Zhao Junzhi decisively stood up upon receiving the intelligence and proclaimed loudly, "Teacher, let me do it."
Despite Zhao Junzhi's face being somewhat displeasing to the crowd, his strong and tall physique was still quite intimidating when he stood on the stage.
The students of Class 9 immediately fell silent, the girls looking expectantly at the boys, while the boys each adopted an ostrich-like stance.
The physical education teacher had no choice but to loudly encourage everyone, "It's just an exchange, everyone is wearing protective gear, and I'll be watching from the side, ensuring nobody gets hurt."
Still, no one stepped forward, and the boys from Class 4—especially Zhao Junzhi's lackeys—began to openly mock, "Class 9 is full of cowards!"
"Teacher, next time let's exchange with a different class. What's the point of interacting with Class 9 when they're so timid?"
The physical education teacher from Class 4 also sneered, "Doesn't your class even have the courage to fight? How do you teach, Mr. Zhou? I knew your level was poor, but I didn't expect it to be this bad."
Mr. Zhou from Class 9 was fuming and silently cursed his own students for their lack of spirit.
Yet no matter how Class 4 provoked them, no one from Class 9 came forward.
Chen Gu had been waiting all along, already finding Zhao Ergou disagreeable, just like his annoying father. While others are used to tackling the junior to get to the senior, I, the real deal, prefer to break from the norm; I'll settle with the senior first, then discipline the junior!
If my grandson is disobedient, it is I who will deal with him; but dare to touch my grandson, and it is I, Grandpa, who will tidy you up.
However, to everyone else, Chen Gu looked humiliated and enraged, his face flushed red as he gasped for breath and suddenly stood up, "I will do it!"
"Class 9 is not full of cowards!"
"I'll show you that we are men of courage too!"
He had thought about these lines for quite a while, feeling they fit the character of a typical over-the-top adolescent high schooler—indeed, an actor who doesn't aspire to be a director is no good at scriptwriting.
"You?" Mr. Zhou frowned, his tone somewhat hesitant. He knew Chen Gu's physical training scores, and based on those, Chen Gu was no match for Zhao Junzhi, who could win with ease even with one arm tied behind his back.
Mr. Zhou was well aware of why his students didn't dare to fight. Two weeks ago, during an exchange bout, Zhao Junzhi had defeated a boy from Class 5, and although protective gear was worn, it was later found that the boy had suffered three fractured ribs.
One week before that, a boy from Class 1 narrowly won by points against Zhao Junzhi in a sparring session; that very afternoon after school, the boy encountered a "robber" and got stabbed.
Mr. Zhou didn't want to put Chen Gu in harm's way, so he looked towards a few robust boys in his class who aspired to military school.
But Chen Gu had already grabbed the protective gear and quickly suited up, jumping onto the stage and challenging loudly, "Come on!"
The girls of Class 9, despising the cowardice of the boys, admired Chen Gu's courage despite his seemingly unimpressive strength—no, it was because he was handsome.
So the girls stood together, raising their arms to cheer for Chen Gu.
And truly, the voices of sixteen or seventeen-year-old girls at the prime of their youth are as clear and delightful as that of orioles.
Over at Class 4, a few girls began to see Chen Gu in a new light, "This student is quite handsome—no, I mean, he really takes responsibility."
Liu Shichan remained seated cross-legged, her expression somewhat disdainful. Although her perfect exterior and cool temperament were striking, as soon as she spoke, the façade crumbled, "He's just a pig, a pretty one at that. No use fighting Zhao Junzhi; this is when he should be tucking his head between his legs. We in the underworld know well: As long as the green hills remain, you need not fear running out of firewood!
"First, save your life, then, when the opportunity arises, take some people and slaughter his whole family!
"Just to spite Zhao Junzhi and get beaten badly, it could ruin your whole life.
"Besides, look how soft and delicate you appear; why exert yourself? Find a wealthy and powerful sugar mommy to rely on. Zhao Junzhi's dad just got beaten up by a big shot, and with such a scandal, his chances of becoming a general are ruined. With just a little help from a sugar mommy, dealing with the Zhao family would be easy.
