Chen Xiangbei attends a key high school with Hong Kong investment background, where the discipline and academic style are strictly enforced, and the university admission rate once exceeded eighty-five percent.
It's important to note that in those days, universities were not wantonly expanding their enrollment, and the approval for diploma programs was even stricter. An eighty-five percent admission rate was already quite impressive. Basically, those who could get into this school were either top academic achievers or from wealthy or noble families.
However, with the rapid economic development in Guangshen, the number of children from wealthy and official families increased significantly, resulting in a decline in the school's atmosphere and academic performance. Last year, the university admission rate barely exceeded eighty percent.
In response, the school began to strictly enforce discipline, with the Dean of Discipline waiting at the school gate each day to catch late students and assigning each student conduct scores. If they didn't meet the standards, parents would be called in for a talk, and continued failure to improve could result in expulsion.
Of course, Chen Xiangbei didn't want to become a typical case, so he immediately removed his hand from his shoulder, simultaneously pulling Fatty Wang, and the two of them jogged into the school gate.
Previously, Chen Xiangbei and Wang Yidong were typical "invisible" students in the class.
After all, in such a high school where wealth and nobility were common, their family backgrounds were not impressive, their grades were not outstanding, and they had no special talents.
Except that Chen Xiangbei was somewhat good-looking, earning him the nickname Guangshen's Edison Chen, there really weren't any other notable strengths.
The problem is at this high school age, being handsome isn't enough to depend on wealthy women to make a living, and hitting on peers meets with skilled fishermen, so naturally, he couldn't become a popular figure on campus.
But this time when Chen Xiangbei entered the classroom, he caught the attention of many eyes, especially among Shengminghui's little circle of wealthy children, who all showed expressions of dissatisfaction or displeasure on their faces.
The news of Shengminghui losing in the race at Nanyun Mountain last night had quickly spread within the small circle, as it was tough to keep a low profile after losing with a Benz AMG to a Toyota Corolla.
However, for the small class gang who hadn't witnessed it firsthand, besides being shocked, there was still quite a bit of disbelief.
Even someone as strong as the "God of Qiuming Mountain Racing" Fujiwara Takumi, driving a specially tuned AE86, got beaten by Sudou Keiichi's Mitsubishi EVO. Could Chen Xiangbei in an ordinary Toyota Corolla really take down Shengminghui's Benz AMG?
To say it aloud, others would probably think it's an outrageous tale.
Ultimately, this group of rich kids unanimously concluded that it wasn't that Chen Xiangbei was too strong, but that Shengminghui was too weak.
After all, "Shengming" in Cantonese means showing off or bragging, as the saying goes, only names are misnamed, not nicknames. Shengminghui belonged to that type of empty boast who could lose to anyone.
Besides Shengminghui's little gang, there was also Xue Meiting, who angrily glared at Chen Xiangbei.
To Xue Meiting, Chen Xiangbei was never her type; the reason she kept him hanging was that she enjoyed the vanity of being pursued, indirectly proving her popularity.
But recently Chen Xiangbei not only stopped being proactive but also showed a cold shoulder, even leaving her messages on read without replying.
This caused a blow to Xue Meiting's self-esteem, hoping to provoke a reaction from Chen Xiangbei by showing her anger so that he would quickly apologize and coax the princess here!
However, Xue Meiting this time chose the wrong person, as Chen Xiangbei simply ignored her angry looks and went straight to his seat to sit down, then propped his head with his hand and closed his eyes for a rest.
With the morning study session at seven, Chen Xiangbei had to get up at six, and having gone to bed almost at three after his bath last night meant he had only slept for about three hours. It was like just closing his eyes and then being woken up by the alarm, so he had to grab a nap before the teacher arrived.
If caught sleeping in class later, another deduction in conduct points, it would not be worth it.
Seeing that the first thing Chen Xiangbei did upon entering the classroom was to sleep, Xue Meiting felt even more agitated, puzzled why a guy would act like this, pursuing halfway and then giving up, indeed a certifiable jerk!
Xue Meiting's angry demeanor and her exaggerated actions finding books and stationery were naturally noticed by her deskmate Dong Yuanxi.
She put down her book and asked, "Who made you angry?"
"Who else could it be, Chen Xiangbei!"
"What did he do?"
"I sent him several messages last night, and he didn't reply. This morning he came to the classroom and ignored me, he really thinks he's all that."
Hearing this, her deskmate smiled faintly and said, "Then how many messages has Chen Xiangbei sent before that you didn't reply to?"
These words left Xue Meiting speechless in an instant. After a while, she argued unreasonably, "Well, why are you taking Chen Xiangbei's side?"
"I'm not taking anyone's side, just stating the facts."
"Have you replied to every one of the boys pursuing you?"
Xue Meiting countered with a question. Her deskmate Dong Yuanxi had been the school's focus of attention since entering Guangshen High School, with an impeccable family background, looks, and personality, countless boys regarded her as their dream girl.
Throughout her two years in high school, Dong Yuanxi never lacked suitors who took the initiative.
"If I don't like them, I wouldn't give them hope."
"I wasn't giving Chen Xiangbei hope; I just didn't want to hurt him."
