Changing seasons in Nancheng always brought fickle, unpredictable weather that made a mockery of local forecasts.
Yesterday’s rain hadn’t let up until well past midnight. As a direct result, today’s temperature was a game of extremes stand out in the sun and you’d roast, but step into the shade and a crisp, biting chill would run right through you.
“Ah, I see!” Zhou Fangmin realized the issue. “That was my oversight. If it gets too windy, just keep the windows shut.”
“By the way! Two quick announcements before class starts.”
“First, the school sports meet is next week. Sports Rep, make sure you get the signup sheet filled out and handed in to me.”
Tang Yu’s eyes lit up at the news. But simultaneously, a collective, miserable groan rippled across the classroom. “Ugh…”
Tang Yu found this fascinating. “We get out of classes for the sports meet, and you guys are complaining?”
Before Xie Tianyi could answer, the girl sitting in the row ahead turned around to face him. “What is there to look forward to when we always finish dead last? All we do is act as cannon fodder for the other classes. I’d honestly rather just stay in class!”
Her deskmate tried to offer some comfort. “Hey, don’t lose heart.”
Then, she immediately pivoted: “Look at the bright side at least we have the Class 1 freshmen to anchor the bottom this year! We can actually put in some effort and shoot for second to last. After all, we’ve been eating school lunches a whole year longer than them. Though, if we can’t even beat a freshman honors class, that would be true despair.”
Tang Yu: “…”
Wow, setting the bar sky-high there, ladies.
The two girls scrunched up their faces in mock tears and shared a dramatic, comforting hug.
Tang Yu’s front neighbor then grabbed three pens and began waving them like incense sticks, praying to the heavens. She muttered under her breath, “I promise to go completely vegetarian for a whole semester if the Sports Rep just ignores my name. Don’t look at me, don’t look at me, don’t look at me…”
The very next second.
Wu Jianqi called out, “Lan Qingqing.”
Out of sheer reflex, she blurted out, “Present!”
The moment the word left her mouth, she turned her back to Wu Jianqi and slapped her own lips. Shoot! Dead meat!
Wu Jianqi: “Qing-jie, how about the 800-meter sprint? Should I sign you up?”
“Don’t call me ‘jie’! Bro, you’re my big bro, please have mercy! Last year after running the 800, my throat was raw for days! My legs didn’t even feel like they belonged to my body, and I was limping for a whole week. Do you really have the heart to see me like that again?” Lan Qingqing pleaded, looking utterly pitiful.
Wu Jianqi: “How about the 100-meter dash then?”
Lan Qingqing: “Deal! Thanks, big bro.”
Watching him secure a volunteer just like that, Zhou Fangmin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “It’s the taking part that counts. Don’t just coop yourselves up studying all day; use this to unwind. The results don’t matter. Once the sports meet starts, I’ll fund a massive snack haul for everyone. Your only job will be to eat.”
This time, the entire classroom erupted into a joyous cheer: “Long live Sister Min!”
Cutting right through their cheers, a deeply resentful “Ugh…” echoed from Class 2 next door.
Zhou Fangmin said with a straight face, “Sounds like the class next door is getting the news too. Now I really think our class can aim for third-to-last.”
Just then, someone piped up from the back, “Sister Min, maybe Class 2 is thinking the exact same thing.”
A few students caught the humor in that and burst into fitful snorts and giggles.
Zhou Fangmin pressed on, “Alright, quiet down. Let me finish so we don’t eat into class time.”
“The second announcement comes directly from Director Liu, and it goes into effect immediately today. The after-school cleanup duties have been reorganized. From now on, you’ll be paired based on your home addresses. Students who live close to each other will do duty together. If possible, it’s best to have your parents pick you up after school. If they can’t, make sure you walk home in groups.”
“Also, I’m sure you’ve all heard about the alleyway behind the back street. Someone got into a fight there yesterday. Absolutely no one from this class is allowed to use it as a shortcut! Stick to the main road…”
“…”
This time, Tang Yu wasn’t laughing anymore.
While Zhou Fangmin continued to stress the importance of after-school safety up at the podium, Tang Yu slumped completely into his chair.
Reorganizing duties based on home addresses?!
Then wouldn’t that mean he… with Bai Yuenian… would have to…?
There had been no such thing as a “cleanup duty reshuffle” in the real world.
Tang Yu leaned against the wall, hoping the cool surface would help him clear his head.
