When it was ti for self-presentation, the English teacher asked the students to pair up and perform last night's howork in a skit form.
Everyone scoffed at the English teacher's little trick to attract attention, but at this mont, Li Junling raised his hand.
Fang Zhanqing looked embarrassed, considering he was in the sa group as Li Junling, and had made others do the howork for him last night. Now what was this about?
The English teacher was naturally pleased to see that the school's Overlord was giving him face, and he excitedly called out, "Li Junling, are you going to perform with your partner?"
Li Junling responded, "Of course not, teacher. There's a new student in our class today. I'd like to team up with him to see if he can keep up. After all, our class has the best academic performance in the school. It's either a failing of the teacher or our laziness if soone falls behind."
Despite Li Junling's spoiled deanor, his instigating words were flawlessly delivered.
The English teacher frowned upon hearing this, glancing worriedly and disdainfully at Luo Chao, who sat in the corner.
The salary of a teacher at Central High School consists of two parts: a base salary, equal to that of state-employed teachers, and a performance bonus. If the class achieves the best grades in the school, the subject teachers could earn a performance bonus worth ten tis their base salary. This salary-related matter definitely couldn't be taken lightly.
"Oh, I see. Then could the new student, Zhou... Han, or is it Luo Chao? Please co up and perform with Li Junling,"
The English teacher, holding the roster, called out Luo Chao's na.
Jiang Yuanyuan frowned at the English teacher, wondering if all he knew were sycophancy and lacked any real skills. It was clear that Li Junling was causing trouble, yet the teacher was aiding him.
Chen Xiaoqi, however, wanted to see Luo Chao embarrass himself. As long as she found it satisfying, she didn't care whether the person in the spotlight was soone she disliked. After all, an enemy's enemy is a friend!
Everyone turned to look at Luo Chao, who was called out. Although surprised, he remained calm, stood up, and asked, "Teacher, is the topic the one written on the board? Can we improvise?"
The English teacher nodded. Li Junling sneered, thinking the bumpkin was in for a disgrace; let's see how you handle it!
Luo Chao glanced at the topic; it was simple, just about a series of events visiting a friend's ho. The dialogue was even simpler.
Luo Chao and Li Junling stood on the podium. Li Junling looked at Luo Chao condescendingly and casually asked in English, "Are you an idiot?"
Everyone was taken aback upon hearing this, turning to look at the softly smiling Luo Chao, collectively sighing. It seed Li Junling didn't like the new student at all, not sparing him any face in the first class, and this newcor seed clueless, still smiling at the insult.
The English teacher frowned too but dared not offend the school's Overlord. Li Junling's father was one of the school's board chairs. Seeing Luo Chao hadn't understood, the teacher pretended not to have heard anything.
Jiang Yuanyuan clenched her fist in anger upon hearing Li Junling's words. Although she didn't like Luo Chao, he was her bodyguard, and publicly insulting him was a slap to her face. Who didn't know that to hit a dog, you must consider its owner?
Chen Xiaoqi, however, initially smiled at this, but gradually let it fade. She knew Li Junling liked to tease others and wanted to see Luo Chao humiliated, but not like this. Though Luo Chao was indeed wrong yesterday, she realized she also had her faults.
Luo Chao scanned the classmates below the podium, their expressions varying from surprise to mockery or sympathy, and remained silent.
Seeing Luo Chao truly couldn't understand English, Li Junling, who had pegged him as a country bumpkin the day before based on his appearance, took the chance to savor a bit of triumph, giving Fang Zhanqing a proud smile. Fang Zhanqing, seated below, gave him a thumbs-up in return.
Li Junling then arrogantly asked, "areyouasonofbich? (Did I insult you?)"
All the classmates were in uproar. If the previous question was provocation, this was outright insult. Jiang Yuanyuan was just about to stand up and speak when Luo Chao frowned and leisurely asked, "Classmate Li Junling, were those two questions related to the topic?"
Li Junling paused, looking at Luo Chao's smiling face, thinking the country bumpkin was trying to trap him, so he said, "Do you know English or not? I'm waiting for your answer—yes or no?"
Li Junling expected Luo Chao to respond to his question, but Luo Chao countered with a refined British accent, "Are you a son of a bitch?"
This short, perfectly pronounced sentence, coupled with a disdainful expression, left everyone taken aback. Luo Chao knew English! And he studied British English!
Jiang Yuanyuan, hearing Luo Chao's fluent English, exchanged shocked glances with Chen Xiaoqi. They never expected Luo Chao to have such skills.
Li Junling's face turned, and the English teacher was utterly shocked. Luo Chao hadn't misunderstood; he just didn't stoop to the sa level. Li Junling, having gone too far, was just about to speak when Luo Chao turned to the English teacher and asked in English, "Are you sure you're a teacher? Your student is using the knowledge you taught to insult another student, and you do nothing. I'm truly disappointed in you."
Luo Chao spoke slowly but earnestly, and the English teacher's face burned as though pricked by a needle. Just as he was about to explain himself, he noticed the disdainful gazes of the seated students directed at him.
Li Junling's English was diocre at best; his father had hired a foreign tutor to teach him those two sentences. He only understood a small part of Luo Chao's longer sentence, subconsciously assuming he was being insulted.
So he shouted in a rage, "Who the hell are you insulting?"
Luo Chao paused, amused, and continued in English, "Are you implying I insulted you? Do you perhaps not understand English?"
Though Li Junling could understand this question, his flushed brain convinced him he was still being mocked, preparing to get physical. Fang Zhanqing, worried at his seat, rushed over, whispering to Li Junling, "He's just asking if you understand English!"
At Fang Zhanqing's words, all the seated students tried holding back laughter, fearing revenge. Li Junling's face was beet-red, staring at Luo Chao's amused expression; he wanted to act but had no justification, feeling utterly disgraced.
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