Peace Eludes as Storms Arise

The following day, Ling Yun arrived at the classroom on time for the morning self-study session. As always, he took his seat and buried himself in his books, paying no heed to the two pairs of astonished eyes fixed upon him from behind.

Those eyes, of course, belonged to Zhang Yunfeng and Li Lingling. Zhang Yunfeng had arrived at the senior class one classroom early—not out of any eagerness for study, but out of a lingering unease from the previous night. After having beaten Ling Yun unconscious, he had spent the night on edge, anxious about potential consequences. He had come to school to see whether Ling Yun would show up. More importantly, he was there to see Li Lingling.

In truth, he was not Li Lingling's boyfriend—merely a persistent suitor. So when she had called him the previous day, asking him to teach Ling Yun a lesson on her behalf, Zhang Yunfeng, who had been eagerly seeking an opportunity to win her favor, was both thrilled and flattered. He had agreed without hesitation. Later, he had informed Li Lingling of what he had done—though he deliberately omitted the part about Ling Yun being beaten unconscious. Satisfied, Li Lingling had then invited him to dinner as a gesture of gratitude. Overcome with excitement, Zhang Yunfeng had immediately accepted, feeling as if half his body had gone numb with joy. The two had arranged to celebrate after school that afternoon.

In fact, Zhang Yunfeng had been hoping Ling Yun would show up to class. If Ling Yun failed to appear, it might mean he had sustained serious injuries and been hospitalized. In that case, there was a real possibility of facing consequences for the assault—something Zhang Yunfeng had no desire to deal with. The ideal scenario, in his mind, was for Ling Yun to arrive at school battered and bruised, his face swollen beyond recognition. That way, it would be evident that he had survived the ordeal, while also serving as proof of Zhang Yunfeng's prowess in front of Li Lingling. See? I did what you asked. Look how miserable he looks! He had imagined basking in her admiration, awaiting the moment she would finally fall into his arms—a perfect, triumphant ending.

But things had taken an unexpected turn. Ling Yun had indeed shown up—but completely unscathed. This realization filled Zhang Yunfeng with both relief and profound shock. His anxiety momentarily eased—at least he wouldn't face any repercussions—but at the same time, he was baffled. After the beating I gave him, even if he were exceptionally resilient, he should be bedridden for days. How is he walking around as if nothing happened?

Li Lingling, on the other hand, was seething with fury. Seeing Ling Yun unharmed, she immediately assumed Zhang Yunfeng had lied to her—that he had never actually beaten Ling Yun at all. Enraged, she lashed out at him. Flustered, Zhang Yunfeng hurried to explain, swearing to the heavens that he had indeed carried out the beating. He even offered to bring in the other thugs from last night as witnesses. Only then did Li Lingling reluctantly believe him, though her attitude toward him grew noticeably colder. Zhang Yunfeng seethed with resentment, grinding his teeth in frustration. If not for the presence of a teacher in the self-study session, he might have stormed over to pummel Ling Yun on the spot—right in front of Li Lingling—to prove himself.

Meanwhile, Ling Yun idly flipped through his textbooks and exercise booklets. This session was dedicated to physics review. With the college entrance exam only a month away, the senior class had long entered an intensive revision phase, with the teacher focusing solely on explaining key problems from the exercise book. These problems were anything but simple—profoundly challenging even for the top students, requiring considerable effort to fully comprehend.

In the past, Ling Yun would have struggled to grasp these concepts even after a week of studying—or more likely, he would have given up entirely, relying on blind luck during exams. If he guessed correctly, it would be a stroke of fortune; if not, well, that was just bad luck. Yet now, as he stared at the problems before him, his mind was uncharacteristically clear. The questions remained as intricate as ever, but to him, they had become startlingly simple. A mere glance at the formulas in the textbook, and the solutions formed effortlessly in his mind. Comparing his answers with those provided by the teacher, he found them to be entirely correct.

Before the teacher had even finished explaining half of the examples, Ling Yun had already completed them all. Checking his work against the answer key, he confirmed a perfect score. Yet, unlike yesterday, he no longer felt surprised. Clearly, this was yet another result of his transformation. He closed his exercise book and turned his gaze toward the classroom window, letting his mind wander.

