Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation

```Class 8's New Year's Eve party.

As Bai Yuxia finished her dance, Shen Qing'e stood in a corner of the classroom, eyes brimming with envy.

Her envy wasn't of Bai Yuxia's appearance, but of her talent. Unlike herself, having grown up in a small town with no access to dance classes, let alone any so-called dance training classes.

Shen Qing'e was almost good at nothing—singing, fine arts, dancing, she was master of none.

The town was too small, all the students there, like her, only focused on their studies from an early age and couldn't see the world outside. Many popular things, by the time they reached the town, were already outdated.

Therefore, when her sister suggested that she come to Yuzhou City for school, Shen Qing'e didn't think too hard before making the move.

For many small-town kids, this could be a life-changing opportunity, an earlier chance to leave that backward town.

Shen Qing'e once again donned a smile, it's okay, as long as she started catching up from now, sooner or later she could surpass Bai Yuxia.

She was ready to host a little game. Although there had been some disruptions in the previous performances, with the class president Huang Zhongfei setting things right, the rhythm was back on track, and now it was her turn to take control.

"Was Bai Yuxia's dance beautiful? After a spectacular dance, we need a little game to relax!"

From the audience, Ma Shicheng hurriedly shouted, "No need, we don't need that!"

"Hurry up with the next act, I want to see Brother Long's moonwalk!"

"Exactly, hurry up!" Ma Shicheng changed his voice and continued to shout, playing two roles by himself.

Shen Qing'e gave Ma Shicheng a glare, really disliking him. No wonder Jiang Yanan badmouthed him all the time. She was trying to host properly, and he just had to cause trouble.

Shen Qing'e couldn't do anything about him; besides, in such a scene, it certainly wasn't appropriate to argue with Ma Shicheng. She was the high and mighty host; one student's opposition wasn't enough to disrupt her pace.

However, after Ma Shicheng's interruption, several other boys started to jeer—Guo Kunnan, Cui Yu, Dan Kaiquan, as if they had planned it together.

Shen Qing'e still ignored them: "Alright, so what game does everyone want to play?"

Her question was a lead-in.

Dan Kaiquan raised his hand and called out, "Truth or Dare!"

"That's exciting." Someone agreed, other people's secrets are always the most intriguing.

Dan Kaiquan's call was loud, and many people looked his way. In the face of those gazes, he stood tall and proud, fearless.

That is until Bai Yuxia looked over, and Dan Kaiquan suddenly couldn't hold it together anymore, looking guilty as if he'd done something wrong, not daring to meet her gaze.

Shen Qing'e didn't take anyone's suggestions; she had already decided on the game earlier.

"The game will be musical chairs," Shen Qing'e announced into the microphone:

"Let me explain the rules; we'll choose ten students and place nine chairs in a circle. Everyone will walk around the chairs, and when the bell stops, you have to scramble for a seat. Each round, one student will be eliminated, and one chair will be removed, until there's only one chair left!"

"The prize for the first place is a big slice of the cake we'll cut later!"

"Alright, interested students sign up now. There's limited space, first come first serve."

Yang Sheng put his hand on the desk and with a stylish movement, flipped over from behind it, walking to the middle of the classroom, and said:

"I'm in."

As soon as Ma Shicheng saw Yang Sheng take the stage, he couldn't hold back any longer; feelings of hatred and humiliation resurfaced in his heart.

"I'm in too!" shouted Ma Shicheng, imitating Yang Sheng's move, pushing off his feet and flipping over from behind the desk.

Since his action wasn't as suave, he knocked over Wang Longlong's can on the desk with one foot.

Wang Longlong lamented, "My Want Want Milk!"

Embarrassed, Ma Shicheng quickly jogged over and picked up the rolling Want Want Milk from the floor. Fortunately, the can wasn't damaged. He rubbed the dust off with his hands and returned it to Wang Longlong.

"Brother Long, it's still drinkable."

Only after that did Ma Shicheng walk over to Yang Sheng. Although he had lost the masterful air he had just created, he still shot Yang Sheng a contemptuous glance.

He had to admit his defeat in ping-pong to his opponent before, but this time, musical chairs wasn't just about skill, but also strength.

He, Brother Ma, was a man!

From various corners of the classroom, several more people stepped forward—Cui Yu, Wu Xiaoqi, Jiang Yanan, the sports committee member Zhang Chi, Pang Jiao, Huang Yuzhu, Song Sheng.

Then, Geng Lu leaned in and asked, "Jiang Ning, there's still space, want to join?"

"No, thanks." Wouldn't it be bullying?

"Alright then." Geng Lu seemed a bit disappointed; if Jiang Ning went, with his physical fitness, he would definitely be the first place.

"Anyone else?" Shen Qing'e asked her classmates.

At that moment, a male student wearing black jeans and a blue cotton-padded jacket took to the field.

At a glance, he was over one-eighty in height, not inferior to class president Huang Zhongfei, but on closer inspection, his body proportions were a bit off, and his shoulders weren't as broad as Ma Shicheng's, standing around one-seventy-five.

Shen Qing'e looked him over carefully and noticed his hairstyle was exceptionally sharp, standing tall and inflated by almost ten centimeters, which helped boost his height.

Shen Qing'e really wanted to laugh.

The male student was Meng Gui, and when he arrived, he stood next to Jiang Yanan. Cui Yu looked at him, and Meng Gui returned the gaze, creating what seemed like lightning strikes where their eyes met.

