On the podium, a teacher was in the middle of class.
Teacher Zhang brought Tang Huan to the doorway and made a “pause” gesture toward the teacher at the lectern.
Seeing Teacher Zhang’s slightly smug expression, the Chinese teacher on the podium put down the textbook and stopped the lesson, giving him time. He glanced at Tang Huan with some confusion.
Most repeating students usually chose the better-performing top class. Was this girl a repeater?
Or a transfer student?
Following Teacher Zhang into the classroom, Tang Huan instantly became the center of attention.
She didn’t dare lift her eyes at all. Wherever she looked, she met curious gazes from all directions.
Teacher Zhang stepped onto the podium, clapped his hands, and drew everyone’s attention.
“Students, this is our new classmate. She’s a repeater. Let’s give her a round of applause!”
The class obediently applauded.
Tang Huan felt like she wanted to turn around and walk straight out. She had once heard people joke about “digging out a three-room apartment with their toes,” and she felt like she could dig out two apartments right now.
After the applause stopped, she thought the teacher would assign her a seat—but Teacher Zhang clearly didn’t think so.
“Next, please introduce yourself.”
He started clapping again to lead the applause.
Just being applauded earlier had been tolerable because she could pretend it had nothing to do with her. But now, hearing she had to introduce herself, she felt like the sky was collapsing.
Her face burned red instantly—and not just her face, probably her neck too.
With Teacher Zhang leading the applause again, the students followed in a wave.
Her hands moved behind her back, fingers tightly twisted together. She gathered all her courage and only managed to squeeze out two words:
“Tan…g Huan…”
Maybe she really couldn’t do this. She wasn’t suited for coming to class at all.
Her mind turned into mush, leaving only two words echoing repeatedly:
Give up…
Maybe she should give up. She couldn’t adapt…
At the back row by the wall, a girl suddenly raised her hand and stood up, calling out loudly:
“Teacher! Can I let Tang Huan sit with me?”
The class all turned to look toward the back, and Tang Huan was pulled back to reality by the girl’s clear voice.
Teacher Zhang was still waiting for her introduction, only for her to be interrupted after just her name. He said unhappily,
“Feng Sisi, even if you didn’t say anything, I was already planning to seat her with you so you can help her study. You’ve been repeating for two years already—if you still can’t pass this year, I’ll be too embarrassed to face it!”
“Teacher Zhang, don’t worry! With Tang Huan helping me, I’ll definitely pass!” Feng Sisi replied casually while waving at Tang Huan, signaling her to come over.
To Tang Huan, Feng Sisi felt like a lifesaver. She immediately abandoned the idea of digging that “three-room apartment” and quickly walked toward the back of the classroom.
If Feng Sisi hadn’t spoken up, she might have already left the classroom.
Desks were still double-seat desks at the time. Feng Sisi sat on the aisle side and leaned forward to make space for her to enter.
After sitting down inside, Tang Huan put her bag into the desk compartment and took a few deep breaths while keeping her head down.
The Chinese teacher resumed class, and Teacher Zhang reluctantly left the classroom—he still had several more “welcome speeches” prepared that he didn’t get to say.
She took out her Chinese textbook and placed it on the desk, then pulled out her pen and exercise book.
A hand reached out beside her and quietly flipped her textbook to the page being taught.
When Tang Huan looked up, Feng Sisi had just pulled her fingers back.
The teacher was already lecturing again. Tang Huan hesitated between thanking her and listening to the lesson—and ultimately chose to listen.
Feng Sisi had helped her; she couldn’t repay kindness by distracting her in class. She could thank her after class.
The bell ringing for the end of class came from an iron bell being struck.
At first, Tang Huan didn’t react, until the teacher left the podium and the class monitor called, “Stand!”
Only then did she realize and follow everyone in saying, “Goodbye, teacher.”
The moment the teacher stepped out, the classroom erupted into noise.
The two boys in front immediately turned around.
“Tang Huan, how old are you?”
“Do you have really good grades?”
They asked at the same time.
“Go, go away—she’s my deskmate!” Feng Sisi grabbed a book and chased them off. “If I find out later, I’ll tell you guys!”
The boys turned back reluctantly.
“Stingy!”
“She’s not even close to you!”
After they turned away, Tang Huan looked at Feng Sisi, who was putting her book back into the desk compartment.
“Thank you, Feng Sisi,” she said softly.
“Thank me for what?” Feng Sisi looked up and smiled.
Then she added, “I’ve always sat alone since school started. I only let you share my desk because you’re really pretty.”
Her personality was bright and lively, and she was very beautiful too—especially when she smiled, her eyes curved like crescent moons.
Influenced by her smile, Tang Huan relaxed a little and smiled back.
“Then thank you for sharing your desk with me.”
“Hahaha!” Feng Sisi burst out laughing, leaning over the desk to look at her. “I was just teasing you! Our class has few people, that’s why I’ve always sat alone.”
How could there be such a soft person?
Feng Sisi felt like she couldn’t help teasing her.
“We’ve seen each other on the bus before, remember?” Feng Sisi leaned closer.
At the mention, Tang Huan vaguely recalled the pale-faced girl from the bus. Without being reminded, she never would’ve connected her to this lively classmate.
Something she hadn’t asked on the bus came out now:
“Are you sick?”
Feng Sisi rested her head on her arm and smiled, shaking her head.
“Just stomach pain. I took some medicine and it’s fine.”
Tang Huan nodded.
“Make sure you eat light food.”
She was so young—how could she already have stomach pain?
That kind of problem could be minor or serious. Her brother Tang Shuo also had stomach issues from overworking and irregular meals.
Whenever doctors came to treat her, she would always ask them if there were good remedies for stomach pain. One old Chinese doctor even taught her pressure point techniques for pain relief, which she later taught Tang Shuo.
Every time she asked if it worked, he always said it did. She never knew if he was telling the truth or just comforting her.
Ding—Ding—Ding—
The bell rang again.
This was the last class of the afternoon. After it ended, school would be over.
High school students were usually supposed to have evening self-study sessions, but this school was all day students. It was unsafe to go home too late, so teachers assigned all evening self-study work as homework instead.