Han Ya told him that she was just a gym teacher and knew a little kickboxing, that’s all. He all but shriveled up as his spirits drained from him.
Still, he had to complete the task the system had assigned him; the achievement points were worth ten times as much as usual. Which meant that even if he only gained one achievement, the rewards would be ten times as much.
Not a bad deal.
***
After returning to the classroom, Lu Gang whispered to him, “Why did Ms Han call you out?”
Chen’an was still sulking over his crushed fantasies of ascending to supernatural planes, but he willed away his disappointment and said, “A handsome man and a beautiful woman were alone in a room. What do you think happened?”
Lu Gang snorted. “Yeah, right. If you grow the balls for that, I’ll call you ‘Sir’ from now on.”
Chen’an smiled and extended his hand to Lu Gang, which was covered with a plaster. “Smell anything?” he asked.
Confused, Lu Gang sniffed, and a faint fragrance entered his nose. Memories came flooding back: It was exactly the same fragrance as when Ms Han had pulled his ear!
Don’t tell me he really…
Lu Gang gaped. “You can’t be serious.”
Chen’an scoffed at the look on his face. “Do I look like I’m kidding?”
Lu Gang’s heart sank to the pit of his stomach. Once, he and Chen’an had discussed Ms Han and Yui’s assets-both in the front and back. He hadn’t expected that Chen’an would have advanced to hands-on interaction while he was still busy fantasizing!
“Impressive.” He plastered a simpering smile on his face. “Mind imparting some of your wisdom onto me?”
“I was born with good looks.” Chen’an smiled politely. “That can’t be taught.”
Lu Gang replied with a predictable yet articulate hand gesture.
***
Two days later on Tuesday, Class 37 gathered on the field. After their last gym class, Chen’an had become a celebrity of sorts. And not just among his classmates-when the sports students learnt that Class 37 was coming, some of them quietly put away their training tools and retreated to the sports hall, eager to avoid a showdown with Chen’an.
Class 37 began with their usual warm-up jog. Surprisingly, Lu Gang didn’t lag behind as usual, instead keeping pace with the cluster of his classmates and putting effort into his three rounds. When Chen’an questioned him about it, Lu Gang simply said that he was going to work hard to lose weight and improve his ‘physical appeal’.
So that was why he was sulking.
Guilt compelled Chen’an to support his friend. He patted Lu Gang on the shoulder. “Why don’t I confiscate all your snacks tonight?” he offered. “I’ll keep them in my cabinet. You won’t get to touch them.”
Lu Gang glanced at him. “I choose to trust in my own willpower. I won’t allow myself even a single bite of snacks after today!”
“Suit yourself.” Chen’an shrugged.
Just then, Jiang Min came back from the snack kiosk with a bottle in hand. When she saw Chen’an, a smile appeared on her face. “This is for you, Chen’an.” She handed him an energy drink.
Chen’an accepted it with a smile. “You’re the best, Jiang Min.”
Jiang Min blushed slightly, while Lu Gang pursed his lips sullenly. “I’ll be off to the classroom to study,” she said, cheeks still rosy.
“Sure thing.”
As soon as Jiang Min left, Chen’an saw Han Ya walking onto the field.
He clapped Lu Gang on the shoulder. “Wait here. I’ll be right back.” Without waiting for Lu Gang’s reply, he approached Han Ya.
Han Ya smiled when she caught sight of him. He had certainly sparked her interest more than when they had first met two years ago.
Two days ago, he had actually asked her if she was an immortal cultivator; she didn’t expect this kid to still be so childish in his third year of high school.
“Ms Han,” he called.
Han Ya nodded in greeting. “Today is the day you prove yourself a prodigy. So, has the wound healed?” She spoke teasingly, curious about how a teenage boy would react when embarrassed.
Unfortunately for her, she was about to be disappointed. Chen’an had healed the wound over the weekend once he returned to his dormitory. All it had taken was a sip of the mini health potion. His plaster was just there for show-and it had fooled Han Ya, if her smile was any indication.
“Looks like your wound hasn’t completely healed,” she commented, refraining from making fun of him to spare his feelings.
However, instead of looking bashful, he extended his hand to her. Her gaze turned puzzled.
“You can take the plaster off now, Ms Han.”
He didn’t seem to be joking. Her smile faded. She took his hand, as gently as she had when helping him put on the plaster. They were close enough for Chen’an to catch a whiff of her hand cream.
When Lu Gang saw how she took his hand, his respect for Chen’an immediately doubled. He might have to make good on that promise about calling him ‘Sir’.
Han Ya slowly peeled back the plaster on Chen’an’s hand. Her eyes widened in shock, then amazement.
There was no sign of the cut Chen’an had made with the penknife. She ran her fingers over his skin. It was as smooth as ever, with no traces of a wound.
It was extraordinary-no ointment could eliminate every last trace of the wound, in less than two days too!
Maybe Chen’an hadn’t been bragging. Maybe he really was a prodigy.
Instinctively, she began to tremble from excitement; it took her a while to calm down. She took hold of Chen’an’s arm, her lovely eyes wide and eager.
“Didn’t you say you wanted to be my disciple? Come with me. We’ll make it official now.”
With that, she dragged Chen’an to her office.
It nearly brought Lu Gang, watching from afar, to his knees. He couldn’t fathom what had gotten Ms Han so excited that she started to tremble-not to mention why she would pull Chen’an to her office. It was illogical. Incomprehensible.