Study Monster Cultivation System

Chapter 119 - 118 Looking up at the Stars (Thanks to the alliance leader, schoolmates from the past are gone)

Liu Xiaodong paused habitually at this point.

The entire school faculty and students quickly started clapping.

They also began searching for the location of Class 4 of Grade 2.

Especially the crew-cut boy with glasses who led the exercises.

His usually squinted eyes were wide open now.

Watching Li Zheng bashfully lower his head.

He grew more nervous.

The winner couldn’t possibly be... my arch-rival, right?

At that moment, countless gazes finally settled on Li Zheng.

This outcome.

It really annoyed him...

It wasn’t something particularly significant, Ren University Affiliated First had plenty like this.

What virtues or abilities did I, Li Zheng, have to deserve such esteem?

At the back of the line, the homeroom teachers from a few other classes also gathered around Tang Zhifei.

The homeroom teacher of Class 1, the grade leader, and the temporary math teacher for Class 4, Zhu Hongbo, were the most enthusiastic, being the first to jog over while clapping, "Congratulations, Teacher Tang."

Tang Zhifei felt undeserving and quickly waved his hands, "It’s all thanks to Lin Yujing and Li Zheng themselves, I really did nothing."

"Being able to let them focus on the competitions is already a significant achievement," Zhu Hongbo said with a silly smile, "It’s a shame to say, but our Class 1 hasn’t done that well."

"So it just goes to show it has nothing to do with the teacher..."

While they were speaking, the middle-aged female homeroom teacher of Class 3 also joined in, "Enough, Xiao Tang, this is your fate, look at how much Chunmei has worried over the years, and yet it’s you who has caught up."

"No, no, no, Teacher Hu deserves more credit, I’ve already shared the good news with her," Tang Zhifei felt increasingly overwhelmed.

To the other homeroom teachers, this matter was indeed infuriating.

Hu Chunmei had nurtured the peach for over a year, and you just picked it.

How can you be so lucky?

Seeing Principal Liu’s demeanor, it seemed Tang Zhifei winning the Outstanding Teacher Award this year was a sure thing.

Once the applause died down a bit, Liu Xiaodong continued.

"Both students, Li Zheng and Lin Yujing, not only achieved great results,"

"but they also created history for Lake Ying Middle School!"

"Just now, the school received an invitation from the Jijing Chemical Society."

"To invite both students to join the provincial team camp and go together to the national finals."

"Hereby, on behalf of all the school’s faculty and staff,"

"I wish both students great success in the finals to achieve more outstanding results!"

At this point, he paused again, allowing time for applause.

After a round of applause, he still wanted to speak.

"Of course, during this process, the roles of the mentors and homeroom teachers cannot be ignored."

"First, please welcome the head of the Chemistry Teaching and Research Section, Teacher Yu Hong, to speak."

"Li Zheng and Lin Yujing, both of you also come to the front to prepare to speak."

Li Zheng was stunned.

Speak my ass.

Give me a moment to prepare, will you?

Zhang Xiaoke from the girls’ team had already pushed forward, "Come on, Master!"

Liu Xin also joined in the teasing.

"Brother Li, aren’t you always so slick? Why the cold feet now?"

Jiang Qinghua was somewhat more level-headed, "Other things aside, you should still show some respect to the principal."

Amidst the teasing, Li Zheng reluctantly walked towards the podium.

The exercise-leading crew-cut boy with glasses was completely flustered.

It really is you...

Being great at studies is one thing.

Why do you have to be so damn good at everything else?

The heavens are unjust!

Even more troubled than Li Zheng was Lin Yujing.

On the rare occasions she was in a good mood and didn’t skip the exercises, she had encountered this situation...

She really wanted to escape.

When they reached the front of the podium, Yu Hong was giving his speech, and Liu Xiaodong had already stepped down.

"Don’t be nervous, just say a few words. A hero showing his face is only right," Liu Xiaodong still buzzed with excitement, urging them on, "The news just in, this weekend’s training at Ji University coincides with the Golden Autumn Camp, and I’ve already asked Yu Hong to register you. This is a perfect opportunity for a contract. Make sure you take it seriously."

Li Zheng remained expressionless, noncommittal.

The Golden Autumn Camp, isn’t that something you should discuss with us?

Lin Yujing, too, was looking down, unsure of what to say.

Liu Xiaodong fully understood her dilemma, thus he advised.

"You see, Yu Jing, I spoke with Teacher Tao about the physics competition, which, of course, the school will fully support you in, but that’s not until next April."

"The chemistry training camp is imminent, and even the top students from Ren University Affiliated First struggle to find such opportunities."

"Then there’s the Golden Autumn Camp. I know you excel in your grades and don’t care much about these camps."

"But you must realize that less than 10% truly get into Jinghua Jida based solely on their raw scores."

