Chapter 8 :A Teacher's concern

By the end of the physical education class, Coach Wang Hai had completely ignored Zhang Yu, treating him as if he were invisible and offering no further guidance or instruction.

Under Wang Hai's lead, the other students also began to avoid Zhang Yu subconsciously, creating an invisible no-man's-land around him.

"This old Wang... such a petty man."

But there was nothing Zhang Yu could do about it now, so he simply lay quietly on the ground, continuing to rest.

Soon, the class ended, and the students began filing out toward the cafeteria.

Zhou Tianyi stayed behind and approached Zhang Yu, giving him a thumbs-up. "You're a brave one. Did you buy accident insurance yet?"

Zhang Yu slowly got up, brushing off his pants. "What's there to fear? Once my cultivation improves and my grades skyrocket, plenty of teachers will have my back."

He glanced confidently at the Feather Book in his palm. His physical strength had already increased from 0.83 to 0.84.

This was without any injections, drugs, or nutritional supplements—just pure training with the Thirty-Six Body Strengthening Techniques.

As the level of the Thirty-Six Body Strengthening Techniques continued to rise, Zhang Yu imagined his physical strength would improve at an even faster rate.

Just thinking about it made him marvel once again at his terrifying potential.

Zhou Tianyi, noticing Zhang Yu's sudden burst of confidence, asked curiously, "Did you find a new source for performance-enhancing drugs? If you've got something good, don't forget your buddy here."

Zhang Yu clenched his fist and smiled. "Kid, I'm going all-natural with my training!"

Outside the training room, Bai Zhenzhen, who had just finished an intense workout, walked over with flushed cheeks, sweat dripping from her forehead, and steam rising from her body.

*Knock knock knock!*

She rapped on the door and said flatly, "Zhang Yu, done showing off? I'm starving. Let's go eat."

The three of them hurried to join the cafeteria crowd. From a distance, they could see a long line of students waiting outside the cafeteria doors.

However, as members of the honors class, Zhang Yu and his friends had the privilege of skipping the line and entering through the VIP line.

Under the mixed gazes of students from other classes, the three of them walked into the cafeteria.

The feeling was hard to describe.

If Zhang Yu had to put it into words, it was like watching the elite inner disciples of a sect striding into a luxurious restaurant under the envious, jealous, or ambitious stares of the outer disciples.

Once inside, Bai Zhenzhen said, "I'm doing a nutritional supplement meal today. I'll be eating on the second floor."

Nutritional supplement meals were dishes made with ingredients infused with Daoist elements and various medicinal herbs. They were designed to enhance physical fitness, replenish the body after intense training, and improve the efficiency of both physical and breathing exercises.

In short, these meals were incredibly beneficial for Daoist studies. The only reason Zhang Yu wasn't eating them was simple: they were too expensive. Ridiculously expensive.

A single meal could cost several hundred credits, and for higher-quality ingredients, the price could easily reach thousands. Even when Zhang Yu had access to a large loan, he couldn't afford to eat like that every day, let alone now.

Watching Bai Zhenzhen head upstairs alone, Zhang Yu couldn't help but feel that the second floor of the cafeteria was another world, just like the line outside the cafeteria compared to the privileged space inside.

But a question popped into his mind: "Didn't Bai Zhenzhen say she was out of money? How can she afford to eat on the second floor?"

---

Not long after lunch, during the midday break, Zhang Yu was called to the teacher's office.

A middle-aged man sipped tea as he glanced at Zhang Yu standing in front of his desk. "Coach Wang Hai told me about your situation."

The man, Su Haifeng, was not only the homeroom teacher for the honors class but also the grade-level director for the first-year students.

He looked at Zhang Yu with disappointment. "Do you remember what you told me during your interview?"

During Zhang Yu's interview for Songyang High, Su Haifeng had been one of the interviewers.

Hearing this, Zhang Yu was momentarily stunned. Although he had inherited the memories of his original self, many details weren't immediately accessible.

