Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 1718 - 938: A Little Showing Off

The final class of the morning was still Physical Education.

The boys from Class 8 had a break, and so did the girls. However, only students from Class 3 and Class 9 of the sophomore year were undergoing training under Gu Wei.

Cui Yu, perched on the cement podium, observed the other classes. "I've suddenly come to love P.E. class," he remarked.

Over at the ping pong table to the south, Yu Wen proposed a wager-based game.

Yu Wen was subsequently eliminated by Lu Qiqi.

As the turns continued, the ping pong paddle eventually reached Zhang Chi. He was adept at spin shots and managed to defeat all the girls present.

Zhang Chi felt a surge of confidence, proclaiming, "Why don't we bet on these matches? Whoever loses..."

Just then, Yang Sheng interjected, "Did I hear someone mentioning a liking for betting?"

Zhang Chi fell silent instantly, and the atmosphere turned quiet. The urge to gamble within Class 8 plummeted, as everyone decided to be good citizens.

At this precise moment, a figure materialized before the ping pong table.

His attire was impeccably tailored from exquisite fabric, exuding an air of nobility. It was Gong Jin.

He extended a gesture, inquiring, "How about a few rounds?"

Zhang Chi, feeling a pang of annoyance, thought, 'I might not be able to beat Yang Sheng, but surely I can defeat him?'

"What are we betting on?" Gong Jin inquired.

The current acting 'class president', Wang Longlong, suggested, "One duty for each point?"

"Agreed," Gong Jin replied.

Zhang Chi, determined not to be outdone, initiated the game.

To his dismay, Zhang Chi found himself utterly outmatched, losing ten duties. He stood by the iron railing, fuming internally, 'Damn it, is your ping pong skill truly that exceptional?'

Gong Jin offered a slight smile. "It's back, it's back. That feeling from before, it's returned!"

The things he had lost, he vowed to reclaim, time and time again.

"Who's next?"

Dan Kaiquan, confident in his own abilities, and with Yang Sheng's name already noted in her 'list' of over 800 people, decided to step up.

He announced, "I'll give it a go for two rounds."

Dan Kaiquan, who jogged daily, possessed slightly superior speed and reflexes compared to Zhang Chi. However, after the match, he discovered Gong Jin's strategic play to be considerably more formidable.

Having lost five points, Dan Kaiquan joined the others by the wall.

Gong Jin smirked, asking, "Who's next? I'm rather pressed for time."

Seeking a chance for redemption, Chai Wei stepped forward.

Two minutes later, he found himself lined up alongside Chi Zi and Kaiquan.

Liu Chuandao and Duan Shigang followed suit, all stepping up to the challenge.

Gong Jin had accumulated a total of 36 duties.

Getting carried away, he continued to ask, "Who else?"

As he spoke, his gaze drifted towards Yang Sheng, preparing himself to face the girl who had, in his eyes, cost him significantly.

Yang Sheng remained seated on the podium, her short hair neat and sharp, a hint of valor gracing her eyebrows.

'Truly handsome, this girl,' Gong Jin mused inwardly.

Wang Longlong, adopting an exaggerated tone, narrated, "Gong Jin, are you truly prepared? What realization are you clinging to as you face her? Can you bear to accept defeat?"

"You're just an ordinary person!" Wang Longlong declared emphatically.

Yang Sheng dismounted from the podium and accepted the challenge. Gripping the paddle, she looked directly at her opponent: "Your style isn't bad. Did you learn it systematically?"

Gong Jin held a paddle in one hand, the other behind his back. "I have a ping pong mentor in An City. He's achieved considerable renown, and I hold him in high admiration."

Wang Longlong consulted his small notebook. "Not bad, you respect your teachers."

In the very next second, Gong Jin added, "He also admires me."

All the students were taken aback. 'You really enjoy boasting, don't you?'

Cui Yu chimed in with a jest, "It's true! I was there! I was that ping pong ball, and I saw them admiring each other!"

Gong Jin's lips twitched. "Please, enlighten me!"

A few minutes passed.

Xue Yuantong inquired, "Jiang Ning, why does his expression grow more and more serious?"