In the real world, yesterday’s incident had been handled by Liu Ziyue. Those three thugs had been detained for a long time for carrying weapons and causing injury. The school had remained entirely peaceful; Liu Ziyue had simply taken a brief sick leave.
But in this novel’s world, because of Tang Yu’s intervention, the entire timeline had shifted.
Liu Ziyue had arrived a step late, discovered a massive brawl in the alley, and noticed the thugs weren’t just standard street punks they were carrying blades. And that was how things had spiraled into this new safety mandate.
Tang Yu felt utterly deflated. He had absolutely no desire to spend day and night with someone he barely knew especially someone who harbored a secret crush on him. It was incredibly awkward.
Besides, the soul inside this body had changed; he wasn’t the original “Tang Yu” anymore. He had no idea how to face Bai Yuannian. Yet, the setting of this novel insisted that he and Bai Yuenian were childhood best friends who grew up side by side.
Tang Yu turned his sights to Xie Tianyi, getting straight to the point. “Bro, swap cleanup duties with me.”
Xie Tianyi showed zero brotherly loyalty. “No way. There’s a match between Dgl and GDE this afternoon. If I head straight home, I can catch a full game. Doing duty means missing out on the action!”
Tang Yu didn’t give up. A moment later, he nudged Xie Tianyi with his elbow. “GDE wins. Swap with me.”
“I’m not Bai Yuenian, why should I listen to you?” Xie Tianyi suddenly paused, realizing what he said. “Wait, is that your prediction? Don’t go jinxing my team now!”
A little later, under the desk, Tang Yu nudged Xie Tianyi’s knee with his leg. “They played five games. GDE won 3 to 2. Swap with me.”
“Holy crap! That sounds epic. Now I really have to watch the stream today.” Xie Tianyi lowered his head, scribbling furiously on his homework to clear his schedule.
Tang Yu: “…”
Brothers are completely useless. Was it too late to pack up and move to a new house?
Wait. What did Xie Tianyi just say? Today?
Tang Yu pointed a finger at himself. “I’m on duty today?”
Xie Tianyi replied, “Yeah! You and Bai Yuenian are on duty today. Sister Min literally just said it.”
Tang Yu: “…”
Yep, definitely too late to move.
Tang Yu lowered his head in utter dejection, his eyes accidentally landing on the cup of milk tea tucked inside his desk cubby.
Right, the one that girl had given him!
His mood instantly bounced back.
Whatever. He was a certified school badass why should he be afraid of a bookworm like Bai Yuenian?
Besides, even if he were given a second chance, he would still step in to stop yesterday’s fight. Though things were spinning out of his control and he was getting tangled up with the male lead despite wanting to keep his distance… at least Liu Ziyue was completely unharmed and kicking. The girl’s issue had been resolved beautifully too.
As for his own predicament, he just had to handle it directly.
Why not just tell Bai Yuenian outright that he wasn’t into guys? That would solve everything once and for all, wouldn’t it?
Having made up his mind, Tang Yu felt a wave of relief.
Under the cover of the ringing school bell, a sharp pop echoed as he pierced the plastic lid with his straw. The milk tea looked loaded with toppings, and Tang Yu leaned in to take a satisfying gulp.
But before his lips could even touch the straw, Xie Tianyi chimed in, “You’re keeping it all for yourself?”
“…”
This guy refuses to help me, and now he wants to steal my drink? As if he needs the extra calories.
Fine. Seeing how dim-witted the guy was, he’d let him have a sip to feed his brain cells.
But as the seconds ticked by, Tang Yu’s head tilted, his face contorting into an expression that perfectly mirrored the “confused old man on the subway” meme. Is this idiot seriously drinking more than half the cup in one go?!
Aren’t you about to burst?!
The milk tea was a mega-sized cup, meaning Xie Tianyi had easily downed about 500ml. Finally, he waved his hand, letting out a satisfied burp. “Man, I really can’t finish the rest.”
“…”
Who said you could finish it?!
The straw Xie Tianyi had used was glistening slightly. Tang Yu didn’t really mind; he prepared to take over before his idiot friend swallowed the remaining drops.
Just as Tang Yu went in for his second attempt at the drink, a dark object cut a perfect arc through the air, clattering loudly against the floorboards right behind him.
Bai Yuannian’s pen had taken flight, tracking toward Tang Yu like a heat-seeking missile.
In that exact instant, Zhou Fangmin’s gaze locked onto them with the same laser precision.
