Su Chan’s single sentence dropped into the classroom, and in that instant, the entire room fell silent, utterly still, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone stared at Su Chan, mouths agape. The teacher standing at the lectern had wide, unblinking eyes, his temples throbbing. Li Yundong’s insides churned with frustration: Damn it, you spoke too fast, I couldn’t stop you!

This silence lasted only a breath, immediately followed by an explosive burst of riotous laughter that sounded like a thunderclap, nearly blowing the roof off the classroom.

Su Chan, utterly bewildered by the uproar, looked around in confusion. “Did I say something wrong?”

Teacher Hua, gripping the edge of the lectern to suppress his anger, managed, “Student, if you don’t know, you don’t know. Don't cause trouble during class!”

Su Chan shouted back, “I do know! Yun Dong told me!”

With that, she pointed directly at Li Yundong, and every gaze in the room snapped towards him in unison.

Li Yundong’s eyes instantly welled up. He thought, Little fox, little fox, how is it that every time you come to school, you manage to stir up trouble for me?

At first, Su Chan didn't grasp the situation, but she quickly sensed something was amiss. Especially when her eyes met Li Yundong’s—his expression suggested he desperately wished the floor would open up and swallow him whole.

A chill shot through Su Chan. She thought grimly, This is bad. Did I say the wrong thing again? But, but I was just saying what Yun Dong told me…

The young girl felt a mix of grievance and bewilderment. She lowered her head, cast a timid glance at Li Yundong, then nervously darted a look at the students roaring with laughter around her. Her head sank lower and lower, until she looked as if she wished to bury it completely into her chest.

Veins bulging on his neck, Teacher Hua commanded from the platform, “Student, please sit down. Li Yundong, you stand up.”

Su Chan mumbled an ‘Oh’ and tentatively sat down. She risked another fleeting, timid glance at Li Yundong, who was looking back at her with an expression of utter despair, muttering, “Little fox, you’ve ruined me!”

Su Chan pressed her head down even further, murmured another ‘Oh,’ and settled into her seat, repeatedly mumbling to herself, Where did I go wrong? Why is everyone laughing like this?

The moment Li Yundong stood up, the students inside the room erupted in loud cheers. Not just those inside—the hallway outside was also packed with students who had rushed over, eager to witness Li Yundong’s performance.

Fortunately, Li Yundong did not disappoint them; he certainly delivered a spectacle.

For a moment, the students inside and out were buzzing with excitement. Countless faces were pressed against the classroom windows, and an uncountable number of cell phones were activated, filming every move within the room.

Faced with such an ovation, Li Yundong felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. He managed a dry smile and said to Teacher Hua, whose face had darkened to the color of soot, “Teacher Hua, actually…”

Before he could finish, Teacher Hua roared, “Don’t speak! Listen to me!”

Faced with the incandescent anger of the teacher, Li Yundong wisely shut his mouth.

Teacher Hua boomed, “I know you are a star student here, but I demand you respect my profession, respect my position! I am the teacher, and as long as you are in this classroom, you are my student!”

Li Yundong offered a wry smile, thinking, When have I ever disrespected you?

Seeing Li Yundong silent, Teacher Hua continued, “Weren’t you just so eloquent? Come on, come up to the front. You teach the class, and I’ll be the student. How about that? Come on, especially explain that matter of ‘heavy flavors’ clearly!”

Saying this, he angrily stepped down from the lectern and stood below it.

Li Yundong was caught between laughter and tears, about to speak, when he heard the students inside and outside the room burst into uproarious laughter, egging him on: “Li Yundong, we support you!”

The clamor was like a giant wave, nearly drowning everyone out.

Seeing the students so brazenly provoking the situation only made Teacher Hua angrier. He seized the wireless microphone and sneered, “Go on, explain it, and experience what it’s like to be a teacher. If you don’t come up, the entire class fails the test with zero points!”

This declaration caused an immediate uproar. Especially among students who needed the credit for this course, they looked at Li Yundong with eyes full of pleading, as if he were the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara ready to rescue them from suffering.

