Genius of the Rules-Style System

Chapter 27: Chapter 27 What Kind of Classmates Are These?

During the break in that day’s evening self-study session, Teacher Wang Ping gathered Zhao Yi, Lin Xiaoqing, Sun Li, and He Ronghua, and talked about the prize scheme decided upon at the school meeting.

Firstly, there would be certificates.

Next, prizes.

And lastly, quite straightforwardly, cash prizes.

As the final round of the competition had not yet taken place, the final standings were still uncertain. Therefore, the certificates and prizes would be awarded in the final round, with only the cash prize to be received immediately.

Every participant would get a thousand yuan.

For an average high school student, this was indeed a decent amount of money.

Wang Ping handed out an envelope containing money to each of them, adding a special reminder, "The school asked me to give you the prize money privately, so don’t broadcast it."

Both Lin Xiaoqing and Sun Li held the envelopes in their hands.

He Ronghua immediately opened his to check on the contents.

Zhao Yi action was even more decisive than He Ronghua’s. As soon as he pulled out the money, he stuffed it into his trouser pocket while throwing the envelope into a nearby rubbish bin.

Seeing this, Wang Ping gritted her teeth, "You don’t take this seriously at all, do you!"

"Isn’t this for me?"

Zhao Yi was confused.

"Yes."

"So, it’s my money." Zhao Yi shrugged and gestured nonchalantly with his eyes and movements, ’This is how I handle money’.

A bit frustrated, Wang Ping continued, "The school considered giving additional prize money for second and third place. If you win first place, not only you will get more cash, but also a surprise prize."

"A surprise?"

Zhao Yi thought for a moment, "Perhaps they will give each of us a computer?"

Wang Ping opened her mouth, but said nothing.

"Are they really giving out computers?"

Zhao Yi quickly caught on and laughed as he asked, "Can we choose the brand? I’ve been wanting a MacBook, but it has to be high-spec. IBM could work too. Otherwise, I might prefer another brand."

"They are quite expensive though. I’m sure the school won’t buy them."

Speaking to himself with regret, he commented, "If they are not giving a high-spec computer, they might just as well not give anything."

"How about this!"

Zhao Yi looked up and declared, "Teacher Wang, tell the principal that if they aren’t planning to give us high-spec computers, they can give me a high-spec mobile phone instead. Phones are much cheaper."

Wang Ping was slack-jawed for a moment before managing to say, "How about we first focus on getting the first place!"

The classroom was bustling when they got back.

Wang Ping had instructed them not to publicise about the cash prize, but certain news was impossible to keep hidden. While the other three had managed to maintain discretion, Sun Li was unable to keep secrets.

Junior high school girls find it difficult to hold back especially when it something they can brag about.

Before the end of the evening self-study session, Sun Li had whispered it to her best friend, emphasising, ’Don’t tell anyone’. Not even ten minutes had passed before Sun Liang, who was sitting at the back, got wind of it.

"Zhao Yi! Treat us!"

Patting Zhao Yi’s shoulder, Sun Liang said, "Let’s go to the internet cafe, you are paying. I want a large coke too!"

"Going to an internet cafe? At this hour!"

"Anytime!"

Impatient to wait any longer, Sun Liang explained, "We’re not going there to play games, but to download songs. You don’t have the songs I like in your MP3."

Zhao Yi just rolled his eyes.

He didn’t say that he would give the MP3 to Sun Liang, mainly considering the price issue. A gift worth more than a thousand yuan could be deemed as too extravagant to give a high school student, so he improvised an excuse and let Sun Liang use it whenever he wanted to.

When school was over.

Zhao Yi and Sun Liang rushed to the internet cafe on their bikes.

Sun Liang intended to download music.

Zhao Yi opened his email to check on the reply from Apple Company.

The new email had been there for two days.

Having submitted a BUG report once, Apple Company had his email and account information on file. The email contained a thank you note and an explanation on a cash bonus.

The token of appreciation barely changed.

The second email detailed prize money—

Sixteen thousand dollars!

The email ended with a note, "In case your account information changes, please contact Apple Company in time." A contact phone number was also provided.

Looking at the prize money, Zhao Yi grinned widely.

Even if one had no time to spend, being financially abundant brought comfort. Sixteen thousand dollars translated to about one hundred thirty-six thousand yuan, which was enough to make a down payment for a 100-meter property in downtown.

"Thinking of buying property?"

"Undesirable!"

Zhao Yi sobered up and drafted a third letter, in which he reported two minor bugs. It would be most assuring once he secured the money.

...

The next day, as soon as Zhao Yi arrived at school, he sensed an air of peculiarity.

In the hallway on the third floor.

