Class Eight's Little Prodigy

Jiang Yunlu frowned slightly as she looked at the senior standing at the classroom door, but she still got up and walked toward him.

After a few steps, she glanced back worriedly at Lin Mo.

However, Lin Mo was currently digging out a pack of "Mimi" snacks from his desk, tearing it open and pouring the contents into his mouth.

Seeing that Lin Mo was unfazed, Jiang Yunlu continued forward.

"Senior Qi, is there something you need?" Jiang Yunlu stood inside the classroom, addressing Qi Tao at the door.

Qi Tao smiled at her. "Let's talk outside. I don’t want to block the way for your classmates."

Just then, someone entered, forcing Jiang Yunlu to follow Qi Tao into the hallway.

Southern-style hallways were mostly open-air, with chest-high railings for safety.

Jiang Yunlu kept a few steps' distance from Qi Tao, standing near the window as she repeated her question politely but distantly.

"It’s nothing urgent. I just wanted to let you know that the coach asked me to guide your team for this weekend’s competition. I came to brief you on some preparations," Qi Tao said, his tone friendly.

Jiang Yunlu merely nodded. "Thank you, Senior Qi, but I’ve participated in many competitions before. I’m already familiar with the preparations, so you don’t need to waste time on me. Please focus on explaining things to the first-time participants instead."

Without another word, she turned and walked back into the classroom.

Qi Tao watched her leave, chuckling softly to himself. He felt no sense of defeat—after all, there was still an entire semester ahead.

With that thought, he strolled away leisurely.

Inside the classroom, Fang Jun’s eyes darted around before he slipped out.

Clearly, the school’s "gossip collector" was off to gather intel.

As soon as Jiang Yunlu sat down, Wang Qin leaned in and asked loudly, "Yunlu, who was that guy?"

True to her role as the "super strategist," Jiang Yunlu cautiously glanced at Lin Mo before answering, deliberately raising her voice to ensure he could hear.

"That’s Qi Tao, a senior from G3. He used to be the captain of the school badminton team. I heard he just got back from training camp, and the coach asked him to lead us in the competition this weekend. He came to brief me, but since I already know the drill, I told him to explain things to the other teammates instead."

Wang Qin exaggeratedly gasped. "Wow, that guy seems shady. Is he trying to chase you?" She shot a meaningful look at Lin Mo.

Lin Mo, however, remained unshaken, munching on his snacks while staring at a problem set.

Jiang Yunlu shook her head. "I don’t know, and I don’t care to engage with him."

She wasn’t stupid—she could tell who had a crush on her. Qi Tao’s gaze made it obvious.

But since he hadn’t confessed outright, she had no grounds to reject him. All she could do was keep her distance.

She turned to Lin Mo and double-checked, "On the day of the competition, you’ll—"

"I’ll be there. I promised you, didn’t I?"

——

At noon, Fang Jun slung an arm around Lin Mo’s shoulders as they left the classroom.

"Another day with no lunch?"

"Yep. Today, I’m treating you to roast duck legs."

With that, the two walked off campus.

Once they were outside school grounds, Fang Jun glanced around cautiously before whispering, "Old Mo, you’ve got competition."

"What?" Lin Mo raised an eyebrow.

Competition?!

"That guy who showed up at our classroom today—Qi Tao."

"Truly worthy of being Class 8's little informant," Lin Mo praised.

"Cut it out. I'm more like the 'All-Knowing Sage of the Jianghu,' okay? 'Little informant' makes me sound like a phone or something."

Lin Mo nodded in agreement, now curious about what Fang Jun had managed to dig up.

He hadn’t bothered to use his divine sense to probe that senior Qi’s background.

Since Fang Jun had gone to investigate, he might as well hear what he had to say.

Fang Jun wore an expression of exasperation.

"Don’t take this lightly. Qi Tao isn’t just some nobody. When he first enrolled, he competed in the provincial youth championships—placed sixth in men’s singles and third in men’s doubles.

By G2, he’d already clinched championships in both singles and doubles, plus a runner-up in mixed doubles."

"That’s impressive," Lin Mo remarked, raising an eyebrow.

Provincial championships might sound modest, but the competition was fierce.

Winning a title practically guaranteed you a first-class athlete certification.

"I heard he spent last semester training at the national base and only returned this term.

You’re good at badminton, but someone like him is on another level. If he challenges you, don’t take the bait."

Lin Mo nodded seriously. "If he challenges me, I’ll counter with an MMA no-holds-barred fight! Knock him out in one punch!"

Fang Jun gave a thumbs-up. "Exactly! Play to your strengths, or hit him where he’s weak—like academics. Rumor has it his grades are terrible."

Lin Mo rolled his eyes. "How is that even a fair comparison?"

As far as Qi Tao was concerned, Lin Mo couldn’t care less.

Suddenly, Fang Jun spotted Zhang Yuzhong clearing tables nearby.

"Hey, isn’t that Zhang Yuzhong? Why’s he working here?"

It was a newly opened fast-food joint, specializing in Sichuan-style "mouthwatering chicken," along with Cantonese roast meats and pork offal soup rice.

Lin Mo recognized the place. Their signature dish was supposedly an authentic Sichuan recipe, though toned down on the spice and fused with Cantonese poached chicken techniques.

The place was packed.

But in his past life, Lin Mo had never seen Zhang Yuzhong working here.

Had his butterfly effect altered the course of events somehow?

"Let’s eat here today," Lin Mo suggested.

"Sure. We can ask Zhang Yuzhong what’s going on while we’re at it."

With that, the two headed over.

The restaurant had plenty of seating, spread across two floors. After ordering and grabbing a number, they took their seats, waiting for their food to be delivered.

Lin Mo went for the mouthwatering chicken with a side of pork offal soup.

Fang Jun settled on a combo of roast duck and char siu.

The moment they walked in, Zhang Yuzhong noticed them, but he was swamped with work and couldn’t break away to greet them.

Once Lin Mo and Fang Jun were seated upstairs, Fang Jun marveled, "This place is packed."

"It’s 20% off, and look at them—they seem to be enjoying it."

Students from Guangba at nearby tables were devouring their meals with gusto, making the food look irresistible.

The socially bold Fang Jun tapped the shoulder of a student next to them.

"Hey, is the mouthwatering chicken any good?"

The student looked up and nodded. "Pretty solid. Looks spicy, but it’s not hot at all—just really flavorful."

With that, he got up to refill his bowl of rice.

A large pot of rice sat on the second floor for easy self-service.

Before long, Zhang Yuzhong arrived with their orders.

The moment he set the trays down, Fang Jun cut straight to the point.

"Yuzhong, what are you doing working here?"

Zhang Yuzhong didn’t feel awkward at all and replied straightforwardly:

"I saw how busy the place was and that the boss couldn’t handle the crowd, so I asked if I could work part-time. They offered me fifteen yuan an hour, plus a free lunch."

"What? Only fifteen? That’s so little!"

Fang Jun was shocked.

Lin Mo smacked Fang Jun on the head. "Fifteen an hour isn’t low at all, especially with a free meal. Don’t be so out of touch."