Good times always fly by quickly, and after nearly ten days of rest, the school year finally began.
Lin Fan opened his eyes, feeling a bit haggard and incredibly exhausted.
It was only when school was about to start that he remembered he had summer homework.
He had to rush in the last few days to finish his assignments before school began, narrowly avoiding the tragedy of his parents being called in.
Sighing, Lin Fan rubbed his face, regained some energy, got up, washed, ate breakfast, and slung on his school bag before heading out—all in one smooth motion.
Arriving at school and seeing the sign outside that read “Twilight First Middle School,” Lin Fan felt an inexplicable urge to complain.
“Ah, this is the prison, where all the heinous criminals are locked up…”
Shaking his head to dispel the strange thoughts, Lin Fan followed the route from memory to his classroom. Everything was the same, except for the sign outside the classroom, which had changed from “Grade 11 Class 9” to “Grade 12 Class 9.”
The moment Lin Fan stepped into the classroom, the previously noisy and chaotic room suddenly fell silent, and everyone’s eyes were fixed on him.
Someone was the first to shout, “Big Boss, please lead the way!” and the quiet classroom immediately erupted into a frenzy, like hot oil poured into a pan, with an endless stream of flattery and teasing.
Zhao Liang, the vice class monitor, even rushed over in three steps, putting his arm around Lin Fan’s neck, shaking him hard, his face full of excitement: “Lin Fan, you’re something else! You really kept your true abilities hidden, didn’t you? Beedrill was just too cool, especially that one-hit knockout against Onix at the end. It made my blood boil; I almost wanted to go out and fight someone for three hundred rounds on the spot.”
Zhao Liang chattered on while hugging Lin Fan, making the latter’s face show a bitter smile. He exchanged glances with Su Ling, who was watching the commotion, and was about to say something when he suddenly noticed that the entire class had fallen silent.
Feeling a premonition, he turned his head to see Bai Qiliang, their square-faced homeroom teacher with black-rimmed glasses, appearing like a ghost at the classroom door, his eyes eerily fixed on Lin Fan and Zhao Liang, who were blocking the entrance.
Lin Fan’s eye twitched. He quickly covered Zhao Liang’s mouth, who still hadn’t realized what was happening, gave Bai Qiliang an embarrassed smile, and then swiftly darted to his seat, sitting upright and proper.
There was no other way; the homeroom teacher’s deterrent power was too deeply ingrained, and even he felt a little intimidated.
Bai Qiliang let out a soft snort and walked to the podium. He didn’t rush to speak but slowly scanned the entire class. The heavy sense of oppression made everyone feel as if they were sitting on pins and needles, sitting obediently like model students.
“A summer vacation has passed, and it’s time to get back into serious study. You are now Grade 12 students, about to take the college entrance examination. Don’t be lazy and casual like before.”
“No hardship, no fatigue, Grade 12 is tasteless; no struggle, no fight, equals living in vain.”
This classic motivational speech made all the students sigh and groan, feeling as if they were in a prison, named students, but in reality, prisoners.
No, it was even worse than being a prisoner!
Ignoring the students’ negative emotions, Bai Qiliang continued: “Since everyone has obtained their own initial Pokémon, our subsequent courses will also undergo some adjustments. This mainly means a decrease in the proportion of cultural classes and an increase in the proportion of physical education classes, with the addition of a new subject: Trainer classes. The new timetable is on the blackboard; take a look.”
Everyone was already aware of these changes, so they weren’t too surprised and focused on examining the timetable on the blackboard.
Lin Fan quickly scanned it and found that it was indeed very different from before. In addition to the fixed inter-class running, there were two new consecutive physical education classes every day, plus Trainer classes, almost making it a 50/50 split with cultural classes.
As a Trainer, in addition to the Pokémon’s strength, one’s own physical fitness is also very important, which is the main reason for this timetable arrangement.
“Have you all finished looking?”
Bai Qiliang tapped the podium, drawing everyone’s attention back to him.
“Let me tell you in advance, the same teacher, Zhang Rou, will be in charge of your physical education and Trainer classes. At that time, everything will be under Teacher Zhang’s command. If I find out anyone is causing trouble…”
His gaze shifted, full of menace.
“Understood!” Everyone shivered and shouted in unison.
Bai Qiliang nodded in satisfaction: “Alright, class representatives for each subject, collect the homework, and then take a few people to the comprehensive building to get the new textbooks.”
With that, Bai Qiliang drifted away. As he neared the classroom door, he turned back and spoke earnestly: “Teacher knows it will take some time for you to settle down, and while I can understand that, it’s best to settle down as soon as possible. Teacher has been through this; work hard for one year in Grade 12, and it will be easy in college.”
After speaking, he shook his head, not knowing how many students would take his words to heart, and finally left.
Lin Fan sat quietly, muttering to himself.
Easy in college? What a joke! If you choose the right major, every year is like the college entrance exam.
After sighing, Lin Fan looked at the class, which had regained its vitality, and took out his homework from his bag to hand it to the class representatives, almost with tears in his eyes.
This cursed homework, he was finally rid of it.
Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion—collecting homework, getting new books—and soon it was time for the first class of the new school year: Physical Education.
The first class of the school year not being a cultural class was something unimaginable in the past.
As Lin Fan was reflecting, he saw a sweet-looking girl with long, black hair, who looked like a college student, curiously observing their class from the doorway. After checking the class sign, she stepped in and stood behind the podium.
This was their Physical Education teacher and Trainer class teacher, Zhang Rou?
She’s so young! By the way, do teachers nowadays also have appearance requirements? Are ugly people not allowed to be teachers?
“Hello everyone, I’m your new teacher, Zhang Rou.”
Zhang Rou smiled sweetly, causing the boys in the class to let out excited Growls, and the atmosphere instantly became lively.
Zhang Rou, accustomed to such reactions, began her self-introduction: “I graduated from the Provincial Normal University, and this is my second time teaching Grade 12 students. It’s a pleasure to meet you all.”
After a simple self-introduction, Zhang Rou took out a roll call book and began calling names, taking the opportunity to recognize all the students.
“Zhao Liang.”
“Here!”
“Su Ling.”
“Here.”
“Sun…”
The roll call quickly ended. Zhang Rou closed the roll call book, her gaze sweeping across the class, lingering for a moment on Lin Fan and Su Ling.
These are the two who participated in the Zero Moon Cup? One in the top sixteen, one the Champion. These young people are really impressive now.
A fleeting hint of admiration flashed in Zhang Rou’s eyes. Before taking up her post, she had been told to pay special attention to Lin Fan and Su Ling. She naturally understood the meaning behind this.
In fact, even without the directive from above, she was very interested in Lin Fan and Su Ling, as she had been aware of the widespread news about them not long ago.