This humble Taoist priest wants to take the college entrance exam.

Chapter 63 In a Corner No One Knows (Thanks to ewiges for the patronage)
[Survey Form Regarding Morning Exercises/Inter-School Exercises]
[To better understand everyone's feelings and needs regarding recess exercises, and in order to optimize the form of recess exercises so that everyone can get more comfortable and effective exercise during breaks, we are conducting this survey...]
[1. How satisfied are you with the current morning exercises? A-Very satisfied; B-Somewhat satisfied; C-Neutral; D-Dissatisfied]
[2. If the morning exercises were changed to Baduanjin (Eight Pieces of Brocade), would you agree with it? A...]
Vice class leader Qiu Yufu handed out the freshly printed, still slightly warm, survey form to each student.

"What's going on?! Are they changing the morning exercises?"

"It should have been changed a long time ago. If you ask me, it would be much better to change the time for morning exercises to free time!"

"You wish! Even if we don't do exercises, we'll definitely make you run two laps!"

"Eight Pieces of Brocade! I must have the Eight Pieces of Brocade! The Taoist priest looked so cool practicing it yesterday!"

"Heh, I've already learned the first move. Take this!"

The demolition effect was fully demonstrated at this time.

As students, the most desirable option is of course not to do morning exercises, but that is obviously impossible. So, replacing the broadcast exercises that we've grown tired of with the increasingly popular Baduanjin (Eight Pieces of Brocade) is a more popular choice.

Because of Chen Shi'an's presence, the atmosphere of traditional Taoist health preservation in Class 5 is very strong.

Everyone saw the video of Master Dao personally demonstrating the Eight Pieces of Brocade that day, and it was truly a novel experience.

While filling out surveys during break, the classroom was noisy, with a few guys even practicing their kung fu in the classroom.

Even Chen Shi'an couldn't understand what kind of move they were practicing. They were just tilting their shoulders and thrusting at each other... was this Iron Mountain Lean?
The Iron Mountain Lean he remembered didn't look like this at all; it must be a new move from some school or sect!
The girls sitting in front of Chen Shi'an, Zheng Yining and Xie Mengxuan, grew bolder. Holding the survey forms, they turned around and whispered to Chen Shi'an:

"Chen Shi'an, classmate."

"Ok?"

"If the school really changes the morning exercises to Baduanjin (Eight Pieces of Brocade), can we ask you for help? We don't know how to do it, but you practiced it so well yesterday!"

"Sure, it's not hard to learn."

"Have you been practicing this since you were a child? I searched for videos and watched them. It seems that no one else practices it as well as you. Your Baduanjin looks very different."

"What's the difference?"

"Hmm...hehe, I can't really explain it."

Lin Mengqiu, who was filling out a survey form, paused, glancing at them out of the corner of her eye.

The girl didn't join their conversation. After filling out the survey, she took out her workbook and quietly started working on the problems.

The survey form doesn't require much information, and it's quick to distribute and collect.

Group leaders began collecting forms.

Chen Shi'an thought for a moment, then checked "Neutral" for the feedback on the broadcast exercises and "Doesn't Matter" for the revision of the Eight-Section Brocade exercise. He then signed his class and name.

"Class monitor, have you finished filling out your form?" Chen Shi'an asked as the group leader approached.

"Ah."

Can I take a look?

"..."

Lin Mengqiu didn't say anything, but took out the filled-out form and placed it between the two of them on the table.

Chen Shi'an picked it up and looked at it.

In the comments section for morning exercises, she checked "Dissatisfied"; in the section for revising the Eight-Section Brocade exercise, she checked "Whatever"; and in the "Do you have any other suggestions?" section, she wrote: "[Suggestion: Change it directly to self-study, and strictly prohibit students from talking]"
It seems the class monitor really hates morning exercises!

But what's with the strict ban on speaking...?

Chen Shi'an couldn't help but laugh, and then received a glare from Lin Mengqiu.

The group leader walked over, and Chen Shi'an stacked the two forms together and handed them over.

……

During the break between the third and fourth periods, Teacher Wan, who was usually seen at the track and field and basketball court, walked into the teaching building, went to the door of Class 5, and asked Chen Shi'an to come out.

"Teacher Wan."

"Shi'an, the video of you doing the Eight-Section Brocade exercise that I filmed yesterday, I posted it on Douyin, and now it's gone viral, it has 250,000 likes, have you seen it?"

"I heard about it from my classmates."

"Here's the thing, if Shi'an feels that the video is affecting you, I'll delete it."

"That's alright, don't worry, Teacher Wan."

"Okay, okay. So, Shi'an, do you have a Douyin account? I'll tag you in the video and tag you to make sure it's you, right?"

"it does not matter."

"Yes, this is your traffic after all, so I'm benefiting from it."

Seeing that Teacher Wan insisted, Chen Shi'an told him his Douyin account. Last night, when Li Wanyin asked him to download Douyin, he registered one, but he didn't play it. The account nickname was his real name, and the homepage was blank.

