Chapter 39: A Cram School? No Thanks!

The exam results were released along with the newly assigned class rosters. The top thirty and bottom thirty students began making their way to the elite sprint class and the remedial class, respectively.

"He Chen, you've gone too far."

Upon learning of He Chen's ranking, his seatmate, Du Tiantian, couldn't help but complain. "I specifically asked you before, and despite what you said, you come out with this stunning performance, soaring straight into the sprint class."

"I didn't expect to do this well either," He Chen answered honestly.

Although his "Crane-like Longevity" superpower had him practicing two sets of martial arts four times a day, which was rapidly improving his vitality, mental acuity, and making his studies feel effortless, he honestly hadn't expected to jump from the middle of the pack straight into the top thirty in the entire grade. However, to him, this wasn't particularly important, so he hadn't given it much thought.

"Aren't you going to report to the sprint class?" Du Tiantian asked, sounding a bit bitter. Even though they were good seatmates—perhaps even good brothers—the human nature of "fearing your brother's failure, yet fearing his success" was hard to escape.

"Why would I go?" He Chen asked with a smile.

"Huh?" Du Tiantian was shocked. "You're not planning to go?"

"You're the seatmate I've chosen," He Chen said seriously.

Du Tiantian felt a wave of emotion but still tried to persuade him: "Don't give up such a good opportunity just because you have a conflict with Li Tiegun. The sprint class is full of top students; the atmosphere of chasing each other's progress is better for aiming at top universities like Tsinghua and Peking. Even if you don't get into those, a 985 university is the baseline. This is a life-changing matter; don't let your emotions dictate your choices!"

"You think too highly of her," He Chen smiled, his attitude firm. "I simply don't want to go."

The reason he didn't want to go, beyond the fact that his quarterly-refreshed, unknown superpowers made him genuinely indifferent to traditional academic advancement, was indeed a bit of a jab at Li Tiegun. When he had said, "Do not say I didn't warn you," he hadn't been joking. But that was a minor factor; it was far less significant than his simple desire to remain seatmates with Du Tiantian.

News of He Chen refusing to go to the sprint class immediately caused a stir among his classmates. Meanwhile, in the Grade 12 Class 1, which had been officially designated as the sprint class, everyone on the roster had arrived, and Li Tiegun, as the head teacher, had arrived early as well.

However, her expression was sour. It was clear she knew He Chen had managed to test into her class. Thinking of the stifling unpleasantness of their previous encounters and the prospect of having to deal with him every day, it would have been a miracle if she were happy.

She scanned the room and, upon not seeing He Chen, paused for a moment and surveyed the group. "Is everyone here?" She asked, though her eyes landed on Ruan Liuzheng.

"Teacher Li, He Chen didn't come," Ruan Liuzheng replied, knowing exactly what Li Tiegun meant.

"Absurd!" The thought that the boy might be throwing a tantrum crossed Li Tiegun's mind. She scolded, "The classes have been assigned; to not report is a complete lack of discipline! Ruan Liuzheng, go and get him!"

"Yes!" Ruan Liuzheng had no choice but to stand up and leave the classroom to find He Chen.

He Chen didn't make things difficult for his foster sister. He followed her back, but without his books. Facing the various gazes in the room, he looked calmly at Li Tiegun. "No need to send anyone else to find me. I won't be coming to the sprint class. I wish to stay in my original class."

"Are you still throwing a tantrum?" Li Tiegun stared at He Chen with sharp eyes. "Do you realize how immature this is? As your teacher, regardless of what happened before, I will treat you equally and strive to get you into a top university. That is my promise! Don't gamble with your future just to be stubborn!"

"I'm a person who likes to be thorough, as I'm sure you know," He Chen laughed. "So, I won't gamble with my future! I truly do not want to come to the sprint class. It's not because I think you'll make things difficult for me. You think too highly of yourself. In every sense of the word. To be honest, top students who can truly aim for Tsinghua and Peking aren't made by teachers; they are made by their own efforts. You said yourself that even the remedial class has solid teaching resources, so there will be no problem if I stay in the parallel class. Therefore, I don't see the point of this sprint class, other than allowing the head teacher to enjoy extra honor and bonuses that shouldn't be hers alone. I don't understand it, and I don't agree with it! So, I won't be coming. You can let the next person in line take my spot. That's that!"

With those words, he ignored Li Tiegun's livid expression and turned around to walk back to his own classroom with effortless grace.

Human joys and sorrows are not always connected. While Li Tiegun was furious, others were overjoyed. The first was Wang Yidi, who had been left behind in Grade 12 Class 2—the girl whom He Chen had noted came from a wealthy family, was a top student, and was still planning to pursue an arts path. She had been hovering around the top thirty mark, and having placed 31st, she had been pushed out of the sprint class by He Chen. She had been feeling wronged, so hearing this news, as an ambitious student, she was naturally ecstatic.

When Fang Yifan heard the news, although he felt He Chen was just showing off, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief that He Chen had given up being in the same class as his goddess. The girls in Grade 12 Class 7 cheered once they confirmed He Chen wasn't leaving.

The happiest of all was the head teacher of Grade 12 Class 7. He had taught He Chen since the eleventh grade, and unlike Li Tiegun, who was a stationary fixture of the twelfth grade, he moved up with the class. To suddenly have a student whose grades had soared to the point where he could challenge for Tsinghua and Peking, and who, most importantly, refused to go to the sprint class and insisted on staying in his own, made him incredibly pleased.

He immediately smiled and told He Chen to sit down and continue class, promising that after the period ended, he would go to "plead" with Li Tiegun. His words were filled with, "We must respect the student's own wishes! I will certainly live up to the trust placed in me and cultivate He Chen well; I won't hinder his future! Please trust me; having only one star pupil to focus on gives me more time and energy..."

This left Li Tiegun, who was already in a bad mood, feeling as though she had a fishbone stuck in her throat, yet unable to speak. The logic was sound—top students aiming for elite universities truly relied more on themselves, and the "one-on-one" tutoring mentioned by the Class 7 head teacher was, to some extent, more advantageous than managing a group of students. Furthermore, if this were to escalate and other head teachers followed suit, demanding to dismantle her sprint class and split up her top students, what would she do?

Deep down, she didn't really want to manage He Chen anyway, fearing he would be the "one rotten apple that spoils the whole barrel." But being mocked with such well-founded arguments—especially as someone who prided herself on being a master teacher of the sprint class, believing students and parents should respect, admire, and obey her—made her feel incredibly stifled.

During the break between classes, someone came to find He Chen. Facing the subtly hostile glares of the girls in Grade 12 Class 7, Wang Yidi walked up to him openly and said, "He Chen, thanks a lot!"