Sun Jiali was chatting with her friends. Spotting Zhao Yi, she immediately rushed over to him. Her enthusiasm was written clearly on her face, and her voice, gentle as water, had a melting quality to it. "Zhao Yi, you’ve arrived!"

Zhao Yi halted awkwardly.

Sun Jiali smiled and complemented, "You scored full points in the prelims. You’re amazing!"

Zhao Yi nods attentively.

"So I heard that you guys even got a bonus prize? This is my first time hearing about students winning prizes from competitions!"

"Trust me when I say, if you were only not flopping your middle school exams, you certainly would’ve gotten into First Middle School!"

"You’re the kind of person who is truly talented..."

Sun Jiali kept raving on.

"Yes, you’re getting to the heart of the matter. We are just like soulmates!" Zhao Yi interrupted, then bluntly asked, "But... is there something else you needed?"

"Well... well..."

Sun Jiali blinked her large eyes at Zhao Yi, finally mustered the words, "I heard that the final team is missing two people. How do I look? I’m an elite class A student, and we’re classmates now."

"My extracurricular knowledge is impressive, I’m knowledgeable about the latest trends, music, films, foreign celebrities, and the like."

Zhao Yi’s gaze slowly swept over Sun Jiali from top to bottom, pausing at the most prominent part for quite a while, before smiling and hesitating, "Well... well..." ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

Sun Jiali gritted her teeth, clung to Zhao Yi’s arm, "Zhao Yi, do you think I’m good enough?"

Zhao Yi moved his arm a little and then seriously said, "Alright, alright, alright... I’ve taken note, but it’s not for me to decide alone. I need to discuss it with the others."

"I asked He Ronghua, and he said it’s okay if you agree."

What a snitch!

Zhao Yi cursed silently, then said, "Is that so. There are only two spots, but I don’t know how many people applied, so directly deciding is not good."

With that, he walked away.

Left behind, Sun Jiali stomped her feet in annoyance, "He took advantage and just left!"

"Jerk!"

[Flirting, target: Sun Jiali, Study Coins +2.]

A goal was scored early in the morning!

With a good mood, Zhao Yi walked into the classroom and found two bottles of drink on the desk.

One was an energy drink.

The other was cola.

The short-haired girl in front, Luo Rui, walked over with a warm smile, "Zhao Yi, I didn’t know what you like to drink, so I bought two kinds. Are you thirsty?"

"What is this, Comrade Luo Rui, you even bought me drinks?"

"Don’t tell me..."

Zhao Yi trailed off, lifting an eyebrow, and protectively covering his chest with both hands, "You’ve got a thing for me."

"Pah!"

Luo Rui muttered her disciple, "Zhao Yi, when did you become so improper!"

"And arrogant!"

Zhao Yi stared at Luo Rui’s face, breathing a long sigh of relief, "So, you’re not!"

[Flirting, target: Luo Rui, Study Coins +1.]

"You!"

Luo Rui bit her teeth in frustration, lettering out her words, "Look at your desk. What I sent you!"

Zhao Yi lowered his head and looked.

A white rubber object was squeezed inside the desk. He pulled out a well-stitched football, complete with an international sport’s brand logo.

This is interesting!

Zhao Yi took it out and examined it, asking, "What’s up? We’re classmates, so don’t be so formal. You don’t have to give me a gift. If you want, take it back and give it to me on my birthday..."

"Absurd! I’d never give you a birthday present!"

On the verge of spitting blood in frustration, Luo Rui cut to the chase, "I want to sign up for your competition team. What do you think..."

Zhao Yi sighed regretfully and returned the soccer ball to Luo Rui, "The ball, it’s a good one. But I can’t decide now, I have no idea who has signed up. Moreover, even if you join, I can’t accept your things."

"You must remember that I have applied!"

Luo Rui turned around and walked away.

Zhao Yi looked at the two bottles of drink on the table, guessing that Luo Rui wouldn’t take her gift back, so he handed the cola to Sun Liang.

"I don’t want it!"

Sun Liang refused him firmly.

"This is unlike you, what’s wrong?" Zhao Yi asked slightly confused.

"Zhao Yi, you’re disloyal!"

Sun Liang said, "You should have told me about this competition yesterday. It’s going to be on television, on television! One of the two spots has to be mine, we are after all, the best of buddies!"

"..."

Zhao Yi massaged his forehead, suddenly feeling a bit like he had a headache. It seems like he had been quite naive during his school days.

What kind of classmates are these?

Trying to seduce a man!

Offering gifts!

Always playing the old friend card!

Sun Jiali’s gentle face and pleasant figure suddenly emerged in his mind, triggering a wave of thoughts that continued to spread.

Why not... Set a few conditions?

Not because of his lack of self-control, but simply because the world holds too many temptations!