Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 1753 - 963: Garden Date

The grounds of the school.

Cheng Xia tumbled thoroughly in the sandpit, right before everyone's eyes. Humiliated, she fled the throng amidst cold glares and jeers.

The gifted athlete, Yan Muen, swiftly approached. He understood his career path clearly: to achieve superstardom as an athlete, he needed to preserve his existing fan base.

"Cheng Xia, it's my fault for not jumping far enough," Yan Muen declared, taking the blame and attributing the mishap to his own insufficient strength.

"If I had cleared 7.3 meters just now, you wouldn't have been wronged!" Yan Muen expressed with anguish.

Naturally, as an athlete, he was aware of Jiang Ning's impressive achievements. However, Yan Muen himself had only been dedicated to the long jump for under a year, yet his future remained incredibly bright!

These words of comfort genuinely lifted Cheng Xia's spirits. She observed the tall, lean Yan Muen, her heart fluttering at the thought of the formidable power concealed beneath his youthful features.

It was true that Fourth Middle School boasted many handsome boys, but love was a peculiar and wondrous thing.

From Yan Muen, she perceived remarkable fortitude and an unwavering moral compass; he was steadfast, relentlessly pursuing his goal to become the absolute best.

Even when others outshone him, he never faltered.

Cheng Xia uttered, "Thank you, Muen."

Yan Muen offered a radiant smile, solemnly vowing, "Next time, I won't let you lose again."

He playfully bumped his fist against Cheng Xia’s.

Cheng Xia's heart, filled with youthful infatuation, swelled. She gazed up at him, feeling an inexplicable urge to confront the entire world for his sake.

"I'll treat you to milk tea this afternoon!" Cheng Xia spontaneously extended the invitation.

Yan Muen gently shook his head and politely declined, "No, thank you. I have training tonight and must watch my sugar intake."

Cheng Xia initially felt a pang of disappointment, but then she commended him, "You are truly so disciplined!"

Yan Muen's demeanor was resolute, "I am simply working towards the objectives I've set for myself."

Cheng Xia, with newfound excitement, moved to the side of the stage. There, she noticed two girls, somewhat overweight, in front of her, noisily consuming Cola.

To emphasize Yan Muen's exceptional qualities, Cheng Xia remarked, "Unlike them, they're quite plump yet still drinking Cola, completely lacking self-awareness."

Pang Jiao was traversing the path when the keen senses of the robust Hong Yuanyuan, aptly nicknamed 'warrior', picked up the airborne whispers. Instantly, she seized Pang Jiao's arm.

Mere moments later, Pang Jiao shifted her considerable frame to obstruct Cheng Xia's path, her voice booming with indignation, "Are you trying to start something?"

Cheng Xia inquired, "What do you mean by that?"

Hong Yuanyuan retorted, "What you just said."

Cheng Xia's expression shifted dramatically. How could this possibly be? They were situated so far apart!

From the elevated podium, Cui Yu, who had been observing a table tennis match, quickly moved closer upon witnessing the unfolding situation.

Pang Jiao, perceiving a flicker of guilt on Cheng Xia's face, became even more incensed. "Why have you maliciously slandered me!"

Cheng Xia, no pushover, promptly shot back, "Am I not merely stating the truth?"

Enraged, Pang Jiao reached out, intending to strike Cheng Xia.

Cheng Xia, however, felt no apprehension towards her. Overweight individuals, she reasoned, tended to move with less agility; a simple sidestep would allow her to evade the blow with ease.

Yan Muen swiftly stepped between them, apologizing, "I'm sorry, I'll apologize on her behalf!"

Pang Jiao demanded, "She must kneel and apologize to me! Kneel!"

Yan Muen, a headache forming, responded, "You're overreacting. This doesn't warrant kneeling, does it..."

Furthermore, this classmate was undeniably rather... heavy. And there was a strong personal scent... He couldn't help but subtly hold his breath.

Pang Jiao extended her muscular arm, aiming to seize Cheng Xia.

Yan Muen positioned himself in front of Cheng Xia, pushing her aside, and exclaimed, "Stop this! How dare you continue!"

"Do you dare to obstruct me?"

In a surge of fury, Pang Jiao suddenly unleashed a forceful palm strike!

Yan Muen remained unfazed. He understood the inherent differences in physical strength between genders. As a seasoned athlete, it was hardly an exaggeration to say that in a confrontation with a female, he would be an unstoppable force, like a wolf among sheep.

He raised his arms, prepared to block the incoming attack.

The very next moment, an immense power erupted, accompanied by a surprised exclamation, "Oh my!" What kind of strength was this!

Yan Muen felt as though he had collided with a speeding vehicle, utterly incapable of offering any resistance. The overwhelming force slammed into him, propelling him off his feet and onto the one-meter-high podium.

Yan Muen's body landed heavily on the platform, his vision blurring.

