Free Running Shoes?

After having a simple breakfast and heading back, news of the incident had already spread, and they were promptly summoned to the office.

"Did Zhang Kang not come?"

"We were afraid you might end up in another confrontation, so we didn't let him come. Tell us what happened. The other boy's head teacher even demanded an apology from you."

Zhao Gang glanced over at Xu Lin. He felt he understood Xu Lin quite well—smart with a touch of cleverness, but good-natured and kind.

Still, he hadn't expected Xu Lin to take the initiative and throw punches today. Zhang Kang's head teacher had mentioned that the boy's neck was bruised blue, which must have taken quite a bit of force.

Yet the other side didn't seem to accuse Xu Lin of deliberate assault or threaten to involve parents; instead, they claimed it was nothing serious, while simply insisting on an apology.

This effectively cast the other boy as the victim. Zhao Gang hadn't expected this kid to be so cunning, which thoroughly annoyed him.

In short, Xu Lin, how could you be so smart and yet let the other side seize the moral high ground?

As a head teacher, however, he couldn't just voice such thoughts aloud. He could only clear his throat and ask, "Why aren't you saying anything?"

"Xu Lin did nothing wrong! The other side provoked him first, and their behavior last time caused me a great deal of distress. Asking him to apologize is perfectly normal, and it's also the school's decision."

Before Xu Lin could open his mouth, Ji Yun chimed in directly. She didn't lower her voice at all, her tone ringing out with firm conviction.

Ji Yun's stance caused several teachers to look up in surprise. Not far away, Su Qingwan cast a glance at Xu Lin, as if saying, "Your little girlfriend is quite protective of you."

At that moment, Xu Lin didn't dare meet Su Qingwan's gaze, especially since he had almost been caught by her just moments ago.

Zhao Gang quickly stood up. "Don't get upset just yet. I know you were harassed by them, Ji Yun, but Xu Lin shouldn't have resorted to physical force."

"Xu Lin didn't hit him that hard—he just grabbed his neck for a few seconds. There's no way it turned blue; it was only slightly red at the time, everyone saw it."

Ji Yun was certainly not going to let Xu Lin apologize to that jerk. Although she didn't possess any extraordinary abilities, she was at least a recognized top student, and top students enjoyed a certain amount of privilege.

"I know, I know. I'll go talk to his head teacher myself. Leave it to me!" Even the usually stern-faced Zhao Gang couldn't keep a straight face anymore.

He was furious as well. A student from his own class had been bullied, and now that his student had merely retaliated slightly, they were expected to turn around and apologize—the thought stirred up a burning anger in his chest!

Especially since these two were among his absolute favorite students. Ji Yun, in particular, was so obedient, excelled academically, and as the class monitor, had helped him shoulder countless responsibilities.

"Thank you, Teacher Zhao."

"Alright, alright, you two head back to the classroom first. Isn't the first period Teacher Su's class?"

"Mm, let's go. Your head teacher is quite something, isn't she?" Su Qingwan checked the time, stood up, and called out to them.

"Hahaha, right? Your head teacher is formidable." The surrounding teachers chuckled as well.

Xu Lin and Ji Yun followed Su Qingwan out of the faculty office. The three of them wore stern expressions, nobody spoke, and they fell into a brief silence.

A few seconds later, Ji Yun abruptly brought up a topic—and a deeply explosive one at that.

"Teacher Su, I'm really sorry about the time Xu Lin interrupted your blind date. I wonder if you have a boyfriend now, Teacher?"

Hearing Ji Yun phrase it like that, Xu Lin's mind went completely blank. Class Monitor Ji, what on earth are you playing at? Isn't this picking at old scabs?

Hadn't I already told you that Su Qingwan broke up with that scumbag? Besides, you're just a student, and you aren't even that close with her. How could you bluntly ask a teacher if she has a boyfriend? That's just too...

Su Qingwan was momentarily stunned by the question, but she quickly recovered.

A gentle, graceful smile appeared on her face as she replied, "I do have a boyfriend. In fact, you know him."

" !? "

Xu Lin's eyes widened even further in an instant. Su Qingwan, please don't mess with my mental state! He didn't even dare turn his head, terrified that Ji Yun might pick up on something.

"Teacher Zhao?"

"Cough! Hahaha, you have quite an imagination."

Hearing Ji Yun's guess, Xu Lin couldn't help but laugh out loud, and the nervous tension from a moment ago largely dissipated.

"Even though Teacher Zhao isn't particularly handsome, he seems to have a pretty good personality, and rumor has it he'll be promoted to grade director next year."

"What do you think, Teacher Su?"

"I prefer younger ones." Su Qingwan glanced sideways at him, then continued to gaze at Ji Yun.

"Is that so? But the teacher isn't that old either, right? If you want someone younger, wouldn't that make them the same age as Xu Lin?"

Ji Yun spoke as if she were joking, but her gaze appeared dead serious, causing Xu Lin's heart rate to instantly spike past 150!

"That could work. Does Xu Lin like teachers?"

"Huh? Teacher Su, please don't make jokes at the expense of a student like me."

