24 –
Although Lin Yaojia didn’t recognize this balding man, his unmistakable aura of a strict school administrator immediately made her straighten her back instinctively.
After all, back in high school, she had indulged in every bad habit—skipping classes, getting into fights, hanging out at internet cafes—everything except puppy love.
Being chased by school administrators was already a routine occurrence.
A habit ingrained in her bones.
“Is there a wall around here we can climb over?” Lin Yaojia asked.
Xia Chanyi gave her a meaningful look.
That question came out way too smoothly.
Clearly, she was a repeat offender.
“Yeah, I’ll take you there.”
Lin Yaojia stepped onto her skateboard and followed Xia Chanyi around the main gate, turning into an alley on the west side.
A low wall appeared before them, with the school’s sports field and the stage platform just on the other side.
“Can you climb it?” Xia Chanyi asked, more out of formality.
“Piece of cake.” Lin Yaojia clapped her hands, sized up the height, stepped onto a nearby rock, and leaped upward. She braced her hands on the wall, swung her left leg over, and cleared it in one fluid motion.
Her body formed a straight line, her movements crisp and clean.
“Pretty impressive,” Xia Chanyi remarked.
Lin Yaojia landed steadily, stood up, and dusted off her hands.
As soon as she straightened up, she locked eyes with the balding man.
“…”
The same man who had been patrolling the main gate earlier was now sitting on his electric scooter, a smug, premeditated smile curling at the corners of his mouth.
Like someone waiting by a tree stump for a rabbit to come crashing in.
Damn.
Lin Yaojia closed her eyes briefly.
A lamb walking right into the lion’s den.
“Don’t jump over!” Lin Yaojia quickly called out to warn Xia Chanyi. To avoid exposing her, she didn’t even shout her name.
“What did you say?” Xia Chanyi didn’t catch it. She vaulted over the wall and landed, intending to ask again.
To be honest, the moment she jumped down, she regretted it deeply.
“Xia Chanyi!” the balding man recognized her and roared, “Why is it always you, you little troublemaker?!”
Xia Chanyi clicked her tongue and gave a thumbs-up. “Teacher Yu, you’re really the school’s model worker, huh? Catching people on the very first day of school.”
Teacher Yu wasn’t buying it. “Cut the nonsense.”
He got off his scooter, clasped his hands behind his back, and scrutinized the two of them from head to toe.
Suddenly, he pointed at Lin Yaojia. “Which class are you in? I don’t remember seeing you before.”
Lin Yaojia explained, “I just transferred here.”
“Enough!” Teacher Yu waved impatiently. “Both of you, go stand over there! Let’s see how many little troublemakers I can catch today.”
Lin Yaojia and Xia Chanyi obediently stood where he pointed.
Teacher Yu walked over again, looking at Lin Yaojia with a mix of disappointment and frustration. “You just transferred here and you’re already up to no good. What’s going to become of you?!”
“Teacher, calm down,” Lin Yaojia said with a smile, trying to soothe him. “I’ve never been a good student anyway.”
Teacher Yu’s fingers trembled with anger. “Fifty squats!”
“Got it,” Lin Yaojia replied, looking miserable. She clasped her hands behind her head and began doing squats.
Teacher Yu turned to Xia Chanyi. “Count them out loud for her.”
Xia Chanyi’s lips twitched. Now there was no way to cheat. “One, two, three, four…”
After Lin Yaojia dutifully finished all fifty squats, she stood up, still catching her breath.
Suddenly, a black backpack dropped from above, landing softly on the grass.
Teacher Yu straightened up, holding a small stick, his expression stern and imposing.
Lin Yaojia couldn’t help but chuckle and whispered to Xia Chanyi, “Who’s the unlucky one this time? Hahaha… another little fool…”
Xia Chanyi couldn’t bring herself to laugh. She carefully examined the backpack and said, “To be honest, that backpack looks somewhat familiar to me.”
The boy effortlessly climbed over the wall, propping himself up with one hand before leaping down.
He was dressed in a blue-and-white school uniform, the jacket hanging open carelessly to reveal a black T-shirt underneath.
His collarbones were sharply defined, his jawline clean and distinct, and his hair was silver.
…
Lin Yaojia’s smile vanished instantly.
“Huo Songjin! It’s you again!” The balding teacher roared as if facing an enemy. “Go stand over there!”
The boy appeared drowsy and didn’t say much. He simply picked up his backpack with one hand and stood beside Lin Yaojia.
A faint scent of laundry detergent drifted from him, which Lin Yaojia caught.
She rubbed her nose and whispered, “Long time no see.”
Huo Songjin glanced down at her, then averted his gaze after a few seconds, standing tall and poised. “Yeah.”
It really had been a long time.
About a month, by his count.
Huo Songjin asked, “Did you bring your phone?”
Lin Yaojia nodded. “Yes.”
“Send a message to Cheng Yan and tell him not to come in yet. Let him wander around outside for a while.” Huo Songjin tilted his head, looking at her small bun, which was tied with a black hairband and looked round and fluffy—almost like…
Like a little mound of dirt.
Huo Songjin wasn’t great at language arts, and after thinking for a while, that was the only adjective he could come up with.
“You in the middle—straighten up!”
The balding teacher said with a pained expression, “Why don’t you just lean right into Huo Songjin?!”
Lin Yaojia: “…”
She silently straightened her back.
Xia Chanyi stifled a laugh and whispered while the teacher turned away, “Seems like I introduced you to the wrong person earlier.”
Lin Yaojia coughed awkwardly, her ears inexplicably turning red. “Don’t talk nonsense.”
Huo Songjin observed the expressions of the two and felt something was off. “What are you two talking about?”
“Nothing!”
Lin Yaojia replied firmly.
“…” Huo Songjin lowered his gaze to meet hers.
“Are you two flirting right in front of me?!” The balding teacher strode over, but before he could say anything else—
A wail echoed from beyond the wall.
“Cheng Yan! Help me! Quick—the chair’s about to tip over!”
The cry was as loud as a pig being slaughtered during the New Year, loud enough to draw the attention of everyone within a ten-mile radius.
Hearing the familiar voice, the three standing in line couldn’t help but silently mourn for Pang Meng.
Cheng Yan sighed helplessly as he supported Pang Meng’s leg. Pang Meng was standing on a wooden chair, but due to the uneven ground, it tilted more and more, almost toppling over.
“Could you eat a little less?” Cheng Yan asked through gritted teeth, the veins on the back of his hand bulging.
Pang Meng held his breath, lifted one leg with great difficulty, and sat on the wall. Then, turning his head with a pained expression, he said to Cheng Yan, “I’m afraid of heights.”
Although Pang Meng struggled in every subject—Chinese, Math, and English—he used to put on a decent act.
At least he wore his school uniform properly and never showed up late in the mornings.
This morning was the first time he had been late since starting high school. While changing into his uniform, he discovered that his uniform pants had been washed and faded by his mother—right in the crotch area.
Wearing them made it look like he had wet himself.
Feeling guilty, his mother kindly suggested, “Why don’t you just wear them out? You’re so chubby that your thighs are all flesh. No one will probably notice anyway.”
Furious, Pang Meng immediately called his father, who was abroad discussing business deals.
His father had someone bring him a new school uniform, and by the time he finished putting it on and left the house, it was already eight o’clock.