Chapter 47: Practicing Tai Chi? The ultimate wellness kind~

After class, the school became incredibly noisy.

Students from various grades and classes emerged from their classrooms one after another, merging into a human tide flowing toward the school gates.

Wang Teng headed straight for the faculty office to find his homeroom teacher, Comrade Fan Weiming, to sign up for the Martial Arts Examination.

The office was livelier than Wang Teng had imagined.

In particular, several homeroom teachers from the senior year were surrounded by students, making the office instantly crowded.

Wang Teng knocked on the door, immediately drawing everyone's attention.

It had to be admitted that Wang Teng had quite a reputation among the senior grade.

"Why is it him?"

"What is he doing here? Is he here to sign up too?"

"A rich kid participating in the Martial Arts Exam? Has he even practiced martial arts? Don't tell me he's here for a joke."

"Did he ever say he hadn't practiced?"

The sudden retort plunged the whispering group into an awkward silence.

"Uh, uh, uh... I guess he didn't say that!"

"So, what are you guys even gossiping about?"

...

O((⊙﹏⊙))o

The topic came to an abrupt halt—

Then everyone went back to crowding around their respective homeroom teachers, heads down as they signed up, as if nothing had happened.

"Wang Teng!" Fan Weiming also saw Wang Teng and said in surprise, "You're here to sign up too? Come in!"

As a competent homeroom teacher, he was well aware that several students in his class had the opportunity to apply for martial arts majors.

But clearly, that did not include Wang Teng.

Although Wang Teng's father had once sent him a gift, Fan Weiming was a teacher of principle.

*I'll have to have a good talk with this kid later. The Martial Arts Exam is no joke,* Fan Weiming thought to himself. He then said, "Wait a moment by the side; let me finish registering these students first."

"Okay."

Wang Teng nodded.

His gaze fell upon several classmates. Aside from a few he wasn't familiar with, there was Yang Jian, who sat in front of him, and...

His deskmate and class monitor, Lin Chuhan!

Yang Jian was one thing; after all, he had an uncle working in the Education Bureau. He had received insider information early on and was better prepared than the others, so he likely had a high chance of success.

But as for Lin Chuhan—setting aside her actual strength—the mere prospect of the *Five-Year Martial Arts Exam & Three-Year Mock* syllabus alone was enough to give her a hard time.

Yet, she had come to sign up the very next day after the news was announced.

One had to realize that many people were still hesitating, unable to make up their minds in such a short time.

Because the schedules for the Martial Arts Exam and the regular Gaokao overlapped, if one signed up for the Martial Arts Exam, they would certainly be unable to participate in certain subject exams of the regular Gaokao.

It seemed Lin Chuhan's determination was significant!

"Lin Chuhan, are you sure about this?" Wang Teng leaned toward her and asked in a low voice.

"Yes, Monitor. The Martial Arts Exam isn't a joke. Especially the combat assessment—there is a real mortality rate. It's very dangerous," Yang Jian added, having been hesitating on how to speak up until Wang Teng broke the ice.

"Mhm, I've thought all of this through," Lin Chuhan nodded.

"Do your parents agree as well?" Wang Teng frowned.

"My parents... I can make my own decisions!" Lin Chuhan hesitated visibly, but she stood her ground.

Wang Teng's mouth twitched. So, you haven't consulted your parents at all? Is this girl really this headstrong?

He wanted to persuade her a bit more, but seeing her stubborn, resolute face, the words died in his throat.

"Sigh, forget it. Everyone has the right to make their own choices. Since she's made up her mind, there's no point in me trying to persuade her further."

Seeing Wang Teng fall silent, Yang Jian didn't know what else to say.

By then, the other students had finished registering. He stepped forward, paid the registration fee, filled out the form, and was officially signed up.

The process was surprisingly simple!

After Yang Jian finished, he left. Fan Weiming picked up his water cup, opened the lid, and blew on it.

Wang Teng's sharp eyes caught a few goji berries tumbling playfully inside.

