"So there's no room for discussion?"
In Sixth High's principal's office, facing Chen Yu, who was determined to take his leave, Principal Pang's face fell gradually.
"There's no room for discussion." Chen Yu waved his hands firmly. "I only want to focus on my studies."
Study my foot!
Screw studying!
Is he even a student of Sixth High? Why is studying all he thinks about?
Is studying more important than a gold medal?
Principal Pang took in a deep breath, trying his best to keep his boiling anger down. He forced a smile on his face. "Student Chen Yu, your alma mater would never harm you. It's best for you to develop your talent."
"No!" Chen Yu shook his head. "I want to study!"
Bang!
At last, Principal Pang lost his calm. He banged onto the table hard and pointed toward Niu Lanshan. "Little Niu, get Chen Yu's form teacher over."
"Yes!" Niu Lanshan nodded firmly, trotting out of the door.
"Principal, what are you trying to do?"
"I want to see how good your studies are that it's on your mind so much."
Five minutes later, under Niu Lanshan's lead, Class 2-2's form teacher walked in timidly. He took a glance at Chen Yu and back at Principal Pang, who looked furious. "Prin… Principal, I'm here," he said cautiously.
"Chen Yu's a student from your class, right?" Principal Pang at Chen Yu.
"Y-Yes. He's from my class."
"How are his results?"
"Uh…" The form teacher was unsure of Principal Pang's intention.
"Be honest!"
"Third…or fourth…in the class…"
"Oh?" Principal Pang eyed Chen Yu up and down, surprised. "Your results are not—"
"…From the bottom." Before Principal Pang could finish his words, the form teacher gulped, adding on.
Principal Pang: "…"
Niu Lanshan: "…"
Chen Yu replied, "Sometimes I am better. I'm fifth from the bottom or even higher at times too!"
"Is there a need to study if that's what you're doing?!" Principal Pang thundered all of a sudden.
"Well… I attach importance to participation…" Chen Yu said awkwardly. "I'm best at language! I can beat about seven to eight classmates when it comes to language!"
"Prin-Principal…what's going on?" the form teacher asked hesitantly.
"He…!" Principal Pang opened his mouth to say something, but he was too angry to talk. After a long pause, Principal Pang finally calmed down. He narrated the situation to Chen Yu's form teacher while making gestures with his hands. "Mr. Niu, our PE teacher, discovered that Student Chen Yu is very talented in sports. He would be able to take the title of provincial champion with just the speed he displayed in the surveillance camera's recording. How good would he be after receiving professional training? I'm sure that this is good for not only Student Chen Yu, but our school and province as well! How honorable would it be if he could get a sprinting championship and bring glory back to the country?"
"This… It's indeed a happy thing! But how did it result in a quarrel?" the form teacher asked. His eyes were lighting up in surprise.
If a student of his earned a championship, setting aside the benefits he would get directly or indirectly, just the achievement alone would be enough for him to brag about for years!
"It's obviously a good thing! But…" Principal Pang pointed at Chen Yu resentfully. He was upset that Chen Yu had failed his expectations. "He rejected the offer and insisted on studying!"
"Studying?" the form teacher said blankly before staring at Chen Yu with widened eyes. "Chen Yu? What are you thinking? Is studying something that you should think about?"
Chen Yu: "…"
"I'll have the last say in this. Chen Yu, go for training and bring glory to our class and Sixth High!"
"I… I'm not even good at running!" Chen Yu was on the verge of breaking into tears.
"Not good? Are you muddle-headed? The police officer on his motorcycle couldn't even catch up to you!" Niu Lanshan clenched his fist with grief and indignation. "With your talent, the world championship is just within reach if you start training from a young age!"
"Hah…" Chen Yu let out a sigh and plopped down on the office chair, leaning back tactically. "I just want to study, and nobody can stop me from doing that. Studying is the stairway for humans to improve. Studying is the direction that I'll move toward in life. Studying is the basis of our country's prosperity. I love studying."
"Then I'll ban you from entering the classroom!" The form teacher straightened up his hunching back.
"Then I'll go to the minister of education!" Chen Yu retorted.
"Great!" Niu Lanshan clapped. "They would advise you to pick up sports too!"
Chen Yu: "…Just spare me."
"Principal, I think we should discuss this with Chen Yu's parents. He's too young and immature to take responsibility for his future," his form teacher walked to Principal Pang's side, suggesting.
"Yes! We must discuss it with his parents." Principal Pang agreed immediately and turned to Chen Yu. "Student Chen Yu, we'll leave now! We'll take my car!"
"My… My parents are at work." Chen Yu's face fell.
"Then we'll go when they get off work."
"They get off work late. It would be a hassle."
"We'll go over any time after they're off."
"They only get off work at 2 or 3 A.M. every day."
"Then I'll sleep at your house!" Principal Pang answered. He was extremely firm with his decision.
Let alone an Asian sprinting champion, if his school could produce a national champion, as the principal that personally discovered this talent, he would definitely receive a promotion!
Nothing was more important than the promotion of status!
He refused to believe that a measly student could get away from his grasp!
…
At 1:30 P.M., Chen Yu returned to his class.
Under the stares of his classmates, Chen Yu returned to his seat, feeling like a fish out of water.
"Brother Chen! What's going on? I heard that the principal caught you! It's all around the school!" Li Liang turned around when the English teacher wasn't looking. "You're going to be popular!" he whispered excitedly.
"I'm going to be dead." Chen Yu lay down on the table. Every part of his body felt weak.
"What happened?"
"Bald Li, let me ask you something first. If somebody is found to be in possession of items from the future, what would the consequences be?"
"Of course the government would put him through torturous interrogation!"
Chen Yu: "…"
"Probably some psychological interrogation, trials, or even hypnosis."
Chen Yu: "…"
"Maybe they would even dissect the person."
Chen Yu: "…"
"Why are you asking this?" Li Liang asked, puzzled.
"Nothing." Chen Yu looked up and sat right up. With a poker face, he unzipped his bag and pulled out a brand-new Chinese textbook from his bag. "Don't disturb me! I am going to study!"
"Huh?" It made Li Liang even more confused.
"I said I am going to study! So do not disturb me!"
"Are you going crazy?"
"I'm going to study!" Chen Yu yelled. His teacher at the lectern got such a bad shock that she dropped her chalk.
"Chen Yu!" She picked up the chalk that she dropped and turned to him. "Are you mad?!"
"Teacher! I am going to study hard!" Chen Yu raised his Chinese textbook and said with righteousness and force.
"This is an English class!"