Chapter 62
The duel among the four started with Jiang Yu. To prove he was better than Lin Xiu, he specifically created a game account and forced Lin Xiu to create one too. He insisted on seeing who could grind to the highest level.
Under the leadership of the two top students, a sudden gaming craze swept through the supposedly high-pressure environment of the third-year Class 1.
He Chenjiang, who had resolved to work hard during his final year, was bewildered… What is this? When I was playing, you guys were all buried in books. Now that I want to study, youāve all started gaming? Are you trying to make me look like an outcast? Is Class 1 really this exclusionary?
The news of Class 1 collectively gaming during evening self-study soon reached Teacher Chen Jiang. Upon learning that Lin Xiu and Jiang Yu were the ringleaders, Chen Jiang was utterly shocked.
In the office, Chi Aibei, Lin Xiu, Jiang Yu, and Lin Yang stood before Chen Jiangās desk. After an investigation, Chen Jiang knew these four were the culprits behind the gaming incident.
“Confiscate our phones?” Chi Aibei was in the middle of a winning streak. Hearing his phone might be taken, he quickly said, “Teacher, I promise my grades won’t suffer. Can you not confiscate them?”
“So if your grades don’t suffer, that makes it okay to huddle together and game at school?” Chen Jiang retorted.
Thinking his terms weren’t enticing enough, Chi Aibei added, “What if I promise my grades will actually improve next time? Can we keep them then?”
Chen Jiang: “…”
Using grade improvement as a bargaining chip… Chen Jiang didn’t know whether to refuse. When he first brought the boy into Class 1, he hadn’t held much hope. Given Aibei’s current scores, Chen Jiang would have been satisfied as long as they didn’t drop, yet the boy claimed he could improve further.
If it were anyone else, Chen Jiang wouldn’t have believed it. But now… he looked at the boy for a moment. He was genuinely curious to see just how far this child’s grades could soar.
“You said it yourself,” Chen Jiang said. “If your grades drop instead of rising, you’ll come and hand over the phone yourself.”
Chi Aibei nodded solemnly. “Deal!”
Seeing him actually persuade Chen Jiang, Lin Yang was impressed.
But Chen Jiang only said he wouldn’t take Chi Aibei’s phone; he didn’t mention the others. He looked at Lin Xiu. “Lin Xiu, what about you?”
“I have no way to improve further,” Lin Xiu replied.
Chen Jiang: “…”
Well… that is actually a fact.
Lin Xiu added, “I promise my ranking won’t drop.”
Chen Jiang pondered for a moment… Fine. What else could he do? One after another, they were bargaining with their grades.
Seeing he couldn’t control these two, Chen Jiang turned his gaze to Lin Yang, who was stuck in the middle. With a look that said, “I can’t handle them, but I can handle you,” he asked, “What about you? Do you promise to improve, or promise not to drop?”
Lin Yang looked at Chi Aibei, then at Lin Xiu… The admiration he felt for Chi Aibei earlier had now backfired completely. We agreed to stand or fall together before coming here! Why did you two have to bring up grades?!
Chi Aibei’s grades were rising rapidly. At this rate, Lin Yang couldn’t guarantee an improvement in rank for the next exam; he couldn’t even guarantee heād keep his 9th place in the grade.
Seeing Chi Aibeiās “hurry up and promise the teacher” look, Lin Yang really wanted to bite someone. You think I’m you? What am I supposed to use as a guarantee?!
Seeing Lin Yang remain silent, Chen Jiang finally felt a bit better. He looked at Jiang Yu. “And you?”
Jiang Yu was in the middle of a high; just a second before being dragged to the office, Lin Xiu had leveled up again, while his own round was caught unfinished.
“I can also promise my rank won’t drop,” Jiang Yu said.
Chen Jiang shot him a cold glance. “You’re satisfied with just ‘not dropping’? You’re comfortable sitting in second place? You want to stay there forever? Youāve lost your ambition just to play games? Is this not self-inflicted stagnation?”
Jiang Yu: “…”
Hearing these soul-piercing words, Chi Aibei felt a sense of familiarity. He glanced at Lin Yang… It seemed they had used a similar tactic when they forced Jiang Yu to play the game that day. Truly a student taught by Teacher Chen; even the rhetoric for coercion sounded like it came from the same school.
Four went into the office, but only two came out with their phones still in their pockets.
Chi Aibei looked at the two of them with disappointment. “You guys are so stupid. Don’t you know how to lie? Just stabilize Teacher Chen first.”
Lin Yang gave him a speechless look. “Stabilize him how? Even if we did, wouldn’t it be more embarrassing when we can’t deliver on the next exam?”
“What now?” Chi Aibei asked.
The gaming was definitely over. Even if Chen Jiang hadn’t confiscated the phones, he wouldn’t allow them to continue leading the class in gaming during self-study.
Lin Xiu gave him a light smack on the back of the head. “Go back to class.”
“Are we still playing the game?” Chi Aibei asked.
“The phones are gone, how can we play?” Lin Yang grumbled.
Chi Aibei thought for a moment. “How about you guys buy another set?”
Lin Yang was completely defeated. “…You really are a genius. ‘Buy another set’āwhat kind of ultimate move is that?”
Chi Aibei thought it was a great idea. “Is it not okay?”
“No,” Lin Xiu said. “Stop fooling around. Teacher Chen will give the phones back once the holidays start. Play then.”
Despite the words, Jiang Yu was uneasy. He told Lin Xiu, “You can’t secretly level up while I can’t play. Since we’re both stuck, why don’t you just go back in and hand yours over too?”
Lin Xiu: “…Has the game rotted your brain?”
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