After Zhang Ming finished speaking, the Class 2 lead teacher, Ye Fei, also stepped forward to add:
"One more thing: the rules for this year's competition are completely different from any previous ones. To assess everyone's true abilities, the county will be issuing questions on the spot. So this competition doesn't just test your academics; it's also a test of your mental composure. I'll emphasize again: the questions will be completely unlike anything you've seen in regular exams. As for what they'll be, we don't know either. So I hope all of you are mentally prepared and ready to bring honor to Tieshikou Middle School."
About an hour later, Huang Yifan and the others arrived at the county cultural center.
Since they were early, they had breakfast nearby and rested a bit before entering the center.
Once inside, the three lead teachers were taken upstairs by the staff, leaving the six students downstairs for some free time.
Without the teachers around, the students relaxed a little.
Sun Jin and Wu Haihua from Class 1 volunteered to go gather some intel.
About ten minutes later, they returned.
"Well? What did you find out?" asked Jiang Weiwei.
"Nothing too crazy," Wu Haihua replied, "but we did hear that Fourth Middle and Fifth Middle each have a so-called genius."
"See that guy from Fourth Middle over there in the light blue shirt? That's You Dongsheng. Supposedly, his calligraphy is so masterful that even seasoned teachers can't compare. Some calligraphy masters have even said he's got real potential."
"And that guy in white over on the right, his name is He Rui from Fifth Middle. Supposedly, his writing is top-tier. He's had several pieces published in Youth Literary Weekly."
"Looks like those two are our biggest threats," Yu Bin frowned, clearly worried. And sure enough, that worry quickly turned into reality.
You Dongsheng from Fourth Middle and He Rui from Fifth Middle suddenly walked over to the Tieshikou group.
"Didn't expect Tieshikou Middle School to be this pathetic."
"Yeah! Only Li Luozhi from your school might be worth going up against."
The two took turns mocking them, dripping with contempt.
"You…" Sun Jin and Wu Haihua were furious. "What's your problem? Think you've already won?"
"Whoa, don't get mad so fast. See? That's what I mean. This is your level."
You Dongsheng smirked.
"Tell you what, how about we make a bet? Let's say 10.000 yuan. Whoever scores higher wins."
"Dongsheng, I like that idea," He Rui nodded in agreement.
"We're not betting with you," someone snapped.
"What's wrong? Scared you'll lose? Or you just can't afford ten grand?"
"Fine! Let's bet. It's just 10.000, I'm not sweating it," Yu Bin from Class 3 said through clenched teeth.
"Well well, didn't know Tieshikou had its own rich kid."
"Alright then, get your ten thousand ready."
With that, the two were about to leave.
But Huang Yifan, who had stayed silent this whole time, wasn't having it.
"Hey, hey, just leaving like that? Isn't that a bit rude?"
The two turned back and saw Huang Yifan stepping forward.
"What, got something to say?"
"Oh, I've got plenty to say. For one, I never agreed to that bet."
The two burst into laughter. "Hahaha, unbelievable! Tieshikou's not only academically hopeless, but they're also a bunch of cowards too. Alright, fine, if you don't have the guts, no big deal."
They clearly thought Huang Yifan was chickening out.
But Huang Yifan grinned. "You two call yourselves geniuses, but you can't even understand basic words? I never said I won't bet."
"Didn't you just…?"
"Tsk tsk. Seriously, you two don't even understand plain speech. Geniuses? More like jackasses. I said I didn't agree, not that I refused. I just think betting money is childish and low-tier. What's 10.000 yuan? If we're gonna bet, let's go big: loser has to streak through the cultural center."
"Streak?"
"What, don't dare?"
Huang Yifan looked at them with a smile. "Didn't you say only cowards back down? If you don't have the guts, then go home and drink your mommy's milk. Don't come out here embarrassing yourselves."
"Nice one!"
Sun Jin and Wu Haihua cheered. They'd been humiliated earlier, and even though they'd accepted the bet, it still felt like a loss of face. They hadn't expected the usually quiet Huang Yifan to step in and roast their bullies.
"Yeah! If you've got no guts, go back to your mommy!"
They even whistled mockingly.
"You…"
Having never been insulted like this, You Dongsheng and He Rui were fuming. Provoked, they nodded. "Fine! We bet. Whoever loses will streak the cultural center."
"Deal," Huang Yifan nodded. "Just make sure you don't run off tomorrow after the competition. Better yet, strip down yourselves; we'd hate to have to do it for you. Now then, you can get lost."
"Fine…"
As the two nodded, they suddenly realized they'd just been insulted again and stood there, awkward and frozen.
"What? Still not gone? What, hoping to hang around because we've got pretty girls here? Keep hanging around, and I'll scream harassment. If the staff drags you off to the police station, you'll lose the bet before the contest even begins."
"You, you…"
Huang Yifan's barrage of nonsense had them seething.
Finally, realizing they couldn't win a war of words, they stormed off in a huff.
"Whoa, Huang Yifan, you're amazing! Never knew you were this sharp."
Wu Haihua and Sun Jin were in awe.
"We were badmouthing you this morning, but we're officially apologizing. Sorry, man."
"It's nothing," Huang Yifan said with a smile, not taking it to heart.
But Jiang Weiwei stood there stunned, staring at him.
At that moment, she realized she really didn't understand Huang Yifan at all.
To her, he'd always been a poor student. And yet, for some reason, she always found herself butting heads with him. Just a few days ago, when he said the homeroom teacher had chosen him for the competition, she hadn't believed him. When he showed up, she assumed he'd just drag the team down. But now, when no one else knew what to do against the bullies from Fourth and Fifth Middle, Huang Yifan had stood up clever, quick-witted, and fearless.
He didn't just defend their school's reputation, he turned the tables completely.
Could someone that sharp really be a bad student?
She couldn't help but remember how, just a few days ago, she'd gone to the homeroom teacher to report Huang Yifan for not paying attention in class and being late all the time. Normally, Teacher Lin Jinfen would scold him. But that time, she'd acted strangely. She told Jiang Weiwei not to worry about him anymore, that he could do whatever he wanted. And then, out of nowhere, she'd told Jiang Weiwei to consider asking Huang Yifan for help with her studies sometime.
Help.
At the time, Jiang Weiwei thought it was a joke.
But now… could it be that this Huang Yifan was hiding a side of himself she'd never seen?
==========
Support the translation and help me keep the work.
patreon.com/Childish_Patriarch