Systemless Villain

Chapter 171 Surprises in the Classroom

Lin Fan positioned himself in front of the blackboard, his eyes sweeping across the faces of the students.

"Okay, Lin Fan, it's your turn to introduce yourself," Yu Qing'er instructed.

Wearing a confident smile, Lin Fan began, "Greetings, everyone. I go by the name Lin Fan, and I'm 18 years old. Though originally hailing from Beijing, I've been residing in Tianzhou for the past four years, having moved here with my uncle," he elaborated.

The students were all ears, though a hint of puzzlement lingered on some faces, questioning the arrival of a new student so close to graduation.

Observing the students' reactions, Yu Qing'er hastened to clarify, "Well, Lin Fan has been a part of Tianzhou High School since his freshman year. However, due to a technical glitch, he found himself in need of a class change. Given that our class has relatively fewer students, he's now a part of our cohort."

Yu Qing'er's explanation garnered nods of comprehension from the students. While not uncommon for students to switch classes, it was a unique occurrence for their class.

"Take a seat at any empty desk, Lin Fan," Yu Qing'er directed.

Lin Fan acknowledged with a nod and proceeded to the back, where an unoccupied desk awaited him.

Though some curious glances followed him, he remained unfazed, settling into his seat with composure.

"Now that you've all had the chance to meet Lin Fan, let's delve into the mid-semester rankings," Yu Qing'er announced.

Excitement rippled through the students as mid-semester grades held significant importance for those aiming for academies, and though less relevant for sect-bound individuals, curiosity lingered.

"With Lin Fan officially joining our class, I'll be disclosing his ranking as well," Yu Qing'er added.

The class acknowledged this, while Lin Fan maintained a self-assured demeanor.

"Let's commence," Yu Qing'er declared. Opening the file, she began with, "Rank 47, Ku Peng, accumulating a total score of 2400," her tone composed as she directed her gaze towards Ku Peng, who sat in the middle.

Unsurprisingly, Ku Peng, known for consistently being at the bottom, smiled as if anticipating the outcome.

Yu Qing'er proceeded, "Moving on, rank 46, An Jing, with an accumulated score of 2468."

"Rank 45, Gu Heng, securing an accumulated score of 2500."

"Rank 44, Ju Qing, with an accumulated score of 2505."

"Rank 43, Yang Quek...."

"Rank 42..."

The announcements continued, each unveiling a student's rank and accumulated score for the first semester. While some students grappled with disappointment, others accepted their standings.

Long Tian, on the other hand, remained composed, patiently awaiting the call for his name. Currently holding the seventh rank, his demeanor remained unchanged.

After a while, Yu Qing'er progressed, "Alright, those were ranks 47 to 6. Now, let's turn our attention to the top five ranks," she stated.

She proceeded, "Rank 5 goes to Zhe Ying, amassing an accumulated score of 7890."

Zhe Ying, a female student, displayed a hint of disappointment. She had anticipated a higher standing, but now, acceptance prevailed.

Yu Qing'er continued, "Next in line, rank 4 belongs to Song Qian, boasting an accumulated score of 8000."

Song Qian, a female student, greeted her ranking with no surprise. Fourth place was commendable, and she remained grateful for her achievements.

"Next in line, rank 3 goes to Liu Zhenyi, securing an accumulated score of 9001," Yu Qing'er announced.

A wave of shock swept through the room. Liu Zhenyi, typically holding the second spot, now found herself in the third position.

However, Yu Qing'er continued, her expression held a hint of surprise. "Oh, here's a twist. Taking rank 2 is Long Tian, with an accumulated score of 9678," she declared.

The surprise intensified among the students. Long Tian, the consistent top performer, now occupied the second spot.

"What? Is Teacher Yu mistaken? Long Tian can't be second, can he?"

"Even with 9678 points, he's still second..."

"I wonder who claimed the top spot."

Conversations buzzed among the students, with astonishment palpable in their voices.

Long Tian himself was taken aback by his second-place position. Despite his occasional class-skipping, he was confident that no one could match his accumulated score.

Meanwhile, Yu Qing'er simply smiled at the bewildered students. "This semester has been full of surprises, hasn't it? And Long Tian, as your teacher, I must emphasize the importance of attending lessons for maintaining high grades," she advised.

"I'll bear that in mind, Teacher Yu," Long Tian responded calmly.

Yu Qing'er nodded, maintaining her smile, and then returned her focus to the file. "Now, let's unveil the top rank. Congratulations to Lin Fan, securing an accumulated score of 9900!" she declared.

The revelation left everyone even more astonished. All eyes turned to Lin Fan, seated at the back, including Long Tian.

A collective expression of doubt, astonishment, and suspicion played across everyone's faces.

Lin Fan, unfazed by the collective gaze, remained remarkably composed. He had foreseen this scenario.

"Relax, classmates, I transferred into this class in the last year, so our paths will diverge next year," he reassured them, a tranquil smile adorning his face.

However, his words didn't sit well with some. A bespectacled male student stood up, hand raised in protest. "Teacher Yu, can this data be accurate? He just joined, and he's at the top? I find it hard to believe!" he exclaimed.

Yu Qing'er, on the other hand, maintained her composure. "The data is accurate. It was systematically calculated with the assistance of AI, eliminating any possibility of human error," she clarified.

