Chapter Twelve: The Tragedy of Lohan

As the blazing sun climbed ever higher, the entire city stirred awake. On the streets and within its heart, traffic flowed ceaselessly, the bustle remained unchanged, and any lingering quietness faded away. Though November had already arrived, the city's residents still dressed lightly. Here, the climate was eternally spring-like, without the distinctions of seasons found elsewhere, and so the city was named "Summer."

08:45.

Star Academy.

With a quarter hour still remaining before classes officially began, the students of Star Academy had already filed into their classrooms, waiting eagerly. Excitement shone in their faces, anticipation brightening their eyes, for today was the monthly physical fitness test—the fourth of the year! Each student longed to witness the fruits of their efforts over the past month, and to see the narrowing gap between themselves and the elusive first-tier physical prowess.

As the bell rang for class, a beautiful woman in her thirties strode into Class 12 of the first year, her black high heels clicking against the floor. Her chestnut hair was elegantly coiled atop her head, neat and swift, revealing a slender, alabaster neck. Her striking face was defined by delicate features and fair skin, complemented by red-framed glasses that lent her an air both alluring and intellectual. Dressed in a black professional suit that perfectly accentuated her voluptuous and dignified figure—especially the fullness of her chest, which threatened to burst forth at any moment—she was impossible to ignore.

This was none other than the homeroom teacher of Class 12, Shangguan Luohua. Her name suited her well: graceful in bearing, abundant in talent.

The classroom, previously lively, fell instantly silent at her arrival. She stepped up to the podium and gazed at the dozens of students below, her voice, tinged with a magnetic quality, rang out, "Are you ready?"

"Yes, we are!" the students replied in unison.

"In that case, I hope our Class 12's ranking will improve today! Especially since your physical test results in this fourth round may very well influence the overall ranking in December's final test!" Shangguan Luohua paused deliberately, then spoke gravely, "And the combined results of these five tests will be your only gateway to becoming an elite student in mid-December!"

"Elite student?" The students erupted in excitement, their eyes ablaze as they looked to Shangguan Luohua, eager for her explanation.

Those words held enormous significance. To become an elite student meant that, before the age of eighteen, one would certainly become a first-tier mecha warrior!

Yet Shangguan Luohua did not elaborate further. She had deliberately dangled the allure of elite status before them, stoking a feverish ambition within her class.

"Enough! Angel, take the entire class to the testing hall to assemble," she ordered.

Upon hearing this, Angel stood up, her expression somewhat embarrassed. "Teacher, Nangong... Yuchen hasn't arrived yet."

"Hmm?" At the mention of the name, Shangguan Luohua glanced over at Le Han's seat; sure enough, the one beside him was empty.

Her expression darkened, but she suppressed her rising anger and said, displeased, "Then we'll wait for him."

One minute passed, then ten minutes...

Soon, half an hour had slipped by.

Standing at the podium, Shangguan Luohua's face grew ever more grim, her beautiful brows twitching with barely contained fury.

The students below remained silent, the classroom so quiet one could hear a pin drop—they all knew this was the prelude to their teacher's impending outburst.

Another ten minutes passed, and Shangguan Luohua finally lost her composure.

Her face flushed red, her chest heaving, she roared with amplified fury, "Angel, if Nangong Yuchen arrives before ten-thirty, send him to my office! He must understand the rules of punctuality for Star Academy students!" With that, she slapped her palm down onto the iron desk on the podium.

Boom!

The whole class startled, staring as the desk was smashed to scrap metal. They instinctively shrank back, some fearful of the teacher's formidable presence.

"Y-yes... okay!" Angel stammered.

"Hmph!" Shangguan Luohua whirled out of the classroom, muttering angrily, "Useless! Not only does he drag down our class's ranking with his poor fitness, now he even dares to be late for the monthly test. Nangong Yuchen! I should have been stricter with him before!"

When her voice finally faded, the students collectively breathed a sigh of relief and began to talk among themselves.

"Ah, it's that useless Nangong again!"

"I can't stand him. His fitness was bad before, now even his discipline is lacking!"

At that moment, a tall, thin boy looked toward Lu Ling in the second row and asked, "Lu, do you think Nangong Yuchen is really late? I bet he knows he can't pass today's test and just doesn't dare show up!"

"Heh, what difference does it make if that loser comes or not?" Lu Ling replied with utter disdain. "Actually, it's better if he doesn't show up. Without him dragging us down, our class ranking will definitely improve!"

Hearing this, the others remembered the times when the class had ended up last because of him, and began to chime in, "Exactly! The teacher should have expelled him ages ago. That way, the other classes wouldn't call us the useless lot every day!"

"Nonsense! If Nangong hadn't consistently improved all three fitness categories, you guys would be the real failures!" Le Han, who had been calling Nangong Yuchen, couldn't help but retort angrily.

"Failures? How ridiculous. At his snail's pace, by the time he reaches first-tier, the rest of us will be at the legendary fourth tier!" Lu Ling sneered. "Ha ha... by then, trash like him will be crushed with a flick of our fingers!"

"You..." The chubby boy's face turned red with anger, finally unable to endure it any longer. He shouted, "Lu Ling, you're nothing but a lapdog of the Lu family. If not for your father's sacrifice, you wouldn't even count as a dog now. What right do you have to insult Nangong?"

Silence fell over the entire class.

Lu Ling's face twisted in rage, veins throbbing at his temple. What Le Han said was true—two years ago, if his father hadn't given his life to protect Lu Shijie, Lu Ling wouldn't be a member of the Lu family, wouldn't carry the name Lu, nor be Lu Shijie's cousin. He was merely the son of an outsider servant. His targeting of Nangong Yuchen was at Lu Shijie's behest, but now, exposed by the chubby boy in front of everyone, he felt an urge to kill.

He despised nothing more than having his shameful past brought up!

Bang!

As the class reeled from Le Han's revelation, Lu Ling grabbed his desk and hurled it at him without warning.

Le Han never expected such violence, and couldn't dodge in time. The iron desk, weighing dozens of pounds, crashed down above his head.

In the next moment, a scream echoed, and Le Han lay on the floor, covered in blood.

"Qualifications? My strength is the only qualification I need!"