Li Yundong realized he had been cornered. He could only steel himself, walk up to the platform, clear his throat, and say, “Actually, this is a misunderstanding…”

Teacher Hua, smirking from below, cut him off: “We don't want to hear about misunderstandings; we want the explanation of heavy flavors!”

The students instantly erupted in laughter again, chanting, “We want the explanation of heavy flavors!”

Li Yundong was sweating profusely, feeling that he would much rather face an encirclement by a hundred Nascent Soul masters than this current spectacle!

Li Yundong wiped a bead of cold sweat, his mind racing. He declared, “In fact, throughout China’s five thousand years, many poets have written about chrysanthemums. But the most famous is Tao Yuanming, who wrote the immortal lines: ‘Plucking chrysanthemums by the eastern hedge, I casually see the Southern Mountains.’ The Tang Dynasty’s Bai Juyi also wrote: ‘Only the chrysanthemums by the eastern hedge brave the cold, their golden blossoms bloom clearly at dawn.’ Even Huang Chao left behind the masterpiece: ‘The surging fragrance fills Chang'an, the whole city draped in golden armor.’”

Li Yundong recited the names of poets who had written poems about chrysanthemums as if recalling treasures, and for a moment, the students fell silent. They didn't understand why he was listing these poets and their verses, but curiosity held them captive, listening intently. Teacher Hua below, though clearly still angry, inwardly nodded: Not bad. He has indeed read widely. No wonder he’s famous here. The debate he had with Yan Hua on Buddhist doctrines last time was probably true.

Li Yundong continued, “There are many more poems praising chrysanthemums. For instance, Su Shi’s: ‘Tender flesh and weak bones scatter the subtle fragrance, further turning the golden stamens into flowing clouds. If you wish to know the elixir for delaying age, only when all herbs wither does this flower bloom.’ Or perhaps Li Bai’s: ‘Alas for the chrysanthemums by the eastern hedge, their stems sparse and leaves meager. Though said to differ from orchids and magnolias, they possess their own fragrance.’ And Du Fu’s: ‘The cold flowers have all withered, the chrysanthemum bud alone adorns the branch. Frequent visitors are changed, their faint scent accompanies the wine briefly.’”

Li Yundong spewed out these poets who had written verses on chrysanthemums like a machine gun, without pausing for breath. The students were connoisseurs; momentarily, none failed to internally cheer Li Yundong’s prodigious memory and knowledge. Yet, they grew even more puzzled: Why was Li Yundong listing so many poets and poems about chrysanthemums? What did this have to do with ‘heavy flavors’?

As they pondered this, Li Yundong stated, “Everyone, look. Among these poets, Tao Yuanming was from Xunyang in Jiangxi, which is modern-day Jiangxi province. Bai Juyi was from Henan. Huang Chao was from Shandong. Su Dongpo was from Sichuan. Li Bai was also from Sichuan. And Du Fu was from Henan.”

“Jiangxi cuisine is known for being heavily oiled and rich, with a preference for chili. Sichuan cuisine needs no introduction; its mala (numbing and spicy) profile is famous nationwide. Shandong is renowned for Lu cuisine, whose characteristic is also a leaning towards salty-savory flavors, using salt to enhance the inherent freshness of the dishes. Henan cuisine is all about its fresh and fragrant character. Look at the many people I’ve listed; the cuisines of their homelands are generally quite ‘heavy.’ Therefore, I say they are all heavy flavor!”

After Li Yundong finished, he felt drenched in cold sweat, as if he had just fought five hundred rounds against a hundred Yuan Ying masters.

The students, having listened to Li Yundong weave this far-flung justification, realized he had managed to brilliantly cover his tracks. They burst into roaring laughter, accompanied by whistles and cheers that never ceased.

Teacher Hua, who had been furious moments before, couldn't help but break into a faint smile after Li Yundong’s rambling nonsense. He nodded inwardly: This fellow is spouting utter rubbish, but without a solid foundation in classical literature and incredible quick-wittedness, he never could have pulled this off.

