Demonizing the Gym

Li Zheng engaged in the exercise that was scheduled between classes with an exceptional amount of vigor.

He surpassed the requirements for every action.

Even the students guiding the exercise on stage felt pressured because Li Zheng was too dazzling.

To maintain their control as the leaders, the students guiding the exercise also put in more effort than they usually did.

The two parties chased after each other. Neither of them backed down.

They made the ninth set of the exercise take on a demonic atmosphere.

Even Hu Chunmei, who was standing behind the group, was dumbfounded.

Li Zheng's monstrous claws had ultimately extended into the gym.

It was fine when Li Zheng did not attend gym class, but he shocked everyone when he did.

While Hu Chunmei was considering whether or not to get Li Zheng to lead the exercise, Sun Xiubin waved her hand as she jogged toward her. "Chunmei, Chunmei."

Hu Chunmei hurried forward to receive her, "What's the matter, discipline mistress?"

"How's the scheduling of your surgery?" Sun Xiubin grabbed her waist as she panted.

"I haven't even got on the waiting list," Hu Chunmei said. "Didn't we agree that I will only start scheduling when they reach the second half of their third-year?"

"No way, no way. The higher-ups looked for me just now. They said that you must do the scheduling immediately." Sun Xiubin waved her hands as she said, "Whatever, get in the queue first. Your health is more important."

"Mine is benign. It's not serious. Furthermore, even if I get in the queue at a large hospital, it will still take five to six months." Hu Chunmei pointed toward the group doing their exercises in front, "When that time comes, they will have just entered their third year. Wouldn't changing a homeroom teacher at such a critical time hurt their progress?"

"That's not as important. This is not up to you." Sun Xiubin's tone became heavier. She said with a serious expression, "This is an order. The higher-ups will immediately have a meeting to discuss the candidate for the next homeroom teacher."

Hu Chunmei was confused, "No… Discipline mistress… Why is this suddenly such an urgent matter…"

"The higher-ups are concerned for you. I also feel sorry for you." Sun Xiubin patted Hu Chunmei's hand. "Stop talking, hurry. Pack up and go to the hospital."

"I'm not going," Hu Chunmei turned her head as she said, "This class is already not doing well. They would sink to the very bottom if they were not led by me."

"Do you really think that the world would stop moving without you being there?" Sun Xiubin anxiously turned to look at the group of exercising students, "Look, the students are doing their exercises in such an orderly manner, especially that Li Zheng… That Li Zheng… Is there something wrong with him? Why is he doing military drills? Even the students leading the exercise have been led astray."

"Alright, you don't have to focus your attention on him. He would not break the rules." Hu Chunmei grabbed Sun Xiubin's arm and urged, "Him, Lin Yujing, and Liu Xin. I worry the most about them. To tell you the truth, discipline mistress, only I understand that. Any other teacher would not be able to tolerate them. You know, their studies would truly be affected if a student gets into conflict with their teacher."

"Stop there, the higher-ups have already decided." Sun Xiubin pulled her hand back and turned around, "I've already notified Qiao Sheng and got him to go with you. I want you to get to the hospital and get on the waiting list in the afternoon."

"But discipline mistress, I have to register two weeks in advance to get a number."

Sun Xiubin spoke no further. She left quickly.

She frequently glanced toward Li Zheng.

She thought, "His military drills…

"Look quite decent.

"Filled with vigor, too.

"So hot-blooded and full of energy.

"Being young sure is great."

…

Two classes later, the bell for the lunch break had just rung when the students charged toward the canteen.

Jiang Qinghua, Liu Xin, and the rest of their group stuffed their faces in a hurry before they ran straight to the basketball court.

Li Zheng did not follow them this time. He chose to slowly chew his food. He could only fully digest his food that way.

After his meal, Li Zheng did not hurry to engage in any relaxation activities. Instead, he held onto his phone as he walked toward the teaching block. He quietly came to the door of the Teaching Research Department for Mathematics, which was situated on the west side of the second floor.