"A gentleman may take ten years to avenge, but a pretty boy will have the sugar mommies vie to do it for him!"
Her group of best friends rushed to cover her mouth, "Oh my lady, please stop talking..."
Chen Gu stood opposite Zhao Junzhi, feeling... absolutely wonderful. It had been a long time since he had performed in front of so many people, and he had missed this feeling.
As an actor, a performance without an audience, although pure, somehow lacked a sense of accomplishment.
Despite the euphoria bubbling within, Chen Gu didn't forget his "primary duty" and continued to glare furiously at Zhao Junzhi. The latter sneered and beckoned him with a crooked little finger.
The Class 4 physical education teacher stepped forward, "I'll be the referee."
"Are you ready?"
"On your marks—GO!"
He quickly stepped back, then quietly waited for Zhao Junzhi to KO Chen Gu.
Chen Gu's performance truly resembled that of an average high school student; he let out a roar and lunged with flailing arms, only to see Zhao Junzhi sneer and throw a swift, shadowless kick straight at him.
BANG!
Chen Gu's wildly swinging arms, by sheer luck, blocked the kick. As he lunged forward, he became entangled with Zhao Junzhi and began swinging his fists wildly, THUD! THUD! THUD! pummeling Zhao Junzhi from left and right.
He didn't care if it was the head, torso, or limbs; he just pummeled indiscriminately.
To onlookers, Chen Gu's attacks seemed to lack technique, almost unlikely to hit any effective areas, and therefore unable to score "points." Essentially, all his attacks were blocked by the protective gear, so they posed no threat.
However, to Zhao Junzhi in the midst of the fray, it was a different story. Even through the protective gear, the first punch Chen Gu landed on his arm caused piercing pain, eliciting a scream from him.
With each subsequent punch from Chen Gu, the protective gear seemed utterly useless, each blow landing with a heavy thud that made him cry out in agony.
In a flash, Zhao Junzhi's thighs took two hits, and he fell to the ground with a thud. Chen Gu continued his Frenzied Demon Boxing Technique, pouncing to prolong the assault.
The Class 4 physical education teacher realized something was amiss and rushed forward to protect Zhao Junzhi with his body while pushing Chen Gu away with both hands.
Chen Gu, as if caught up in a frenzied state, just kept attacking, landing a series of heavy punches—THUD! THUD! THUD!—on the physical education teacher.
One punch landed squarely on the chin, and without so much as a grunt, the teacher passed out on the spot.
Chen Gu seemed to realize something at that moment and hurriedly stepped back, retracting his hands, "Teacher, are you alright? I didn't mean it, I didn't see you coming..."
From the outset, Chen Gu had surmised that the physical education teacher would definitely favor Zhao Junzhi—after all, Zhao Junzhi wasn't punished for being late to class due to a fight in the restroom; it was clear that the teacher was among those currying favor with Zhao Junzhi.
Plus, after the teacher had just openly mocked Teacher Zhou, Chen Gu had been irked by him for a full twelve minutes and thirty-six seconds.
Teacher Zhou was also taken aback and hurried over to check. Zhao Junzhi was pinned under the fainted physical education teacher, both males maintaining an ambiguous position, and with Zhao Junzhi continuing to groan, the sight was rather jarring to the eyes.
Chen Gu couldn't tell if it was just his imagination, but Liu Shichan's eyes seemed to light up when she saw this.
Teacher Zhou checked and found that the physical education teacher had merely fainted. Breathing a sigh of relief, he pulled the man off Zhao Junzhi and laid him aside.
Turning to Zhao Junzhi, he was taken aback. Zhao Junzhi had started to cry, his face smeared with tears and snot, "My arm, my leg, they feel like they're broken, I need emergency care!"
Given his significant status, chaos ensued again. After the school doctor's brief examination, he solemnly sent him to the hospital.
Throughout the ordeal, Chen Gu conscientiously carried on his performance: standing on the sidelines, appearing somewhat bewildered, anxious, and helpless.
"I didn't do it on purpose..."
"He was wearing protective gear..."
"I really didn't notice the teacher rushing in..."