Cheng Gang rushed over, holding a large umbrella, and pulled Wang Zhuo under its cover as well.

"A friend's car. They were giving me a ride back to school. The driver just had an acute appendicitis attack," Wang Zhuo gestured toward the van. "And this is the result."

Cheng Gang sized up the disabled vehicle and let out a chuckle, saying, "This car is seriously impressive. Just replacing these airbags alone would cost ten thousand yuan."

Marveling at how extravagant rich people's toys were, Wang Zhuo laughed dryly, "The insurance company is flush with cash; they probably won't mind."

"A Previa, the bullet-nose model? Three-point-five liters? This thing must be worth six hundred thousand, right?" Cheng Gang circled to the rear, leaning over the window to peer inside, and asked, "Wang Zhuo, what kind of friend do you have, driving such a nice car?"

"An old neighbor from way back," Wang Zhuo vaguely replied, trying to deflect.

"And it's the top-spec trim, too. Your neighbor must be a big shot, quite wealthy!" Cheng Gang shook his head, pontificating.

Wang Zhuo asked, "Why are you out here? Isn't it class time right now?"

Cheng Gang grinned smugly, "I was just admiring the rain outside the window, didn't expect to see you, so I made a tactical withdrawal to relieve myself."

The school security guards and gatekeepers also came over out of curiosity to look at the car. The rain gradually lessened, and just then, the insurance company's claims vehicle and a tow truck from the 4S dealership arrived first.

After a quick handover and signing the paperwork, Wang Zhuo was done there. Cheng Gang trailed behind him, asking who the car owner, Xue Qian, was, but Wang Zhuo ignored him, thinking the car probably didn't belong to Ding Ren, but was collateral from someone who owed him a debt.

The insurance staff went to negotiate with the school. Wang Zhuo, soaked to the bone, just wanted to go home, but he was grabbed by the Dean of Students, Deng Caixia, who had just arrived: "Kid, don't you dare leave! I know you have a tracksuit in the sports team locker room; go change into it first, then come straight to my office!"

Wang Zhuo had no choice but to obediently go to the changing room to change clothes. The dismissal bell rang at that moment. He hurried up the stairs, and just as he turned onto the landing, he happened to collide head-on with someone walking quickly toward him.

The person saw it was Wang Zhuo and immediately glared, snapping, "Wang Zhuo, are you sleepwalking? Can't you watch where you're going?"

This person was about 1.8 meters tall, slightly taller than Wang Zhuo, with a fit physique and closely cropped buzz cut. He had a certain sharpness in his features, though his skin was marred by pitted acne scars.

Liu Guoyang? How could he run into this guy everywhere! Wang Zhuo glanced at him, replied curtly, "Teacher Liu, even if my eyesight were perfect, how am I supposed to avoid a lame dog blocking the way?"

The moment the two met eyes, sparks flew, immediately drawing the attention of the students in the hallway. One was the PE teacher, the other the action choreographer—this was going to be good!

"How dare you speak to me like that? Look at your attitude, do you even resemble a student anymore?" Liu Guoyang reached out, intending to grab Wang Zhuo's collar.

"Smack!" Wang Zhuo slapped Liu Guoyang’s hand away and sneered, "You don't look like a teacher either. Don't get handsy with me, or you might hurt yourself."

Liu Guoyang was furious. Two years ago, when he first started working, he had been thoroughly beaten up by Wang Zhuo in a verbal altercation. Although Wang Zhuo received a major demerit afterward, Liu Guoyang lost face—after all, he was a graduate of a sports academy and an adult, yet he couldn't even defeat a first-year high school student. He considered that incident a profound disgrace, a source of gossip among many teachers and students.

"What, still not convinced?" Seeing Liu Guoyang swelling up like a toad in anger, Wang Zhuo poured fuel on the fire, "Not convinced? Then hit me! I swear I won't fight back! I'm graduating soon anyway, and I'll have plenty of time to play with you then."

Liu Guoyang was even more enraged by this, but he genuinely didn't dare lay a hand on him. While he could erase the hallway surveillance footage later, and pressure from the school leadership could be smoothed over by his uncle, who was the director of the Education Bureau, he feared Wang Zhuo's retaliation after graduation. His nickname, "Action Choreographer," wasn't for nothing; dealing with him didn't even require complex maneuvers!

Twenty to thirty onlookers had gathered, whispering amongst themselves and cheering Wang Zhuo on, which showed just how unpopular Liu Guoyang was normally.

Some students even rushed back to their classrooms to fetch more friends; the news that the Action Choreographer and the Sea Turtle were about to fight spread instantly.

Liu Guoyang’s name, which sounded like "liú guò yáng" (stayed abroad), led to the nickname 'Haigui' (Sea Turtle) after returning from overseas, and by extension, 'Sea Turtle' became Liu Guoyang's catchy moniker.

