Study Monster Cultivation System

Chapter 120: Since you asked so sincerely

Over here, Li Zheng proudly ascended the stage, walked leisurely to the center, and bowed to all the teachers and students.

Applause followed.

Only then did Li Zheng clear his throat and scanned the entire audience.

Seeing the quite intense gaze of all the teachers and students.

He suddenly felt very nervous.

His mind was buzzing.

Luckily, he often browsed Zhihu while relaxing.

He had seen by chance that public speaking nervousness mainly stems from crowd pressure, fear of embarrassment.

At such times, one should just focus on a particular spot, or a particular person, and speak as if to that one person only.

Thus, he fixed his gaze on a familiar friend.

The drill leader.

At this moment, the drill leader was standing at the closest spot below the stage, clapping reluctantly, even his glasses slightly askew.

Li Zheng looked at this crew-cut Little Glasses.

His eyebrows raised, he immediately felt less nervous.

The spirit of confrontation had returned.

He then began his speech.

"Thank you for the school’s cultivation."

"Regarding studying, my personal insights are as follows—"

"Hard work pays off."

"Thank you."

Amidst the baffled faces of the audience, Li Zheng quickly bowed and turned to look at the PE teacher below the stage.

"Can we continue with the drill now?"

"..."

It was then that the crowd realized the purpose of Li Zheng’s brief speech.

It was purely for the sake of competing in the drill!

Starting from Class 2 Year 4, a chorus of boos spread.

"This dude is too much, Brother Li."

"Beat up the master!"

The school leaders at the front of the stage, naturally, wouldn’t just let Li Zheng off so easily.

"Don’t leave, too fast, that won’t do…" Sun Xiubin called out and glanced around, seeing Tang Zhifei also approaching, he hurriedly waved, "Come, Xiao Tang, go up and guide him a bit."

"Huh?" Tang Zhifei was startled, "I saw Lin Yujing ran off... came to inquire about the situation…"

"Never mind her for now." Sun Xiubin pulled Tang Zhifei and pushed him towards the stage, "You’ve seen interview shows, right? Just pretend you’re a host and dig some learning experiences out of Li Zheng’s mouth."

"Host... interviews and such... I haven’t learned that…" Tang Zhifei verbally hesitated, but his body, quite obediently, edged forward.

She looked at Sun Xiubin, suddenly feeling a bit moved.

Director Sun, you wouldn’t know that my first choice for university was journalism, would you?

Although I didn’t get my wish, I still took some journalism-related courses.

I thought... there’d be no outlet for them.

But why, is my dream of journalism stirring once again?

After Tang Zhifei speculated superficially, seeing that the PE teacher brought over a microphone, she quickly took it and hurried onto the stage.

She stood beside Li Zheng, facing the dense crowd below the stage, she wasn’t nervous at all.

On the contrary, she was quite excited.

Reporter Tang Zhifei, it was time to dig up some intense learning material.

Li Zheng was just a big dummy, easy to deal with.

As usual in class, Tang Zhifei took the initiative to drop her high and mighty attitude, speaking playfully, "Thanks for your hard work, everyone. I’ll delay you just five more minutes, trying to extract some study tips."

Instantly, the applause roared.

That was about three times the volume of Liu Xiaodong’s speech.

Although most of the audience couldn’t see her clearly from afar, just hearing Teacher Xiao Tang’s voice was enough for their imaginations.

Liu Xin and his ilk even started whistling.

"Long live Teacher Tang!"

"Hail!"

"I’m good!"

The playing field gradually turned into a large-scale idol meet-and-greet.

In this somewhat fanatical atmosphere, Liu Xiaodong’s smile wasn’t that naive anymore.

"Xiao Tang is so popular?" he asked casually.

Sun Xiu nodded repeatedly, "Teacher Tang really has a knack for teaching."

"I feel, it’s mainly... the looks?" Liu Xiaodong was quite doubtful.

"That plays a part as well." Sun Xiubin said with a laugh, covering his face, "Indeed, when I was young and taught classes, the students were also very active."

Liu Xiaodong immediately clammed up, not daring to say more.

