Chapter 26: A Little Display of Skill

"Young Master Zuo, are we really going to let that brat off like this?" one of Zuo Fei's followers, still nursing his aching stomach, asked in discontent.

"Of course not! He dares to steal my woman and even left me in this state. I'll make him pay dearly," Zuo Fei replied with a dark glint in his eye.

"But there were so many of us, and we still couldn't handle him. What do we do now?" another follower asked, clearly rattled by Ye Feng's strength.

"Just because we couldn't defeat him doesn't mean others can't. We won't need to lift a finger; someone else will take care of him for us," Zuo Fei said with a sinister smile, a plan already forming in his mind.

Ye Feng, of course, had no knowledge of Zuo Fei's scheming, but even if he had, it's doubtful he would have been concerned. In the face of true strength, all plots and tricks are as futile as scooping water with a sieve.

"Ye Feng, can't you apply yourself a bit more? Let's see who comes out on top in the exams," Lin Shiyun scolded as they returned to the classroom, only to find Ye Feng already sprawled over his desk. Exasperated, she reached over and twisted his ear.

"Shiyun, take it easy—this is flesh and blood! It hurts!" Ye Feng yelped as he was pulled upright, his cries making Hao Jian and Fan Tong chuckle. Who would've thought that the tough Ye Feng would have his moments of defeat? It seemed that even the wicked have their match.

"That's what you get for slacking off!" Lin Shiyun pouted, letting go.

"Ah, you little devil. Looks like I'll have to show you what I can do if I ever want some peace!" Ye Feng said, sitting up with a mischievous grin and rolling up his sleeves.

"What are you planning to do?" Lin Shiyun asked, watching his sudden enthusiasm with suspicion.

"Bring me the hardest test paper you have. Give me ten minutes, and I'll show you what I can do," Ye Feng said confidently.

"Yeah, right! Ten minutes? You'd need ten years," Hao Jian scoffed. Though he knew Ye Feng's background and had seen his recent changes, he couldn't believe that someone who had previously ignored his studies could now handle such advanced material.

"Keep your comments to yourself," Ye Feng said, shooting Hao Jian an annoyed look.

At that moment, Fan Tong, seeing an opportunity, pulled a newly distributed math test from his desk. Their teacher had compiled this paper from the hardest exam questions of the past five years, not expecting anyone to solve them all but simply to prepare students for the challenge. Now, it was the perfect test for Ye Feng's boast.

"Alright, let's use this one," Lin Shiyun said, looking at the test in Fan Tong's hands. She had attempted it herself earlier and had only managed to solve a few problems; as the top student in their grade, even she found it difficult.

"Easy enough," Ye Feng said, glancing over the test. Picking up a pen, he immediately began to write. With a quick look, he already had the knowledge needed, and the answers came without effort.

"No way—is he really solving it?" Hao Jian gasped, stunned by Ye Feng's rapid pace. All they could hear was the sound of the pen gliding across the page as clean, elegant answers appeared on the paper.

In less than ten minutes, Ye Feng finished the test, answering nearly every question in one go, even providing multiple solutions for the more challenging problems.

"Hold on. I'll show this to the teacher," Lin Shiyun said, grabbing the test paper. The first few answers were identical to her own, filling her with astonishment. Without waiting for Ye Feng's response, she hurried to the office.

"Ye Feng, you're unbelievable!" Fan Tong said, noting Lin Shiyun's shock. He could believe it of her, the top student, but Ye Feng, the supposed "good-for-nothing"? It defied logic.

"Let's make a bet," Ye Feng said, smiling at Fan Tong's incredulous expression. "If I get a perfect score, you'll buy breakfast for Shiyun, Hao Jian, and me for a month."

"You're on," Fan Tong replied with a laugh, confident that no one could score full marks on such a challenging test.

"Great. Consider breakfast taken care of, then," Ye Feng said with a grin. With his mastery of academics, even the most complex questions were no match for him. He sat back, awaiting Lin Shiyun's return.

In the office, Teacher Zhou was increasingly astonished as he marked the test. These questions were as difficult as college entrance exams, yet a high school sophomore had answered each one flawlessly. He was witnessing genius—no, perhaps even brilliance beyond the ordinary.

"Lin Shiyun, did you solve this?" he asked, looking up in amazement.

"No, sir, Ye Feng did," she replied.

"Ye Feng? A new student?" Zhou stammered, barely able to believe it. "This is extraordinary—I must speak with the principal at once!"

"Ye Feng, you're amazing!" Lin Shiyun exclaimed upon returning to the classroom, running up to him and planting a kiss on his cheek.

"Ah! Public displays of affection!" Hao Jian turned away, covering his eyes in mock agony.

"Come on, can't you keep it private?" Fan Tong complained. By now, most of the class had arrived, witnessing the scene in full.

"My goddess has fallen!" one student cried.

"My heart is shattered!" another shouted.

Sighs and complaints filled the room as Lin Shiyun suddenly realized the extent of her excitement, her cheeks turning red.

With a self-satisfied grin, Ye Feng held up the test for Fan Tong to see. "Looks like breakfast is on you for the next month!" he laughed.

However, he also noticed a dark-clad youth in the back, casting a hostile glare in his direction. One of Zuo Fei's men, likely there to monitor Lin Shiyun. Unbothered, Ye Feng smiled benignly, projecting an image of innocence that belied his true intentions.