─━_─━

Lin Chuhan struggled to maintain a serious expression.

Fan Weiming didn't sense anything unusual between them. He took a sip of the goji berry water and looked at the two before him with a slight headache.

One was the top academic star of Class 8, a premier talent of the entire senior grade with prospects of entering the number one university.

Yet, this child actually wanted to take the Martial Arts Exam.

It wasn't that the Martial Arts Exam was bad!

It was a matter of suitability.

In terms of academics, Lin Chuhan was among the best in the entire Donghai No. 1 High School. But for the Martial Arts Exam, setting aside everything else, even if she passed, her scores certainly wouldn't be high enough to reach the level of the liberal arts track.

Lin Chuhan had come over immediately after class. He had already spent a long time trying to persuade her, but she was iron-willed and wouldn't budge. How could Fan Weiming not have a headache?

As for the other one—Wang Teng!

A rich kid whose studies were in shambles; there wasn't much to say there. But the Martial Arts Exam was different from ordinary exams, and Fan Weiming didn't want him gambling with his life.

So he said, "Wang Teng, I told you before, the combat assessment of the Martial Arts Exam is extremely dangerous. You didn't just let it go in one ear and out the other, did you?"

"Teacher, I heard you." Wang Teng rolled his eyes inwardly. *Do you really distrust me that much?*

"You heard me... then why do you still want to sign up?" Fan Weiming was truly baffled.

"Teacher, I know you're doing this for my own good, but I know my limits. You can rest easy about that." Seeing his skeptical expression, Wang Teng had to pull out his trump card: "Besides, my dad has agreed to it."

"Oh! Your father agreed!" Fan Weiming paused, thinking to himself, *So he has connections. Being rich is great...*

He then nodded. "In that case, come over and register."

With that, he handed the registration form to Wang Teng.

Wang Teng paid the fee, signed his name on the form, and he was done!

At the same time, Fan Weiming said to Lin Chuhan, "Chuhan, I still hope you will reconsider. The Gaokao is a major life event; you shouldn't act on impulse."

"Teacher, I'm really not acting on impulse. I have truly thought this through," Lin Chuhan said with a bitter smile.

She truly hadn't expected that her biggest obstacle would be her homeroom teacher.

Even though he meant well, she truly wanted to participate in the Martial Arts Exam. Her heart was incredibly firm—the kind of feeling where she would regret it for the rest of her life if she didn't.

"Teacher, even if I take the Martial Arts Exam, I won't give up my academic studies," Lin Chuhan said, biting her lip. "If I don't pass this year, I will give it up completely, repeat a year, and then take the regular Gaokao."

Since she had put it that way, no matter how reluctant Fan Weiming was, he had no choice. He could only sigh and let her register.

After the two left the office.

A nearby teacher said to Fan Weiming, "Teacher Fan, isn't that the ace student from your class? You're just letting her go like that?"

"What else could I do? If she's set her mind, can I stop her from registering?" Fan Weiming shot him a glance.

"Sigh, true. But then again, the attraction of martial arts is truly terrifying. If I were a few years younger, I'd want to try practicing it too," the teacher said.

"You're old, but who says you can't practice martial arts? The Tai Chi passed down locally on Earth, once modified by martial artists, is very suitable for the elderly. Even if you don't become a martial artist, it's at least great for staying healthy," Fan Weiming said calmly, taking a sip of his goji berry water.

"Oh? Teacher Fan, have you practiced it?" The teacher's eyes lit up.

"Hehe, of course I have." Fan Weiming grew a bit proud and became enthusiastic: "Let me tell you, this Tai Chi is great for your health. After practicing, my back doesn't ache, I don't go bald, and I feel energetic every single night!"

"╰(*°▽°*)╯ Teacher Fan, teach me when you have time! (*^▽^*)"

"No problem. See you at the park tonight then?"

"Okay, see you at the park!"

...

Waited all day and didn't get a single tip, my heart feels so cold!

Finally, in the evening, a reader gave a tip. Thanks to [nickpaul], *bows*~

(End of Chapter)