Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation

Chapter 1696 - 924: Heart-Piercing Pain (2)

Three thousand students lined up neatly, all gazing at the small figure on the stage.

Xue Yuantong, dressed in a pink cotton jacket, skillfully adjusted the microphone, and took a deep breath.

She feared crowds, yet dared to speak in front of thousands, a very contradictory state.

She scanned the dense crowd below and easily spotted Jiang Ning in the formation of Class 8: ’Hmph, annoying Jiang Ning, now you see my status!’

The crowd continued to stir, emitting a fragmented buzz.

Chen Siyu sighed: "She stands so high, such a tiny figure."

Xin Youling looked at the petite figure with admiration in her eyes: "But her grades are really good!"

Bai Yuxia, who originally had a casual mindset, caught the admiration in Xin Youling’s eyes and was momentarily dazed.

After more than a year of constant companionship, Bai Yuxia now counted as Xue Yuantong’s friend, accustomed to her usual playfulness.

But at this moment, seeing Xue Yuantong’s commanding presence over everyone, Bai Yuxia suddenly remembered her parents telling her that the educational level in Yuzhou was actually lacking compared to the whole Hui Province’s sixty million people and sixteen prefecture-level cities. She didn’t know how many geniuses were out there, ready to compete in the college entrance examination for supremacy.

Just imagining it, Bai Yuxia could feel the difficulty.

But no matter how many joint exams there were, Xue Yuantong always came first, seemingly born as a mountain rather than a creek, overlooking the ordinary valleys from the peaks.

Bai Yuxia: "She’s very smart."

Xue Yuantong didn’t waste words, and after her speech, she quickly ran back to the classroom.

Next was Principal Yu’s ramble, first praising the top students, then selecting the students who had made the most progress in each grade.

"Let’s congratulate Luo Jun from Class 11 of Year 2. In his final exam, he jumped from 376th in the whole school to 76th in his grade, a huge improvement!"

A fair-skinned Luo Jun ascended the stage amidst numerous surprised looks.

Zhang Chi, knowing this thing, cursed: "He must have copied, copied!"

Liu Chuandao: "Isn’t this obvious? The school definitely knows he copied but just lets him go on stage to receive the award."

Guo Kunnan guessed: "Probably hoping he’ll have a conscience and study well in the future."

Cui Yu cleaned out his ears: "Guys, is anyone jealous of him?"

Zhang Chi was stunned, then smiled.

Laughter erupted around, ranking in seniority, Luo Jun and Shen Xinli shared a table and were among those favored by Pang Jiao.

Gong Jin was a bit confused, just now everyone was cursing, why the sudden laughter?

...

Today’s schedule was quite enjoyable, after the meeting, the students hadn’t sat in the classroom long before the formidable PE teacher Gu Wei robustly led Class 8 for two consecutive PE classes, for a satisfying thrill.

After the PE classes, school was dismissed, and the students went their separate ways.

Zhang Chi instinctively ran towards the cafeteria, then realized the small meal table system wasn’t activated, so he returned outside the school disappointed.

As for Jiang Ning, she had already brought the dedicated chef Tongtong back to the River Dam Bungalow, directing her to cook.

Sauntering along, it was soon the time for afternoon dismissal.

Half an hour later, Jiang Yanan and Shen Qing’e carried food, returning to the classroom tiredly.

Jiang Yanan complained: "The cafeteria isn’t open, there are so many people buying food outside, I was almost crushed to tears!"

Shen Qing’e said nothing, just reminisced about the middle school days when someone bore the burden for her.

Cui Yu was eating instant noodles, casually responding: "It should open soon, probably the homeroom teacher will notify us about paying fees tonight."

"It’s still better to eat in the cafeteria." Jiang Yanan said happily, accustomed to the small meal table system, she actually missed it.

Gong Jin was curious: "What’s the small meal table?"

The Fourth Middle School was really odd, it was his first time seeing a school start with the cafeteria closed.

Jiang Yanan, being friendly and gentle, patiently explained the operation model of the small meal table to him.

Gong Jin’s mouth curled up: "It sounds interesting."

Liu Chuandao, running to the back to throw garbage, upon hearing it, was displeased: "What’s interesting about it, every time you depend on luck, if the assigned meal buddy doesn’t work out, you can’t even eat!"