The sound of the pen hitting the floor made her look up from her textbook. Spotting the cup of milk tea cradled in Tang Yu’s hands, she sighed gently. “Language arts grades are still very important. If you’re finding it hard to focus in class, you’re welcome to stand by the back blackboard for the lesson.”
Zhou Fangmin was incredibly gentle. Unless she was praising someone, she rarely called students out by name during class. By not naming him explicitly, she was letting the student make the choice to correct their behavior.
But Tang Yu knew exactly who she meant. Standing wasn’t a bad idea anyway; it would keep him from getting drowsy. Besides, he had been caught trying to sneak a drink, so he deserved the penalty.
Clutching his textbook, he obediently walked to the back of the room to stand.
Yet, a mere second later, Bai Yuenian stood up, walked to the back, and took up a position… right next to him?
Tang Yu shot him a highly suspicious look.
Bai Yuenian adjusted his metal-rimmed glasses, completely unfazed. “Didn’t the teacher mean me?”
Tang Yu: “…”
Are you an idiot?
Tang Yu opened his mouth to say something, but noticing how many classmates were turning around to sneak glances at them, he decided to drop it.
Up at the podium, Zhou Fangmin tapped the blackboard. “Even though I wrote the calligraphy on the back board myself, young people should always maintain a healthy curiosity for the new! Come, look forward, and appreciate the fresh Slender Gold script I just wrote.”
Having someone standing right beside him especially the novel’s dominant male lead with his overwhelming presence made Tang Yu feel incredibly self-conscious, considering his own role as the novel’s ‘shou’.
He sneaked a sideways glance at Bai Yuenian.
Damn it! This guy is actually a bit taller than me! He was already 182 cm, which meant Bai Yuenian had to be at least 185 or 186 cm.
Fueled by the petty competitive nature of a teenage boy, Tang Yu subtly raised himself up onto his tiptoes. But after barely two minutes, his calves began to tremble violently, forcing him to give up.
Just because Bai Yuenian is the main lead, does he absolutely have to be taller than me, even if he’s physically weaker?
Argh… The thought only made Tang Yu feel more annoyed.
Fortunately, his attention was quickly diverted by Xie Tianyi, who was currently back at his desk, casually sipping the milk tea again.
Tang Yu crumbled up a piece of paper and hurled it across the room. It scored a direct hit. Appending a silent gesture of pure disdain, he finally turned his focus back to the lesson.
Language arts was a subject he desperately needed to pull up, and since he could actually follow along, he spent the rest of the period diligently taking notes.
The morning sun streamed in through the classroom windows.
Tang Yu’s hair was naturally a lighter shade, highlighting his striking amber eyes. The sunlight washed over his porcelain skin, making it look almost translucent. The soft, fine hairs along his jawline gave him a deceptive air of approachability.
Whenever the teacher hit a point that made things click, Tang Yu’s eyes would crinkle into a soft, endearing smile.
Hidden right at the outer tail of his left eyebrow was a tiny, faint mole. It carried a reddish tint, looking very much like the delicate stamen of a white camellia.
With a massive effort of will, Bai Yuenian forced himself to look away, terrified that a second longer would expose his lingering gaze.
The forty-five-minute class, which usually dragged on, flew by in what felt like seconds to him.
The moment the bell rang for the noon break, students flooded out of the room. Bai Yuenian walked back to his desk to put away his textbooks and noticed several unread messages on WeChat.
His mild face-blindness extended to social media platforms too.
He stared blankly at a familiar avatar he had interacted with just a couple of days ago, completely unable to connect the image to a specific person. It wasn’t until he glanced at the specially set nickname and the actual text that it clicked.
[Like a Tiger]: Tang Yu just asked if I’d swap cleanup duties with him. No idea what kind of drama you guys are having, but there’s no way I’m swapping.
[Like a Tiger]: Consider it payback for you taking the time to highlight those exam topics for me during the competition phase.
[Like a Tiger]: God Yu! I even guarded Tang Yu’s virtue today and stopped him from drinking that milk tea someone else gave him.
[Like a Tiger]: [Proud.jpg]
Reading through Xie Tianyi’s string of messages clearly begging for praise, Bai Yuenian envisioned Tang Yu nearly drinking from that very straw the one now covered in Xie’s saliva.
He typed out his replies one by one: [Thanks.] [Don’t mention it.] [You did great. Never do it again.]