A Deal with Teacher Chazhu

"Ayanokouji, wait!"

Horikita called out to Ayanokouji, who was walking away without looking back.

"What is it?"

Ayanokouji slowed his pace when he heard her call. Horikita caught up to him shortly after.

"About those scores earlier... tell me why you did that."

"Didn't I already explain? It was all coincidence, pure coincidence."

"Do you really think I'd believe that?"

"Believe it or not, that's up to you. But you seem pretty fixated on Class A."

"Can't I just want the benefits of graduating from Class A?" Horikita retorted.

"Of course you can. Most people in this school came for that very reason. But once they get here, they realize only Class A gets that treatment." Ayanokouji looked at Horikita and continued:

"So the only way is to compete and rise to Class A."

Horikita nodded. "That's right. I originally thought that just getting into this school and graduating normally would be the finish line."

"Now I realize I haven't even stepped onto the starting line." As she said this, her tone dropped noticeably.

"So what are you going to do? Keep fighting for Class A?"

"Naturally. If I ask the school again and still get the answer that I can't transfer classes, then I'll work to raise my class to A."

"That won't be easy. After all, Class D is 'overflowing with talent.' We've already fallen far behind the other classes in just the first month."

"I know that. That's why I'm going to ask the school first."

"Alright."

"Actually, I don't think the school will just stand by and watch the other classes. If they did, there'd be no point in competition, right?"

"That's true." Ryoji nodded knowingly.

"As I see it, the next chance to raise class points is the midterm exam two weeks from now. Since there's a penalty of expulsion, there must be a reward."

With that, Horikita shot a meaningful glance at Ayanokouji. The implication was obvious.

"I'm not helping." Ayanokouji answered without a second thought. Seeing Horikita's silence, afraid she might be dissatisfied, he added:

"Go find that guy Mu Tianchen. You saw him today—he's way smarter than me."

"He's smart, but I'm not close with him. I'd feel much safer leaving it to you. Thanks, Ayanokouji."

"Hey, hey, I never agreed to that."

"I heard your heart. It said, 'Sure, no problem.'"

Ryoji: "..."

"Once I've come up with a strategy, I'll contact you. I'll be counting on you then."

In the blink of an eye, Horikita and Ayanokouji had already walked out of the Teacher Office Building. After saying her last line, Horikita ran off as if she had something to do.

Before leaving, Ayanokouji glanced back toward Teacher Chazhu's Office.

What was her purpose in calling Mu Tianchen alone...

Just to rise to Class A, or...

"Tell me the reason you transferred here."

Teacher Chazhu asked Mu Tianchen after seeing Ayanokouji and Horikita leave.

"Reason? I don't know either. If I had to say, probably for the benefits I mentioned earlier."

Mu Tianchen replied calmly.

"Do you think I'd believe that?"

"Believe it or not. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

With that, Mu Tianchen walked straight toward the door.

The reason for coming to this school? To be honest, he didn't know either. But various signs suggested his father had deliberately sent him here, possibly even pulling strings through Uncle Sakura.

"Sigh, you really are an annoying student."

Teacher Chazhu sighed and spread a test paper on the desk. "Take a look for yourself."

"If you leave now, I'll have you expelled. I don't want a student in my class whose background I don't know."

Expulsion again?

But what did she mean by "background I don't know"? Hadn't he filled out all the paperwork clearly before coming?

Besides, he didn't think a school as unique as this one would skip investigating a student's background.

Curious, Mu Tianchen turned back and walked over to Teacher Chazhu to look at the paper.

Name: Mu Tianchen

Class: First Year Class D

Academic Ability: ??

Intellectual Ability: ??

Physical Ability: ??

Judgment: ??

Teamwork: ??

Interviewer Comments: ???

What was this? All question marks—never mind Teacher Chazhu, even he found it strange.

Could it be that the interviewer had glanced at the camera that day and received instructions from above?

But doing it this way was far too conspicuous, just like Ayanokouji's clumsy acting...

Mu Tianchen couldn't help but complain inwardly.

"Can you tell me the reason now?"

Teacher Chazhu, seeing Mu Tianchen silent for a good while, spoke up first.

"How am I supposed to explain this to you? I genuinely don't know. No matter how much you press me, the answer will still be the same. It's meaningless."

"Sigh, fine." Teacher Chazhu sighed again.

"From the very beginning, when I discovered your file was classified, I've been keeping a close eye on you."

"On the first day of school, you gained 360,000 points, and then one day later, you suddenly added about a million more."

This Teacher Chazhu really was annoying, investigating so thoroughly.

"Then... tell me, at least the reason you've gathered so many points, alright?"

"Of course I can. But Teacher Chazhu, let me ask you—in this society, what is the most important thing?" Mu Tianchen turned the question back on her.

"What's the point of asking that?" Teacher Chazhu was a bit puzzled.

"Don't worry about it, just answer."

"Fine. In my view, the most important thing is to stay alive first, to survive."

"Then, what is the foundation of survival?"

"Material goods, of course."

"And the foundation for obtaining material goods is currency—money. In this school, points are equivalent to money."

"I see. So that's why you figured out the rules from the start."

"Actually, I owe a lot to your reminder: 'There's nothing points can't buy.'"

"You really are sharp. Since you think points are so important, how about we make a deal?"

Teacher Chazhu slowly pulled a pack of cigarettes from her pocket, took one out, and placed it between her lips.

With a click of the lighter, the cigarette was lit. She took a light drag, seeming to savor the moment.

"Go ahead." Mu Tianchen spoke after a brief moment of thought.

He had a rough idea of what Teacher Chazhu's deal would be—nothing more than helping the class rise to Class A. He'd already seen through it when he disciplined Horikita earlier.

Teacher Chazhu put down the cigarette and stared into Mu Tianchen's eyes. "I'll give you the points you need. You help me lead Class D."