Cui Yu hastily called out, "We need a VIP for the second floor!"

...

Inside the cafeteria, at the dining table.

Chen Siyu joyfully announced the good news first, "My sister and I have been invited by Ai Man to join our school's dance team!"

Chen Siqing confirmed, "We're officially registered now."

"Yes, from this moment on, we are legitimate members!"

Bai Yuxia cast a sideways glance at them, privately wondering if these two truly appeared 'legitimate' at all?

Xue Yuantong couldn't help but feel envious; she had just joined the long jump team, and the two silly twins had surprisingly joined the dance team, keeping pace with her. Their abilities were unexpectedly well-matched.

Jiang Ning observed the twins, a thought forming: Ai Man was quite shrewd to use them as a lure first.

Nevertheless, convincing Bai Yuxia to join would still demand considerable effort.

Bai Yuxia's independent spirit was on a completely different level compared to the twins.

Tang Fu rushed in through the small door connecting the cafeteria hall to the supermarket, her long legs carrying her swiftly as she easily slid into her seat.

She eagerly inquired, "Jiang Ning, I heard you jumped 7.22 meters?"

Chen Siyu confirmed, "Yeah, I was there with him. Tongtong even called out to me!"

Xue Yuantong added, "She was really enthusiastically cheering for Jiang Ning."

After his companions finished speaking, Jiang Ning gave a slight nod. "Not bad, that distance."

Yang Sheng shook his head, commenting, "It's not just the distance; your form was incredibly standard. Hmm, one might even say it was flawless."

Tang Fu pressed, "How did you make it so flawless?"

Jiang Ning quipped, "Because today, I ate a Dove chocolate."

Chen Siyu expressed her surprise, "I didn't even know he had so many skills; it truly astonished me!"

Bai Yuxia found her thoughts drifting once more.

"I feel like when I jump, I just plummet to the ground immediately," Chen Siyu sighed.

Tang Fu, holding a steamed bun and exuding the confidence of the strong, offered guidance, "It's because you don't jump high enough, far enough, or elegantly enough!"

"If it were me, it would be like gliding through the air."

With that, Tang Fu took a bite of her bun, fully embodying the posture of a sovereign.

This was in sharp contrast to the atmosphere at the rest of the dining table.

Tongtong expressed her displeasure, "Hmph, I can jump 2.05 meters sometimes; isn't that high enough?"

Yang Sheng raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"

"Wait, aren't those Jiang Ning's stats? How did you claim them?"

Tang Fu's gaze was filled with disdain. "You?"

Chen Siyu, thinking Silly Fu was being too boastful and would likely be even more so at the upcoming sports meet, decided she needed to be outdone. "I can jump 2 meters!"

Tongtong countered, "I can run 100 meters in 10.86 seconds."

Chen Siyu declared, "Within 10 seconds."

Tongtong stated, "800 meters in 1 minute and 53 seconds."

Chen Siyu proclaimed, "1 minute."

Tang Fu refused to believe it and challenged, "You two definitely can't do it. I don't believe you! Let's go to the field and find out?"

Yang Sheng confidently chimed in, "I believe they can."

Tang Fu was stunned. "Even Saint Son, you've switched sides."

Bai Yuxia inquired, "Tongtong, do you have any other hobbies?"

Tongtong replied, "Daydreaming."

"What about you, Siyu?"

"Bragging."

Yang Sheng urged, "Just tell us if you can do it or not?"

...

After dinner, the dishes were cleared at the sink near the cafeteria entrance, and the groups dispersed in various directions. Tang Fu and Yang Sheng headed towards the field, while Jiang Ning, along with Tongtong and her group, returned to the classroom.

As they approached the classroom door, the sound of tables and chairs being moved could be heard. It turned out that the arts and sports students, influenced by Shan Qingrong's guidance, had begun switching classes.

The kind-hearted Huang Yuzhu and Dan Xiao assisted them in packing, a sense of farewell hanging in the air.

After all, they had shared a long time together. Initially, they believed the division between arts and sciences was the final separation, but unexpectedly, another shift occurred as senior year was about to begin.

With the arts and sports students departing, six seats were left vacant in Class 8.

Gong Jin felt a surge of eagerness: 'Could it be possible for me?'

He was somewhat thrilled.

Previously unable to trade seats through transactions, now with people gone, no trade would be necessary, so it should be feasible, right?

In the shadows, Cui Yu and Liu Chuandao had their eyes fixed on Gong Jin. Should any unusual activity arise, they would immediately file a report to safeguard the interests of potential transfer students!

...

The first session of evening self-study concluded.

Jiang Ning found Yang Sheng on the east balcony, enjoying the breeze. "Help me with something. I need your authority."

Yang Sheng replied jovially, "Who are we kidding? Just say the word if you need anything."

Evening self-study, second session, drawing to a close.

Second-year Class 3.

