Chapter 20: What Did I Tell You?

Lin Nan could actually hear their low-voiced exchange.

As expected, these leaders didn't believe a word he said.

What was he to do?

Just as Lin Nan was considering other options, the Department Head, Wang Mingxiang, spoke to him sternly

"The President has taken into account that you haven't done anything outrageous and does not intend to hold you accountable, but you must never do something like this again."

Lin Nan knew that without evidence, he couldn't persuade the school leadership at all.

However, while the leaders on the stage had a canopy to protect them, the students and teachers on the playground below had nothing to shield them.

If hail came, people would inevitably get hurt, and he would be the one bearing the consequences.

Thus, Lin Nan spoke solemnly to Wang Mingxiang and Zheng Zhian once more

"Teacher, I'm not trying to make a fool of myself; there really is a risk."

"If the hail actually falls, the teachers and students on the playground are very likely to be injured!"

Seeing that his anxious expression did not seem fake, President Zheng Zhian stepped forward and asked

"Student, you see the rain in the sky is tapering off; it clearly looks like the rain is about to stop. Why are you so certain that hail will fall?"

Seeing that the President had finally listened to him, Lin Nan spoke in an ambiguous and meaningful way

"Because I observe the celestial phenomena at night..."

Observe the celestial phenomena at night?!

The school leaders were stunned by those words.

At the same time, one of the leaders seemed to remember something and whispered a few words into the ears of the others, informing them of a rumor circulating among the freshmen yesterday about "drawing arrays to pray for rain," which apparently involved this Lin Nan.

However, the leaders merely shook their heads slightly, clearly disbelieving.

Wang Mingxiang reflexively retorted, "Lin Nan, I heard you were performing a rain prayer yesterday, right? Is that why you're making a scene here?"

Lin Nan naturally wouldn't admit to being able to pray for rain; he simply said calmly, "The rain prayer isn't important, but during the assembly just now, the outdoor temperature was clearly comfortable, yet the current temperature is making everyone shiver."

"Furthermore, within sight, the cloud layer remains thick. When accumulated rainwater causes the air to cool abruptly, it triggers hail. The current drop in temperature is a precursor to the approaching hail!"

Hearing Lin Nan mention the rain prayer himself and back it up with meteorological observations, the freshmen lined up below began to boil over with excitement.

"Observing celestial phenomena at night? Is Lin Nan admitting that yesterday's rain was his doing?"

"Didn't this guy tell us to believe in science!"

"The pattern he drew last night was indeed exquisite, but praying for rain to cause hail is a bit too mystical. We're just ordinary people; can we really pull that off?"

"He wouldn't need to risk points being deducted or facing disciplinary action by pulling this stunt during a morning assembly with the school leaders present, would he?"

"Last night's rain was just a coincidence. If you understand a bit of meteorology, you can predict whether it will rain for a period based on the weather."

"Yeah, we're all ordinary people, not immortals. How could we pray for rain and actually get it?"

"That's not the point! It's better to be safe than sorry. I think Lin Nan makes sense, and he said it's because of his night observations, not because he prayed for rain!"

Although the students were somewhat skeptical of Lin Nan's claims, thinking it might just be a coincidence, they didn't dare to gamble. What if Lin Nan was right again?

He might actually be a "Rain God."

If hail really fell, they had nothing to shield them. Wouldn't they be direct targets for the hail stones?

Thus, the students began to shout

"Dismiss! Run for your lives!"

"If it really hails, everyone's heads are going to get cracked open!"

"Teacher, please dismiss us!"

"If you don't leave, we are!"

Scared by Lin Nan's ambiguous warning, the students began clamoring to disperse. They were a massive crowd and had no intention of catering to the leaders' whims; if they left, the leaders couldn't do anything about it.

For a moment, the school leaders on the rostrum were fuming.

"These freshmen are just finding every possible way to evade military training."

"The rain is almost stopping; how could there be hail!"

"How can this student Lin Nan spread rumors for no reason!"

However, President Zheng Zhian remained composed. Unlike the other leaders who only knew how to doubt, he had listened to Lin Nan and was now looking up at the clouds in the sky.

They did seem quite thick, and as the cold air spread around him, he couldn't help but shiver.

Zheng Zhian did not dare to gamble.

He was the President of Yanhai University, the direct person in charge of this institution.

If anything happened to the students, he would be held responsible.

Moreover, this morning assembly was not important compared to the safety of the students; there was no need to risk it.

Thus, Zheng Zhian raised his hand to silence the students' shouting and spoke into the microphone

"Today's assembly is adjourned. All classes, please evacuate in an orderly manner."

Upon hearing the President's words, a burst of enthusiastic cheering erupted from the crowd of students. They immediately scattered like a flock of birds, each running their own way without lingering.

"Long live the President!"

"Look, that's the President's character!"

However, the school leaders who had been questioning Lin Nan moments ago looked visibly displeased.

"President, how could you believe this child's words?"

"Exactly, how could he really know how to draw arrays to pray for rain?"

"Besides, severe weather like hail is always preceded by warnings from the Meteorological Bureau. The Bureau hasn't said anything, yet he's here making grand claims."

"President, the students just want to avoid military training. By doing this, aren't we playing right into their hands?"

"Yes, these..."

*Thwack!*

*Thwack, thwack, thwack!*

However, before the leaders could finish their sentences, the sound of hard objects hitting the ground repeatedly reached everyone's ears, accompanied by the cries of many people in pain.

"Ow! Damn it, what was that!"

"Who hit my head!"

As everyone looked toward the ground in confusion, they saw several transparent, round objects lying on the ground.

These objects looked like large ice cubes just taken out of a refrigerator.

The ice chunks were much larger than quail eggs—they were almost as big as small chicken eggs!

As ice chunks continued to fall from the sky one after another, everyone understood the situation.

It was actually hailing!

Lin Nan's words had actually come true!

Zhang Yong and the other instructors were the first to react, shouting across the playground.

"Everyone disperse! Quickly find shelter from the hail!"

Hearing the powerful shouts of the instructors, the school leaders on the rostrum finally snapped out of their shock.

Wang Mingxiang snatched the microphone from Li Tingting's hand, telling her to seek cover immediately, and shouted into the mic

"Disperse! Seek shelter from the hail!"

"Watch your safety! Use clothes or other items to protect your heads!"

The entire playground was filled with the startled voices of students and teachers.

The chaotic crowd ran in all directions, searching for safe places to hide from the sudden hail.

"Holy crap, that hurts!"

"Run! Run toward the buildings! It's not safe under the trees!"

"Oh my god, Zhang Ming, your head is bleeding!"

"Get him to the infirmary, quick!"

"Dammit, I told you we should have listened to Lin Nan! These damn leaders—I'm reporting them to the Bureau of Education!"

(End of Chapter)