Chapter 62: You Don’t Have to Persuade Me
After turning down Director Liang, Yang Shen didn’t feel anything was wrong.
The main credit for his progress wasn’t the frantic competition with his classmates at school, but his Cultivation.
The so-called study group for top students wouldn’t be much help to him; in fact, it would probably just be a hassle.
’When the time came, all those top students would be jabbing themselves with needles left and right. Wouldn’t it be weird if I was there with my kidneys, completely untouched by a single needle?’
If there was anyone besides his family whom Yang Shen was willing to trust and show a different side of himself to, it was only Xu Bamboo.
Besides, after Liu Yuankui had been dealt with, Huo Jun, the Madman, was the only one at the school with any real skill. Being singled out and pulled from his own PE class... it was hard to say whether that was a gain or a loss.
Yang Shen returned to the classroom. His academic lessons had already begun. The morning was spent going over the monthly exam papers, and every class dragged on.
The previous class ran five minutes late, and the next one started five minutes early, leaving only a one-minute break. This sent students sprinting to the restroom to challenge the very limits of their aim.
High-pressure urination was also a test of one’s Body Forging level.
But by the time the lunch break arrived, Yang Shen could clearly feel that the buzz about him was still growing.
And it was developing in some unpleasant directions.
Half a day had passed, and by now, hundreds of students at the school were discussing him and asking about him.
Soon, bits and pieces of information were stitched together: extremely strong combat ability, an incredibly high level of mastery over the , top scores in the entire school for Subject Four and Subject Five...
...his strange performance at the "Vajra Sect seminar," and his participation in the much-talked-about "Training Camp" from a while back...
At the same time, he was also extremely close with the former top student of their grade, Xu Bamboo. If the gap in their previous grades hadn’t been so huge, people would have probably started rumors that they were dating!
’Did he suck all of Xu Bamboo’s good fortune dry?’
If there was anything more shocking than a super juicy scoop, it was combining two super juicy scoops into one.
The high schoolers, ever the troublemakers, quickly cooked up all sorts of dramatic scenarios in their heads.
What Yang Shen hadn’t expected was that his own progress would actually bring additional pressure onto Xu Bamboo.
The former top student of the grade, once held in high esteem and looked up to by everyone, suddenly saw her reputation begin to sour overnight due to one failed monthly exam and a bunch of baseless rumors.
The nicer rumors said that Xu Bamboo’s grades had slipped because she was helping Yang Shen.
The nastier ones weren’t worth mentioning, but they made it sound like Xu Bamboo had become some brain-dead simp, with Yang Shen milking her for all she was worth.
In just half a day, the vicious rumors had already made a full circle.
Everyone in their class knew perfectly well that Xu Bamboo’s poor monthly exam results were due to an injury from the Training Camp. But such a plain, boring answer couldn’t satisfy their devious minds’ craving for drama.
They always preferred more sensational, conspiracy-theory-laced explanations.
Young people often forget how much their words can hurt, only to jolt awake in the middle of the night years later, wanting to slap themselves.
And at the center of this storm, the two deskmates, Yang Shen and Xu Bamboo, hadn’t had a comfortable half-day either.
Everyone instinctively glanced their way but didn’t dare to actually say anything. It was like they were being visually assaulted.
Xu Bamboo, sitting in the inner seat, was quietly using the time to work on her humanities paper. She’d only scored 182 points on it this time, which was considered an underperformance, and she was trying to make up for it.
’Of course, in Yang Shen’s opinion, it was still caused by her headaches... In the past, their academic scores had been more or less the same.’
Sensing Yang Shen’s complicated expression, Xu Bamboo spoke softly without turning her head. "Don’t overthink it. I’m used to this..."
"I become the center of attention after every monthly exam, whether I’m first or eleventh..."
Yang Shen said flatly, "It’s just really annoying."
Xu Bamboo replied, "No matter what people say, it won’t add or subtract a single point, and it definitely won’t affect the college entrance exams. My goal is the Jianghuai Sports Academy. As long as I’m clear on that, I’m fine."
With the level of support from Xu Bamboo’s family, neither Supplements nor famous tutors were a constraint. The only path left for her was to work even harder.
Perhaps this was a commonality among many rich kids: the only two paths available were to admit you’re a fucking idiot or to work your ass off.
’But Yang Shen actually felt... even the System acknowledged Xu Bamboo’s talent, yet she still couldn’t completely dominate at Nanliang High School. He even suspected that her excessive fatigue was making her efforts counterproductive.’
’Especially since Xu Bamboo was still suffering from headaches...’
Xu Bamboo looked up above the blackboard, where the college entrance exam countdown banner was right next to the relentlessly ticking clock. "It’s fine. It’ll all die down in a couple of days."