Su Haifeng sighed. "I remember you said you wanted to get into a top university."

"Yet in PE class, you refuse to buy drugs or get injections, you lie on the ground slacking off, and you talk back to your teacher. Is this the attitude of someone who wants to get into a top university?"

Listening to the criticism, Zhang Yu wasn't sure how to explain himself. He couldn't exactly say, "I'm too poor and useless to afford drugs or injections, and my potential has been awakened, so I don't need to take PE seriously."

Sensing Zhang Yu's silence, Su Haifeng sighed again. "Zhang Yu, your performance over the past three months has been good. I know you're a good kid."

"Has something happened at home recently?"

Zhang Yu looked at him in surprise, feeling the genuine concern in the teacher's gaze. He couldn't believe it: "There's actually a teacher in this crazy school who cares about the students?"

After a moment of thought, he said quietly, "Well, there's been some conflict at home."

"I'll try to sort it out and get back on track soon."

Although he appreciated the concern, Zhang Yu could only give a vague response for now. Once his grades improved, he wouldn't need to explain these difficult-to-explain issues.

Su Haifeng frowned, seemingly dissatisfied. "Why can't you be honest with your teacher?"

"Is it a financial issue at home?"

"The debt collection agencies have already called the school."

"What?" Zhang Yu's head snapped up. "They called you?"

Su Haifeng nodded gravely. "If they hadn't called me, I wouldn't have known you were in so much debt. Why didn't you tell me?"

Zhang Yu: "I..."

He genuinely hadn't thought telling the school would help, especially given Songyang High's cutthroat environment. He figured it would only make things worse.

But Su Haifeng let out a long sigh and looked at Zhang Yu with a kind expression. "I know the school can be harsh at times, and you're afraid to tell us when something's wrong."

"But you have to understand that we're your teachers. Of course, we want to help our students."

With that, he pulled a document from his drawer and handed it to Zhang Yu.

"This is a financial aid application I specially prepared for you. Go ahead and sign it."

Zhang Yu took the document, feeling touched. "Thank you, teacher."

He realized he had misjudged the teachers at this school.

Zhang Yu thought to himself, "Sure, there are unreliable people like Coach Wang Hai, but there are also caring mentors like Mr. Su."

Su Haifeng smiled and handed him a pen. "Go ahead and sign."

Zhang Yu looked down at the document, his eyes scanning the contents. Then he froze.

Su Haifeng chuckled. "What's wrong? Hurry up and sign. I want to submit it before I leave for the day."

Zhang Yu's voice was low. "Teacher, this looks like a debt restructuring contract. Did you grab the wrong document?"

Su Haifeng laughed. "The reason poor students are poor is because of debt, right? Restructuring the debt helps the poor students. That's what the financial aid program is all about."

Zhang Yu looked at the contract. Essentially, it bundled all his debts together, and the school would lend him the money to pay them off.

From then on, his creditor would be the school.

Zhang Yu quickly estimated the total after the restructuring. After all the fees, interest, and other charges, his debt had ballooned to over a million credits.

"This isn't debt restructuring! This is just borrowing more to pay off old debts!"

He roared inwardly, "Even the homeroom teacher is in on the loan business?"

"Is this how it's going to be? Are there no normal teachers in this damn school?"

Suppressing his anger, Zhang Yu took a deep breath and said, "Teacher, I think I'll pass. I can handle the debt on my own."

Su Haifeng urged him kindly, "How can a kid like you handle such a large debt? Just sign it, and the school will take care of it for you."

"Don't worry, the repayment terms are very flexible."

Zhang Yu: "No, teacher, really, I don't need it."

After repeatedly refusing, Zhang Yu tossed the contract aside and bolted out of the office.

Watching him leave, Su Haifeng picked up his teacup and blew on it gently.

A moment later, he answered his vibrating phone. "He refused."

"Don't worry, I'll try again later."

"Trust me, poor people... when the debt collectors come knocking, they'll eventually cave and borrow the money."

(End of chapter...)

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