Yun Tingting was preparing to head out for badminton when Chen Shuaishuai suddenly strode to the podium, his gaze sweeping across the entire class.

Chen Shuaishuai's height was neither too tall nor too short, and he was slightly chubby, usually quite amiable. However, at that moment, he appeared indifferent, exuding an intimidating aura.

The classmates recalled that when Chen Shuaishuai first became class president, he was merely a somewhat timid boy. But after a year and a half in the position, his demeanor had completely transformed—he was no longer timid.

"This time, the art exam classes have been organized, but it has no bearing on our class. We are an experimental cohort, with no one taking the art exams; our focus is solely on competitions and direct admissions!"

He couldn't help but feel a swell of pride at this declaration.

"Recently, the school initiated a designated township school assistance plan. It's possible new students might join the experimental class, so everyone should be prepared."

After relaying a few more announcements, Chen Shuaishuai inquired, "It's been quite some time since our class's water dispenser was cleaned. Which duty group is scheduled for tomorrow?"

A male classmate grumbled, "We cleaned it last time; is it our turn again?"

Chen Shuaishuai responded, "Then it falls to the next group."

Yun Tingting immediately retorted, "Why should it be us? During the last major clean-up, our group even scrubbed the trash cans!"

Chen Shuaishuai frowned, his tone stern as he commanded, "Silence! Then it will be the third group. Don't try to teach me how to do my job!"

The entirety of Class 3 fell into an immediate hush.

Below, the female classmates in the third group, though displeased, dared not defy Chen Shuaishuai.

They turned their frustration towards the leader of the third group, admonishing, "Yu Jing, why aren't you saying anything?"

Pei Yujing had been appointed group leader by Chen Shuaishuai, a position she didn't desire due to the inherent responsibilities.

Pei Yujing stated softly, "The class president is displeased; let's just clean the water dispenser."

The complaining female classmate felt a pang of discomfort and retorted mercilessly, "You say that so easily!"

Rather than escalating the conflict, Pei Yujing replied, "I'll do it. I often handle chores at home."

It was merely a water dispenser, and she was quite adept at household tasks.

Consequently, the atmosphere within the entire duty group visibly lightened.

The class bell chimed.

Chen Shuaishuai deliberately prolonged the announcements for another minute before concluding, "Alright, class is dismissed."

He basked in the fleeting sensation of authority, feeling quite pleased with himself, and leisurely ambled back towards his seat.

At that precise moment, a girl rushed to the classroom doorway, a bright smile on her face:

"Chen Shuaishuai, your walking style is so dashing! Our classmate Shen Qing’e finds you incredibly charming and wishes to be acquainted."

The entire class instantly redirected their gazes towards the girl at the door, then shifted their attention to Chen Shuaishuai.

He perceived the girl's astonishment, as well as the boys' palpable envy.

Chen Shuaishuai's vanity swelled to its limits; he curved his lips, suppressed a smile with effort, and then, with hands tucked into his pockets, proceeded to the door as if gracing a fashion runway.

Yu Wen watched with a sense of disgust, deeming him utterly pretentious.

However, her mission was at hand, leaving her no alternative; she forced a smile and said, "Follow me! Shen Qing’e is waiting for you!"

Chen Shuaishuai recognized Yu Wen – she was a close friend of Shen Qing’e!

Shen Qing’e hailed from Class 8. While not widely renowned, she had become a topic of much discussion among some students during the military training.

His mouth curved further upwards. #Even though you, Shen Qing’e, are in a regular class, you are quite attractive. If you truly fancy me, I, as the class president of Class 3, will graciously accept you."

Yu Wen led him through Building No. 1.

Chen Shuaishuai's thoughts raced; everyone knew the small garden in front of Building No. 1 was a renowned spot for romantic rendezvous!

By this point, Chen Shuaishuai was growing increasingly impatient.

Finally, they stepped into the secluded little garden.

Chen Shuaishuai, hands still in his pockets, surveyed his surroundings and called out, "Shen Qing’e, where are you? I've arrived!"

Yu Wen, who had been leading the way, let out a scoff. "There was never any Shen Qing’e."

Chen Shuaishuai was taken aback. "What do you mean? Are you playing a trick on me?"

In the very next second, voices echoed from three different directions, "So what if we fooled you?"

The imposing Liu Chuandao, the dependable elder-brother figure Duan Shigang, and the cunning Zhang Chi emerged from behind the flowerbeds, completely surrounding him.

Zhang Chi absently scratched his ear. "We heard you appointed Pei Yujing as the group leader?"

Duan Shigang sized him up. "We also heard you hold considerable sway in Class 3?"

Liu Chuandao rubbed his hands together. "You're asking for a beating!"

With no room to retreat, Chen Shuaishuai felt a surge of shock and anger. "What do you want? I am the class president!"

Yu Wen, thoroughly exasperated with him, retorted sharply, "Shut up, *I* am the class president!"