Lin Feng bought a membership card at a gym near his residence. He diligently worked out for two hours every morning, afternoon, and evening.
By Tuesday, his entire body ached, and he was as exhausted as a dog that had been worked to death.
During class, he usually dozed off, keeping Lord Zhou company. Except for Cao Ying, the other subject teachers had grown accustomed to Lin Feng sleeping in class. They didn't mind, as long as Lin Feng didn't snore or drool.
In the classroom, Lin Feng remained the same old Lin Feng. After class, however, his classmates saw a different side of him.
The moment the bell signaled the end of class, Lin Feng would WHOOSH out of the classroom, run laps around the sports field, and incredibly, even begin practicing Martial Arts there.
Teachers and students who witnessed this would shake their heads, quietly labeling him a "madman."
No one knew that Lin Feng was practicing renowned Martial Arts forms on the sports field, such as Wing Chun, Hung Fist, and Tai Chi.
"Lin Feng, these are my English notes. Take them and study them carefully; they'll definitely be useful for the weekend exams."
That evening, after school, Tang Rou stopped Lin Feng at the classroom door and discreetly handed him three beautifully decorated notebooks. They were her meticulously prepared English notes.
"If you give me your notes, what will you use?" Lin Feng asked curiously. Aren't we in a bet? We're competitors. If you give me your notes now, aren't you helping me surpass you in the exam?
"I've already memorized most of the content in the notes. Take them and study hard. Also... you haven't been paying attention in class or studying on your own these past few days, and the monthly exam is coming up soon. Don't forget our bet."
Tang Rou's bright, beautiful dark eyes twinkled as she looked gently at Lin Feng, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"I've remembered it all along."
"Then why aren't you studying?"
"Heh-heh, just because I'm not reading doesn't mean I'll lose. Besides, you only see me not studying at school; you have no idea how diligent I am at home. I'm a very low-key person—" Lin Feng scratched his head, saying rather "bashfully."
Seeing this, Tang Rou could only pout her cute little lips, rendered speechless by Lin Feng.
Lin Feng had always excelled at lying without batting an eye. The truth was, at home, Lin Feng hadn't opened a book at all; he was diligently focused on—sleeping and cultivating his body.
***
"Brother Long, I just saw a guy with Tang Rou. She even gave him a few books."
"Really? Damn it! Find out that guy's name! If anyone dares to go after Tang Rou, I'll beat the hell out of him!"
Meng Zelong was one of the notorious "Four Tyrants" of Jiangzhou No.1 Middle School. When he heard his lackey, Chen Liang, say that some boy was making moves on Tang Rou—the girl Meng Zelong was pursuing—he immediately flew into a rage. He had already spread the word at school: any boy who didn't want a beating had better stay away from Tang Rou. He hadn't expected someone to dare treat his words as idle talk. Weren't they just asking for it?!
Chen Liang and another boy named Zhang Dafei soon ran back, panting, and the three of them gathered by the flowerbeds outside the school.
Chen Liang said, "Brother Long, we found out. The guy's name is Lin Feng. His Mom apparently works at a bank, and he's a bit of a loafer himself. I hear Lin Feng has been hanging out with Tang Rou a lot lately."
"Good. He can't have gone far. Let's follow him," Meng Zelong said menacingly, clenching his fists.
***
After parting ways with Tang Rou, Lin Feng didn't go straight home. Instead, he deliberately took a longer route, walking back to build his stamina and endurance.
However, he hadn't gone far before three guys, also in Jiangzhou No.1 Middle School uniforms, ran up and blocked his path.
When Lin Feng tried to move past them, Meng Zelong and his two companions immediately surrounded him.
"Hey, you guys aren't trying to rob me, are you?"
Lin Feng was sure he didn't know these three. They had no past grievances or recent grudges. Could they be trying to act like young gangsters and rob me?
Meng Zelong crossed his arms, sneered, and said, "You're Lin Feng, right?"
"I don't believe I know you," Lin Feng replied, rolling his eyes.
Meng Zelong's lackey, Chen Liang, stepped forward and snarled, "Damn it, you don't even know our Brother Long? What the hell have you been doing at No.1 Middle School? Let me tell you, this is Meng Zelong, one of the 'Four Young Masters' of No.1 Middle School! Hurry up and call him Brother Long, or I'll beat you up!"
Lin Feng found it amusing. 'Four Young Masters'? These guys really think they're something... As if they're actual gangsters. They're just a bunch of delinquents who don't like to study. He had dealt with countless real gangs, crushing them all without a single defeat. These three, who barely had any fuzz on their chests, were clearly just good-for-nothing student hoodlums. It was utterly childish.
"So what? Brother Long, or some puffed-up nobody? I'm not interested. Get out of my way." Lin Feng didn't want to get entangled with them.
"Damn it, are you deaf or something? At No.1 Middle School, if Brother Long wants to mess you up, you're dead meat! You better wise up!" Zhang Dafei, standing beside them, also got angry. Is this guy a complete idiot? He doesn't even know Brother Long!
A flicker of anger crossed Meng Zelong's face. He snorted and said, "I hear you've been getting close to Tang Rou. Classmate, don't say I didn't warn you. If I see you with Tang Rou again, you'll regret it."
"Are you threatening me?" Lin Feng asked with a calm smile.
He was usually the one threatening others; he never imagined someone would dare to threaten him.
"It's not a threat, it's a warning!"
Chen Liang shouted, then pulled a steel pipe from behind his back. He waved it in front of Lin Feng, threatening, "Get near Tang Rou again, and this steel pipe will crack your skull!"
This was a common intimidation tactic for Meng Zelong's group. Usually, most students would be scared stiff, their legs trembling, the moment Chen Liang pulled out his weapon. They wouldn't dare defy them again. So, as Chen Liang brandished the steel pipe, he wore a smug look, eagerly anticipating a frightened expression on Lin Feng's face.
However, to his disappointment, Lin Feng—who really did seem like an idiot to him—showed no reaction at all to the brandished weapon.
"Damn it, are you asking for a beating?!" Disappointed and annoyed, Chen Liang was itching to attack Lin Feng.
"Forget it. Don't let this delay us from getting drinks. Let's go!" Meng Zelong stopped Chen Liang, then looked at Lin Feng. "Lin Feng, right? Remember this: Tang Rou is my woman. Anyone who dares try to take her from me ends up either in the hospital or the morgue. I don't feel like hitting anyone today, but if there's a next time, I'll show you what Meng Zelong is made of!"
CLANG!
With a theatrical flourish, Chen Liang threw the steel pipe onto the ground and caught up with Meng Zelong. The three of them swaggered off, whistling.
'Campus Four Young Masters'? You should be thankful you didn't try anything just now...
Watching their retreating backs, Lin Feng sneered. He bent down, picked up the steel pipe, and with a slight exertion of force, bent the thumb-thick steel pipe into a U-shape!
If there is a next time, my patience won't be as good as it was today. You might really end up in the hospital...
Lin Feng tossed the bent steel pipe aside and turned, only to spot a familiar figure standing at the entrance of a hair salon on the other side of the road.