Then, with a serious expression, she said, "The parts I’ve fallen behind on... I’ll catch up."
Yang Shen nudged the tense Xu Bamboo with his shoulder. "I’ll help you."
If there was one thing that still made Yang Shen deeply uneasy, it was Xu Bamboo’s "Early Death" Life Chart.
Yang Shen wanted to spend more time with Xu Bamboo so he could try to figure out what was wrong with her.
Xu Bamboo asked doubtfully, "How? And you can forget about giving me Essence Liquid..."
Yang Shen shared his idea. "The gym where you train—how much is a membership? I could go with you every day. We can spar, discuss things... the two of us will be an unstoppable team, we’ll absolutely crush it!"
"One hundred and ninety-eight thousand a year."
Yang Shen: ...
"Are the weight plates in there made of gold?"
"It’s the best fitness club chain in Jianghuai City, and the only one in Jinshui District. It’s a private, members-only club... The membership is kept at 100 people year-round. It’s a one-in, one-out system..."
Yang Shen was stunned. "Pretend I never said anything... Let’s think of another plan."
198,000... That was twice as expensive as the burial plot his Uncle couldn’t even afford yet.
’That’s enough to bury Uncle twice!’
Yang Shen wracked his brain, and suddenly, a flash of Spiritual Light hit him. "You know, I think Director Liang’s idea for a study group is pretty good. Let’s make our own two-person study group. We can find a place to do Body Forging together for two or three hours after school."
The gap between them used to be too wide. Xu Bamboo training with him would have been no different from her beating up a small child.
But now, Yang Shen had some confidence.
His realm was still far behind, but in terms of combat and the , he could help Zhuzi.
A little light returned to Xu Bamboo’s big eyes, but it was quickly replaced by resignation. "My entire study schedule is planned by my mom... She doesn’t allow any changes."
"Wait. Since Teacher Liu di—...passed away, I have a two-hour tutoring slot free three days a week. My mom is looking for a new teacher of the same caliber, so there’s a gap right now. Maybe we could try that..."
Xu Bamboo’s mom had told her to use the free time to go to the gym first. And while she couldn’t get Yang Shen a membership card, she could totally just go for a few hours less herself and feign compliance.
Yang Shen said, "Okay. Two hours isn’t much, but it’s enough."
The two made a pact. Their first study group session would be tomorrow.
Xu Bamboo’s academic pressure was always maxed out. If Liu Yuankui hadn’t passed away, she wouldn’t have been able to squeeze out even an hour.
In a way, they had Liu Yuankui to thank for it.
’Thank you, Teacher Liu. You’ve been gone for so long, and you’re still providing gifts from nature.’
’I wonder if a criminal like him even has a grave. If he does, I’ll have to go and pour two bowls of fermented bean milk on it.’
After school, Yang Shen headed home, planning tonight’s "showdown" in his mind. He had the results now, and since three of the "four little ones" had succeeded in Cultivation, it was time to have a talk.
He knew full well that he was a gentle, pure, honest, and magnanimous good boy, and that lying was one of his greatest weaknesses.
Therefore, every lie had to be meticulously crafted.
Without realizing it, he walked past an internet cafe, where a familiar figure was squatting by the entrance.
Huang Gang had a cigarette dangling from his lips. When he saw Yang Shen, his expression filled with gloom and shame.
The gloom was for the bold proclamations he’d made back at the Training Camp; the shame was for the two bowls of crap he now owed Yang Shen.
Huang Gang said in a low, bleak voice, "Is that it... Did the school send you to talk to me? You don’t have to say anything... I’ll go back to school tomorrow."
Yang Shen: ...?
Huang Gang stomped out the cigarette butt. "Don’t worry, I wasn’t really smoking it. It was just for revenge. The fucking idiot at the computer next to me kept blowing smoke on me, so I just lit one and stuck it next to him. He’s playing a shooter, so every time he moves his mouse in a circle, he gets burned by the cigarette."
Huang Gang stood up and patted Yang Shen’s shoulder. "Don’t ask. I haven’t been to school since the Training Camp. I just had a fight with my family and needed some time..."
Yang Shen frowned. ’Did I ask you anything?’
’What is he even rambling about?’
"You might not understand... My family environment isn’t great. They didn’t believe in me before the Training Camp, and they still don’t believe in me after. But I’m really grateful that you believe in me, and that you came all this way to find me."
Huang Gang thumped his chest. "Bro, I’ll remember this favor for the rest of my life. Since you’re willing to give me a hand, of course I won’t give up! I’m going home to take a shower. I’ve been sleeping in this internet cafe for a week. Tomorrow... I will return to school."
And with that, he turned and left.
Yang Shen stared at his retreating back, speechless for a long time.
’Wait a minute... he hasn’t been coming to school?!’
’I didn’t notice at all.’
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