , unremarkable in every way that mattered to her . With a haughty toss of her head , Yvette dismissed her thoughts , turning to wave goodbye to Madeline with an air of practiced grace . She strode out of the classroom , her steps confident and unyielding . Behind her , Leander remained as he was , motionless and unbothered , his breathing steady and faintly audible , as though the world outside his dreams was of no consequence . The first two periods had been devoted to classical literature , taught by a teacher known for his leniency . Leander had been allowed to sleep undisturbed , his presence barely noted by the instructor . But as the bell rang for the third period , a realization dawned on Liam , who sat nearby . He leaned forward , ready to wake Leander from his slumber , aware of the change that was about to take place . 1/5 19:21 Sat , Oct 11 Chapter 22 The Unviriding Spirit g 41 Finished Just as Liam reached out , the atmosphere in the classroom shifted , a sudden tension gripping the students as a diminutive old man appeared at the door . His presence was imposing despite his small stature . His eyes , sharp and calculating behind his glasses , swept across the room with a cold , discerning gaze that sent a shiver down the spines of those who met it . Liam quickly withdrew his hand and sank back into his seat , defeated . The easygoing mood that had pervaded the first two periods evaporated in an instant , replaced by a charged silence . Every student , who had previously lounged in their seats , now sat upright , their demeanor transformed as though they had been infused with a sudden surge of energy , all too aware of the old man's disdain for laziness . Madeline , unable to resist , glanced over at Leander . Her heart raced as she saw him still sprawled over his desk , utterly oblivious to the shift in the room's atmosphere . Anxiety gnawed at her - this was not going to end well . The old man , known as Tim Wells , was their math teacher and the formidable head of the math department . His decades of experience and unparalleled knowledge made him a revered figure within the school , but his reputation for strictness was what struck fear into the hearts of his students . Any disruption to the discipline of his classroom was met with swift and severe consequences . Mr. Wells harbored a particular aversion to students sleeping in his class . There was a tale that had circulated among the students - how a poor soul who had dared to doze off in his lesson had been unceremoniously dragged to his office , where he was subjected to a lengthy and scathing reprimand until he was forced to offer a tearful apology . " This is bad ," Madeline thought , her worry mounting . " Leander just joined the class . He probably doesn't know Mr. Wells ' rules . This could be serious trouble ... " Madeline's heart raced with an overwhelming tide of anxiety , her thoughts tangled in a web of uncertainty . She felt utterly powerless , trapped in the unfolding moment . Tim had already ascended to the podium , a figure of authority who commanded an almost sacred respect . The classroom held its collective breath ; not a single student dared to stir , herself included . Victor's gaze flickered with malice as he kept a vigilant watch on Leander , his rival . For some time now , he had harbored a deep - seated grudge against him , and today , fortune smiled upon him . The sight of Tim taking the stage while Leander remained sprawled out at his desk , motionless , sent a wave of dark satisfaction through Victor . He inwardly reveled at the opportunity to witness Leander's impending downfall . Tim was a man whose reputation preceded him - infamous for his fiery temper that had , on more than one occasion , reduced students to trembling messes . Victor , despite his bravado , would never dare to challenge Tim's stringent classroom rules . The atmosphere in the room shifted noticeably as Tim's presence cast a long shadow . If Leander was caught asleep , Tim's reaction would undoubtedly be swift and unforgiving . Leander's fate seemed sealed- humiliation awaited him , laid bare before the entire class . Victor could already imagine the 2/5 19:21 Sat , Oct 11 Chapter 22 The Unyielding Spid 2 Finished moment , seeing it as his chance to reclaim some measure of dignity in front of Madeline . " Hmph . " Jade's lips curled into a mocking smile as she caught sight of Leander's sleeping form . Her disdain was palpable . " So what if you're strong ? Knowing Yvette won't save you from being a clueless drag in this class . The nerve to sleep through Mr. Wells ' lesson ? I can't wait to see how you'll wriggle your way out of this one . " Tim stood tall on the platform , his sharp eyes sweeping across the rows of students until they landed on Leander , lying still in the back row . His gold - rimmed glasses gleamed under the harsh fluorescent lights as he adjusted them , but rather than rousing the slumbering student immediately , he turned towards the blackboard , methodically beginning to write out a complex problem . His movements were precise and deliberate , each stroke of chalk on the board echoing with authority . After completing the problem , he turned back to the class , his voice resonating with a calm yet commanding tone . " Class , today we will pick up where we left off yesterday . Let's tackle this problem . " " I asked you all to ponder it last night . Has anyone come up with a solution ? " His gaze first fell upon Madeline . " Madeline , have you found the answer ? " Madeline , feeling the weight of his scrutiny , gently shook her head . Despite having spent the entire night wrestling with the problem , she had found no breakthrough . Her heart sank slightly , but she remained composed . Tim offered no comment , merely shifting his attention to Victor . " Victor , what about you ? " Victor mirrored Madeline's response with a shake of his head . He had poured over his textbooks and notes , scouring them for any hint or clue , but had found nothing . The problem remained an enigma , one he had labored over all night to no avail . " Any other students ? " Tim's gaze swept across the room once more , met by a sea of bowed heads . It was clear that no one else had made any progress . Tim sighed inwardly , though his expression remained impassive . He knew the caliber of Class 4 of Senior Year , where only Victor and Madeline truly excelled . If they were stumped , it was unlikely that anyone else had fared better . " Alright then , use the remainder of this period to continue discussing the problem amongst 3/5 19:21 Sat , Oct 11 Chapter 22 The Unyielding Spard 41 Finished yourselves . If no one has a solution by the last fifteen minutes , I will walk you through it . As soon as the words left his lips , the room buzzed with activity . Students began fervent discussions , hoping that by pooling their knowledge , they might stumble upon the solution . Tim , hands clasped behind his back , slowly began to pace towards the back of the room . His presence loomed large , and every step seemed to echo with unspoken authority . Liam , seated nearby , anxiously considered whether to wake Leander , but Tim's unwavering gaze on their row left him paralyzed with indecision . At last , Tim reached the final row . The steady rise and fall of Leander's breathing revealed his deep slumber , a sight that made Tim's expression darken considerably . His eyes , cold as ice , flashed with irritation as he brought his hand down hard on Leander's desk with a resounding slap . " Stand up ." The command rang out like a shot , shattering the classroom's concentration . Every head turned towards the source of the commotion . Leander , roused from his sleep , blinked slowly as he lifted his head . He looked up at Tim with an expression of serene calm , as though he were entirely unbothered by the situation . " Sir , are you referring to me ? " he asked , his voice even and unruffled . " Yes , I am . Stand up . " Tim's voice was clipped , devoid of any warmth . There was no leniency in his gaze , only the stern expectation that his authority would be acknowledged . Without hesitation , Leander stood , maintaining an air of unshaken composure . His eyes met Tim's without flinching , a quiet defiance simmering beneath the surface . Tim's eyes narrowed slightly as he regarded the young man , his tone dropping to a dangerously low register . " Tell me , why were you sleeping in my class ? " Leander tilted his head just slightly , his expression remaining calm , almost indifferent . " There's no special reason . I just found the class boring . " A collective gasp seemed to rise from the class , the silence that followed thick with disbelief . Leander's audacious words hung in the air , a blatant challenge to the unassailable authority of Tim Wells , the feared " Devil Wells " of Ravenridge Senior High . The entire class waited with bated breath , their eyes darting between the two figures standing at the center of the storm . 4/5