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Chapter 26: The Entire Class is Stunned!
Silence.
The classroom of Class Five was utterly silent!
Zhou Lin, Ren Jie, Wang Wenjun, Fan Xiaotian, Zhang Yudong, Zhao Juan, Cheng Hong, Tang Jingjing, Chen Na, Bai Xiaohua—every one of the 41 students except Gu Lu himself stared at Mr. Li with wide eyes, as if trying to confirm whether the "Chuan-Yu First Prize" he had just announced was real or some kind of joke.
"Did Gu Lu really win first place in the city-wide competition?" Unlike the students, Ms. Tai didn’t hesitate to voice her doubts. Her shock was palpable.
"Including Sichuan Province, it’s the Chuan-Yu First Prize," Mr. Li clarified. "There are five winners for the First Prize—it's not exactly the same as being ranked number one." He turned to address Gu Lu directly. "After this class ends, come to Principal Chang’s office. The school has a reward for your achievement."
Mr. Li’s confirmation left no room for doubt—the news was absolutely true.
Out of all the students from both Sichuan and Chongqing, only five had been awarded this honor—and Gu Lu was one of them.
"Why does our class have someone so ridiculously talented?" Ren Jie muttered under his breath.
Damn it! Zhang Yudong thought bitterly. If only he’d known earlier, he would’ve claimed Gu Lu as his protégé.
"He writes stories and wins awards. My friend here could punch his way through a nursing home and kick his way through a kindergarten!" Fan Xiaotian, who had been slouching over his desk moments ago, now sat up straighter, brimming with pride.
Wang Jianhua’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. Just that morning, he’d been mocking Gu Lu, and now here he was winning an award. This slap in the face came awfully fast.
With too many students reacting, their responses couldn’t all be listed individually.
"That’s all I have to announce. Thank you, Ms. Tai." With light steps, Mr. Li exited the classroom. A student earning provincial honors was a feather in any teacher’s cap. Accumulate enough of these achievements, and promotion within the ranks became almost guaranteed.
Though Mr. Li had left, the ripple effect of his announcement was like pouring water into a pot of boiling oil—it sent everything into a chaotic frenzy.
"Quiet!" Ms. Tai, acting as the lid on the simmering chaos, silenced the room instantly. All the disbelief and excitement were swallowed back down by the students.
"I heard from Ms. Yan about your participation in the Ye Shengtao Cup," Ms. Tai said, addressing Gu Lu. "At the time, I thought you were just there for exposure. I never imagined you’d achieve something so remarkable." Her astonishment matched that of the students.
To Ms. Tai, Gu Lu was nothing more than a struggling student—one who might randomly fill in C or Y on English tests, relying entirely on luck. In her eyes, he was undeniably a poor performer.
Yet here he was, suddenly taking home a prestigious prize in a major competition. It was like a mouse serving as the bridesmaid for a cat—or a tiny monster defeating Ultraman!
"Pay attention to the lesson," she continued. "You should all learn from Gu Lu and start thinking seriously about your futures." With that, Ms. Tai took several seconds to compose herself before resuming the class.
Even though the teacher resumed teaching, the disbelief in the students’ minds refused to settle. Every now and then, they stole glances toward Gu Lu.
[Note from Zhou: What did you write to win? How much is the prize money? Can I take a look? The Ye Shengtao Cup sounds incredible. I remember studying a text called The Feet of Ivy when I was younger—it was written by Ye Shengtao.]
A note arrived from Gu Lu's desk neighbor.
Most students weren’t fully aware of the significance of the Ye Shengtao Cup, but the name “Ye Shengtao” rang familiar. Thinking of him as someone whose work appeared in textbooks made the accomplishment seem even more impressive.
Amidst the collective distraction, the bell finally rang. Ms. Tai dismissed the class without delay, gathering her books and leaving the room.
And then... Class Five erupted!
"You quietly pulled off something huge!"
"You’re unreal, man. I’m not complimenting you—I’m just stating facts."
"Fierce Brother, you’re stronger than Son Goku transforming into a Super Saiyan!"
"What did you write? Let me see it! I need to worship our class’s literary genius!"
...
Layer upon layer, the students surrounded Gu Lu like a swarm. It took considerable effort for him to break free from the crowd.
Earlier, Mr. Li had mentioned that he needed to visit the principal after class.
Even after Gu Lu left, the discussions about him continued in the classroom. They showed no signs of stopping anytime soon, reminiscent of how debates over the ending of Xuan Yuan Sword - The Scar of Time lasted for days.
Back in the teachers’ office, Ms. Tai returned and asked, "Where’s Mr. Li?"
"Mr. Li came back briefly, looked around the office, and then left," replied another tall, thin teacher in the room. "Why? Do you need something from him?"
Unable to contain her excitement, Ms. Tai blurted out, "One of Mr. Li’s students won the Chuan-Yu Regional First Prize in the Ye Shengtao Essay Competition..."
The tall teacher, who happened to be the homeroom teacher of Class Six, listened with a mix of surprise and contemplation. It was clear that Gu Lu would soon become the "child from the neighboring class," used to motivate his own students.
The main buildings of No. 37 Middle School consisted of Wisdom Building, Virtue Building, and Goodwill Building—but among the students, they were mockingly referred to as Incompetent Building, Immoral Building, and Hypocritical Building.
Despite being a key middle school in Chongqing, its reputation was abysmal. These derogatory nicknames stemmed from a tragic incident in 2004 when corporal punishment led to a student’s death, and the school refused to acknowledge responsibility.
Add to that the stark contrast between the cafeteria food and the glossy promotional videos, and the nicknames stuck.
The principal’s office was located on the top floor of the eastern wing of the "Incompetent Building." This was Gu Lu’s first time setting foot here; usually, there wasn’t much reason for students to visit.
Knocking gently, Gu Lu said, "Principal Chang, it’s me, Gu Lu."
Seconds later, Mr. Li opened the door. He quietly reassured the student not to be nervous and gestured for him to enter.
Was Gu Lu nervous? A little, but not excessively. His apprehension stemmed from facing such a high-ranking official, while his confidence came from years of life experience and the help of his unique advantages.
Inside, Principal Chang—the headmaster of No. 37 Middle School and also the party secretary (a dual role)—greeted Gu Lu warmly. His droopy brows gave him a somber appearance when serious, but when smiling, he exuded kindness.
"First of all, congratulations, Gu Lu," Principal Chang began. "You’ve won the Chuan-Yu First Prize in the Ye Shengtao Cup! Our school has never received such an award before—you’ve achieved a historic breakthrough for us."
He added, "You’ve made history for our school. I’ve read The Resounding Shadow, and it’s excellent."
"I must thank Mr. Li for his support," Gu Lu replied graciously, acknowledging the teacher who helped register him and typed up his submission.
"Mr. Li recognized the potential in his student, which is commendable," Principal Chang praised sincerely. Two weeks earlier, when Mr. Li approached him about entering Gu Lu in the competition, he hadn’t held much hope.
But what a pleasant surprise this turned out to be!
"It allows our students to broaden their horizons," Principal Chang reflected aloud, recalling Mr. Li’s initial justification. Looking at The Resounding Shadow, he chuckled inwardly—was this really about broadening horizons?
Turning his gaze back to Gu Lu, Principal Chang noted the calm demeanor and lack of awkwardness typical of most students. Yes, this young man clearly had the makings of someone destined for great things.
Setting down his pen, Principal Chang prepared to engage in earnest conversation—not with a mere student, but with a rising star who represented the future achievements of the school.
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