Chapter 623 - CALL ME TEACHER

Hu Lei brought Shun to the gym the next morning. She had a small smile lingering on her face as she looked at the man. She was wondering if she was right about him getting his memories back. If he was faking it, she would get her answers. 

She did not believe he was that good an actor. 

"Why are you interested in learning how to fight?" Hu Lei asked. 

Shun froze for a moment before he responded. "I just liked the way you were able to take down Zev easily. It would be good to have that kind of power. Sometimes, I just feel like I am not in control of anything." 

Hu Lei lifted a brow. "It is probably because of your memory loss. Once you regain your memories, you will be fine." 

Shun looked a little startled, but he did not really betray anything. 

"I do not think it is just the memory loss. I think I am just powerless. Maybe, I have the youngest child syndrome." He said with a small pitiful laugh. 

"Why do you think that?" Hu Lei asked. "You can get started with your usual exercise routine. You will not learn to fight overnight." 

Shun nodded and began stretching. "People say that last-born children are spoiled. And it is true. But it is more than being spoiled. If you are handed everything, you will be less of a risk-taker. Moreover, most of the youngest children are not able to handle failures and end up not doing anything at all." 

"At the end of the day, what they end up having has, in one way or the other, been handed to them. The worst part is that they do not know how to fight for what they want. If it is not handed to them, they will not get it." He added. 

Hu Lei started running on the treadmill while still listening to Shun. "Do you feel like you want to fight for something?" 

Shun hesitated before nodding. "I do not want to be the kind of person who just goes with the flow. I think I am better than that. I want to start taking control of my life. I want to fight instead of accepting what is handed to me." 

Hu Lei sped up, but her breath remained stable. "You know fighting does not have to be physical? Not everyone can or should know how to fight." 

Shun looked at Hu Lei with surprise. "I thought you would be the kind who campaigns for people to learn how to protect themselves." 

Hu Lei laughed. "I am prone to violence because I was introduced to it at an early age. But I would rather be a little delicate lady." 

Shun looked at her flatly, causing her to laugh harder. 

"Fine, I do like that I can kick people's asses. What I meant was that most people who know how to fight were forced into it, one way or another. Some felt afraid while walking on the streets. Others were bullied or teased mercilessly." Hu Lei said. 

"When you learn to fight, it is better to do it with the right mindset. Otherwise, you will bring disaster to yourself and others. And then, you will be left afraid and vulnerable again because of the senseless violence." She added.

"Is that something you have experienced?" Shun asked curiously. 

Hu Lei smiled mysteriously. "You should avoid asking too many questions to retain your plausible deniability. Do not dig too deep into people's secrets. But if I had done something like that, I would have felt incredibly guilty because my husband would have had to clean up after me." 

"So, learning to fight is not a bad thing. But you know the whole great power, great responsibility deal. Some people learn how to fight and become the bullies they feared. So, ask yourself, why do you really want to fight?" Hu Lei asked. 

Shun did not speak for a while. He could barely concentrate on his physiotherapy exercises. He was lost in his thoughts as he considered what Hu Lei was saying. 

He was sure that he was a good person, but he knew that he could be reckless and a little emotional. Like the way he left things with Wang Che... If he knew how to fight, he would have, without doubt, planted a mighty punch on that face. 

Especially after he brought up his durable power of attorney…

After finishing up his stretching exercises, he went to the treadmill next to Hu Lei and started running alongside her. 

"What if someone wants to know how to fight because they feel like their life is in danger?" Shun asked. 

"Do you think your life is in danger?" Hu Lei responded with another question. 

Shun almost missed a step as he realised that he might have been exposed too much. However, he realised that it could have been a generic question. 

"I am just asking. I feel like I should be constantly looking over my shoulder. Maybe, I just feel a little insecure because I do not know who trust. I am not sure if I am the same Shun I was before." He replied with his breath a little hurried. 

Hu Lei wondered if she should push Shun further. She felt like she was close to an "Ah-ha" moment. She wanted to point at him and tell him that she knew he was faking it. However, she was also sympathetic to her drinking buddy. 

If he was saying all these things, he probably did feel powerless. What kind of friend would she be if she did not offer a helping hand when he needed it most? As for her moment, she would have it. Oh, she would have it. 

Just not now. 

The two of them continued running in silence. Hu Lei continued effortlessly while Shun started breathing heavily after running for a while. However, he did not want to stop before Hu Lei because he did not want to appear weak. 

When his breathing became laboured, Hu Lei watched him with an amused glance. Then, she sped up her machine and ran even faster. Shun gained a little more strength and continued running but he did not dare speed up. 

Hu Lei continued running while watching Shun as if challenging him into a fight. Unfortunately, Shun did not take the hint of a challenge politely. He kept running, even though he could hardly move anymore. His breath was loud and jarring. 

When he felt like he could not move anymore, he surrendered and slowed down the treadmill until he came to a store. He bent down to catch his breath. 

"You are a monster." He said while panting. 

Hu Lei stopped her treadmill and jumped off as usual. "That was the first lesson. If you would like to learn how to fight, you must be realistic about your strength. Do not accept a challenge stupidly. Only idiots and wuxia main characters accept a fight when their strength is much lower than their opponent's." 

Shun felt a little embarrassed. "Even you have to admit, it is hard to back down when someone eggs you on. Do not tell me that you have never gotten into a fight you could not win." 

Hu Lei looked at him and laughed. "Do not be stupid. There is no fight I cannot win." 

Shun became annoyed. "Whatever! Just teach me what you have to teach me."

Hu Lei waved a hand. "Do not be snarky. First, you will call me 'Teacher'. Second, you will listen and obey. Third, you will not complain, whine or cry during your lessons. Understood?"

"Yes!" Shun shouted with enthusiasm. 

"Yes, what?" Hu Lei asked flatly. "You have broken rules one and two already. Is this the kind of student one picks from the streets?" 

"I did not know we had started," Shun said with a slight pout of his lips. 

"And there goes rule number three. Give me twenty starjumps." Hu Lei said. 

Shun was going to say something, but he met those yellow eyes which had the glint that was similar to a dangerous jungle cat.

"Yes, Teacher." He said before he started jumping with outstretched arms. 

When he finished, Hu Lei nodded in approval. "Excellent. At least, you are not a lost cause."

Shun's eyes shined with anticipation. "Does that mean that I have the potential for being a great fighter?" 

Hu Lei laughed in that familiar annoying way. "Oh my goodness. Not a chance. You cannot run continuously for thirty minutes. That stamina is terrible. Anyway, I meant your attitude. As a fighter, you do not have much of a chance of becoming anything close to great."

Shun was dejected. 

"Do not look so disappointed. I have something great in store for you. What I am going to teach you is how to survive. You do not need to be strong. All you need to know is how to play dirty." Hu Lei said with pride before patting Shun on the back. 

"If you are not afraid of using any and all methods, you will be fine. Do not worry. I do not believe a student of mine can be useless.." She added.
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