Chapter 20: The Three Great Benefits (Please Keep Reading)
“Let me introduce myself—my name is Yan Hong.”
Yan Hong wrote her name on the blackboard.
“I was the homeroom teacher for Class 3 before, responsible for teaching Chinese. From now on, I will also be the homeroom teacher for the Elite Class.”
“This coming year, we will spend our time together. I hope everyone has a wonderful year ahead.”
*Clap! Clap! Clap!*
Jiang Tao led the applause, and soon the whole class was clapping.
After finishing her introduction, Yan Hong turned on the projector.
“The Elite Class consists of the top 50 students in our Second High School.”
“You will receive the best teaching resources—each subject taught by the finest teachers.”
“This ensures your academic performance will steadily improve.”
“In addition, as students of the Elite Class, you will enjoy three special privileges.”
“First, an exclusive martial arts training room, as Mr. Zhang has already told you—only the top thirty in the grade can use it.”
“Second, a 20% discount on nutritious meals in the cafeteria.”
“Third, scholarships awarded to the top fifty students in the grade.”
“Ranks 50 to 35 receive 10,000 Xian currency!”
“Ranks 34 to 20 receive 20,000 Xian currency!”
“Ranks 19 to 11 receive 30,000 Xian currency!”
“Ranks 10 to 4 each receive 50,000 Xian currency!”
“And the top three each receive 100,000 Xian currency!”
“You heard that right. Compared to the second year, the scholarships have increased significantly. You will receive your scholarships at noon today.”
A chart appeared on the screen, clearly displaying the three privileges and scholarship amounts.
As Yan Hong finished speaking, murmurs erupted throughout the classroom.
“The scholarship increased? I’m ranked 31st—I’ll get 20,000! That’s a huge sum.”
“Qi Ge, I’ll get 30,000! The school is really generous.”
Jiang Tao’s expression was equally excited.
Lin Qi’s heart burned with eagerness as his mind raced through calculations.
Joining the Elite Class indeed came with perks: a 20% discount on meals, which usually cost 100 yuan per nutritious serving—saving 20 yuan per meal, 40 yuan a day, and 280 yuan per week. That could buy two boxes of vitality capsules, tantamount to extra income.
Plus, the scholarship—he ranked 45th, which meant a 10,000 yuan award.
That was equivalent to five sessions of his part-time sparring work, allowing him to purchase more resources.
“Of course, don’t get too complacent.”
“Being in the Elite Class doesn’t mean you can rest easy.”
Yan Hong, sensing the excitement, abruptly cooled the atmosphere with a serious gaze sweeping across the room.
“Three weeks from now, the joint monthly exam held by Tianhai City’s high schools will take place. If you fall out of the top fifty in the grade, I’m sorry, but you will have to leave the Elite Class, and another student will take your place.”
“All the benefits you enjoy will be revoked.”
Many faces darkened—especially those ranked around 30 to 40, who were in the most precarious positions, always at risk of being overtaken.
Yang Lei’s former confidence vanished, replaced by anxiety and tension.
In Class 3, he was in the top ten, but in the Elite Class, he was the tail-ender, the very bottom.
---
“For those ahead of you, your goal is to climb higher—not only to surpass your classmates.”
“But also to compete for higher ranks among all third-year students in Tianhai City.”
Yan Hong’s eyes swept over the top ten in the class, especially the top three: Qi Yuelin, Yu Jing, and Li Zhou.
Now even those in the top thirty were nervous.
Especially the top ten prodigies—though they were the elite at Second High School, their position in the entire city was far from certain.
Everyone was filled with a fierce desire to advance.
In a short moment, the intensity in the room heightened.
“Excellent. As martial artists, you must have a fighting spirit.”
Yan Hong nodded with satisfaction.
“Class dismissed. Those interested in applying for the Genius Loan, please come see me for an application form.”
Jiang Tao let out a breath and said, “Qi Ge, this is your chance. You have to seize it.”
Lin Qi nodded. Along with a familiar face, Chen Zichuan, they followed Yan Hong out of the classroom.