Jiang Ning replied casually, "When you genuinely desire victory, there's no room for a smile on your face."

Some time later.

Gong Jin found himself cornered, while Wang Longlong conducted an auction by the railing.

Xue Yuantong, who had been observing the match, saw Huang Yuzhu approaching from the sports ground entrance, carrying a large black bag.

He unfurled the bag in one swift motion, revealing it was filled to the brim with large pineapples.

Lu Qiqi exclaimed in surprise, "Whoa, you actually brought pineapples?"

Cui Yu looked startled. "We were just joking!"

Huang Yuzhu, with his usual honest and somewhat simple demeanor, explained, "I told my dad that the classmates wanted pineapples. He rode his motorcycle to bring them to me. They're very fresh!"

Liu Chuandao rubbed his hands together and attempted to leave the gathering. "That's great! Come on, let's share them with everyone!"

Wang Longlong intervened, stopping him. "Hold on a moment. You all haven't settled your duties yet!"

Liu Chuandao, visibly annoyed, said with a dark expression, "Can't you hurry this up?"

"What's the rush?" Wang Longlong flicked his pen over his notebook. "Liu Chuandao, the starting bid is one dollar..."

In the end, everyone received a portion of the pineapples.

Wang Longlong remarked with a touch of regret, "You all missed out on the auction."

Jiang Ning’s group received a large pineapple, and Huang Yuzhu had a fruit knife ready.

Chen Siyu gestured towards classmates toiling under the sun, suggesting playfully, "Eating over there would surely taste better!"

Cui Yu chimed in agreement, "You couldn't be more right!"

The group naturally carried their substantial pineapples to the grassy sports field, settling down cross-legged before Class 3 and Class 9.

Students from these two classes were engaged in strenuous leg lifts under the blazing sun, their bodies slick with sweat. Witnessing the Class 8 students enjoying pineapples sparked their anger.

An intense glare was directed their way.

Cui Yu chuckled heartily, "The more irate you become, the more delighted I am!"

The task of peeling pineapples proved challenging for many, resulting in quite a mess. Undeterred, they simply bit into the fruit, their mouths awash with juice as they exclaimed in glee.

Particularly those who had recently participated in the auction were the loudest, as if needing to release pent-up frustrations.

Jiang Ning held a fruit knife, with Xue Yuantong and Chen Siyu seated beside him, observing with anticipation how he would tackle the fruit.

With an intricate flourish of the knife, Jiang Ning executed a swift move. A radiant gleam flashed from the blade as the pineapple was deftly transformed, its skin and eyes vanishing in an instant. The discarded peels were neatly placed in a plastic bag on the ground.

"Wow! Incredible!" Geng Lu and Chen Siyu promptly burst into applause.

Even Bai Yuxia joined the round of applause.

Students from Class 3 and Class 9 were left speechless, thinking, 'Is peeling a pineapple now a miniature performance?'

Xue Yuantong cupped his hands towards the onlookers, offering a polite, "Thank you for your patronage."

A chorus of students pleaded with their teacher, "Teacher, we no longer wish to practice!"

Gu Wei savored a piece of pineapple offered by Tang Jing, finding its sweetness truly delightful.

He gruffly advised, "Perseverance ultimately leads to victory."

Swiftly, Gong Jin pilfered a piece of pineapple from Duan Shigang's grasp.

Duan Shigang exclaimed in frustration, "Damn it! I haven't even had a bite yet!"

He uttered a curse and resumed his own pineapple peeling, with Liu Chuandao and Cui Yu attentively positioned beside him, ready to snatch his next piece.

Gong Jin placed the stolen pineapple into his mouth. Despite having tasted many expensive pineapples, none had ever possessed the fragrant sweetness of this particular piece.

A sudden realization dawned upon him: this school, this class, held a unique charm.

If only he weren't seated amongst the Four Golden Flowers.

...

Afternoon, during the second class break.

Jiang Ning leaned against the east balcony, observing the lively scene below.

Xin Youling approached Jiang Ning, extending a cordial invitation, "Are you available this afternoon? I'd love to show you my cat."

"Huh?"

"You don't have to push yourself so hard, do you?"