27: Anyone dare to challenge me? Let me show you the power of a top student!

When Lu Chen’s declaration, brimming with the aura of a “clueless straight guy”—that he “only wants to do scientific research”—clearly echoed in the classroom, which had fallen into a dead silence from extreme shock...

Not far away, that beautiful, proud figure suddenly trembled!

Lin Feifei slowly raised her head.

Her pretty face, which had been flushed red with shame and indignation, was now utterly pale.

Her eyes instantly turned red.

A sparkling, scalding tear slipped uncontrollably from her beautiful eyes and fell onto the open English textbook in front of her.

With a soft "pat."

It spread out into a small, blurry water stain.

Like the shattered heart of a young girl.

After a moment of brief stupor, the gaze of the surrounding boys toward Lu Chen instantly changed!

It changed from the previous "jealousy" to "sympathy."

Finally, it transformed into... towering "fury"!

What a waste of God's gifts!

This is simply a waste of God's gifts!

The Goddess whom we cherish in our palms, afraid even to speak loudly lest we disturb her!

The Campus Belle whose favor we dream of obtaining!

She mustered the courage of a lifetime to confess to you!

And you, you bastard, just threw her sincere feelings into the trash can right in front of the entire class?!

And you spoke such utterly nonsensical words, the kind that scream "Terminal Male Chauvinist"!

This is intolerable!

"Lu Chen!"

A low growl filled with suppressed anger sounded from the front row of the classroom!

A tall, refined-looking boy wearing gold-rimmed glasses suddenly stood up from his seat!

His name is Liu Lei, the study committee member of Senior Year Class 1, the second-ranked student in the grade, and one of Lin Feifei’s most fervent admirers.

At this moment, his face, usually adorned with a "kind" smile, was completely filled with rage!

He pointed at Lu Chen and sternly demanded:

"Even if you don't like her, you shouldn't publicly humiliate a female classmate like this!"

"Do you have any gentlemanly manners?!"

"I order you to immediately apologize to classmate Lin Feifei!"

His words, spoken with righteous indignation, instantly resonated with all the boys in the class!

"Right! Apologize!"

"Apologize to the Goddess!"

"He's such a jerk!"

In an instant, emotions ran high, and Lu Chen seemed to have become the "public enemy" of all the boys in the class!

Yet Lu Chen, the instigator, didn't even lift an eyelid.

He remained composed, looking at the copy of *Advanced Quantum Field Theory* in his hand, a book that was a dimension higher than everyone else's studies.

It was as if the angry condemnations around him were nothing more than the buzzing of annoying flies.

This haughty, impervious attitude completely enraged Liu Lei!

"Good! Very good!"

Liu Lei laughed out of sheer frustration!

He knew that trying to reason with a "bookworm" like Lu Chen was pointless!

He had to defeat him using the method he was supposedly best at!

To utterly shred his ridiculous pride!

"Lu Chen!"

A flash of malicious pleasure crossed Liu Lei's eyes!

"I heard that for the past two months, you've been outside participating in some 'Exchange Program' and haven't attended many classes, right?"

"And what if I was?" Lu Chen finally looked up from his book and glanced at him indifferently.

"Nothing much!"

Liu Lei smiled, grinning like a fox about to seize its prey!

"I just think that the final exams are coming up soon."

"If you, a person who missed two months of class, can still score better than me—the grade's second-ranked student with perfect attendance and excellent grades..."

"Wouldn't that make all of us who study hard every day look like... idiots?"

His words were sarcastic and full of provocation!

The students present weren't fools; they instantly understood the hidden meaning of his words!

This was a declaration of war!

He intended to use academic results to severely humiliate Lu Chen!

"So?" Lu Chen's expression remained completely unfazed.

It was as if the opponent's petty scheme was ridiculously childish in his eyes.

"Therefore!"

Liu Lei suddenly slammed the table, drawing everyone's attention!

Pointing at Lu Chen, he stated clearly, word by word:

"Let's make a bet!"

"For this final exam!"

"If your total score is higher than mine!"

"I, Liu Lei, will publicly apologize to you in front of the entire school staff and students, carrying thorns on my back!"

"But, if..."

A cruel curve appeared at the corner of his mouth!

"If you lose!"

"You must go into the trash can and retrieve that love letter!"

"Then, respectfully return it to classmate Lin Feifei, and bow and apologize to her!"

"What do you say?!"

"Do you dare to take the bet?!"

His words were powerful and resounding!

They were filled with the conviction of certain victory!

In his view, this bet was absolutely... flawless!

If he won, he could both vent his anger and make a good impression in front of the Goddess!

He loses?

How could he possibly lose!

He was the second-ranked student in the grade!

And Lu Chen, no matter how much of a genius he was, was ultimately just a "poor student" who had missed two months of class!

He was guaranteed to win this bet!

The entire classroom fell silent.

Everyone's gaze focused on the young man who remained calm and composed.

Waiting for his reply.

Lu Chen merely closed the thick, esoteric book in his hand.

Then, he looked up at Liu Lei’s face, which was plastered with "smugness" and "scheming," and for the first time, revealed... a serious expression.

He slowly stood up.

Under everyone's gaze, he walked step by step toward Liu Lei.

He was half a head shorter than Liu Lei.

But the invisible, powerful aura surrounding him made Liu Lei feel almost suffocated!

"I accept the bet."

Lu Chen's voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable strength.

"However..."

He looked at Liu Lei, and a faint hint of... pity flashed across his deep eyes, which seemed capable of seeing through everything.

"I think your stakes are too small."

"It's meaningless."

"Huh?" Liu Lei was stunned.

"How about this."

Lu Chen extended a finger and lightly tapped Liu Lei's chest.

"Let's play for higher stakes."

"If I lose, you can name the conditions."

"But, if..."

"I win..."

A devilish smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"I want your total score across all subjects in this final exam..."

"To be no more than one hundred points."

"Do you dare?"