Want to Hear Something Nice

The afternoon classes were quite ordinary. During the final class meeting, Su Kexi came to the classroom to discuss the hundred-day pledge ceremony and announced that Shen Nian would be the student representative for the event.

The class instantly erupted into a buzz of whispers and noisy chatter.

Ma Mingfan was somewhat surprised. They used to be on the same level, but things were completely different now. Although he was also making progress, compared to Shen Nian, his little bit of improvement felt like nothing at all.

"Awesome, my Nian." He turned around and gave a thumbs-up.

"Just persistence and hard work."

"Do you have a secret cheat code, old man?"

"I do, I do. Ever since I uninstalled Naruto, my whole life has become more fulfilling. My grades have skyrocketed, and even my temper has improved."

Ma Mingfan's expression changed instantly. The despicable Shen Nian was actually trying to influence his Will of Fire. He really needed to treat Shen Nian to a Water Release jutsu.

He needed to find some time to wash his hands.

But thinking carefully, Shen Nian seemed to be right. He hadn't seen him online in the game for a long time, and ever since the sports meet, his grades had skyrocketed like he was riding an airplane...

Masaka, is the Will of Fire really...

Ma Mingfan hesitated.

With the college entrance examination approaching, perhaps he really needed to set aside his Will of Fire. Compared to games, reality was more worth his true investment.

"Damn it, I'm going to uninstall Naruto when I get back too!"

"Really?"

"Really." Ma Mingfan nodded. "I'll quit the game for three months first. It's the last hundred days. If I work hard, I want to get into a top-tier university."

Shen Nian stroked his chin. Hajima actually had such determination.

To make progress, he even decided to give up the Will of Fire he had held onto for so long?

I acknowledge you, Hajima. This is your true Will of Fire.

"Not bad, Ma Mingfan, you've got some guts." Chen Dong couldn't help but chime in.

Among the three of them now, Ma Mingfan had the worst grades. Being willing to work hard was a good thing.

"I still know what's more important. I can reach the Super Kage rank anytime, but if I mess up the college entrance exam, I'll have to repeat a year. I heard the situation for repeating students hasn't been great lately either."

Shen Nian, who had never reached Super Kage: "..."

This guy sure knows how to act tough.

The class meeting ended in a relaxed atmosphere.

During the evening self-study session, the classroom smelled fragrant, filled with a pleasant scent of shampoo.

Sitting by the window, Shen Nian pulled the curtain back to cover himself and quietly looked at the scenery outside for a while.

Though he called it scenery, it was really just a few tall buildings. Once the time came, these buildings would light up with various neon lights. The city's night view was only worth seeing once; it was stunning at first, but looking at it again, it felt a bit dull.

Living in a small town for a long time made one want to see the neon lights of the city, while living in the city for a long time made one miss the lively, everyday atmosphere of the old streets and alleys in the town.

"Shen Nian, come out for a moment."

Hearing Su Kexi's voice, Shen Nian immediately slipped out.

Following her into the genius retirement home, Su Kexi handed him a pre-written speech draft.

The draft was printed out in an unknown font that looked very much like handwriting. Shen Nian glanced at it; the word count was about the same as a language essay.

Reading it carefully in silence, Shen Nian grew increasingly speechless.

How was this even more ridiculous than he had imagined?

What did it mean by, 'In order to control my desires and devote myself to studying, I ruthlessly deleted all the games on my phone'?

What did it mean by, 'To manage my daily schedule, I put five alarm clocks in my room'?

What did it mean by, 'My fate is determined by me, not the heavens; my destiny is only mine to decide'?

Was this still me?

The teacher was even better at bragging than he was.

"Teacher, you are exactly this." Shen Nian gave a thumbs-up.

Su Kexi felt a bit embarrassed. After all, she had also compiled and copied things from the internet, putting herself in Shen Nian's shoes and making things up casually. It was more or less exaggerated, but the exaggeration was just right.

There was no helping it. For something aimed at a television station, the higher-ups required it to be full of positive energy. If it wasn't positive, there would be trouble.

Actually, it could be even more exaggerated. After all, Shen Nian's grades were right there. For someone who could achieve such a score, even if he claimed he was reciting texts while taking a dump, people might still believe him.

"If there's nothing else, you can go back first. Mentally prepare yourself, and make sure not to be too nervous when you go on stage."

"Understood, teacher. I've got this in the bag."

Shen Nian patted his chest. It was just reading a script, what could possibly go wrong?

Suddenly thinking of something, he asked again, "Teacher, are people from the TV station really coming? Is it going to be a live broadcast?"

"Yes, otherwise I wouldn't have repeatedly told you to keep a calm mindset. What, feeling the pressure?"

"Not really, just asking out of curiosity."

When he got home tonight, he had to tell his parents and the aunt and uncle next door to glue their eyes to the TV.

Shen Nian muttered in his heart. Being on TV for the first time, if his parents saw it, who knew how long they would brag about it in front of their relatives.

He could already picture his dad's smug look in front of Uncle Xia.

"If you have no more questions, go back to the classroom and study."

"Student Shen Nian, come over here."

Just as Su Kexi finished speaking, Yan Yuzhu, who was next to her, waved at Shen Nian and took out a row of Wangzai milk from her drawer.

"You've become the student representative, that's really nice. Take these to drink."

Shen Nian was moved to tears. This was an absolutely great teacher; one must never attack the teaching profession.

Who knew how many Wangzai loyalists the Wangzai Bishop had raised. With a single command, these cultists would shout 'Wangzai, Wangzai, Wangzai' and attack Yili and Mengniu.

Shen Nian vaguely remembered that he used to prefer O-Pao fruit milk, but now he had forgotten what O-Pao fruit milk tasted like.

He had been tragically assimilated.

O-Pao fruit milk, stop calling me. Wangzai milk won't let me keep in touch with you anymore.

Loyalty to Wangzai!

"Teacher, you are really... I'm crying to death. When I read the script at the hundred-day pledge ceremony, I will definitely advertise Wangzai milk!"

"Pfft..." Yan Yuzhu choked a bit and giggled happily. "Are you kidding? The hundred-day pledge is so important, don't mess around."

"Hehe."

He thought the teacher wanted him to do some stealth marketing.

There were only a few familiar teachers in the genius retirement home, so Shen Nian felt at ease, cracked a few jokes, and harvested a wave of goodwill.

School was over.

Shen Nian packed his schoolbag and left the classroom together with Xia Yanchun.

He put the Wangzai milk in his schoolbag. He didn't share it with anyone, specially saving it for Xia Yanchun.

"Here, save two bottles to drink for breakfast tomorrow."

"Did you go restock goods?"

"I don't know, the teachers are always stuffing things into my hands."

Every time he came back from the office, there was free Wangzai milk to take.

Xia Yanchun, who had worked hard for the class for two and a half years, felt a bit unbalanced. She was unhappy and needed to hear Shen Nian call her sister to calm down.

Upon reaching the school gate, Xia Yanchun hummed and whined as she took Shen Nian's arm. Standing on her tiptoes, she leaned close to Shen Nian's ear, "Nianbao, Nianbao..."

"What is it?"

"I want to hear something nice."

"Wifey."

Under the streetlights, Xia Yanchun's small face visibly flushed red. Her almond eyes blinked rapidly, and her whole body became bashful.

Her voice was tiny, "Not that!"

Wifey or whatever, it didn't make her happy at all!