Cultivating A Failure

Yu Chang was making a few last-minute adjustments to his make-up work while eating his lunch. "That should just about do it," he said to himself as he hit the submit b.u.t.ton. As he ate, several students started entering the cla.s.sroom in groups. The first group consisted of president Fang, Ma Xiong, and Ang Li who had been talking about him prior to the conference.

"Ah! Yu Chang, you"re back," president Fang exclaimed. "Where have you been?"

"Would you believe me if I said I was in the hospital all week?" Yu Chang asked.

The three students froze in their tracks. "Coincidence?" Ang Li asked.

"Probably," Ma Xiong replied.

"Were you there visiting someone?" president Fang asked.

"Eh, what"s with this weird atmosphere? I just got into a little mishap on Sunday; I basically slept the whole week. Why do you guys look like you"ve seen a ghost?"

"Lady Falling Star said she got into a mishap on Sunday too, and that the young man involved just got out of the hospital last night," president Fang replied robotically.

"Oh? She did?" Yu Chang responded casually but was cursing inwardly for opening his mouth. "Ah whatever," he thought, "they will find out soon enough, let them think what they want."

At this moment, most of the students had returned from the conference, other than Ang Li, Ma Xiong, and president Fang, none of the others heard the incriminating details about where Yu Chang had been. Those three were unwilling to spread the information either. President Fang slid up close to Yu Chang sweetly. "Do you need any help working on the a.s.signments you missed Yu Chang?"

"Already finished them. Morning cla.s.ses were self-study since I didn"t go to the conference."

"Oh," president Fang replied sulkily. "Do you have any plans today after cla.s.s?"

"Unfortunately, I"ll be leaving early today. I have some important matters to take care of this afternoon."

President Fang"s mood got even worse. "What about tomorrow?" she asked, not quite willing to give up just yet.

"Not sure, I"ll let you know tomorrow if I don"t have anything to take care of. You should head back to your seat now afternoon cla.s.ses are about to start."

President Fang gave him a sweet smile before heading back to her seat. As she sat down, Instructor Song entered the room. "Cla.s.s I hope you gained something from your experience at the conference today," Instructor Song said. "Moreover, we will have a brief guest this afternoon. Please be sure to act accordingly. Also, I would like to take a moment to welcome back Little Yu who has been diligently working to catch up while you were all away."

Yu Chang blushed under the unexpected acknowledgement from Instructor Song. As he was trying to think of a greeting, someone knocked on the cla.s.sroom door. To call it a knock was a gross understatement though, it would be more apt to call it a hammer strike. Yu Chang instinctively buried his head in his hands.

Instructor Song smiled and walked over to the door and opened it. "You"re here earlier than expected."

"You know what they say; time waits for no one," a melodious voice responded.

"Well then, please come in. I was just about to inform them of your new position starting next week. Cla.s.s, I would like to introduce a new instructor to you. On top of your regular cla.s.ses, grade 12 will be taking sparring cla.s.ses starting next week. Your instructor for this cla.s.s is none other than Senior Falling Star, an alumnus from this very school." As Instructor Song explained the situation, she led in the very Falling Star that most of the cla.s.s had just seen that morning.

"Eh he he. I wasn"t expecting this to be announced until tomorrow, I mostly just came to pick somebody up. Well anyways, h.e.l.lo cla.s.s, I am looking forward to working with you and the other grade 12 cla.s.ses this year. While it is called sparring cla.s.s, that is mostly just a loose term. There will be studies tailored to non-combat types as well. This cla.s.s was a joint collaboration between myself and Princ.i.p.al w.a.n.g so rest a.s.sured, everyone will benefit. Was there anything else Instructor Song, or am I free to head out with him?"

"That should be good for now; please try not to take him out of cla.s.s too often, these cla.s.ses are very important as well."

"I agree completely. Right then, Little Yu you ready?"

Yu Chang sighed as he felt 20 or so pairs of eyes drilling into him. "It could be worse," he thought. He rose with a sheepish grin, "I"m ready Master Star, I guess the cat"s out of the bag now anyways."

"You didn"t expect me to keep it a secret, did you?" she asked with a smile as they walked to the door.

"No, but I strongly hoped you would," Yu Chang replied. "Oh, by the way, where did you move your house to anyways?" he asked after they exited the cla.s.sroom.

"It"s currently over the big field on the south side of campus."

"It just got worse," he moaned.