As the head of the third-year Chinese department, Yan Hong had her own office.
It was a modest space of about five or six square meters. Once seated, Yan Hong pulled two forms from a black drawer and handed them over.
“Fill these out.”
Lin Qi and Chen Zichuan sat on the sofa and began completing the forms.
“You two aren’t new to filling out applications,” Yan Hong said.
“Your last applications failed, but now that you’ve entered the Elite Class, there’s a much higher chance of approval for the Genius Loan.”
Lin Qi and Chen Zichuan glanced up, exchanging a look.
Lin Qi hadn’t expected they shared the same experience.
“The Genius Loan is designed specifically for students from low-income families like yourselves.”
“Your household incomes have already been verified. Now it’s just about your academic performance.”
“Lin Qi, Chen Zichuan, your talents are quite good—you’re just lacking resources.”
“Chen Zichuan, you improved from rank 70 to 50, a jump of twenty places.”
“Lin Qi, you’re even more impressive—rising from 101st to 45th, an advancement of 56 ranks. That’s extraordinary and rarely seen in the history of our school.”
Yan Hong sighed in admiration. Chen Zichuan looked at Lin Qi with astonishment once again.
Lin Qi calmly stood up and submitted his form.
“No matter how fast I’ve improved, I’m still only 45th. There’s nothing to brag about.”
“Not bad!” Yan Hong praised with a nod, then added:
“Now that you’re in third year, the approval process for the Genius Loan will accelerate. At the soonest, you could get approval within a week; at the latest, half a month.”
“Got it!”
Soon, Lin Qi and Chen Zichuan left the office. Neither spoke in the corridor, but Lin Qi felt they had come to know each other.
Meanwhile, back in the office...
Yan Hong looked at the applications and muttered to herself:
“Chen Zichuan has good talent—no problem for a third-tier Genius Loan.”
“But Lin Qi is a bit of a mystery. His talent seems even stronger. Is this a case of latent potential finally blossoming, or just a flash in the pan?”
“His progress over the past year is remarkable. Maybe he deserves a second-tier Genius Loan?”
With that thought, she opened her computer and typed rapidly, sending a file to someone.
---
Principal’s Office
*Beep!*
The burly Principal Jiang Zhiguang had just raised his tea to his lips when the projected file appeared.
After a quick sip, he clicked to open two application forms.
“Genius Loan applications?”
“Chen Zichuan and Lin Qi.”
Jiang Zhiguang scanned the documents swiftly, stopping at one line:
“Recommendation: Apply for second-tier Genius Loan!”
“Recommendation?”
He smiled, muttering to himself:
“What recommendation? If they can apply for second-tier, then apply for second-tier. Whether it’s approved is one thing; whether they apply is another.”
“Not just Lin Qi—Chen Zichuan will apply too.”
He then edited the forms and resent them.
*Phew.*
Having completed his task, Jiang Zhiguang exhaled, patting a brown flowerpot on his desk—the pot still only contained soil.
“When will our Second High School have a genius with awakened special abilities?”
“Even without special abilities, high talent would suffice.”
“...”
---
Second High School Cafeteria, Second Floor
*Beep!*
“Payment of 80 yuan completed!”
Lin Qi swiped his student card at the food counter, then carried his tray to a seat.
“The discount really works. It used to be 100 yuan per meal; now it’s only 80.”
Lin Qi smiled contentedly—each meal saved him 20 yuan.
“Qi Ge, after you finish eating, come take a nap in my martial arts room.”
“From now on, train with me there. It’s spacious, and the old teacher said the school allows it.”
Jiang Tao suggested from across the table.
“Alright!”
Lin Qi didn’t refuse.
*Beep!*
His phone vibrated, the screen lighting up. Lin Qi picked up his antique smartphone.
It was a message:
[Your Industrial and Commercial Bank account xxx received 10,000 yuan on September 8th at 12:02. Current balance: 13,445.12 yuan.]
“The scholarship has arrived!”
---