The Public Provocation and the Perfect Comeback

Jiang Zhe had long anticipated that this physical education class would not be peaceful. However, he had not expected Cheng Li, who had been muttering discontentedly in the classroom earlier, to launch a direct provocation before class even started, thus publicly intensifying their unresolved conflict.

While Jiang Zhe stood contemplating whether to seek out Ning Ran, Cheng Li deliberately charged into him. The force of the impact was considerable, a fact made clear by the heavy ‘thud’ that resonated when Cheng Li crumpled to the ground after Jiang Zhe’s alert evasion.

His ungainly fall elicited a burst of laughter. After all, the gymnasium was wide open and devoid of obstacles; to stumble so spectacularly on level ground truly marked him as a special kind of talent.

The sustained laughter from the onlookers relentlessly provoked Cheng Li, causing his face, which had only just regained its normal hue, to flush vividly once more. He clenched his hands into fists and slammed them against the ground, his hatred for Jiang Zhe absolute in that moment.

Logically, after Jiang Zhe had openly challenged and retaliated against him in the classroom, Cheng Li should have tucked his tail between his legs and behaved. Yet, sometimes, emotion and reason simply cannot coexist.

‘The more I think about it, the angrier I get.’

‘Why should Ning Ran, that proud young lady, show such favor to Jiang Zhe? Why do the girls in the class rush to protect him? Even Lin Moshu, that esteemed young master, seems wary of Jiang Zhe.’

‘He’s clearly just a good-for-nothing who relies solely on his looks, utterly lacking in ability. Yet, he dares to lord it over me, wearing an expression of disdain as if I were nothing more than a constantly twitching flea.’

For two consecutive classes, Cheng Li’s mind was consumed by nothing else. The image of Jiang Zhe’s dismissive gaze replayed in his mind, repeatedly highlighted, twisting his downcast face into a grimace.

Amidst a flurry of thoughts, Cheng Li only remembered one thing: ‘I cannot let Jiang Zhe continue to be so smug.’

This thought lingered stubbornly, deepening into an obsession as time wore on. When Cheng Li arrived at the gymnasium and heard everyone discussing Jiang Zhe, his obsession instantly reached its peak.

Thus, Cheng Li, his mind clouded by this fixation, could no longer care about anything else. He simply wanted to humiliate Jiang Zhe in front of everyone, to make him taste the bitter flavor of public ridicule.

But who would have thought that, in the end, it would be he himself who was humiliated?

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Cheng Li could not endure it any longer; even if it meant expulsion from Fenghua High, he would make Jiang Zhe pay!

With this thought, Cheng Li, who had already risen to his feet, glared with eyes red from fury, veins throbbing at his temples. He clenched his fists and swung them towards Jiang Zhe, intending to smash that pretty face of his.

In response, Jiang Zhe merely raised an eyebrow, appearing composed and perfectly at ease.

When it came to fighting, he, who had been brawling since childhood, had the most authority. Not to mention, his father had sent him to various martial arts clubs and military camps for training, elevating Jiang Zhe’s skills immeasurably from the inside out.

Facing a reckless brute who relied solely on raw strength, Jiang Zhe did not believe he would be at a disadvantage, even with his current ‘weakling’ body.

His initial dodge of Cheng Li’s charge was merely an instinctive reaction. Subsequently, he surmised that the other party intended to publicly disgrace him. If that was the case, Jiang Zhe, who never tolerated being wronged, decided to return the favor in full.

No, he would return it twofold.

Jiang Zhe smiled. Although his ‘weakling’ body lacked great strength, he leveraged his slender build to enhance his agility, igniting his evasion skills. Furthermore, Cheng Li, who incessantly threw punches, relied solely on brute force and couldn’t even graze Jiang Zhe’s clothes.

Not only that, but as Jiang Zhe evaded, he did not forget to subtly extend a foot to trip him.

When Cheng Li stumbled unsteadily, Jiang Zhe did not continue his movements. Instead, he paused, a smile playing on his lips, waiting. Once Cheng Li lunged forward again, Jiang Zhe resumed his cycle of evasion and tripping.

It was as if he were idly toying with an ant.

This spectacle caused the surrounding students, initially gasping in surprise, to transition to confusion, and finally, to burst into laughter as they watched Jiang Zhe tease Cheng Li.

“Wow, I never expected Jiang Zhe to be so skilled at fighting! That guy can’t even touch him; he’s just being played with!”

“Hmph, Jiang Zhe hasn’t even made a move; he’s just evading. How is that skilled?”

“You do it then.”

“Ahhh, this is my dream god… My dream god for tonight has a face now, so happy!”

The murmurs and discussions were not quiet. Not only did Jiang Zhe hear them, but Cheng Li, gradually sobering up from his physical exertion, also heard them. This made his expression even more sullen as he watched Jiang Zhe’s leisurely demeanor, realizing he had become a laughingstock today.

Cheng Li gritted his teeth, no longer as impulsive as before. With his reason now restored, his subsequent attacks became more threatening.

Since things had already come to this, he was determined to make Jiang Zhe suffer.

However, Jiang Zhe felt no urgency from Cheng Li’s renewed determination. He even had time to glance up at the clock hanging on the gymnasium wall. Seeing that class would begin in less than a minute, he immediately decided to end this tedious game.

Even with his regained reason, Cheng Li was still no match for Jiang Zhe. As he stumbled again, tripped from an unexpected angle by Jiang Zhe, this time Jiang Zhe swiftly moved behind him, unceremoniously extending his foot to kick Cheng Li’s knee.

The sudden impact caused Cheng Li to lose control, and he dropped to his knees with a ‘thud’.

Having successfully exacted his revenge, Jiang Zhe retreated a distance, his accomplishment hidden. The moment he looked up at the clock again, the class bell rang precisely on time.

Perfect control of the situation!

With a loud whistle, several well-built physical education teachers appeared, beginning to restore order, gathering students by class, and commencing the PE lesson.

The young masters and ladies of Fenghua High were delicate. Not only were their living and dining arrangements pampered, but their physical fitness also needed to be guaranteed.

Therefore, running laps was an indispensable part of every PE class.

When necessary, they also had to engage with gym equipment and perform strength training.

In short, apart from fitness enthusiasts, other students loathed it. However, absenteeism was not an option. Special admissions students were bound by credit requirements, while for others, the school would periodically send feedback forms, not only mailed home but also posted in parent group chats.

If it were merely mail, it might not be a big deal, but once all aspects of their performance were made public, it became a living hell.

After all, competition existed everywhere, especially when parents knew each other.

Having a hold over Fenghua students, the PE teachers were utterly merciless. Every PE class became a grueling ordeal for both body and mind, leaving students groaning in misery.

“What are you doing? Gather around! Today, twenty laps, then you’re dismissed for free activity.”

The arrival of the PE teachers dispersed the onlookers. However, Cheng Li had knelt too hard and hadn’t recovered yet. After an acquaintance helped him up, his knees still throbbed painfully.

Blended into the crowd of students, he was not immediately noticeable.

However, the physical pain intensified Cheng Li’s resentment. His gaze fixed on Jiang Zhe ahead, as if laced with venom, while the various glances cast his way felt like blunt knives carving into his flesh. Once his knees recovered, Cheng Li angrily stepped out of the ranks.

“Report, teacher! Jiang Zhe and I were fighting!”

Upon hearing Cheng Li’s tattling, Jiang Zhe’s smile remained unchanged, his eyes glinting with a sharp light. He had waited two classes; it was finally about to begin.

The long-awaited dog-beating segment.