Breaking Free: Love & Rebellion at Blackthorn Academy.-Chapter 66: INTER-ACADEMY REGIONAL COMPETITION.

For the first time since anyone could remember, the announcement hall had chairs—actual folding chairs, neatly lined up in rows across the glossy floor. Students shuffled into the space with expressions ranging from suspicion to amazement, most of them gawking like they were seeing some rare celestial event.

"Are we actually being treated like humans today?" someone whispered near the back.

As the last of the students reluctantly settled in, Headmaster Jian stepped onto the stage, hands behind his back, his signature smirk already in place. He gave a slight nod to the two teachers standing nearby — Jiayi and Gaoshun — before gripping the microphone with practiced ease.

"Good evening, students," he began, the mic catching the sharp cadence of his voice. "I won't take too much of your time. I know you all hate these surprise gatherings. Some of you are already checking your watches, wondering if there's food after this. There isn't."

A couple of laughs rolled out across the crowd.

"But this time," Jian continued, walking slowly across the stage, "you're not standing shoulder to shoulder, pretending to care. This time... we gave you chairs."

A few sarcastic claps echoed. Someone muttered, "Luxury!"

"I'm feeling generous today," Jian smirked. "So generous, in fact, that for today, no discipline points will be deducted for speaking during this announcement. I want to hear your real voices."

That caused a ripple of murmurs, whispers, and exchanged looks. Someone near the middle even muttered, "He's definitely up to something."

"Well," Jian went on, pacing slowly, "you might be aware that next week, the Inter-Academy Regional Competition will take place. It's a three-day event—sports, academics, creative performances—the works. And this year, we're going all in."

Groans. Eye rolls.

"I can already hear your enthusiasm," he said dryly.

"Listen. I know what you think of me. I hate troublemakers. That I pick favorites. That I only care about discipline and rules. And maybe you think that's because I must've been some kind of noble student during my time."

He paused and leaned into the mic.

"You're not wrong. I was a noble student."

"We know!" someone from the front—Qi Luoyan, of course—shouted, and the hall burst into laughter. Jian actually smiled at that.

"But," he said, once it quieted, "even a noble student knows that victory isn't always about perfection. It's about unity. About showing others that even the students no one bets on—especially the students no one bets on—can rise and dominate."

He looked across the room, eyes sweeping through their faces, sharp but steady.

"This year, I want Blackthorn Academy to win. Not just participate—win. I want other schools to remember our name. I want them to regret ever underestimating us."

Then he stepped back from the mic slightly.

"And so, I ask you—will you support me in this? Will you give it your best?"

There was a pause. And then suddenly—

"We're in!""Let's do this!""Blackthorn's winning this time!""Finally, some action!"

Students were on their feet—Chen Zhaoyang clapped loudly while Han Xingyun stood and fist-bumped Zinchen Liu. Qi Luoyan was spinning a chair with excitement.

Headmaster Jian blinked, surprised. For a moment, his usual calm smirk faltered, replaced with pure disbelief.Even Teacher Jiayi tilted her head with a small smile, and Gaoshun nudged her playfully. "You owe me five bucks," he whispered.

Jian cleared his throat to recover. "Alright then. Since you're all so eager... for handling the practices, training schedules, and student coordination... I will appoint some of our most special students."

A wave of curiosity passed over the room.

"Xu Wenhan, Xu Lingwei, Bai Xinchen, and Hua Rong. Step forward."

The crowd murmured in confusion as the four students slowly made their way to the front.

"Wait, them?" someone whispered."Why them?""I didn't even see them sign up..."

Unbeknownst to most of their classmates, the four had been chosen not for their excellence... but for the chaos they caused the day before in Headmaster Jian's office. But that little detail wasn't public knowledge, and Jian wasn't planning on explaining it.

Xu Wenhan walked up confidently, one hand lazily tucked in his blazer pocket, the other waving casually.Xu Lingwei followed, calm as ever, hazel-brown eyes betraying nothing as he adjusted his hoodie.Bai Xinchen was already grinning, throwing finger-guns at the crowd as if he'd been born for this.And Hua Rong—well, her entrance was quieter. She kept her head high, but the lack of applause was noticeable. The boys from Section C sat unmoved, even bored.

But across the hall, a few other boys clapped.Wuhao Li, seated near the window, offered a subtle nod.Zhou Yifen, leaning against the side wall with a water bottle, let out a low whistle and a faint smirk.

She caught it, and her posture straightened slightly.

As Jian continued explaining the new training duties and roles, some boys from Section B whispered to each other:

"Wait... didn't something happen in the office yesterday?""Yeah, but I thought it was just a rumor.""I heard someone got thrown across a desk.""No way. That girl? No chance—wait... now that I look at her..."

Meanwhile, Hua Rong tried to ignore them and just kept her eyes ahead, standing tall.

And Headmaster Jian, looking at the four now lined up on stage, added one last thing:

"And don't worry," he said, narrowing his eyes meaningfully. "They'll definitely keep things... interesting."

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