Many boys agreed strongly, at the same time being exceptionally envious of Jiang Ning, but what could they do, since Xue Yuantong had good grades and could designate meal partners?

On this point, no one had any objections, since her grades were exceptionally good.

"Betting on luck?" Gong Jin’s expression didn’t change.

Others need to bet on luck; he doesn’t. When the time comes, he’ll just send the list to Director Yan.

First period of evening self-study.

Gao Heshuai comes in to maintain order; he’s the strictest teacher. No phones allowed, no talking, must study.

During this time, many people can only pass the time by staring blankly, but Yu Wen is different. She can admire the handsome class leader. Unfortunately, Huang Zhongfei is at a meeting today, so Yu Wen can only touch her golden bracelet in a daze.

Gao Heshuai passes by, picks up a book, and knocks on Yu Wen’s head, forcefully knocking her soul back in.

Yu Wen jolts awake.

Gao Heshuai glares at her: "What are you doing? You don’t know your grades?"

Gao Heshuai with his big bull-like eyes and a dark face is quite intimidating.

Yu Wen finds an excuse to complain: "I’m too tired. I don’t understand the meaning of studying. Some people study casually and still get first place."

Gao Heshuai doesn’t respond immediately but instead walks to the podium. He looks down at the whole class and asks, "Do you think studying is meaningless, that you can’t see the direction, find it hard to progress?"

Although he’s a math teacher, he once served as a class advisor.

"Yeah, people like Xue Yuantong study casually, sleep every day, and still get first place," Duan Shigang said.

Chen Siyu raises her hand to express her dissatisfaction on Tongtong’s behalf, and she sharply says: "Who said Xue Yuantong sleeps all day? She not only sleeps but also plays games, watches movies, eats snacks!"

"Alright, sit down!" Gao Heshuai waves his hand, these things are messing with morale!

Chen Siyu says to Tongtong: "Isn’t he cool?"

Xue Yuantong, while playing a game: "So cool."

Gao Heshuai says: "Studying is boring, but let me ask you, is dating interesting?"

He straightens his collar to present himself properly: "Today, I’m teaching you all..."

Pang Jiao softly says: "But Mr. Gao, you broke up yourself; what can you teach us?"

Gao Heshuai feels a pang in his heart. Who let this out?

The classroom erupts in laughter.

Gao Heshuai, akin to the Black-faced Evil God, forcibly restores his dignity: "The more problems you solve now, the better the level of the person you’ll date later!"

"Why do I say this? Because the college entrance exam is the fairest exam in the world, bar none. For over 90% of you present, your future destiny will be determined by the entrance exam! It decides your future, decides you meet better people!"

"If there’s no talent, then keep repeating! Repeat!"

Gao Heshuai clenches his fist, raising it high, trying to awaken the students’ fighting spirit!

The classroom atmosphere is very quiet, Gao Heshuai feels something’s off.

After his motivational speech is done, Cui Yu tentatively asks: "Mr. Gao, just how did you break up? I heard she dumped you?"

...

Gao Heshuai leaves, leaving without a trace.

Chen Siyu: "He seems like a lonely black bear."

Bai Yuxia remains silent, how can everyone expose the teacher’s flaws like this? How can they be so gloating?

In her mind, at least everyone should express sadness, so Gao Heshuai can narrate his past tearfully, and not leave so hastily.

Yu Wen enjoys snacks from the trendy brand Three Squirrels, seemingly chewing on Gao Heshuai’s words, nonchalant: "What better people, better people, I’ve already met them."

She turns to find Jiang Ning in the back row with eyes closed, quietly sitting in his seat.

Yu Wen is puzzled: "Jiang Ning is zoning out too, why doesn’t Gao Heshuai bother him?"

Xue Yuantong hears the outside inquiry and defends: "He’s not zoning out."

Yu Wen is confused: "What’s the difference when he’s zoning out compared to me?"

Xue Yuantong solemnly says: "You’re zoning out, he’s meditating, entering a state of flow."

Yu Wen snorts: "Nonsense."

’Medical authority’ Bai Yuxia: "The fact is, meditation indeed makes the body healthier."