Both thought: 'Kid, you want to pursue Jiang Yanan? You'll have to get past me first!'

Meng Gui and Cui Yu had once dined together, and as they talked about the girls in class, they accidentally discovered that both had their sights set on Jiang Yanan at the same time.

After all, Jiang Yanan was fair and tall, a pretty girl, indeed. Not everyone was a bold as Dan Kaiquan, daring to approach the most attractive girl. Most boys were quite practical, simply hoping to find a girlfriend.

The two thought: 'Jiang Yanan, with me guarding, you will surely advance successfully!'

May my journey ahead guard you through smooth sailing!

"So now we have ten students ready!" Shen Qing'e announced.

"Everyone stand around the chairs, the game's about to begin!"As she spoke, classmates began to prepare. Ma Shicheng wanted to stand next to Yang Sheng, but he was a step too slow, so he had to go next to Jiang Yanan.

"Everyone must listen to the bell, ah," someone reminded. "As long as the bell doesn't stop, everyone must walk around the chairs, and you can't stop."

"Start!" Shen Qing'e waved her hand, and the pleasant sound of a bell came from the speakers.

Ten classmates walked around the chairs, each mentally calculating where they would sit when the time came.

Students in the stands on all four sides watched them intently to see who would be the first one eliminated.

The ringing of the bell suddenly paused!

In that moment, all ten classmates rushed to sit on the chairs.

Jiang Yanan had already eyed a seat—the one closest to her, almost within reach without any need for reaction.

As she bent over, Ma Shicheng squeezed his way over next to her, nudging her aside and taking the seat.

Jiang Yanan was left hanging halfway. The chair she had set her sights on was gone.

Ma Shicheng gave her a sidelong glance, his mouth silently forming a word:

"Weak!"

Feeling scorned by Ma Shicheng, Jiang Yanan was livid. This was the second time now. How could Ma Shicheng be like this!

Shen Qing'e, seeing that Jiang Yanan was still standing among the ten, announced her elimination.

Jiang Yanan left the field in a rage, swearing to herself that she would get revenge in the future and make Ma Shicheng regret crossing her!

How could there be a boy like him?

Ma Shicheng sat comfortably with his legs crossed, watching Jiang Yanan leave with a smug laugh in his heart.

Weak, too weak.

The weak shouldn't be in the competition.

Next to him, Cui Yu and Meng Gui were stumped; they had considered many possibilities but had somehow overlooked Brother Ma, and now their crush was out in the first round. This was just too fantastical!

The game continued.

In the second round, Cui Yu was pushed out by Pang Jiao.

In the third round, Pang Jiao ousted Huang Yuzhu.

In the fourth round, Pang Jiao took out Meng Gui.

In the fifth round, the sports committee member Zhang Chi chose not to contest the position with Pang Jiao.

Pang Jiao had eliminated four people in a row.

Wu Xiaoqi couldn't stand it any longer and challenged Pang Jiao, but due to the obvious difference in size, Wu Xiaoqi sorrowfully left the field.

Pang Jiao now had a five-kill streak!

Around Miao Zhe, cheers from Wang Yan Yan and others were heard; the atmosphere was thrilling, and many boys in the class first looked at Pang Jiao, then at Miao Zhe.

Miao Zhe felt the eyes on him and abruptly lifted his head, hiding his phone and looking bewildered.

On the eastern side of the stands, Dan Kaiquan and Guo Kunnan remarked, "I never knew how awesome Miao Zhe was, to be nearly evenly matched with Pang Jiao!"

Guo Kunnan deeply agreed.

At this point, on the field, there remained only Song Sheng, Yang Sheng, Ma Shicheng, and Pang Jiao.

Everyone was curious. The game had reached a crucial stage, and who would come out on top was anyone's guess.

Would it be another series of kills by Pang Jiao?

Or Song Sheng, Yang Sheng, and Ma Shicheng?

Shen Qing'e announced the start of the next round.

Song Sheng struck out, no longer able to stand these weaklings, and squeezed Pang Jiao out.

The next round saw Ma Shicheng, with his nimble movements, eliminating Song Sheng.

Now only two were left: Yang Sheng and Ma Shicheng, facing off in the final round.

From the back row, Wang Longlong exclaimed, "The bets are open! I bet one chocolate on Yang Sheng winning!"

Dan Kaiquan retorted, "What do you mean by that? You looking down on my Brother Ma?"

Wang Longlong replied, "If Brother Ma wins, I lose a chocolate, but I'll be happy. And if he loses, at least I win a chocolate, which I'll then give to Brother Ma to eat."

"You bastard."

"I'll bet with you!" Dan Kaiquan declared.

At the center of the classroom.

Ma Shicheng sneered, "Heh, watch how I deal with you!"

Yang Sheng eyed him. She hadn't expected Ma Shicheng to be so agile, true to someone capable of performing martial arts.

"Really, with you?"

Ma Shicheng wanted to make a wager with her, ideally settling an old score, but Shen Qing'e announced the start of the match.

The two circled around a single chair, spinning around and around.

Finally, there was only one chair left. The ring was already small and circling it made Ma Shicheng dizzy, yet the bell hadn't stopped.

'Are you doing this on purpose?'

'Is this some kind of duo performance?'

Lost in thought, Ma Shicheng was caught off guard when the bell suddenly stopped. Half a second too slow, Yang Sheng was already sitting on the only chair.

Yang Sheng looked at him and formed a word with her lips: 'Weak!'