Picking Nine Lotus Flowers

Time flew by, and soon it was after the midterm exams.

As Class 1 gathered all the top students in Jiangcheng, it was no surprise that the top ten spots in the entire grade were swept by them this time.

Chen Zhi lay on his desk, looking at the newly distributed report card.

Total score: 703.

Math and sciences were close to perfect, English was 143, and only Chinese dragged him down a bit, scoring just 120.

What a freak...

Cheng Jun held his own report card and leaned over to Chen Zhi. He took one look at that 703, and his mouth twitched uncontrollably. Brother Zhi, tell me the truth, did you bribe the graders? You can still get first place with a 120 in Chinese, are you trying to kill the rest of us?

Just the usual, hold your applause.

Damn it! Cheng Jun raised his middle finger. Show-offs get struck by lightning.

As they were talking, the class monitor walked over with a thick stack of forms. It was the information collection sheet the school used to make the Honor Roll.

As a traditional staple of Jiangcheng First High School, the Honor Roll after every major exam would be posted in the most prominent display board on campus. It not only featured the top students' photos and scores, but also left a section for them to write a personal motto.

Past top students mostly wrote inspirational chicken soup like Diligence is the path up the mountain of knowledge or Heaven rewards the diligent.

But today, this form fell into Chen Zhi's hands.

A motto? Chen Zhi looked at the blank line, rubbed his chin, and suddenly had a stroke of genius.

He picked up his pen and quickly scribbled a paragraph on the paper.

Cheng Jun curiously poked his head over. Brother Zhi, what are you writing? Let me use it as a reference. I made it into the top ten too, so I need to come up with something badass.

However, when he clearly saw the contents on the paper, he fell completely silent.

He saw a line of neat handwriting that read:

I have been reborn. In my past life, I was the CEO of a listed company but was betrayed by my wife. This time, I swear to make them pay in blood, take back everything that belongs to me, and make everyone pay the price! Venmo me 50 bucks to help me make a comeback!

Cheng Jun was speechless.

He stared at that line of words for a full three seconds, then looked up at Chen Zhi with the kind of gaze one reserves for a psychiatric patient.

Seriously, bro, you got first place and you're using this incredibly cheesy copy-paste text?

Chen Zhi clicked his tongue and somewhat regretfully crossed out the paragraph. Bro, no one understands my memes.

Since he couldn't play the absurd angle, he might as well just be arrogant.

Chen Zhi pondered for a moment and had another stroke of genius.

He picked up his pen again and wrote a new sentence in the blank space:

There are ten lotuses in the pond. I pick one, you pick nine lotuses.

Cheng Jun read the sentence twice and frowned. What does that mean? Are you saying you only want one and you're leaving the rest for us? That's not arrogant at all, isn't that pretty humble?

Chen Zhi looked at him like he was an idiot. How did you even get into Class 1?

So what does it mean?

It's a pun. 'Pick nine lotuses' sounds exactly like 'you suck, so practice more' in Chinese. Chen Zhi shrugged.

Cheng Jun was speechless again.

At this moment, Pei Ningxue, who was sitting nearby, was also attracted by the commotion.

Ever since the hand cream incident, although this young miss hadn't admitted anything, her aura was noticeably weaker when facing Chen Zhi, always carrying the guilty conscience of someone who had been caught red-handed.

She sneaked a peek at Chen Zhi's form.

There are ten lotuses in the pond...

Pei Ningxue recited it silently in her heart, then let out a soft snort.

Childish.

Trying to sound mysterious.

The class monitor happened to walk up to her. Pei Ningxue, have you finished writing your motto?

Pei Ningxue took the form. She was second in the grade, right behind Chen Zhi.

She thought about it, picked up her pen, and wrote a sentence:

Iron has impurities, you guys still need to smelt more. (Another pun on 'practice more').

Seeing the class monitor coming to collect the forms, Cheng Jun finally remembered that he hadn't written a single word yet.

Oh man, I need to write mine too.

Cheng Jun shrank back into his seat, chewing on his pen as he thought hard.

Should I write a classic poem?

Or a famous proverb?

Those have all been overused to death; they lost their cool factor a long time ago.

Cheng Jun's gaze swept over the copy of the novel Soul Land in his desk, and suddenly, he too had a stroke of genius.

Since Class 1 had already swept the top ten, why not just do something massive?

This was a chance to go down in school history!

Cheng Jun slapped his thigh heavily, turned around in excitement, and waved to the few boys in the back row. Brothers, come here, come here! I have an earth-shattering plan!

The guys from the back row gathered around.

We have ten people from our class in the top ten this time. Cheng Jun lowered his voice, sounding thrilled. Let's form a group!

A group? What kind of group?

The Shrek Seven Devils! Cheng Jun declared passionately.

A few minutes later.

From the back corner of Class 1, bursts of suppressed, low laughter erupted.

Holy crap, no way, isn't this too embarrassing?

What are you afraid of?! As long as we aren't embarrassed, the ones who get embarrassed will be everyone else!

...

Monday morning.

A dense crowd was gathered in front of the school's display board.

The new edition of the Honor Roll had just been posted, its red background and gold lettering shining brightly in the sunlight.

However, the onlookers today were exceptionally noisy.

Holy crap...

What the hell is this?

Did everyone in Class 1 collectively lose their minds?

On the massive Honor Roll, ten photos were lined up in a row.

At the very top, naturally, was Chen Zhi's outrageously handsome ID photo. In the motto section next to his photo, it boldly read:

1st Place Chen Zhi (Grade 10, Class 1): There are ten lotuses in the pond. I pick one, you pick nine lotuses.

Right behind him was Pei Ningxue's coldly beautiful photo.

2nd Place Pei Ningxue (Grade 10, Class 1): Iron has impurities, you guys still need to smelt more.

Damn, who are these two, why are they so damn arrogant?

Then, starting from third place, the vibe drastically changed.

3rd Place Cheng Jun (Grade 10, Class 1): Level 100 Sea God

4th Place Zhao Yi (Grade 10, Class 1): Level 95 Power Attack System White Tiger Douluo

5th Place Qian Qian (Grade 10, Class 1): Level 93 Power Attack System Phoenix Douluo

6th Place...

And right in the middle of this group of absolute weirdos, the 8th place spot looked entirely out of place.

8th Place Li Zhiyi (Grade 10, Class 1): Study hard, make progress every day.

Pfft—

Someone in the crowd couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.

Immediately after, the roaring laughter spread like a contagious disease.

Hahahaha! Is this group from Class 1 toxic or what?

I'm dying of laughter, the Shrek Seven Devils actually showed up?

Chen Zhi's is the funniest, 'pick nine lotuses', I dare him to stay after school.

Only the study commissary Li Zhiyi seriously wrote a motto. A moment of silence for her, she literally wandered into a pack of wolves.

Cheng Jun stood in the crowd, listening to the chatter around him. Far from feeling ashamed, he closed his eyes with a look of pure enjoyment.

Listen, this is the sound of fame. he said, completely intoxicated.