The physics teacher, a sharp-tempered woman in her forties, happened to glance over at that moment and saw Ling Yun staring absentmindedly outside. A surge of irritation flared within her. With exams this close, how could he still be daydreaming? If he were a weak student, shouldn't he at least be making an effort instead of giving up entirely? Clearing her throat, she called out sharply, "Ling Yun."

At once, the entire class turned to look at him. Yet, to their amusement, Ling Yun remained motionless, his expression vacant, seemingly lost in thought. Many students stifled laughter—it was clear that he had completely tuned out. Zhang Yunfeng and Li Lingling, in particular, were gloating, eagerly awaiting his humiliation.

His deskmate nudged his arm gently and whispered, "The teacher's calling you." Only then did Ling Yun shift his gaze back inside the classroom. Yet, rather than appearing flustered, he rose from his seat with unhurried composure and replied calmly, "Yes, teacher? You called me?"

The physics teacher was momentarily taken aback. She scrutinized him—an unremarkable student, neither brilliant nor outstanding—yet there was a quiet detachment in his demeanor, a complete lack of concern. Her irritation deepened, her voice sharp as she said, "Well, Ling Yun, judging by that confident expression of yours, I take it you've mastered all the exercises?"

"Yes, teacher," Ling Yun answered matter-of-factly. "These problems are quite simple."

The classroom was instantly filled with murmurs of disbelief and scorn. Those who struggled academically found it impossible to believe that Ling Yun could have solved such complex problems, while the more accomplished students regarded his claim with disdain—after all, if even they had to exert significant effort to comprehend these questions, how could someone like Ling Yun speak so confidently?

The physics teacher let out a cold chuckle. "Very well, Ling Yun. Since you find these questions so simple, why don't you provide us with the answer to Question 12? I haven't explained it yet, so perhaps you could enlighten the class?" Her eyes locked onto Ling Yun, filled with both challenge and skepticism.

Without even glancing at the exercise book, Ling Yun replied indifferently, "Question 12 is a single-choice question. The correct answer is C. Here's the explanation: From point A, as the pendulum swings downward until it strikes the nail, it moves in a circular path with the pivot as its center and a length of L. Using the period formula, we calculate T, but since this motion only accounts for a quarter of a full cycle, we derive t1 = 1/4T. Thereafter, the pendulum begins oscillating around the nail... which gives us the new period of oscillation, Tx = 1/4T + 1/2T + 1/4T = 1/2T + 1/2T."

Silence. A silence so profound it felt tangible. The entire classroom was utterly still.

Every gaze fixed upon Ling Yun was now brimming with astonishment. Was this truly the same unremarkable, reserved boy who had never once drawn attention to himself? Who would have imagined that his academic prowess was so formidable?

The physics teacher, more shocked than anyone, was momentarily at a loss for words. Ling Yun's approach was not only unorthodox but also remarkably concise—far simpler and more direct than the method she had meticulously prepared for the class. It was, in a word, flawless.

Had he seen this question before? Or did he genuinely find it easy? The teacher scrutinized Ling Yun with newfound curiosity. Her earlier irritation had long since evaporated, replaced by a growing excitement. Suppressing the urge to let her enthusiasm show too openly, she nodded and said, "That was an excellent explanation, Ling Yun. In that case, could you also go over Question 13 for us?"

Ling Yun cast her a mildly resigned glance before continuing, once again without looking at the textbook. "The correct answer to Question 13 is B. The explanation is as follows..."

Once more, the room was enveloped in stunned silence. If solving one problem could be chalked up to luck, then what about the second?

The physics teacher, unable to contain her excitement, urged him on. "Go on, continue."

Ling Yun sighed inwardly. It seemed avoiding attention would be impossible now. If he had known this would happen, he might have feigned ignorance from the start—even if it meant being ridiculed by his peers. But now that things had come to this, he had no choice but to see it through.

Question 14. Question 15... With the ease of someone reciting a well-memorized text, Ling Yun provided not only the correct answers but also precise, articulate explanations. The physics teacher's eyes gleamed with unconcealed admiration, nodding repeatedly as if she had just unearthed a rare gem.