"Real-name registration for internet access!" Teacher Wan exclaimed in surprise. He then added, "I previously joined a mid-length video program on Douyin. The platform will calculate incentives based on the number of views and the quality of the videos. You get a few cents for every thousand views. I don't really understand the exact price per view. Right now, the number of views and likes on your videos is still increasing. Your video has a high view-to-like ratio, so the price per view is probably high too. I estimate that you should earn a few thousand yuan by then. Don't worry, Shi'an, I will transfer the money to you when the settlement is completed."

Teacher Wan didn't understand the rules, and Chen Shi'an was even less familiar with them. He was quite surprised when he heard that he could get money.

"You can get paid to play videos?"

"Yes, but the platform is getting stingier and stingier these days. The revenue from watching videos is pitifully low. I usually just film for fun, unlike those bloggers who specialize in Douyin and monetize through other means. Shi'an, if you're interested, you could try making Douyin videos after class, like teaching practice videos or something. I think a lot of people would be willing to watch them."

Chen Shi'an smiled and said, "I don't really have any ideas. Sharing videos occasionally like Teacher Wan is fine, but doing this as a special project isn't something I'm interested in. Besides, I'm busy studying right now, so I can't put the cart before the horse."

With the opportunity to become famous right in front of him, Chen Shi'an remained calm and composed. Such a mindset and composure truly made Teacher Wan feel ashamed of himself.

"Okay, I'll transfer the earnings from this video to you when the platform settles the accounts. I've really benefited from your help this time, as I've gained quite a few followers!"

"Thank you, Teacher Wan. This is a windfall for me."

Chen Shi'an was not polite. Although he did not actively pursue fame and fortune, he would not refuse what was rightfully his.

"By the way, Shi'an."

After discussing the video, Teacher Wan smiled and said, "In a while, the school may change the broadcast exercises to Baduanjin. Students will have to learn it from scratch, and many of us teachers don't know it either. We might need to ask you to teach us then."

"of course can."

……

As the morning classes ended and the bell rang, students flocked to the cafeteria.

Chen Shi'an also exited the flow state, closed his pen, left his seat, and went downstairs.

Now many people in the school recognize him. When he's squeezed into the narrow stairwell with the crowd, many bold boys and girls from other classes come up to him and exchange a few words.

Chen Shi'an was used to this; as a Taoist priest since childhood, he had always received a lot of attention from others.

Shortly after he left the classroom, Lin Mengqiu, who was sitting in her seat, also packed her things and left the classroom.

Just as she turned the corner of the building, a force suddenly struck her, causing Lin Mengqiu to stop abruptly, almost bumping into someone who was hurrying along.

I was a little annoyed. The cafeteria isn't going to run away, so why the rush...?

"Excuse me……"

When that clear, bell-like sound rang out, Lin Mengqiu looked up, her gaze falling on the figure's face, her pupils shrinking slightly—

It is Wen Zhixia.

Almost simultaneously, the apology on Wen Zhixia's face froze, her surprise like a pebble thrown into a lake, which she then calmly suppressed, her gaze sliding towards the stair railing.

How could it be her?
The two thoughts collided in the air with a muffled sound.

They had been deskmates for a semester back then, but after being separated into different classes, they bumped into each other on the stairs. They didn't greet each other or exchange pleasantries, acting as if they were strangers.

It would be better if we were complete strangers...

At least it won't be like now, when we're jostled in the crowd and our school uniform sleeves brush against each other's arms in an unprecedentedly close encounter...

In such a situation, it seems that whoever can't resist escaping this awkward situation first will be the one who loses in the psychological game.

The thought popped into both of their minds at the same time.

Wen Zhixia, who had been in a hurry just moments before, suddenly slowed down and endured the awkward situation rather than try to avoid it.

Seeing her like this, Lin Mengqiu was even less likely to give in. Her cold eyes stared into the void, and even her slightly tired back after a morning of classes straightened up even more.

The surrounding crowd, footsteps, and laughter rose up, but could not drown out the tense silence between the two.

The number of steps on the stairs was clearly small, but time seemed to drag on so slowly it made one's heart race.

The two of them stepped awkwardly and competitively up the stairs, one step after another.

Until the light from the first-floor corridor flooded in.

The crowd dispersed like a tide.

Lin Mengqiu and Wen Zhixia turned to the side almost simultaneously to create some distance between them, and in the instant their shoulders relaxed, they both secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

In some unknown corner, no one knows what kind of war they have just experienced...

Wen Zhixia walked quickly towards Chen Shi'an, who was standing at the other end of the corridor with his back to the stairwell.

Lin Mengqiu's gaze swept over them.

She turned and quickened her pace, her figure soon disappearing into the school path...

(Thanks to ewiges for the patronage! Boss, you're so generous! May you prosper! Thank you so much for your support!)

(End of this chapter)