Top Student at Their Peak-Chapter 32 What a Painful Realization

Qiao Yu really did play a few rounds of table tennis with someone on the playground before coming to the high school section.

Actually, Qiao Yu wanted to find a casual team to play a few games of basketball. Unfortunately, there was only one class having PE on the basketball court, a group of seventh-grade younger schoolmates dribbling a pile of basketballs with "bam bam bam" sounds.

Forced to settle for the next best thing, he went to the table tennis tables at the edge of the playground and randomly picked a table to have a few rounds with a seventh-grade junior enjoying the afternoon sports break.

After a bit of exercise, teaching two braggart seventh-grade juniors a little lesson on humility, Qiao Yu felt both physically and mentally at ease.

It couldn’t be helped; Qiao Yu’s grandfather was a table tennis enthusiast who had won awards in competitions within the railway organization, making him somewhat famous at work. After retiring, he had the time to take little Qiao Yu to the senior citizens’ activity center to play.

This was probably one of the favorite sports for Qiao Yu’s grandfather’s generation, as table tennis held a very special place in the hearts of that generation in Huaxia.

Qiao Yu learned quickly, and since the older generation didn’t care much for proper techniques, he picked up many underhanded tricks while learning from his grandfather and his retired table tennis friends over those couple of years.

Such as corner stealing, hidden serves, fake backspin, adjusting the short balls, circuitous tactics, spin control...

He could even give true experts a headache, let alone educate some braggart seventh graders boasting about how great they were. Casually letting these juniors get a taste of the harsh realities of society was a commendable deed to spread around.

So, in truth, Qiao Yu was in a pretty good mood.

Until he reached halfway up the second floor and was suddenly called.

"God Qiao, God Qiao..."

"Ma Yufei, and the guy with you... what’s his name, the chubby one..."

"Lu Jia."

"Oh, right, where is he?"

"He’s waiting for you at the other staircase."

"What’s up? Looking for me about something?"

Hearing this, Qiao Yu got interested and looked curiously at Ma Yufei standing in the stairwell.

Truth be told, Qiao Yu actually quite liked this tall, thin senior, or more accurately, he liked all patrons who weren’t picky about money.

"Well, it’s nothing serious. Just if anyone in our math Olympiad class asks how we met, could you say we got to know each other through playing table tennis? Definitely don’t mention finding math problems in the internet cafe incident."

Seeing Ma Yufei’s furrowed brows and flushed face, Qiao Yu had a general understanding. He casually put an arm around Ma Yufei’s shoulder and said in a brotherly manner, "What are you talking about? We originally met through playing table tennis! Right at the table by the playground, I was thinking of learning some skills from you guys."

What they say about kind words warming a cold winter is true after all.

Hearing what Qiao Yu said, Ma Yufei instantly relaxed his brows and gratefully said, "Good brother!"

Qiao Yu nodded and kindly said, "It’s nothing, really. How about this, I’ll wander around the building for a bit; you go ahead and get Lu Jia to head into the classroom first, and I’ll come in later. If I go in before you guys, it might cause misunderstandings among the classmates."

These words almost brought tears to Ma Yufei’s eyes; he felt Qiao Yu was more considerate than his own parents and immediately said gratefully, "Thank you so much, God Qiao. I’ll treat you to dinner tonight."

Qiao Yu chuckled and said, "There’s no point in saying that between us; if you really feel bad, just remember this meal, and treat me when we go to the city for the initial math competition test."

"Okay, it’s a deal then! I’ll treat you to a feast then!" promised Ma Yufei earnestly.

"Go quickly then." Qiao Yu withdrew his arm from Ma Yufei’s shoulder and urged him.

"Yeah, we’ll run fast and be in the classroom in three minutes."

"Alright, I’ll wait for you."

Watching Ma Yufei run down the stairs, Qiao Yu smiled and leisurely strolled up to the second floor, planning to stop by Teacher Lan’s office for a bit before going to class with Lan Jie.

Qiao Yu’s principle in handling matters was whether choosing to be a good guy or a bad guy, just follow through to the end. If you only go halfway, not only is it meaningless, but it often causes trouble. However, this wasn’t taught by his grandfather, but a conclusion he drew from daily observations.

The door to Lan Jie’s office was wide open. Qiao Yu peeked in and saw several teachers there, chatting.

Qiao Yu hesitated, unsure whether to go in and greet the good guy; just then, Lan Jie turned around, saw him, and waved him in.

"Qiao Yu, what are you doing there? Come in."

No hiding, so Qiao Yu boldly walked in under the curious gazes of the other teachers.

"Hello, Teacher Lan."

"Hmm, your Teacher Yuan specifically called me at noon to praise how well you did on your Chinese test, saying your essay could score full marks."

Qiao Yu shyly smiled, thinking there’s no need to boast oneself when others are doing it for you; staying silent is just fine.

"Teacher Lan, is this the talented kid you mentioned? Finally got to see him today," said another glasses-wearing teacher sitting next to Lan Jie.

"Yes, Teacher Qiu, this kid is impressive. Okay, you all carry on chatting; I need to go to class. Let’s go, Qiao Yu," Lan Jie said with a smile, standing up with his prepared notebook after seemingly recalling something.

"Haha... Old Lan, we’re not competing with you for him, no need to be so secretive."

Walking ahead of Lan Jie, Qiao Yu heard the good-natured teasing with a hint of jealousy behind him, but Teacher Lan closed the soundproof office door as he exited.

"The high school teachers are quite nice," Qiao Yu commented.

"Oh? How so?" Lan Jie curiously asked.

"They like speaking the truth," Qiao Yu replied.

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Lan Jie couldn’t help but laugh. He hadn’t expected this kid would joke with him, which was a good sign.

After laughing, Lan Jie pulled out a book from his notebook bag and handed it to Qiao Yu, with a pen tucked in the inside cover.

Sternly, he said, "This is for you. When you’re solving examples in class, if you know how to do them, you can skip them, but you must earnestly write ten pages. I’ll check it after class; if it’s not done well, keep writing. I’ve prepared plenty for you."

Qiao Yu took a glance at the book, his expression complicated...

"Calligraphy book? No way, Teacher Lan, are you serious?"

"What else? Your handwriting looks like a dog’s scratchings, not even as good as a primary school student’s. The high school entrance exam is coming; do you want to lose marks for poor handwriting? Sorry if it sounds harsh, but you just said it yourself: high school teachers like speaking the truth."

Qiao Yu was speechless and felt he gained another life lesson—flattering people might lead to unlucky situations.

Looking at Qiao Yu’s unwilling face, Lan Jie advised, "You should practice your handwriting, not just for exams. Don’t think that everything being digital in the internet era means you don’t need good penmanship!

Imagine if you became a renowned professor or an important figure in another field, earning big money. You’d have plenty of occasions to write. If your writing looks like a child’s, wouldn’t you be embarrassed?"

Qiao Yu blinked and, surprisingly, retorted, "If I got to be a significant figure and made a lot of money through hard work, why would I care if people mocked my lousy handwriting? Wouldn’t that mean I’ve succeeded for nothing?"

For a moment, Lan Jie was at a loss for words, so he didn’t hesitate to assert his teacherly authority, scolding, "Stop complaining, practice your writing as I told you!"

Indeed, a teacher cannot treat those who like to push the envelope as friends, the good guy also thought to himself.