Before Zhao Rui could even react, the classmate in the front row, Little Sweet, had already twisted around to glare at Yang Fan.
Yang Fan sighed, reached out, and gave the ponytail of the female classmate in front of them, Xiaoxue, a sharp tug.
He whined, "How come you didn't get me a pork belly bun!"
"You're dead! Yang Fan, are you ever not annoying?!"
Dressed in a well-fitting school uniform that radiated youthful energy, the girl immediately twisted around and swung her hand at Yang Fan.
"Ow! You actually hit me! Women really are heartless creatures!"
Yang Fan's wisecracks were so infuriating you just wanted to slap him.
Zhao Rui smiled as he watched Yang Fan's antics, but he couldn't help sighing to himself.
'Even without the system, just getting to be young again is the happiest thing in the world.'
'A flower's bloom is fleeting, and youth never returns!'
'If you don't live wildly when you're young, are you going to wait until you're old and withered to regret your life?'
Zhao Rui's state of mind underwent a subtle change. He felt a slight swelling in his Dantian, and his True Qi had clearly become much more abundant.
"Everyone quiet down, class is starting!"
The commotion had barely lasted a moment before the math teacher walked in through the door, clutching his textbook, and stepped onto the podium.
"Today, we'll continue reviewing problems on calculating elliptical curvature. This type of question is a guaranteed part of the college entrance exams, so listen carefully and take good notes."
The clamor gradually died down, but a low buzz of noise remained, a far cry from the silence of yesterday's history class.
After all, the math teacher was a man, so none of the class's would-be heroes were on their best behavior.
Zhao Rui circulated his technique, gathering Qi in his ears to listen intently to the teacher's explanation while taking meticulous notes.
'Knowledge, once learned, is always yours.'
'Besides, he still had the college entrance exams to worry about.'
Yang Fan knew Zhao Rui was serious about studying, so after a bit more fooling around, he and Xiaoxue called a truce, and he lowered his head to read an e-book.
For those who wanted to learn, the morning flew by in the blink of an eye.
For students who didn't, each day felt like a year.
This was especially true right before the college entrance exams, when students who knew they wouldn't pass had already given up, their minds anywhere but on their studies.
This was one of the reasons for the chaotic discipline in the class.
First High School had originally been a good school, but unfortunately, a rather nasty incident of violence a few years ago had resulted in multiple casualties.
This caused First High School's reputation to plummet, and it had never been able to reclaim its spot among the top-tier high schools since.
"Zhao Rui, wait for me!"
During the lunch break, as Zhao Rui and Yang Fan were walking side-by-side toward the cafeteria, a girl's voice called out from behind them.
"It's another one for you, dammit!"
Yang Fan rolled his eyes and said, completely exasperated.
Zhao Rui looked back and saw Bai Xuening walking over quickly.
"Zhao Rui, you promised me for the combat practice class this afternoon!"
Bai Xuening tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her faint, refreshing fragrance drifting pleasantly on the sunny air.
"Um, didn't we agree on tonight?"
Zhao Rui paused, taken aback.
"Can't we do it during combat practice?"
Bai Xuening asked.
"I wanted to practice with Cui Jian during that class. The exams are coming up soon."
Zhao Rui said honestly.
"Oh, well, alright then. I'll wait for you after class!"
"Okay!"
Zhao Rui nodded in agreement.
After saying her piece, Bai Xuening didn't linger and quickly walked away from the two of them.
"Tonight? Hehe, fess up!"
Yang Fan said to Zhao Rui with a teasing grin.
"What are you thinking? She just wants me to be her sparring partner."
"Sparring partner? The kind you do in bed?"
"You think she can't hear you from this distance?"
Zhao Rui said, looking ahead.
Startled, Yang Fan bolted, running for the school building without daring to look back. His speed was so great it was obvious he was using Martial Arts.
Bai Xuening, her pretty face flushed red, stopped her pursuit and looked at Zhao Rui, her expression frosty as she said, "I'm definitely going to beat him up today!"
Yang Fan's words had indeed gone too far. Zhao Rui couldn't be bothered to stop her. He had it coming for his big mouth; a beating was deserved.
After speaking, Bai Xuening, her anger still not subsided, also used a Lightweight Skill to chase after him toward the school building.
The two of them sprinting at top speed in public, as swift and stylish as something out of a martial arts movie, drew amazed gasps from the passing students of the regular classes.
"Martial Arts Students! I'm so jealous!"
"I know, right? Too bad we don't have the talent."
"I heard there's a type of gene therapy that can give normal people the talent for martial arts."
"That must cost a fortune, right? We'd have better luck hoping some old grandpa gives us a peerless martial arts manual!"
"Sigh!"
...
In the cafeteria, Zhao Rui had just gotten his food and had only been eating for a moment when he saw Yang Fan hobbling over with a tray.
"Man, that girl plays rough!"
Yang Fan said, glancing around nervously as if afraid Bai Xuening would reappear.
"So what's your plan for the future? Are you really not going to study for the exams?"
Zhao Rui changed the subject, asking casually.
"Study for what? My dad already found me a private university. As long as you pay, you can get in. I'll just get a diploma and then take over the family business after graduation! Hehe!"
Yang Fan said nonchalantly. His family was in business and was quite well-off.
His talent was average and he had no real interest in the Martial Dao; all he wanted was to coast through to a diploma and be a rich second-generation heir.
He didn't aspire to great riches, content with just being comfortably well-off.
His attitude was very relaxed.
Seeing how carefree he was, Zhao Rui felt a genuine twinge of envy.
'Some things, the ones you're born with, bring the most happiness.'
'Without the system, even if I had awakened my past life's memories, in this unfamiliar world, I would probably still be just another mediocre Martial Artist.'
'At best, I might have been able to pass the exam to become a civil servant and live a comfortable, worry-free life.'
"You've got to study hard!"
Yang Fan said, with rare seriousness.
"Whoa, it's rare to see you being so considerate!"
Zhao Rui laughed.
"So you can come work for me after you graduate!"
"..."
'A leopard can't change its spots.'
'He really did deserve that beating.'
After finishing his meal, Zhao Rui went straight to the training hall. There were Meditation Chambers there where one could not only meditate and practice, but also rest.
At 1:30 in the afternoon, Zhao Rui pushed open the door of his Meditation Chamber and stepped into the training hall. Seven or eight other students were emerging at the same time.
With the college entrance exams approaching, every student who was aiming for university was working their hardest.
The afternoon was, as usual, dedicated to combat drills.
Zhao Rui and Cui Jian put in a special request for a one-on-one sparring session.
With the exams so close, the teacher didn't push back and granted their request.
Bai Xuening wanted to insert herself into the situation, but Zhao Rui was too anxious about his panel's functions to pay any mind to the girl's crestfallen expression.
After sparring like this for the entire afternoon, the progress of his Taihang Thirteen Palms on the system panel reached thirty percent.
Even so, Zhao Rui still felt it was too slow.
So he discussed it with Cui Jian, and they agreed to find a place to do some extra training that night. That way, they wouldn't have to worry about the exam syllabus.
Cui Jian was a martial arts fanatic himself, so upon hearing this, how could he possibly refuse?
When class ended, the two of them grabbed their backpacks and quickly headed out.
Bai Xuening was waiting for them on the path ahead, her beautiful eyes fixed on Zhao Rui, not saying a word.
Zhao Rui looked at the girl, whose white clothes could rival the snow, and said with a sigh of resignation, "Fine, fine, all of us then. In a group of three, I'm bound to be the one getting soaked, right?"
Hearing this, Bai Xuening's face broke into a radiant smile, and she readily joined them.