The bespectacled student fell into silence upon hearing this, along with those who had harbored doubts.

"However," Yu Qing'er continued, drawing the students' attention once more. "Lin Fan, I've reviewed your academic history from the first semester of the first year until now, and it's only in the final year that you've achieved exceptionally high scores. Previously, your rankings ranged in the 30s, with the highest being 22. Do you possess some sort of secret? How did you manage this?" she inquired, a tinge of curiosity present in her tone.

The students, once again taken aback, directed their collective gaze towards Lin Fan.

However, Lin Fan maintained his composure. "Well, Teacher Yu, there comes a time when someone wants to change. You can count me as an example. I used to avoid studying and was mischievous, but I committed myself to change, studied diligently, and practiced hard to pass the entrance exam for my preferred academy. As it turns out, I had academic talent and a keen insight, leading to my high scores," he explained.

His words resonated with everyone, and they seemed fairly convinced by Lin Fan's account, although a hint of skepticism lingered.

Breaking the silence, Yu Qing'er spoke. "Alright, you've all heard Lin Fan's explanation. I find it to be a very plausible reason. And for you, Lin Fan, well done on your positive transformation. I hope you successfully pass the entrance exam for your desired academy," she said.

"Thanks, Teacher Yu," Lin Fan responded, a smile gracing his face.

Yu Qing'er reciprocated with a smile. Then, her attention returned to the file, and she closed it.

The students shifted their focus away from Lin Fan and redirected their attention to the front.

"Okay, that concludes the announcement of the rankings and grades for the first semester of the final year. There's still the final semester ahead, so don't neglect your studies," Yu Qing'er reminded them. "No lessons for today because we're approaching a holiday that coincides with the annual survival competition. I genuinely hope that one of you will succeed, perhaps even claim victory in the competition. Especially you, Long Tian, with your track record. Besides excelling academically, you also demonstrate remarkable proficiency in martial arts," she added.

"I won't let you down, Teacher Yu," Long Tian asserted, his tone exuding confidence.

Yu Qing'er smiled, then she closed the file. "Alright, no lessons for today. However, there will be announcements regarding graduation, exams, and the selection process for the annual survival competition. These announcements might take a few more minutes. I'll be leaving the class, and you are free to go to the cafeteria, engage in discussions, or pursue other activities as you wish," she informed them.

In the following moment, she exited the classroom, and the closing of the door marked her complete departure.

The classroom erupted with chatter and various sounds as students discussed their newly received rankings and grades.

Some students began to leave, heading to the cafeteria, taking leisurely strolls, or engrossing themselves in books.

Lin Fan, however, rose from his seat and walked towards a bench in the central area, where a girl with short, stylish hair and a somewhat icy demeanor was seated.

Wearing a smile, he approached her, "Hello, you must be Liu Zhenyi, ranked third. That's an impressive score. Would you like to go to the cafeteria together? I might have some tips to share," he offered, his tone warm.

Liu Zhenyi acknowledged him with a glance and replied nonchalantly, "No thanks."

Undeterred, Lin Fan persisted. He scrutinized Liu Zhenyi's face a bit more, and after a few seconds, his smile broadened. "Come on, maybe we can discuss s, especially works by Sun Tzu," he suggested.

Liu Zhenyi appeared somewhat surprised at this. She looked at Lin Fan and inquired, "You're not a mind reader, are you?" raising an eyebrow.

"It's an easy guess just by looking at your handwriting," Lin Fan explained, pointing to a book with distinct penmanship.

Liu Zhenyi squinted her eyes, but she quickly shook her head and closed the book. "Whatever, I already said no," she stated.

Without further words, she stood up and held the hand of her seatmate. "Let's go, Zuyi," she said, then promptly exited the classroom.

Observing her departure, Lin Fan didn't appear disappointed; instead, his smile broadened. "I didn't realize there was such a beautiful girl in this class," he mused.

His previous class lacked many girls, but here, several beauties had captured his attention. Naturally, he intended to make the most of every moment in this class.

After a while, he shook his head and proceeded forward, intending to exit the classroom.

However, as he walked near the blackboard, he abruptly halted and swiftly turned around, catching a small object mid-air.

Opening his hand, he found it was a pencil. His eyes narrowed as he glanced toward the source.

"Nice catch, pal," Bai Li remarked, a smile on his face, though his tone carried a playful edge.

Lin Fan appeared somewhat displeased. He tossed the pencil back with two fingers, swiftly advancing toward Bai Li.

Bai Li, witnessing this, adeptly caught the pencil. Successful, yet he was taken aback by the force behind Lin Fan's throw.

"Nice catch, pal," Lin Fan sneered with a playful smile.

Bai Li's expression immediately shifted to anger. "You!" he growled, rising to his feet.

However, Lin Fan simply responded with a smile and, without uttering a word, strolled directly out of the classroom.

Observing this, Bai Li hurled the pencil to the floor, his face contorted with anger. "That bastard, I'll beat him up if I meet him!" he declared.

Meanhwile, Long Tian, deep in contemplation, stroked his chin, his gaze fixated on the door. 'That guy is definitely no ordinary individual,' he brooded in his inner thoughts.

After a brief pause, he stood up and headed towards the door, intending to leave the classroom.

"Hey, wait for me, Long Tian," Bai Li called out, swiftly following alongside him.