He had been bothered by the 'surgery' that the old man at the library had told him about yesterday.

Furthermore, Mrs. Hu seemed to be acting strangely during her classes lately. She had to stop frequently for a few breaths of air before she could continue.

"She has herself to blame for this," Li Zheng thought.

"Why does she have to curse herself all day long?

"It is quite interesting to admire Liu Xin from another perspective."

Li Zheng had not arrived at the door when he heard the sounds of an argument.

"Chunmei, the principal has already given the word. You should go."

It was a boorish male voice. It had to be the voice of the gym teacher Qiao Sheng.

The gym teacher was the teacher Li Zheng was most afraid of.

Long-distance runs, long jumps, and pull-ups.

Those were too difficult for Li Zheng.

He nearly failed gym class last semester.

Furthermore, the teacher liked to shout.

Every class felt like military training.

Scary.

Li Zheng found it hard to walk when he heard Qiao Sheng's boorish voice.

However, he heard Hu Chunmei say, "I've said it many times. My condition is most probably benign. I'll go when they graduate third-year."

"But those little bastards are not your kids. Why must you do this?"

"Shut up. Do you still want your teaching license?"

"I will get you to go with me even if I have to give up on my license!"

"I still have lessons in the afternoon. Get lost, go back to your department, and sleep."

Li Zheng stood far away from the door. He did not dare to get close.

The entire class knew that Hu Chunmei and Qiao Sheng were husband and wife.

Hu Chunmei would toss Liu Xin to the physical education department to be dealt with whenever Liu Xin angered her.

Li Zheng could still remember Liu Xin's last punishment. A thousand-meter frog jump.

Anyway, Liu Xin would be in a vegetative state for half a month every time he came back. He would not be able to cause trouble.

It was said that their marital relationship was rather good. Li Zheng did not expect them to be in such a heated argument.

No matter what, Mrs. Hu's condition was real.

Li Zheng thought for a moment. In the end, he stepped forward and knocked on the door.

Clank, clank, clank…

"Wait a moment!" Qiao Sheng shouted.

Li Zheng shivered in fright.

"What's your problem?" Hu Chunmei quickly stood up and jogged to open the office door. She smiled awkwardly when she saw that it was Li Zheng, "Are you here to ask questions? Let's do this later. Come back in ten minutes."

"It's not scary to be ill, but it's scary if you delay treatment." Li Zheng avoided Qiao Sheng's ferocious gaze. "That's what my father said. He is a doctor at the Sky Temple Hospital."

Suddenly...

Qiao Sheng ran over with his eyes wide open, "Wait a minute, your father works at the Sky Temple Hospital?"

"Yes, as a neurosurgeon."

"Come, come, come." Qiao Sheng looked at Li Zheng, then dragged him into the office.

Li Zheng was incredibly anxious.

Mr. Qiao was a large bald man. He looked even more terrifying when he glared.

He pulled on Li Zheng like a bandit pulling a demure lady into the house.

"There's something wrong with you." Hu Chunmei hurried forward to separate Qiao Sheng from Li Zheng. "I know what Li Zheng's father's job is. There's no need to trouble my student's family for my condition."

"No, this is a good opportunity. The neurosurgery department of the Sky Temple Hospital is ranked in the top three in the nation." Qiao Sheng was blocked by Hu Chunmei, but he stretched his neck and shouted at Li Zheng, "Li Zheng, I'm begging you for a favor. No matter how it goes, I'll let you do whatever you want during gym class. I'll even fill in 1.5 seconds for your hundred-meter sprints if you want."

"You must want to be fired." Hu Chunmei was anxious. Her chest felt tight. Her body suddenly swayed a little.

Qiao Sheng quickly supported her in his fright. He was angry, yet felt sorry for Hu Chunmei. "Look at you. The situation has reached such a state, yet…"

"You… Get out…" Hu Chunmei panted as she said, "You've thrown away the reputation I've amassed for over 20 years."

"It's better than throwing your life away."