Electronic Nezha

Chapter 187 Abdominal Muscles
Principal Ding is a pragmatist. If I didn't come up with some little tricks like "a glass of cool boiled water every morning" or "six walnuts 25 minutes after a meal," I probably wouldn't be able to leave this office today.

Thankfully, Ma Chaoran was quick-witted!
As we hurried out of the school gate, Xiao Wu appeared at the door just in time, acting like a dog.

I sat in the car and let out a deep breath.

Liu Zhenhua's ranking first in the grade didn't bring me any surprises; all I can think about now is "the aftermath."

Liu Zhenhua has a super AI living in his mind from 70 years in the future. He is now gathering 50 of the world's top scientists from various fields to organize an exam. He himself is blatantly cheating, let alone a junior high school final exam.

From a philosophical perspective, Chinese people believe that extreme rigidity leads to breakage and excessive wisdom to a short lifespan. There is also a saying that "the nail that sticks out gets hammered down." The general idea is that being too conspicuous is not a good thing. If you get first place this time, what will happen next time? If you get second place, people will say that you are "outdated." The consequence of always getting first place is that you are always "easily broken," always "short-lived," and always being targeted. This has already parted ways with the concept of "living a lowly life."

To be more realistic, if your family produces a top student, then every time you meet relatives' children during holidays, you'll have an obligation to share your learning experiences and English conversation tips. Even someone like Qiao Yuchen, who only ranks in the top five of her grade, will be exploited by her stepmother. Why do lottery winners dress like robbers when they go to claim their prize? You think it's to prevent kidnapping? Wrong, it's mainly to protect against relatives.

People all over the world won't lie down and do nothing all day just because they found 50 yuan. I, "Electronic Li Jing," have that kind of perspective.

Ma Chaoran patted me on the shoulder and said, "It's also a token of the child's affection."

It seems she understands me. Any other friend would have congratulated me at this moment, but only she understands my feelings.

That hit the nail on the head. If he hadn't been angry with Zhang Jingxuan, Liu Zhenhua wouldn't have acted impulsively. He had already done a good job of "keeping a low profile," considering he was still just a 15-year-old boy.

Just then my phone rang, and when I looked down at the caller ID, I was startled.

"Who is it? Is it Wang Aili again?" Ma Chaoran asked.

"my mother!"

"Why are you so afraid of everything? What's so scary about your mother?"

"She wants to ask Liu Zhenhua what to do about his final exam grades?"

"To be honest, is it shameful to get first place?"

"You do not understand……"

Ma Chaoran impatiently took my phone, and her voice turned sweet the moment she answered: "Auntie, this is Xiao Ma. Liu Chuanfeng is busy. Is there anything I can help you with?"

I whispered, "Damn it."

Ma Chaoran playfully punched me and continued chatting with my mom. My mom had indeed called to see her; ever since they last met, the two of them had been wanting us to go back for a meal together, and this was the topic of conversation again.

Ma Chaoran used the excuse of being busy with the upcoming New Year to postpone her current tasks. She chatted with my mother for a while, and after hanging up, she held the phone up in front of me as if showing off, saying, "What's so scary about this? Hmm? You still haven't answered me. What's there to be afraid of about getting first place?"

I said, "Imagine your relative's child whose grades have always been mediocre, but suddenly they get first place in the grade. How would you feel?"

Ma Chaoran said, "As long as we don't cheat—"

I slapped my thigh: "That's the first thing you thought of too, right?"

“The problem is, we didn’t cheat,” Ma Chaoran whispered. “The super AI was born in his brain, so it doesn’t count as cheating, right?”

"Then you'll have to explain to people how you did it, whether your father died, your mother remarried, or what kind of trauma this child suffered?" Ma Chaoran said, "Is it that complicated?"

The reason I am so worried is that, besides Zhang Jingxuan, my whole family also knows someone who is first in the grade.

We have a distant relative's child, about four or five years older than me, whom I should call my cousin. He's the kind of person who's always been number one. While I was leisurely starting my student life, he was already a prominent figure at school. However, one day, things took a sudden turn. My cousin was probably just starting high school when, I don't know if it was because he was rejected by the girl he had a crush on or because he didn't do well on a quiz, he suddenly gave up on himself, started smoking, drinking, and associating with delinquents. While Zhong Yong "faded into the crowd," my cousin simply stopped being human.

Later, relatives discussed it and concluded that my emotional fragility stemmed from being constantly praised. I had below-average grades in school, and my parents always let me be and never put pressure on me. Partly, this was due to my family's academic background and lack of worldly experience, but mainly because of my cousin's example. They were afraid that I would embark on the path of no return—the path of changing one's destiny through knowledge.

I should really thank my cousin for allowing me to have a carefree childhood that was officially permitted.

Some people hold umbrellas for others because they've been caught in the rain themselves. In our family, we just watched others get drenched in the rain and develop pneumonia, so we simply stayed under the eaves.

Now Liu Zhenhua is going to get rained on too. What will happen to his grandparents if they get worried?
When I mentioned this, Ma Chaoran said nonchalantly, "Don't waste your time on such a small matter. You're the father of the savior, you'll have a lot to worry about in the future."

I suddenly realized, "Wow, you're so good at comforting people. You've made me feel better with just one sentence."

Ma Chaoran paused for a moment, then laughed heartily. She instructed Xiao Wu, "Find a place where you can relax. Your brother's having an EMO."

Xiao Wu eventually led us to the park where we used to go for our morning run.

This was the first time we had passed inside it at daylight.

As she passed a set of fitness equipment, Ma Chaoran took off her coat, jumped onto the horizontal bar, and did a perfectly executed pull-up.

"Wow, abs!" I couldn't help but exclaim. As she stretched on the bar, I saw her perfect abs under her clothes. I'd only ever seen that in short videos before…

Ma Chaoran jumped to the ground and asked, "Is it beautiful?"

"Uh, it looks good." I felt a little awkward. Back in the Sixth Division, she and Dolphin usually wore training vests indoors. We ate, practiced shooting, and played games together, but I never saw anyone's belly. Abs are something you don't often see unless you're intentionally showing off. Of course, some people train for the sake of showing off, but Ma Chaoran is probably an exception. Today, it really feels like fate...

Ma Chaoran said, "Let me see yours."

"It's not appropriate, it's not appropriate." I turned my shoulders to avoid her gaze.

"You go up and do a few too."

I said, "Even if I go up there, you won't be able to see me; I'm covering my belly." What kind of 40-year-old man goes out in the dead of winter without wearing a thermal undershirt to cover his belly?
Ma Chaoran laughed again.

Just then, Han Shiya called and the first thing she asked me was, "How many points did Liu Zhenhua get on his math final exam this semester?"

My eyes darted around in their sockets: "What score did I promise you last time?"

"95."

"Mission accomplished. I'm hanging up now if there's nothing else."

(End of this chapter)