For Xue Meiting's evasive words, Dong Yuanxi smiled and shook her head, then returned her gaze back to her book without saying more.
As the class bell rang, it startled Chen Xiangbei from his haze, and as he opened his eyes, he saw a thin boy with glasses rushing into the classroom just as the bell rang, almost simultaneously with the teacher.
His deskmate Wang Yidong couldn't help but praise, "Zhou Spectacles, I gotta hand it to you for timing your arrival at class, one second later and they'd have called in your parents for tomorrow."
Zhou Spectacles' full name is Zhou Chenshu, he sits in front of Chen Xiangbei, and is considered a mutual friend of his and Fatty Wang's.
However, unlike the outgoing personality of Fatty Wang, Zhou Chenshu's character is very introverted and he is quite a recluse. Besides attending classes, he stays home playing games on his computer every day. Judging from the heavy dark circles beneath his glasses, it was likely he pulled another all-nighter last night, which almost made him late for class today.
"Hehe, I'm used to it."
Zhou Chenshu merely gave a shy smile and didn't say much more.
The morning self-study session was for Chinese, with the teacher highlighting key points for the whole class to read and memorize. Seizing a moment when no one was paying attention, Wang Yidong patted Zhou Chenshu on the shoulder and whispered.
"Glasses Zhou, were you playing DOTA or CF last night? How did you do? Take me along next time to show off and fly high."
"I didn't play either."
Zhou Chenshu shook his head.
"Then why do you have panda eyes?"
"I was doing 3D modeling with a forum expert last night."
"What's 3D modeling?"
Wang Yidong asked, puzzled.
"Really uneducated, don't you feel embarrassed asking that?"
Chen Xiangbei, sitting beside them, couldn't help but criticize. This kid really knows nothing.
"What's there to be embarrassed about? I'm just asking questions with humility!"
"Shameless too."
Chen Xiangbei added casually.
"By the way, why do both of you have panda eyes too?"
Only then did Zhou Chenshu notice the heavy dark circles under Chen Xiangbei and Wang Yidong's eyes. Normally, they slept soundly, especially Fatty Wang who couldn't be woken up even if you called him. How could they look like they stayed up all night like him?
"Don't even ask, we were pushing a car with Chen Xiangbei last night."
"Why did you have to push a car?"
Fatty Wang's answer left Glasses Zhou even more confused.
"The car broke down."
"Dude, you won't believe it, Xiangbei drove my family's Corolla last night and beat Sun Minghui's AMG on Nanyun Mountain Road!"
Upon hearing Wang Yidong's words, Zhou Chenshu finally reacted and asked in surprise, "You guys went racing at Nanyun Mountain last night?"
"Yeah, you should've seen Sun Minghui's upset face. This morning he's still looking deadpan, haha!"
Mentioning Sun Minghui's defeat brought immense joy to Wang Yidong, feeling it was worth it even if he had to push the car two more times.
"What a coincidence, I was also doing 3D modeling for a performance car with a forum expert last night, planning to add some carbon fiber parts to reduce weight."
Hearing what Glasses Zhou said, Chen Xiangbei suddenly became interested and asked, "Who is so professional in car modification, needing custom carbon fiber to lighten the car?"
In the racing community, there's a saying: 'One kilogram on the wheels equals ten horsepower in the car.'
For racing cars, weight reduction is the most effective modification, which is why many professional races strip everything they can, leaving the car's interior looking empty.
However, compared to simply enhancing the engine for more power, weight reduction is a more professional and challenging task.
Like customizing carbon fiber parts to reduce weight, it requires automotive engineers for measurement and modeling, then connections to find manufacturers for custom orders, and finally, skilled hands for precise fitting.
If you set the bar even higher, you also need to consider weight distribution and aerodynamics to avoid modification parts disrupting factory balance, and affecting front and rear weight distribution.
Modifying a good car has always been a profound study that demands far more effort and cost than simply buying aftermarket parts, changing a few engine components, or modifying for intake with a mushroom head.
On the streets, you'll see 1000-horsepower Nissan GTRs and Toyota Supras, yet rarely will you see fully-customized carbon fiber lightweight mods, as it might require a whole racing team collaborating in the background!
This is also why in the "Initial D" movie, Fujiwara Bunta spent a whole month just tuning the suspension and tires on Takumi's AE86 to achieve the best balance.
"No idea who's modding the car."
Glasses Zhou shook his head. He never liked probing into others' business, especially the project of a guru he admired.
"So, what car are they modding?"
"Subaru Impreza."
"Great car!"
Chen Xiangbei praised with admiration. Among Japanese performance cars, the Subaru Impreza was one of his favorite series.
As they were engrossed in their chat, Wu Jiang, the homeroom teacher standing at the podium, noticed the scene and tapped the blackboard, reminding, "Chen Xiangbei, the three of you, stop whispering, or you'll go outside to stand!"
The homeroom teacher's warning led Chen Xiangbei and the others to sensibly keep quiet, then they all opened their books and pretended to read aloud.
PS: Extended chapter. Dear brothers, if you haven't bookmarked it, remember to bookmark it, and if you have tickets, send a couple.