"I'm being completely serious, you know."

As Su Qingwan spoke, although she wore a playful expression, Xu Lin knew she was actually asking him the question for real.

"I like teachers too, since teachers are so pretty."

"Oh~ Pretty? Is that why your English grades are bad, because I'm too pretty?"

"Maybe."

"Mhm~" Su Qingwan nodded.

Ji Yun glanced at Su Qingwan on her left, then at Xu Lin on her right, her starry eyes confirming a certain suspicion.

By this time, the three of them had arrived near the classroom. As the number of students increased, silence fell among them once more.

Though faint smiles hung on their faces, the atmosphere felt even stranger than the initial sternness.

Ji Yun had figured one thing out: the relationship between Teacher Su and Xu Lin was definitely not as simple as it appeared on the surface!

At the same time, Xu Lin and Teacher Su probably didn't have a formalized relationship yet; otherwise, Teacher Su wouldn't have asked Xu Lin that particular question.

Furthermore, by answering her so directly and saying those things right in front of her, Teacher Su was sending another signal: she simply didn't care about Ji Yun's relationship with Xu Lin.

It wasn't out of arrogance or because she considered Ji Yun a non-threat; Ji Yun could sense that the other woman genuinely didn't care—and that applied not just to her, but to the Chu sisters as well.

Why was it that this guy Xu Lin was always surrounded by such pitifully good women? If they were bad women, she could at least team up with everyone to clear them out.

The three entered the classroom, and the students gradually settled down from their lively commotion. Xu Lin and Ji Yun took their seats, and Xu Lin intended to exchange a word with Ji Yun.

Before he could even speak, Ji Yun shot him a freezing glare, showing absolutely no mercy.

"Are you mad?"

……

"Xu Lin, how did you manage to tick off my Yun?" Seeing Ji Yun sitting quietly with her head buried in a book and refusing to speak, Zhuo Yan turned her gaze toward him.

"I didn't."

"Ji Yun, how did he upset you?"

"Nothing."

Xu Lin slumped over his desk in despair. It seemed Class Monitor Ji was truly furious, and Teacher Su had certainly played a masterpiece of her own.

Those two casual remarks were essentially serving notice to Ji Yun. But if you actually like me, Teacher Su, you could just talk to me directly! Why drag Ji Yun into this? Now I'm completely cornered.

If I rashly try to get close to Teacher Su now, I'm bound to be reported by Ji Yun, and the Chu sisters will definitely pull me aside to teach me a lesson.

Aah, what kind of mess is this!

Just like that, Xu Lin endured the morning under immense psychological pressure. Right before the bell rang for the end of the morning session, the head teacher walked into the classroom holding a stack of papers.

"Teacher Wang, I'll borrow half a minute."

"No problem, class ends in one minute anyway. Should I head out first?"

"Go ahead, go ahead."

The head teacher walked up to the podium, tapped the desk with a chalkboard eraser, and said, "Ahem! Students, I have an announcement to make. Is anyone familiar with the brand Feidu?"

"Is that the Feidu brand that's about to release a new line of sneakers?" asked the class sports commissioner, clearly paying close attention to athletic footwear.

"That's the one. It's a domestic brand with a history of several decades. Recently, the company has undergone a transformation, introducing athletic shoes crafted with brand-new technology."

"Teacher, are you giving them a commercial?"

"Hahaha!" Laughter erupted across the classroom.

"You could say that, but let me tell you—this promotion has a direct connection to every single one of you!"

"Here's the deal: Feidu is launching their new sneakers the day after tomorrow, and they've organized a promotional event. They randomly selected one hundred schools across thirty-three small cities to support students on their journey toward health and fitness."

"Every selected school will receive five thousand pairs of shoes completely free of charge, and our school happens to be one of them!"

"Teacher, do you mean we're going to get free shoes?!"

Instantly, the students below grew wildly excited. Free stuff carried an undeniable allure!

Even though Feidu's older shoe designs hadn't looked particularly great, the new ones looked amazing, and promotional items given away for free certainly wouldn't be low quality!

"Calm down first everyone. There are five thousand pairs in total, which is more than enough for our current student body, but they will be delivered in batches."

"This afternoon, President Ye is coming to our school for a promotional event. Everyone will head out to the playground to sit and hang out for a bit, and they'll be handing out one thousand pairs of shoes right on the spot."

"The sizes available in this initial batch of finished products are 34, 35, 36, 42, and 43. Raise your hands if your shoe size matches so I can take a count and make arrangements for the afternoon."

"What's your shoe size, Xu Lin?" Li斌 muttered with a sigh upon realizing his own size wasn't on the list, meaning he'd miss out on the first batch.

"I'm a size 42."

"Well, you're in luck then. What about Ma Zhiyu?"

"I'm a size 42 as well."

"Agh! Why do I have to have big size 44 feet!"

As Li斌 lamented his fate, a sudden realization hit Xu Lin like a lightning bolt. Feidu's President Ye? Wasn't that Ye Qinleng?! She had actually come to Linshui in person?!