Chapter 32: Wait and See
"This..."
Yan Ruyu bit her lip, hesitated for a while, then turned to look at Tong Dacheng beside her.
"Director Tong, what's your opinion?"
"I..."
Tong Dacheng was somewhat reluctant, but thinking of the journalists outside who liked to exaggerate the facts, and considering the consequences of making a statement to the press, he had no choice but to compromise.
"Forget it, I'm a generous man, I won't hold grudges against those few students."
Yan Ruyu nodded, then turned her gaze to Xu Fan again.
"Xu Fan, since Director Tong has forgiven you all, I can take back what I said before, but I have one condition."
"Hmm?"
Upon hearing Yan Ruyu's words, Xu Fan raised his eyebrow and asked, "Principal Yan, you're not thinking of using your authority to take advantage of me, are you?"
"You!"
Yan Ruyu glared at Xu Fan!
The foundation exam for the senior three grade was coming up soon, and she had been thinking about setting a condition for Xu Fan to pass the passing line for each subject in this exam, to give Tong Dacheng a way out.
But Xu Fan's cheeky comment immediately made her recall the shameless proposition he made a few days ago about charging her for a roll in the hay!
Yan Ruyu's face turned stern as she said, "Xu Fan, even though this matter is settled, you still hit someone. As a student, assaulting a teacher, you should know the consequences."
"The foundation exam for the senior three grade is coming up soon. If you don't make it into the top one hundred in the grade in this exam, I will make sure the school records a major demerit against you!"
"What!"
Hearing Yan Ruyu's decision, Zhou Keren couldn't help but be shocked!
Top one hundred? With Xu Fan?
"Principal, isn't this requirement a bit too high?"
Zhou Keren immediately spoke up for Xu Fan, not forgetting to glare at him, this guy, why did he have to be so insufferable!
"Principal, Xu Fan has just transferred to our school and hasn't even had the chance to adjust yet, isn't top one hundred a bit too..."
Guan Shimeng and Zhao Yan also chimed in, but Yan Ruyu wasn't giving any room for negotiation at this point.
She shook her head decisively and said, "No need to say more, this is my decision, and no one can change it."
"Alright, if there's nothing else, you may all leave. I need to rest."
At that moment, Yan Ruyu rubbed her forehead, showing signs of a headache, and waved her hand. Knowing her condition, everyone didn't feel it was appropriate to say more and left the principal's office.
"Xu Fan! What am I going to do with you!"
Now outside the door of the principal's office, Zhou Keren looked at Xu Fan with frustrated disappointment.
"Boss, we've barely managed to dodge a bullet..."
"Xu Fan, sigh..."
While the group was expressing their regrets, Xu Fan couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and dismay.
They probably thought that Yan Ruyu was targeting him just because of that comment...
Thinking of Yan Ruyu's icy stare just now, Xu Fan shook his head involuntarily.
Asking her to bend the rules for him was all for her own good, sigh! No gratitude!
"Oh, Teacher Zhou, what's wrong? You all don't seem very happy?"
At that moment, a voice dripping with sarcasm sounded out from the side.
Great Achievement strolled over here with a smug look on his face.
"Director Tong! This is none of your business!"
It was clear that Tong Dacheng was here to mock them, and Zhou Keren, already furious, did not grace him with a friendly look!
"Eh! Teacher Zhou, that's quite an exclusionary thing to say, isn't it?"
Tong Dacheng, thick-faced, smiled and said, "As the Director of Instruction, my presence here is to share a few reminders with these students of yours."
"Hmmph, the baseline test is in just a few days, and I hope you all will study hard! Xu Fan, especially you! The top hundred won't be easy to seize! And as for Chen Dongdong, hmmph, rest assured, I, the Director, will certainly take good 'care' of you then!"
How triumphantly did Tong Dacheng conduct himself? He thought he would have to swallow this humiliation, but who knew Xu Fan would give him another chance?
He was a teacher! And they were merely students! Couldn't he manipulate them however he wished when it came to examinations?
The students at Zijing Middle School were not of low caliber; it was no easy feat to rank in the top hundred, and no matter how brilliant Xu Fan was, he hadn't previously studied!
With only a few days left until the exam, Tong Dacheng just couldn't believe this kid could work miracles!
As for Chen Dongdong?
Tong Dacheng thought about it and couldn't help but snort in self-satisfaction. If that fatso's grades didn't significantly improve, he could easily expel him!
Expelling a student for failing the baseline test wasn't unprecedented at Zijing Middle School. This legitimate reason would come into play once the incident of him hitting someone with his car had been forgotten with the announcement of the results, right?
"Alright, I've said what I needed to say. Hmmph, you two better watch yourselves!"
Having finished, Tong Dacheng swaggered off, leaving Chen Dongdong watching with gritted teeth, cursing, "Damn it! I really want to beat up that Tong Dacheng!"
"Exactly! He's always been so annoying! I never realized he could be such a petty person!"
Zhou Keren agreed, but remembering her role as a teacher, she suddenly got a chill!
At that moment, she aimed a figurative chestnut knock on Chen Dongdong's head!
"Chen Dongdong, what are you saying! You're a student!"
"And you too! Guan Shimeng! Zhao Yan! You're the top students of the class! Who gave you permission to leave just now? It's all nonsense! Get back to your self-study now!"
Zhou Keren usually commanded great respect in their hearts, and her shouting made them feel so wronged that they immediately ran towards the classroom.
Xu Fan stood by her side, and after watching the three leave, he teased, "Yo? I didn't see that coming. You're pretty good at bullying kids, huh?"
"Why are you still here!"
Zhou Keren glared at Xu Fan, who appeared entirely too relaxed. Didn't he realize how serious the situation was?
Completely thoughtless!
Xu Fan smiled as he looked at Zhou Keren, who was huffing and puffing—truth be told, she looked pretty cute when she was angry.
"Hey, just now in there, thank you for speaking up for me."
Although he had previously thrashed Tong Dacheng, Xu Fan was still reluctant to leave school life, and he cherished the companionship of these friends—he wasn't ready to be expelled just yet.
"Hmmph, at least you have some conscience."
It was the first time Xu Fan had thanked her, and Zhou Keren lifted her chin a bit smugly at this moment.
After a while, she asked, "Alright, now tell me, are you confident about ranking in the top hundred?"
This was a direct order from the principal; if Xu Fan failed to meet the expectation, he would definitely get a demerit, and with a demerit on his record, it would be even easier for Tong Dacheng to deal with him...
Xu Fan exhaled and said, "Ah, that's not a problem, as long as you help me with one thing."
"Hmm? What is it? Tell me quick!"
Zhou Keren raised an eyebrow, eager to find out; if Xu Fan could make it into the top hundred, not only would he be safe, but it would also reflect well on her as the head teacher!
At that moment, Xu Fan motioned her closer with a secretive gesture, saying, "Come over here, don't let anyone else hear."