63 Zi Han’s weakness

The rest of Zi Han’s day was pretty uneventful. He had back-to-back classes with the worst of them all being mech repair class with that boring old man who was basically a walking sleeping pill.

Actually, the professor wasn’t the only problem. The problem was that Zi Han had a big weakness. He loved mechs with all his heart and he was especially passionate about them, that is only passionate about operating them not repairing them. He hated repairing mechs with a passion.

It seemed the course also sensed his resistance making it very difficult for him to understand. Every other class he had during the day he was an attentive and good model student but when it came to that class he was a slacker of the highest order.

Anything beyond the words bolts and parts was jibberish to him. One can say he was good at languages except for the language of mech repair. Unfortunately for him, this course was a compulsory one that required one to get a grade above seventy per cent for it to be considered a pass.

It made sense why the academy would value mech repair. In case of emergencies on the battlefield, a soldier should be able to repair their mech even when the AI system is down. Their very survival could depend on it. Zi Han understood that but he just couldn’t get these parts and joints into his head.

Thus because of this class, his day had a shitty ending. He just wanted to eat an entire tub of ice cream while watching a random movie before curling up in bed and calling it a night.

But the thought of the punishment currently waiting for him at home he sprawled on top of the workbench with his head resting on his outstretched arm.

Shorty glanced at the disrepaired sensor that looked as pathetic as the person who messed it up and said, “Maybe you should ask your mother to tutor you. She must know how to considering that she owns Chronos. Maybe she can tutor me as well.”

Zi Han rubbed his face against his arm and replied in a muffled voice, “If she knew how to do it she would have taught me. Ugh shit... I am so fuckin screwed.”

.....

That was indeed the truth. His hate of mech repair was inherited. Zi Xingxi always emphasized on mech and weapon training in the simulator but not once had she mentioned mech repair. She was as bad as he was if not worse.

Knock, knock, knock!

“Mr Zi, what an interesting masterpiece. I take it you were sleeping in my class for you to be able to manage to ruin a B class mech sensor,” said Professor Quinn as he raised the sensor Zi Han had butchered till it was unrecognizable.

Zi Han sat up straight a little frazzled. This course was exactly the thing that brought down Zi Han’s stats in the virtual simulator. Now it had come to haunt him as though trying to ruin him.

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“Ah..... I will work hard and not drag the class down,” replied Zi Han wiping his palm on his pants nervously. The class had already been dismissed but there were still a few people hanging around in the laboratory hence they witnessed this little exchange.

“Mm-hmm, you better otherwise I might bump you down to class two,” said the old professor before walking away.

Shannon who was sitting behind leaned over and said, “Maverick would be pleased to hear that. The only problem is that he dropped out.”

“Shannon, whose side are you on? This here is the great goddess’ son. If he isn’t in class one then no one else deserves to be,” replied Shorty drawing his sword ready to slice and dice anyone who speaks ill of his goddess... I mean goddess’ son.

“Even I believe he got his just deserves especially after insulting a legend,” replied Shaun as he got up to leave.

Even he was willing to overlook years of friendship to defend the most incredible woman plenty of teens had spring dreams over. But just like the distant galaxy, she was beautiful and unattainable yet Maverick had the balls to call her a slut.

“Ah, I get it my mom is amazing. Let’s stop talking about this. I want an iced espresso before I go home otherwise I will pass out. Anyone interested?” asked Zi Han sounding like he was desperate for an outlet to vent out his frustrations.

“Okay, my treat,” replied Shannon as she excitedly led the way.

The four were so immersed in their conversation that they didn’t notice Yi Chen and Li Ran standing by the podium. Yi Chen had his head lowered checking something on the system while Li Ran yammered on about something.

He was doing his duty as class president checking on each person’s repaired sensor on behalf of the professor when he overheard their conversation. It seemed Zi Han wasn’t good at this subject and Professor Quinn had already made him a target.

He naturally knew his threat was serious. If Zi Han so much as drags the class average down Professor Quinn would do it but Yi Chen wouldn’t let that happen. It was his duty as the class president to help his fellow students by any means necessary.

Sure, sure..... this has absolutely nothing to do with who the student is. We believe that.

He scrolled down to look at Zi Han’s sensor only for his brow to crease as he lightly scratched the side of his nose. “You think it’s reasonable if I tutor someone?” he asked while zooming in on the mess that had been ‘repaired’ by Zi Han.

Li Ran who was especially good at this subject almost had a stroke looking at the specs on that sensor. “Are you fuckin serious? No amount of tutoring can save that.”

Yi Chen lightly rubbed his lip with his thumb wondering whether he should pull up Zi Han’s academic record. Meanwhile, their person of interest tossed his empty cup into the trash before walking toward his grandfather’s hovercar. He had a lot on his mind at this moment.

He slumped into the seat beside his grandfather and sighed deeply while closing his eyes. Zi Feiji stopped analyzing the specs for itrium on the floating screen and said, “You look like you are carrying the burdens of the entire universe on your shoulders.... and this is only day three by the way.”

Zi Han pinched the bridge of his nose before responding, “Grandpa I am so exhausted. How about you let me off the hook and give me more time to complete my punishment?”

“Ha, not happening. Two days that’s all you have,” replied Zi Feiji before turning back to the screen. He would have been more sympathetic if it weren’t for that bastard sending him images of his beloved map every two hours.

He was seriously starting to suspect that Yi Tong was a Marshal in name only otherwise where would he get the time to take pictures and constantly send them to him? It was simply inconceivable.