"Scum," Liu Guoyang gritted out, pointing a finger at Wang Zhuo's nose, viciously saying, "A piece of trash like you only dares to throw your weight around in school. Be careful; society will make you bleed. Watch out, or you'll end up locked up like your father!"

"You surnamed Liu, try saying that one more time!" Wang Zhuo suddenly shot out his right hand and seized Liu Guoyang's collar: "Do you believe I can beat you so badly your own mother won't recognize you right now?"

The surrounding students were instantly stunned. The Action Choreographer was really fierce today; was he finally going to throw a punch? Liu Guoyang was in trouble!

"Teacher Wang deserves his reputation as the guy who dared to fight back even with a gun pointed at his head. What's the Sea Turtle compared to that?"

"The Sea Turtle is going to chicken out again today, haha, serves him right!"

"Damn Sea Turtle, he got beaten last time for cursing Wang Zhuo's dad. He really is a dog that can't change its eating habits; no lessons learned,"

"Damn Sea Turtle, so you can kick my butt again, so you can be arrogant again. Wang Zhuo, well done, hit him!"

"Damn, my phone is dead! Record this, you guys."

"Quiet down, stop yelling. Aren't you afraid other teachers will hear? Li Li already recorded it."

Liu Guoyang was trying to pry Wang Zhuo's fingers off while threatening, "Go on, try hitting me! Don't you want to take the Gaokao anymore? Don't you want your graduation certificate?!"

Wang Zhuo clamped his hand around Liu Guoyang’s throat and sneered, "The Gaokao means nothing to me; my grades are bad anyway, I won't get into any school. And don't try to threaten me with a graduation certificate; a high school diploma is worth jack shit. You think I need that scrap of paper when I go collecting loan shark debts for the triads?"

Wang Zhuo's grip was like iron pincers; Liu Guoyang's face turned crimson. The crowd was three deep now. He started regretting provoking this man again. The beating two years ago had been because he mocked Wang Zhuo's father; a moment of carelessness today meant history was repeating itself.

"Wang Zhuo, well done, finish the Sea Turtle!"

A loud, unrestrained shout came from the edge of the crowd—some unknown male student egging him on.

Wang Zhuo’s blood rushed to his head, and just as he was about to swing a punch at Liu Guoyang's universally detested face, a soft pair of hands tightly gripped his arm. "Wang Zhuo, let go quickly, the Dean of Students is coming."

"Ah, no way..."

"What the hell, why is she here!"

"It's over, over, nothing to watch now."

The students instantly groaned in disappointment. Who knew Gan Lin would show up at this critical moment to diffuse the situation? Everyone knew that the Action Choreographer always gave her face. It looked like this show was canceled before the grand finale!

With Gan Lin clinging tightly to his arm, the soft pressure of her chest against his provided a welcome sensation that instantly halved Wang Zhuo's anger.

"Let go, someone has already reported this to Director Deng."

Although Director Deng wasn't well-liked by other students, she commanded absolute respect and authority with Wang Zhuo.

Shaking his arm free, Wang Zhuo cracked his knuckles and suddenly laughed, "You surnamed Liu, I'll let you off the hook today. We'll see who the real scum is, just wait."

Liu Guoyang angrily straightened his collar, repeatedly telling himself to stay calm and not stoop to the level of a mad dog.

"Oh, and you better behave yourself, don't cause trouble for everyone else," Wang Zhuo said earnestly. "The Gaokao is coming up soon; I don't want my review sessions interrupted by someone trying to get into a top university."

A few titters erupted from the crowd of at least ten students. This was the same guy who had just said he wasn't taking the Gaokao, and now he claimed he wanted a top university. What was he playing at?

In everyone's eyes, this was the most unreliable declaration of the year. If Wang Zhuo could get into a top university, then even a sow could climb a tree!

"A top university, based on you?" Liu Guoyang sneered with a dark face, "If you can get into a first-tier university, I'll crawl a lap around the sports field myself!"

A bet? Wang Zhuo immediately smiled, "Fine. And if I can't get in?"

"If you can't get in, you will kneel at the school gate for half an hour, holding a sign that reads: 'Teacher Liu, I was wrong!'"

Gan Lin quickly tugged at Wang Zhuo, worried he was falling for the provocation.

Wang Zhuo gave her a reassuring look, turned back to Liu Guoyang, and said coldly, "Deal. I'll take that bet with you. Everyone here today is a witness! Whoever loses and tries to renege, their future son will be born without an anus!"

This statement caused an uproar among the students. What nerve had Wang Zhuo snapped to accept such a wager? His grades were at the bottom of the entire grade level; he probably couldn't even get into a regular vocational college! What did he have to bet against a first-tier university admission for?

"It's a deal!" Liu Guoyang spat forcefully onto the ground, pushed his way through the crowd, and walked off quickly with his head held high.