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Chapter 14 Shen Tan: Lu Li, you’re stealing from me again!

“Applying for the martial arts instructor job?”

Shao Kang set down his bowl and chopsticks and said to his daughter, “I’m stepping out for a moment, so eat on your own.”

Without even looking up from her food, Shao Linlin answered, “Go ahead, go ahead, but once you finish your little errand, remember to handle my big one.”

Shao Kang sighed, because hiring a martial arts instructor concerned the club’s very survival and was obviously a big deal, whereas settling your business with that boyfriend of yours was nothing but a trifling matter.

He did not bother to explain to Shao Linlin, since even if he exhausted himself talking, she might still not understand.

With his coat draped over him, Shao Kang walked out, and the receptionist, seeing the worry on his face, whispered, “What’s wrong, did Linlin do something foolish again?”

“It’s nothing…,” Shao Kang rubbed his brow with a complicated expression, “You’ve already met that instructor candidate, what do you think of him?”

Now it was the receptionist’s turn to look awkward as she murmured, “Well, he’s a little young.”

“Young?” Shao Kang didn’t mind. “Youth is good; the younger, the more energy.”

The receptionist mused, “Then he must be incredibly energetic.”

“What do you mean?” Catching her implication, Shao Kang asked, “How old is he, does he look 38 or 28?”

The receptionist halted and replied crisply, “18.”

“How old?” Shao Kang dug at his ear, thinking he had misheard.

“He only looks 18; he’s a college student.”

Shao Kang turned back and cursed, “You’ve worked here long enough, so how can you mess around like Linlin?”

“An 18-year-old college kid whose thigh isn’t even as thick as my arm… what would I hire him for, to sing, dance, rap, or play basketball?”

The receptionist protested, “But this college student’s grip strength is great… he can easily reach 60 kg.”

“What’s so special about 60 kg; any strong guy can hit that,” Shao Kang bellowed, “I’m hiring a martial arts instructor, a true expert, not some snot-nosed college kid!”

Unconvinced, the receptionist retorted, “If you don’t go take a look, how can you be sure he isn’t an expert?”

“Then tell me, who could be a martial arts master at 18?” Shao Kang countered.

The receptionist muttered under her breath, “Heroes have been young since ancient times; Huo Qubing was made Champion Marquis (TL: Not sure how to translate this, but the very impressed Emperor Wu made Huo Qubing the Marquess of Guanjun (Champion)) at 18.”

Shao Kang laughed in exasperation. “Fine, since you insist, I’ll go take a look, and if this Huo Qubing can’t earn his title, I’ll turn you into a crazy monkey!”

…

Shen Tan was not happy today.

Not only had his proudest subject, math, lost to Lu Li, causing him to forfeit the special-admission exam, he had also offended Mr. Liu and nearly gotten him suspended.

Although he had apologized and Mr. Liu had forgiven him, he knew the repercussions were far from over, and the entire class already saw him as a public enemy.

“It’s all that damned Lu Li’s fault; sooner or later I’ll teach him a hard lesson!” Whenever the name Lu Li crossed his mind, Shen Tan ground his teeth in hatred.

Striding up to the martial arts club’s door, Shen Tan finally shed his gloom and replaced it with a faint smile.

He had liked Shao Linlin for a long time, and to get close to her he had spent almost ¥10,000 to learn taekwondo at this martial arts club.

The instant he pictured Shao Linlin’s pure, adorable face, his heart, riddled with wounds from Lu Li’s provocation, felt redeemed and started pounding wildly.

“Isn’t this Lu Li’s bike?” Tilting his head, Shen Tan spotted the bicycle Lu Li had parked by the entrance.

“What’s he doing here?”

Realizing something, Shen Tan’s eyes narrowed, and he dashed into the club.

Damn you, Lu Li; you stole my special-admission spot and now you want to steal my Linlin!

Sure enough, as soon as he entered, he saw Lu Li standing there quietly.

“Lu Li, what are you doing here!” Shen Tan charged over aggressively.

Lu Li turned his head, gave him a glance, and lifted his eyes slightly. “Oh, Shen Tan?”

Knowing Shen Tan’s personality, Lu Li figured the guy would yap for ages if ignored, so he pointed at the recruitment notice and said, “I’m here to apply for the instructor job.”

Apply for the instructor job?

You, with that scrawny frame, want to apply for the instructor job?

Who are you fooling… can’t you even lie properly!

Why don’t you just claim you’re Qin Shihuang?

Gritting his teeth, Shen Tan shouted, “I knew it… you had the same idea as me! Damn it, why do you have to fight me for everything?”

Lu Li narrowed his eyes… fight him for everything?

What did that mean… he also wanted to apply for the instructor job?

Lu Li snorted softly. “This kind of thing depends on ability; having a loud voice doesn’t give you the edge. If you’re not convinced, let’s settle it with our fists.”

“Fine, then let’s fight! Whoever loses leaves this club and never comes back,” Shen Tan said, stripping off his jacket and rubbing his fists together.

Lu Li also took off his jacket, ready to teach this perennial phlegm ball a lesson; he was determined to win the instructor post.

“Head Coach, it’s that young man who wants to apply for the instructor job.”

Just then, Shao Kang and the receptionist walked over and happened to see the two youths bristling at each other.

“Huh, is that Shen Tan?”

Smiling, Shao Kang thought, This must be the boy Linlin likes; tsk, not much to look at, but his grades are good, so he barely deserves her.

As for the other one… delicate and handsome, but looks alone are useless when applying to be an instructor.

“Are you sure he knows martial arts? He looks like a boiled chicken… so weak,” Shao Kang said, full of contempt for Lu Li.

He had already felt that an 18-year-old kid would be useless, and seeing him in person only confirmed it.

The boy looked far too frail, clearly not someone who practiced martial arts.

“Well…” The receptionist didn’t know how to defend Lu Li, for he did indeed look a bit thin.

“Uncle Shao!” Spotting Shao Kang, Shen Tan snapped to attention and greeted him politely.

Shao Kang nodded. “Here to train again? Heh, Shen, you’re pretty diligent; you’ve already reached second-level red belt.”

Praised by Shao Kang, Shen Tan beamed. “It’s all thanks to your teaching, Uncle Shao. My dad said sending me to study taekwondo with you was the smartest decision he ever made!”

“Is that so? Heh.” Shao Kang gave a faint smile; this kid certainly knew how to talk.

If only he weren’t so ugly, it would be even better.

Turning back to Lu Li, Shao Kang asked, “Student, are you really here for the instructor position?”

Lu Li answered calmly, “Yes, my name is Lu Li. I have reached the Minor Accomplishment level in martial arts and deem myself qualified to instruct. Mr. Shao, feel free to test me; if I fail to meet your expectations, you may send me away.”

Shao Kang had assumed Lu Li was just fooling around, but hearing his sincere words made him take the matter a little more seriously.

“Very well, Lu Li, since you have that resolve, come with me; if you can withstand 20 of my moves, I’ll let you stay.”

Despite his words, Shao Kang did not believe Lu Li could survive even 3 moves against him.

So Lu Li really had come to apply for the instructor job? From their conversation, Shen Tan realized this.

But why would Lu Li do that? It made no sense.

Oh, I get it! Linlin normally practices martial arts too, so if he becomes the instructor, he can train with her and make physical contact openly!

How despicable, Lu Li… what a malicious scheme!

Then again, if I become the instructor, won’t I be able to be with Linlin too…?

With that thought, Shen Tan quickly said, “Uncle Shao, Lu Li is my classmate and his skills are terrible. You’re a master; using a butcher’s knife on a chicken is overkill… just let me handle this little Lu Li!”

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