Chapter 29: Iron Rod Li: This time, I carry the overwhelming momentum of the world behind me. How could I possibly lose!

The first day of the official school term had arrived, and with it, the surprise exams. The morning was dedicated to Chinese, and the afternoon to mathematics. Tomorrow would bring English in the morning and science in the afternoon.

He Chen took the tests very seriously. As his senses grew sharper and his mind clearer, he knew he had to seize this opportunity to boost his grades. Only by letting the teachers see his steady improvement could he effectively clash with a teacher like "Iron Rod" Li. After all, in one's student days, grades were everything.

Why did Qian Sanyi enjoy so many privileges without anyone complaining? One of the biggest reasons was that he had entered Chunfeng High School as the district’s top-scoring middle school graduate. Throughout his first two years of high school, he had consistently ranked first in every exam. He had even turned down an early admission offer from the University of Science and Technology’s gifted youth program; his raw talent and academic prowess were beyond reproach.

If He Chen could improve his grades while simultaneously standing up to Iron Rod Li, it would be a slap in the face for her. If his scores rose into the top thirty of the grade—qualifying him for her elite "sprint class"—and he then flatly refused to join, the joy of his own homeroom teacher would be matched only by the livid expression on Iron Rod Li’s face. That would be the ultimate way to keep his word. If he promised to return the favor ten or a hundred times over, he wouldn't hold back in the slightest. With enough effort, even an iron rod can be ground into a needle.

The rhythm of the exams made the morning fly by. During the lunch break, Ruan Liuzheng looked incredibly stressed. She had no choice; compared to true academic titans like Qian Sanyi, Qiao Yingzi, Huang Zhitao, and Xia Xue, her grades weren't entirely stable. If students from other classes performed well, there was a real chance she could be pushed out of the top thirty, where she was currently hanging on by a thread.

He Chen didn't say much. In his eyes, since she wanted to be a doctor and would one day face life and death daily, this bit of pressure was nothing. Of course, if he discovered she was using the prospect of facing life and death as an excuse to slack off or romanticize her future, he would certainly pile on even more unbearable pressure.

After lunch, He Chen practiced his "Turtle Breathing" technique as usual, then gave Ruan Liuzheng a ride back to school after her nap. The afternoon exams continued.

When the exams ended, some students couldn't resist comparing answers. Fang Yifan, having guessed the hardest multiple-choice question correctly, danced around and called for his cousin to head home. Just then, Iron Rod Li walked in and stopped them. "Everyone, sit down. I have something to say, it will only take ten minutes! I know you’ve all worked hard today, but to keep your momentum going, I am announcing that starting today, the school will be offering optional evening study sessions! This is a special benefit provided specifically for us seniors!"

"What kind of benefit is that?" A chorus of groans echoed through the room, followed by Fang Yifan’s mocking laughter.

Iron Rod Li’s expression darkened instantly. She slammed her hand on the desk and raised her voice. "Why the sighing? I know many of you don't want to attend, so this is voluntary. I’m not forcing anyone!"

The students exchanged helpless glances. Everyone knew what "voluntary" meant in her vocabulary. It was a mandatory requirement disguised as a choice. Who would dare to face the consequences otherwise?

Once she had finished her "voluntary" preamble, her voice grew louder. "To create a good study environment, the school has arranged for teachers to be on duty to answer questions for each subject. You just finished Chinese and math today, so teachers will be here shortly. If you don't understand something, ask now!"

"Teacher, I have a question!" Fang Yifan raised his hand. Once he received permission, he grinned cheekily. "Didn't you say we should follow the standards of the college entrance exam? I don't think there are evening study sessions on the first night of the real exam!"

The room erupted in laughter and agreement. Iron Rod Li snapped, "If we actually followed the college entrance exam standards, half of you wouldn't even qualify for a first-tier university. I said it was voluntary and I wouldn't force you—so, who wants to leave?" She pointed directly at him, threateningly. "Fang Yifan, are you leaving?"

"Of course I'm not leaving," Fang Yifan immediately cowered.

Seeing that she had suppressed the troublemaker and forced everyone to "voluntarily" attend, Iron Rod Li was satisfied. She instructed everyone to retrieve their bags from the lockers outside and begin their evening study session immediately.

Suddenly, everyone froze. Iron Rod Li frowned, about to urge them on, but when she followed their gaze toward the door, her face turned black. He Chen was standing there with his backpack, ready to head home. Though he wasn't in her class, he was clearly there to pick up Ruan Liuzheng, one of her students and a prime candidate for her sprint class. If He Chen managed to take Ruan Liuzheng away after she had just successfully coerced the others, all her efforts would be in vain. She feared others might actually decide to leave, and that was something she could not accept.

"Ruan Liuzheng, are you going home?" Iron Rod Li suppressed her anger, staring directly at Ruan Liuzheng with a threatening tone. Though she didn't want to admit that she could never get the better of He Chen—and always ended up furious whenever they clashed—she instinctively wanted to avoid facing him directly.

She couldn't do anything about He Chen, but surely she could handle Ruan Liuzheng? Even Fang Yifan hadn't dared to rebel under this kind of pressure; a well-behaved student like Ruan Liuzheng certainly wouldn't have a second answer.

As expected, Ruan Liuzheng shook her head and said to He Chen at the door, "Don't you have to study? Go on home! I have to attend the evening session." She realized that He Chen always practiced his exercises and slept early; if she stayed for the session, which lasted until at least nine, it would surely disrupt his routine. She urged him to leave without her.

"Evening study session?" He Chen glanced at the smug Iron Rod Li. "What kind of evening study session?"

Ruan Liuzheng felt he was asking the obvious, but she quickly explained and urged him to go, terrified that he would start another argument.

"What a load of nonsense!" He Chen scolded.

"What do you mean by that?" Although He Chen was speaking to Ruan Liuzheng, everyone in the room—including Iron Rod Li—knew he was insulting her. She could no longer hold back.

"Evening study sessions are a benefit the school provides for seniors. We teachers are sacrificing our personal time for your future. Didn't your own homeroom teacher teach you that? 'Nonsense,' you say? If you want to leave, leave on your own, but don't disturb the students in my class! If anyone wants to leave with him, I won't stop them!"

"Do you think you’re so righteous? Sacrificing your personal time, acting like you’re so noble?" He Chen looked at her with mockery.

"Whether I’m noble or not isn't for you to say; the parents have their own opinions. I’m asking you, where exactly am I wrong?" Iron Rod Li finally snapped, confronting him head-on. These students were masters of reading the room. If she, their teacher, didn't show enough authority, she would never be able to control this bunch of monkeys. Once people lose heart, the team becomes impossible to lead. Even knowing it was a losing battle, she had to stand her ground in front of everyone. She refused to believe she would lose again.