Some of the female students who had come out of sheer curiosity looked at Li Yundong with stars in their eyes, unable to help but murmur, “We only knew Li Yundong was agile and brave before. Today we find out he’s a romantic scholar too—truly skilled in both martial and literary arts. Where else can you find a guy like that? It’s a pity…”

“Idiot, didn't you see him debate Yan Hua on Buddhism last time?”

“Who could understand that? But didn't you hear him recite those chrysanthemum poems just now? Wow, he looked so cool! So handsome!”

“Tch, do you get overly excited just hearing the word chrysanthemum? Are you also a heavy flavor enthusiast?”

A male student nearby, overhearing their gushing, couldn't help but sigh, “What does ‘awesome’ mean? He can win countless fans just by spewing nonsense, making a bunch of pretty girls swoon and even offer themselves up—that’s what’s awesome!”

“What do you know? You don’t know these poems. Try making up something just as convincing!”

“Sigh, I realized today that even reciting poetry can help you pick up girls. We need to study, folks! The ancients were right: within books lies beauty!”

Li Yundong forced himself through the nonsensical explanation. While he had barely managed to justify himself, and Teacher Hua below was nodding, ready to let the matter drop, the students, who loved watching chaos, were not about to let him off the hook.

Some students chanted, “Hey! Let’s have something more exciting and thrilling!”

Incited by these few, the students inside and outside the room joined in the mischief: “Give us something exciting and thrilling!”

Li Yundong cursed internally: Damn it, you lot are truly enjoying my misfortune! I managed to smooth over something so absurd, and you still won’t let me go? Fine, if you won’t let me have an easy time, I won’t let you either!

Li Yundong made up his mind, deciding to go all the way. He shouted loudly, “You want something exciting and thrilling?”

Every single one of those rascals’ eyes gleamed, nodding enthusiastically: “Yes, yes, we want exciting and thrilling!”

Li Yundong waved his hand grandly. “Alright. Put all your books away now. We’re having a test!”

Everyone was instantly stunned dumbfounded. A student in the front row stammered, “A, a test?”

Li Yundong glanced at them, his expression one of complete justification. “Didn't you ask for something exciting and thrilling? Isn't a test exciting?”

The students burst into laughter again, and even Teacher Hua, who had maintained a stern face, couldn't help but smile.

A curious student asked, “Hey, big shot, what’s the subject of the test?”

Li Yundong answered without thinking, “It will test the relationship between poets praising chrysanthemums and heavy flavors!” After speaking, he seemed to recall something else and added, “You are strictly forbidden from copying or using my explanation from just now!”

Another wave of laughter swept through the room and the hallway. Teacher Hua even laughed and scolded, “Slippery!”

The class could no longer continue. Teacher Hua shook his head helplessly. “Forget it, I’ll let you off today. Don’t cause trouble next time!”

Li Yundong felt as though he had been granted amnesty. He quickly straightened up and said earnestly, “Please rest assured, Teacher. I will certainly not fail to live up to the earnest expectations of the Party and the people. I will study hard, progress daily, and strive to become one of the four-have youths building our nation!”

This elicited another burst of amusement from the crowd.

After the turmoil of the class subsided, Li Yundong finally waited for dismissal. As he left the classroom, Zhou Qin and Ruan Hongling kept whispering to each other, occasionally glancing at him, and then stifling little bursts of laughter.

The little foxes walked around with their noses in the air, as if their sect leader had just performed a world-shaking, heaven-and-earth-rending feat.

Only Su Chan kept her head down, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt, not daring to raise her head to look at Li Yundong.

Seeing her demeanor, Li Yundong felt he couldn't bring himself to scold her; he decided he would talk to her when they got back.

The group exited the teaching building. Ruan Hongling was talking to Zhou Qin when her eye suddenly caught sight of a familiar face. She signaled to Zhou Qin and Li Yundong, “Wait up for me, I have something to take care of.”

With that, she broke into a run, shouting toward a male student far in the distance, “Yan Hua, stop right there!”

Li Yundong glanced over, feeling puzzled: Huh? Didn’t she always dislike and detest this guy?