Chapter 7
Meng Huai didn't even glance at the yellow-haired boy lying on the ground; instead, he waved a hand dismissively. "Someone pick him up and lay him on his desk. You weaklings lie on the ground too long, catch a cold, and it's my problem when the principal comes looking for me."
The group of boys who had been chatting with the yellow-haired boy just moments ago exchanged uncertain glances, none daring to move.
Su Bei, who hadn't even been talking with him, leisurely stood up, grabbed the boy by the back of his shirt, lifted him effortlessly, and set him down on his chair. With a gentle push, he let the boy slump onto his desk as if he were just asleep.
After all, who's to say unconsciousness isn't just another kind of sleep?
Thanks to years of rigorous training, Su Bei's physical strength was on another level. In terms of pure physicality, only Mu Tieren, the class monitor, seemed to match him in F-Class.
Having done his part, Su Bei nodded at Meng Huai and returned to his seat under the curious gazes of his classmates.
While everyone else might fear Meng Huai, Su Bei had no reason to. After all, a former soldier turned teacher at the Abilities Academy wouldn't be out to harm students.
Yes, he'd concluded that Meng Huai was most likely a former soldier.
Su Bei's father had been in the military, and he was very familiar with the habits of people in that profession. Although Meng Huai seemed laid-back, his posture, his stance, and even his aura all hinted at his background.
Besides, in typical manga fashion, this type of homeroom teacher either becomes a major ally or a minor arc antagonist. Either way, it's unlikely he'd be dismissed for injuring students.
So, there was no harm in standing out a little here—it might even earn him more page time in the manga.
Noting Su Bei's unruffled attitude, a glimmer of interest flickered in Meng Huai's eyes. Just as Su Bei could tell he was military, Meng Huai could see traces of training in Su Bei's stance and demeanor.
Interesting.
If he remembered correctly, this "Su Bei" was listed in the student files as an orphan, with no mention of any military background.
Meng Huai quickly set aside his curiosity, his attention shifting back to the group. An F-Class rookie wasn't worth too much concern—at least not until they worked their way up to A-Class.
That said, could someone with a "trash" ability like [Gears] even make it to A-Class? Unless that wasn't his true ability.
He smirked, clearly amused, and addressed the class, "Since it's the first day, I won't push you too hard. Just run ten laps around the track before lunch."
Ten laps around the track?
Everyone's eyes widened in shock, their spirits crushed.
Ten laps? He might as well have sentenced them to death!
The Endless Abilities Academy didn't have many students, but the grounds were massive, with the track alone stretching 1,600 meters per lap.
In other words, ten laps would total 16,000 meters. The most these students had ever run was maybe 1,000 meters, with girls running even less.
While their physical resilience had improved since awakening their abilities, sixteen times that distance was simply brutal.
It was already 11:30 a.m., close to lunch, and Meng Huai's instructions implied they wouldn't get to eat until they completed their laps.
Even Su Bei, with his well-trained stamina, estimated it would take him an hour and a half. For everyone else, it could be three hours at minimum. Running on an empty stomach would only make the ordeal worse.
Most students wore looks of despair, yet Meng Huai's earlier display of power kept them from openly complaining, though they muttered quietly about their "merciless" teacher.
Su Bei, seated in the back row, couldn't see everyone's faces, but he could easily read their body language.
The complaining students slouched in their chairs, visibly defeated. However, a few sat straight, seemingly prepared for the challenge, like Jiang Tianming and Lan Su Bing.
Lan Su Bing, relieved that she'd avoided speaking in front of the class, didn't mind the running requirement.
As for Jiang Tianming… from what Su Bei remembered from Season 1 of the manga, Jiang had a resilient will, honed from years of hardship, even though his physical strength was average. So, even if he struggled with the run, he wouldn't back down.
Turning around, Su Bei noticed the white-haired boy was awake and seated upright. Up close, his features were more striking—his high nose bridge, pale but well-shaped lips, and the fluid lines of his face. Yet, his most captivating feature was his golden eyes, pure and untainted, like a soul untouched by the world.
Unlike Su Bei's messier style, his white hair lay smoothly against his head, though a single stubborn strand hinted at a rebellious side.
Yawning nonchalantly, the boy glanced at the podium with a look of mild disdain. "Ugh… we're running, right?"
Su Bei replied smoothly, "Yep, ten laps. Better get moving, or no lunch."
Judging by his earlier nap during the homeroom lecture, Su Bei guessed the white-haired boy was someone who prioritized his own comfort. Food would likely be of importance to him, too.
Sure enough, the boy's face became serious upon hearing that. He abandoned his leisurely manner, quickly getting to his feet. "Then we'd better get started."
Taking two steps forward, he hesitated, glancing back with a hint of awkwardness. "Uh… want to go together?"
A flicker of amusement crossed Su Bei's eyes. He had no intention of tagging along uninvited; that would've felt beneath him.
Fortunately, his effort paid off.
"Sure, I'm Su Bei. What's your name?"
"Feng Lan." The boy said earnestly, pausing to add, "Nice to meet you."
It was clear Feng Lan was from an affluent family, untouched by everyday hardships and with little social experience. That formal greeting was probably something instilled by well-meaning family members.
Inwardly, Su Bei added several tags to Feng Lan's profile, then stepped closer, narrowing the distance to test Feng's comfort level. "How's your stamina?"
If Feng reacted by backing away, Su Bei would take that as a sign to maintain some distance. But if Feng didn't mind, it would confirm he was indeed a blank slate socially—a blank canvas that Su Bei could freely "paint" on.
Feng's pupils contracted slightly, showing a momentary urge to retreat before he forced himself to stay put. "I should be okay."
Satisfied, Su Bei nodded without pushing further. "Good. Let's go."
A few classmates had already made their way outside while Su Bei had been chatting with Feng. His casual conversation wasn't just to connect with Feng but also to buy some time.
As a semi-recluse, Su Bei understood reader psychology well. A manga character who's consistently first place garners admiration, but a character who hides their strengths until later can become even more popular.
Su Bei knew his physical abilities were decent, but they were still no match for students with physical enhancement abilities in other classes. As for his own ability, he wasn't even sure how much he could modify through the manga yet.
So, rather than aiming to be the top runner in F-Class and exposing his limits, he chose to keep a low profile and save the reveal for later.
The 1,600-meter track looked vast, and for students facing ten laps, it might as well be endless.
The track was empty, as first-year students had the earliest orientation. No other year was on campus yet, and no other teacher was cruel enough to assign a 16,000-meter run on the first day.
Meng Huai didn't follow the students to the track, nor did he bother watching from a window. A girl with loose hair sauntered onto the track, eyeing its length with visible hesitation. "What if we just run fewer laps? Think he'd notice?"
All it took was one person to voice the thought, and a few classmates chimed in.
"Totally! He's not even here; let's just make it look like we ran."
One boy said outright, "Honestly, what's he gonna do if we don't? Kick us out?"
"Exactly! I'm just gonna walk five laps."
Su Bei observed the exchange coldly, knowing that this was an easy setup for another "lesson." Apparently, the yellow-haired boy's experience hadn't been warning enough.
But that wasn't his concern. He noted the four students who had already started running properly, including Jiang Tianming and Lan Su Bing. Sharing a glance with Feng Lan, the two of them stepped onto the track together.
With his long legs and graceful stride, Feng quickly caught up to the first group. Realizing Su Bei was no longer beside him, he turned and saw Su Bei lagging far behind, jogging at a snail's pace.
Confusion filled Feng's golden eyes as he tilted his head, a near-tangible question mark appearing above him. "What are you doing back there?"