The students, momentarily overwhelmed, found their perspectives shifting. The once-overlooked Ling Yun had suddenly become an enigma. He had always blended into the background, yet now, his extraordinary intellect was impossible to ignore.

Zhang Yunfeng's expression grew increasingly grim. He clenched his fists, his mind racing. D*mn it. I've been absent for months, and somehow this brat has turned into a genius? Just wait till after school—I'll put him back in his place.

Meanwhile, Li Lingling's face was taut with frustration, a mixture of anger and jealousy flickering in her eyes. She had always prided herself on being one of the top students in class, consistently ranking within the top three. Yet, despite her efforts, there were at least a third of these questions she couldn't solve. And Ling Yun? He had breezed through them effortlessly. The realization was a bitter slap to her pride. Just yesterday, she had mocked his academic performance, yet today, reality had delivered a cruel and resounding rebuttal. How could she possibly accept this?

The physics teacher, beaming with delight, could barely suppress her elation. She recalled a conversation with colleagues who had mentioned that some students remained average in their first two years but suddenly blossomed into academic stars in their final year. She had dismissed the notion at the time, but now—had she not just witnessed it with her own eyes? Ecstatic, she entertained the thought of rushing to the principal's office immediately. A hidden prodigy like this was undoubtedly a candidate for a prestigious university—what an honor it would be for the school!

As Ling Yun completed his explanation for the final question, the classroom speaker crackled to life, and the shrill sound of the bell signaled the end of morning study. For a fleeting moment, the room remained still. Then, a thunderous round of applause erupted, resounding throughout the classroom.

It was not polite, obligatory applause—it was a genuine expression of admiration, given to a classmate who had, through undeniable ability, won their respect.

Ling Yun sat down quietly, absorbing the sincerity of the moment. He said nothing, but deep within, he felt an unfamiliar warmth. Years later, this memory would remain vivid, a cherished fragment of time tucked away in the depths of his heart.

The morning passed swiftly, and before long, the midday dismissal arrived. A throng of students poured through the school gates, eager to return home. Since this was a school for children of local workers, most students lived nearby.

Ling Yun joined the crowd, stepping through the school gates and heading home when suddenly—a firm hand clapped down on his shoulder.

He stopped and turned, only to be met with Zhang Yunfeng's menacing smirk. Not far away, Li Lingling lurked, peering in their direction with evident curiosity.

"Ling Yun," Zhang Yunfeng drawled, baring his teeth in a mocking grin—the same expression he had worn the night before as he ruthlessly beat him. "You're tougher than I thought. After the kicking I gave you last night, you're walking around like nothing happened. Makes me wonder… are you some kind of natural-born punching bag? Hah!"

Several nearby students paused, sensing the impending conflict. Many recognized Zhang Yunfeng and knew his reputation as a delinquent. They exchanged glances, wondering who the unlucky target of his bullying was this time. Yet, as long as it didn't concern them, they were more than happy to spectate.

Ling Yun's expression remained unreadable. Instead, he simply smiled. "That's all you wanted to say? If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way." With that, he turned to leave.

Zhang Yunfeng hesitated for a fraction of a second, surprised by the lack of fear. He assumed Ling Yun was merely trying to escape and immediately took a few steps forward, blocking his path.

"Not so fast, Ling Yun." He smirked, his voice laced with mockery. "What's the rush? You were quite the big shot today—I haven't even congratulated you yet."

As he spoke, his hand moved toward Ling Yun's face in a seemingly casual motion. The force behind it was neither too strong nor too light, appearing almost playful—yet anyone who had encountered Zhang Yunfeng before knew better.

This was no friendly gesture. This was an insult, a humiliation akin to a slap across the face.

Many students had suffered the same treatment before, yet few dared to resist. After all, opposing someone like Zhang Yunfeng only led to trouble. Most had learned to lower their heads and avoid him whenever possible.

But Ling Yun… he merely watched, a faint smile on his lips, his gaze calm as Zhang Yunfeng's hand approached.