Having shared a desk for over a year, there were already quite a few conflicts between him and Wang Han. After his awakening, he devoted himself to martial arts and no longer cared about the trivial matters in the class. He had thought the conflicts would fade away with the passage of time, but unexpectedly, his repeated disregard only made things worse. Perfect. Today, he would resolve all the conflicts at once.
Seeing Xu Shuhui at a loss under the watchful eyes of many classmates, Jiang Shu spoke unhurriedly, "Wang Han, you took over my desk without even asking for my permission. I haven't even called you out on your actions, yet here you are, wagging your tongue everywhere."
"Spreading gossip and thinking you hold the truth, manipulating people's feelings. What, are you the only discerning one in the entire class? If Xu Shuhui really had a secret crush on me, how come there was no sign in the eleventh grade, nor in the twelfth? It was only when I took a leave of absence and came back to the classroom for a few minutes that you 'discovered' it."
"If you really had that kind of insight, I think you might as well stop studying. Walk out of campus, go to the bus station, take the number seven bus for three stops, and get off. Within a hundred meters, there's a police station. Go there and apply. See if they're still hiring police dogs."
"That's at least a position, much more useful than going to community college."
Having struggled and scraped through society for more than a decade in his past life, although he hadn't become extremely successful, he had honed his skill in reading people. Wang Han's current behavior was nothing more than that of a clown seeking attention. He just wanted to prove himself through other means because he wasn't good at studying. When Jiang Shu chose not to engage, he could simply ignore him. But once he decided to speak... Wang Han? He's nothing.
"Lastly, let me clarify: I took a leave of absence, not dropped out. So, the desk should still be my desk. The books inside should still be my books. Before you go to the police station to apply, you'd better move all my books back, every single one, and put them on the desk."
"Consider it training for your abilities. After all, police dog training surely includes retrieving items."
"Jiang Shu!"
Wang Han never expected that Jiang Shu, who always seemed so easy to bully, would speak with such venom today. A police station? A police dog? How dare Jiang Shu say that to me! Who does he think he is?!
So what if I took over the desk? He took a leave of absence, so why shouldn't I use it!
As Wang Han brooded, his anger burned like a fire, rushing to his head. He abruptly stood up, pointing a finger at Jiang Shu's nose, and began to curse furiously, "Jiang Shu, didn't I send you a Weixin message asking to use the desk? You didn't reply! What, you take a leave and suddenly nobody can use your desk? Do you really think you own the school's facilities? Disgusting!"
"I just threw your books in a corner of the classroom. It's not like I sold them as scrap paper or burned them. You talk about moving the books back? If you want to read so badly, take them home yourself! Now you're trying to act like a good student, as if the desk should only contain your books."
"The classroom desks aren't yours. They belong to the school. If you're not using it, anyone else can!"
Standing on his moral high ground, Wang Han spoke with increasing confidence.
As his speech ended, other boys who were on good terms with him also chimed in, "Exactly, Jiang Shu, you're not using the desk anyway. What's wrong with Wang Han putting his books there? After being deskmates for over a year, you can't even tolerate this much?"
"I don't see any problem either. If I transferred to become a Martial Arts Student and took a leave of absence, you could use my desk, and even use my books as spares. I wouldn't be preparing for the college entrance exam anyway."
"As for the secret crush, Wang Han was just joking. How can you not take a joke? We all know Xu Shuhui wouldn't have a crush on you. She's the class representative, and she's really attractive. What could she possibly see in you? Take a look in the mirror."
"Hahaha, don't say that. Jiang Shu transferred to become a Martial Arts Student. Maybe he thinks he's a martial arts prodigy now."
"Pfft, Jiang Shu is bad at studying and bad at socializing. Just because he transferred to become a Martial Arts Student, he's suddenly a martial arts prodigy? I bet by the time we all graduate from university, he'll still be in community college, maybe not even having achieved Qi Blood Sensing, unable to even qualify for transfer to a regular undergraduate program."
The voices supporting Wang Han grew from a few to many. It started with just the boys, but then some girls also joined in to watch the drama, occasionally whispering to each other with their heads lowered—a chorus of chirps and murmurs, fragments of conversation.
At this moment, the deep red flush had finally faded from Xu Shuhui's face. She looked toward Jiang Shu with worry, endlessly regretting why she had turned to ask him a question. If I hadn't asked, would none of this have happened?
The noises around them grew louder, but Jiang Shu, one hand resting on the edge of his desk, remained unaffected by honor or disgrace. One year in eleventh grade, half a year in twelfth. He knew his classmates all too well: gathered in cliques, utterly full of themselves. Just because he had taken a few days' leave from school, they had ostracized him, leading to such verbal attacks.
Jiang Shu stood up, looking down at the circle of people around him. "Chirping and chattering so much, you all seem to have your reasons. Something about the desks being school property, something about Wang Han just making a joke."
"Since I haven't dropped out, the right to use this desk is mine. If he's unwilling to move his things, then I'll deal with it my way."
"Sure, there are many of you, but unfortunately, reason isn't on the side with more people."
"It only rests on the fist."
"This is a principle not taught by parents, teachers, schools, or society."
"I'll teach it to you."
Jiang Shu's words were calm, yet they landed with the weight of stone. In full view of everyone, he astonishingly lifted a desk piled high with books and test papers with a single hand—like a hegemon lifting a cauldron!
The warm air from the air conditioner circulated through the classroom. Jiang Shu took a step forward, walked straight to the trash bin, and flipped the desk over. Instantly, all the books and test papers tumbled out, landing beside the bin.
CRASH! CLATTER!
"Now, much cleaner," Jiang Shu spoke softly, but everyone who witnessed this scene was left speechless.
The chattering boys, at this moment, fell silent as if someone had grabbed them by the neck, their incessant talk abruptly cut off.
Although the school's desks weren't very heavy, their special design meant many people needed both hands to lift one. If a desk was full of books, some girls with weaker arm strength would even need help.
Yet Jiang Shu had effortlessly lifted such a desk, his voice steady, without any sign of strain! How strong must he be!
Xu Shuhui, who had witnessed everything with absolute clarity, was utterly astonished. No wonder... no wonder he was so calm all along. With such strength, even without Qi Blood Sensing, he probably isn't far off from those who have it. There are still three months until the college entrance exam. Perhaps... perhaps Jiang Shu could even get into university without taking the exam!
"Jiang Shu... Jiang Shu, what are you doing!"
As Jiang Shu lifted the empty desk and returned with it, Wang Han's voice trembled involuntarily. He could never have imagined that Jiang Shu, who in his eyes had always been so easy to bully, possessed such immense strength. He can lift a desk like that... what if he threw a punch at me?
Wang Han collapsed onto his seat, his body going limp, a trace of fear now evident in his expression.