Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 203 Lin Yan, feigning weakness, and the sensible Mike

After the fifth period of science class, Bryant High School began its afternoon physical education and club activities. However, there were no club activities scheduled for today, as the application forms weren't due until tomorrow. All the boys changed into their gym clothes in the locker room and then proceeded to the gymnasium.

The PE teacher was a burly, middle-aged man in a tracksuit who blew a whistle; his name was Coach Miller. He briefly explained the afternoon's schedule and then led everyone in warm-up activities: a few laps around the gymnasium, followed by joint exercises and dynamic stretching. Lin Yan mingled in the crowd, performing these basic warm-ups diligently like everyone else. His movements were so precise they were flawless, but that was all; he didn't do anything out of line.

After the warm-up, Coach Miller announced the main activity for the day: circuit training. He set up multiple stations in the gym, including jump rope, box jumps, sit-ups, and strength training using light dumbbells. The students were divided into several groups and practiced at each station for a set time, rotating when a whistle blew.

It was only then that Lin Yan belatedly realized that none of the familiar female classmates were there. While practicing jump rope with his group (at a comfortable, slightly above-average pace), he whispered to Mike next to him, "Hey Mike, where did the girls go? Aren't they in PE class?"

Mike, panting as he struggled with his jump rope, replied, "Oh, you mean the girls? In America, physical education classes and many outdoor activities are usually separated by gender. They're probably in the gym or home economics classroom on the other side, learning cooking, sewing, or other crafts."

Lin Yan suddenly realized that there was such a system, which was quite different from what he knew about physical education classes.

When it was time to jump over the box, Lin Yan controlled his leg strength, easily leaping over it with moderate height and smooth movements, without displaying any terrifying jumping power. When doing sit-ups, he maintained a steady rhythm, neither too fast to appear overly aggressive, nor too slow to appear weak. When using light dumbbells for curls, the weight, which felt weightless in his hands, was rendered with just the right amount of "exertion," and he even imitated the students next to him, slightly grimacing on the last few repetitions, as if using all his strength.

Throughout the entire training cycle, Lin Yan always disguised himself as an ordinary student with "decent physical fitness, but not outstanding at all." Every movement he made was controlled within a range far beyond the average person but not to the point of causing astonishment. His breathing was steady, and he didn't even sweat a few drops. This was a stark contrast to the many classmates around him who were already panting and drenched in sweat, yet it didn't seem too abrupt.

The final cool-down activity was static stretching. Coach Miller blew the whistle to gather everyone, gave a brief summary, emphasized the benefits of circuit training for improving cardiovascular function and muscle endurance, and encouraged everyone to integrate exercise into their daily lives.

The bell rang, and Coach Miller looked at the students, who, though tired, had mostly completed their training. He nodded in satisfaction, especially when his gaze swept over Lin Yan, whose breathing was even and who seemed to have diligently completed all the exercises. He even gave a slight nod of approval. He was clearly making a good first impression on this new Asian student who had a positive attitude and a good physical foundation.

"Hey Lin, I didn't realize you were so fit!" Mike wiped his sweat with a towel, walked over and patted Lin Yan on the shoulder. "You did those moves pretty easily."

"It's alright, I do it occasionally." Lin Yan smiled and gave a vague reply, but in his heart he thought: If you knew that I had just "interacted" with a Foundation Establishment demon beast from the Wanyan Mountains, you probably wouldn't say that.

Tom joined in, more interested in Lin Yan's performance on the vaulting box and weightlifting platform: "Lin, your movements are very coordinated. Interested in trying out for the basketball team? There are tryouts next week!"

As Lin Yan followed the crowd towards the locker room, he replied, "I'll consider it, thanks, Tom." What he needed was this feeling of being integrated into ordinary campus life, whether in the classroom or on the sports field—provided, of course, that he kept his abilities at a "mortal" level. In this PE class, he perfectly played the role of a "physically fit new student."

Afternoon classes ended, and since there were no club activities, the school bell rang at just three o'clock, signaling the end of the school day. The classrooms were instantly filled with the noise of desks and chairs being moved and students eagerly packing up their books.

Lin Yan wasn't in a hurry to leave. He planned to finish the homework assigned by his teacher at school so he would have more free time when he got home. As he leisurely organized his books, he asked Mike, who was frantically stuffing his things into his bag, "Mike, do you want to stay and do your homework with me? It's quite quiet here."

Mike zipped up his backpack, a hurried look on his face, and shook his head: "No, Lin! I have to go to work at the 'Meltz' fast food restaurant on the corner this afternoon, I have to start at four o'clock. If I go early, I can catch the shift change."

He paused, his tone natural yet revealing a maturity rarely seen in someone his age: "I have younger siblings at home. Doing odd jobs can earn me some pocket money and ease the burden on my family." After saying that, he shrugged as if to put it casually.

Lin Yan paused slightly as he packed his books. He looked at Mike, a peer who had been making a fuss about Chinese prices and lunch that morning, but was now out working hard to make a living. This genuine and ordinary resilience resonated deeply with the underlying tone of this mundane world.

He showed no pity or surprise, only paused for a moment, then gave Mike an understanding and warm smile, patted him on the shoulder: "Hurry up, don't be late. See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow, Lin! Thanks for lunch!" Mike smiled gratefully, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and hurriedly joined the flow of people leaving the classroom, his figure quickly disappearing at the end of the corridor.

The classroom gradually emptied, leaving only a few students still packing their things or chatting. Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting long, slanted shadows on the desks. Lin Yan sat alone in his seat, his notebook open, the pen nib making a soft scratching sound on the paper.