"Every point at your score level is as precious as gold."

"These are an easy 20 points you can gain, putting you ahead of hundreds of others."

"With these 20 points, wouldn’t you find the college entrance exam much easier?"

Liu Xiaodong spoke a great deal on his own before noticing that Lin Yu Jing was increasingly drawing back, forcing him to turn to Li Zheng.

"Li Zheng, you too have made significant progress mid-term. If you could get a score-reduction contract, Jingji is within reach for you."

"I understand, I understand," Li Zheng nodded hesitantly.

Actually, ever since he met Ou Xingzhuo and Wu Shu,

He no longer felt much about schooling.

Keeping one’s feet on the ground is undoubtedly right.

But I’ve already been gazing at the stars.

Meanwhile, Lin Yu Jing, head bowed, barely squeezed out two words with difficulty, "Principal..."

Liu Xiaodong raised an eyebrow, "Please speak. Whatever difficulty or requirement you have, just tell me directly."

After a moment of painful determination, Lin Yu Jing suddenly raised her head.

Through her hair, one could see her somewhat reddened eyes.

"I... hate chemistry."

"..." Liu Xiaodong was momentarily stunned, but soon chuckled, "Understood. You prefer physics. No worries, Lin Yu Jing. After the Chem Competitions are over, Teacher Tao will immediately start the physics competition training. The school will also hire outside teachers to coach together."

"After it’s over?" Lin Yu Jing was also startled.

Still smiling naively, Liu Xiaodong said, "Yes, recently Teacher Tao will prepare first. After the Chem Competitions dust settles, it’s not too late to coach for physics."

Lin Yu Jing trembled deeply, her previously slightly confused eyes suddenly became fierce, staring at Liu Xiaodong.

The formidable aura returned.

Li Zheng, having a very high emotional intelligence, immediately stepped in front of Lin Yu Jing and said softly, turning his head slightly, "You go back to class. Leave it to me."

Lin Yu Jing’s fierce expression softened a bit.

"I said leave it to me." Li Zheng spoke sternly, "You go back."

Seeing Li Zheng’s authoritative demeanor, Lin Yu Jing couldn’t quite muster her ferocity.

Turning around, she realized that the surrounding teachers were all staring at her.

"Uh..." She shaken up, fumbled with her hair, and, as usual, turned and ran off.

"Hey!" Liu Xiaodong also just reacted, "Wait a minute..."

"Principal Liu, give me two minutes," Li Zheng whispered.

"Alright..." Liu Xiaodong sighed helplessly, "then hurry and talk to her."

"I’m not here to persuade her," Li Zheng advanced a step and spoke in the lowest possible voice, "I know you have your institutional norms, but don’t try to apply them to me and Lin Yu Jing."

Liu Xiaodong looked baffled.

Li Zheng shook his head slightly, then said, "All that you care about, to us, is worth nothing."

Hearing this, the smile froze on Liu Xiaodong’s face.

"Principal Liu, I mean no disrespect," Li Zheng nodded solemnly, "but if I hadn’t interrupted, Lin Yu Jing would have opted to transfer schools. Are you not worried she might find a better middle school?"

"Not really... just this..."

"Exactly, just this. She hates chemistry, that’s all there is to it," Li Zheng looked at Liu Xiaodong and spoke word by word, "So starting now, if you apply any more pressure regarding the Chem Competitions to Lin Yu Jing, you’ll lose me as well."

"???" Liu Xiaodong looked dumbfounded, displaying true naivety.

At this moment, Yu Hong finished speaking and was walking toward them.

"Alright, I’m going to speak now," Li Zheng glanced one last time at Liu Xiaodong.

Despite clearly being offensive,

he still appeared utterly sincere.

"Don’t make us waste time figuring out how to deal with you."

"Instead, you should be thinking about how to deal with us."

With those words, Li Zheng took the microphone from Yu Hong and stepped up to the podium.

As Yu Hong had just finished speaking and was blushing, she hurried to Liu Xiaodong’s side, asking, "Did I do okay, Principal Liu?"

"Okay... okay..." Liu Xiaodong responded dully, shook his head still a bit puzzled, "Yu Hong, does Lin Yu Jing really hate chemistry that much?"

"Yeah, really. I advise you not to be too rigid."

"Oh..." Liu Xiaodong sighed deeply, "It’s for their own good..."

"I used to think so too."

"So..." Liu Xiaodong sighed helplessly, making a gesture towards Li Zheng on the podium, "How long have those two been together?"

"..."

"I know this, Principal Liu..." Sun Xiubin suddenly chimed in, "They got together before Chunmei was hospitalized."

"That hasn’t been long then," Liu Xiaodong reverted to his naive smile, "So committed, huh, hahaha."

"..."