On the stage, once the cheering had quieted down a bit, Tang Zhifei was about ready.

The first real interview of reporter Tang Zhifei thus began.

"Let’s start with a basic question," Tang Zhifei said, deliberately slowing her speech, "Li Zheng, what motivated you to study for the Chem Competitions?"

After a thoughtful pause, Li Zheng responded earnestly, "I failed the chemistry monthly test, studied a lot to make up for it, and figured might as well compete."

The previously lively atmosphere of the venue suddenly cooled down.

Even Tang Zhifei, who was adept at speaking, was at a loss for words.

This kind of answer... elective courses didn’t teach that.

In the prolonged silence, Tang Zhifei glanced at the audience below.

The students were baffled, innocent, and silent.

It seemed they were genuinely affected.

This interview was entirely counterproductive.

She couldn’t help but clench her fists secretly.

I refuse to believe this...

Your brain has a hole, but your dad is a normal person.

With this thought, Tang Zhifei straightened up again and softly asked, "As far as I know, your father also had excellent academic results, did he share any study methods with you?"

"He found it too simple, wouldn’t teach me," Li Zheng said with a resentful shake of his head.

Another awkward silence.

Without much thought, Tang Zhifei gritted her teeth and asked, "Then... with competition questions being so difficult, how did you overcome challenges during your studies?"

"Challenges? Getting addicted to solving competition problems, I just can’t stop, how could there be any challenges?" Li Zheng pondered with his chin propped, somewhat troubled, "But since you asked so earnestly, I’ll try my hardest to think of any challenges..."

To coordinate with Teacher Xiao Tang, Li Zheng fell into deep thought.

The entire sports field became silent as well.

After more than ten seconds.

"I’m sorry... I really can’t think of any." Li Zheng gave up.

This time, the students finally erupted in the silence.

"Ugh!!!"

"Enough, I don’t want to hear it anymore!"

"Get down! Please get down!"

The drill leader was undoubtedly the one who took the hardest hit.

Because throughout, Li Zheng was staring and speaking only to him.

Enduring Li Zheng’s one-on-one interrogation.

The drill leader felt like his soul was being tortured.

He pursed his lips in grievance and finally lowered his proud head.

Enough... arch-enemy...

Spare me, I won’t compete with you anymore.

I’ll give you the drill leader’s position, isn’t that enough...

On the stage, Tang Zhifei vigorously scratched her head, her eyes suddenly brightened, and she then asked, "Then, Li Zheng, if you also perform excellently in the upcoming nationals and simultaneously get offered contracts by both Jinghua and Ji University, how would you choose?"

This time, Li Zheng was genuinely stumped and after a long pause finally said, "Ji University is indeed good, but for the Chemistry national gold, can I sign with the School of Physics?"

"Er... that should be impossible," Tang Zhifei answered.

"Hey, then no signing, I can get in through the college entrance exam anyway," Li Zheng said with a relieved smile.

This time, the situation was completely out of control.

"Get down!!!"

"That’s enough!"

"Master, run, you’ve provoked the crowd!"

Tang Zhifei on the stage was also in despair.

Indeed.

Failing to get into the journalism major, that’s my fault.

To hell with the dream of being a journalist,

But the most hurt was still the drill leader, who endured the soul interrogation throughout.

At this moment, his glasses lost their usual crispness, and his buzz cut had collapsed at some point.

He silently lowered his head, his fists clenched in helpless resentment.

I thought, we were each other’s arch-enemies, taking joy in our drills.

But you, you moved on to Jinghua Jida, becoming a winner in life.

And me, apart from the drill, I have nothing.

In the end, I was just your exercise toy.

I’m just a damn joke.

This drill, what’s it even for?

Damn it.

No more drilling.

Study!

When Li Zheng was driven off the stage, he still felt very dejected.

Sincerely talked so much, yet didn’t inspire anyone.

But as he walked, his eyes suddenly widened.

[? Succubus Challenge ?]

[Successful Inspiration: Lei Tong]

[Challenge Progress: 7/50]

Who is this?

I don’t know him.

Who is this, with such wisdom!