Chapter 8

As the midterm exams approached, the school, likely due to the large number of students, decided that both midterms and monthly tests would not be conducted in separate exam rooms. Instead, students would take their exams in their own classrooms, with teachers randomly assigned to different classes to invigilate. A young female teacher with black-framed glasses entered Class 2 of the first-year high school students. She had delicate features and looked youthful and beautiful, seemingly a recent graduate. The moment she walked in, the classroom erupted into chatter, with the male students grinning widely and the murmuring growing louder. "Quiet down, return to your seats. We’re about to distribute the exam papers," the teacher instructed in standard Mandarin, her voice particularly pleasant to hear. The first subject was Chinese, with a two-and-a-half-hour exam. For some, it was pure torture. The test papers were distributed in sets, passed down row by row. Lin Shizhao received the paper from the student in front of her and immediately began reviewing it carefully. As the bell rang, Lin Shizhao started writing furiously. Suddenly, someone nudged her arm. Fearing that the teacher would notice, she didn’t even dare to lift her head, keeping her eyes locked on the paper. Gu Helin nudged her again. "The teacher is watching!" Lin Shizhao whispered. The boy leaned in close, his face almost brushing against hers, with less than two centimeters between them. He gently exhaled near her ear, allowing her to feel his breath clearly. Her heartbeat quickened, as if a lively little deer was bouncing wildly inside her chest. Just as she was about to push him away, a deep voice sounded next to her ear, "How long are you going to keep my test paper under yours?" Oh no! She had been so flustered that she forgot to pass him his test paper. Feeling utterly embarrassed, Lin Shizhao wished she could vanish into thin air. Her cheeks burned as she quickly handed over the test paper that had been stuck beneath hers. The boy tilted his head, flashing a devilish smile before swiftly diving into his own test. Once the Chinese exam ended, it was time for lunch. After submitting their papers, students poured out of the classroom, leaving it nearly empty except for Lin Shizhao, Yu Fei, Gu Helin, and He Junming. Stretching lazily, He Junming looked around the room, pulled out his phone, and suggested, "Helin, there's a barbecue place near the school. How about we go for some skewers to celebrate?" "Celebrate what? You? I literally watched you fill in ‘D’ for all your multiple-choice questions," Yu Fei scoffed, covering her mouth to stifle her laughter. "Just wait, I’ll definitely score higher than you. Want to bet?" He Junming leaned back in his chair, casually crossing his legs. "I don’t believe you one bit!" "I have my own strategy for guessing answers, okay? If I score higher than you, how about you become my girlfriend?" He Junming said this without even blushing. Yu Fei’s cheeks flushed red as she covered her face. "Get lost!" Grabbing Lin Shizhao’s hand, Yu Fei dragged her out of the classroom. Lin Shizhao was stunned for a moment before realizing what had just happened. She turned her head and giggled. Even Gu Helin, who rarely smiled, curled his lips slightly. Gu Helin thought to himself: Not bad, kid. The four of them headed to the barbecue place He Junming mentioned. The green signboard read: "Come Again If It’s Good BBQ." As they sat down to order, Yu Fei looked at the menu and asked, "Shizhao, what do you want to eat? Don’t hold back, He Junming is treating us!" "You guys go ahead and choose," Lin Shizhao replied with a shy smile. "Oh come on, no need to be polite with our dear Young Master He," Yu Fei teased as she handed Lin Shizhao the menu. He Junming and Gu Helin exchanged amused glances as they watched the two girls playfully bicker. After much back-and-forth, Lin Shizhao finally picked grilled potatoes and grilled corn, which satisfied Yu Fei. Just as they finished ordering, Shen Qian and Luo Yao walked in, holding milk teas and holding hands. "Fancy meeting you guys here," Shen Qian greeted them with a wave, while Luo Yao forced a reluctant smile. "What, is this place reserved for you or something, Miss Shen?" Yu Fei responded coolly. Standing up, Yu Fei continued, "We haven’t settled things from last time. If you don’t want trouble, stay away from Shizhao." Yu Fei's face was flushed red as she practically shouted. Lin Shizhao tugged at Yu Fei’s sleeve, pulling her arm to get her to sit down. "Ha! Who do you think you are, telling me what to do? Just talking to you makes me sick," Shen Qian sneered. "You—" Yu Fei glared at her angrily. "Are you trying to intimidate us? Who do you think you are?" He Junming spoke lazily, a cigarette dangling from his lips. "Girls should have some self-respect. I don’t have a rule against hitting girls," Gu Helin leaned back in his chair, speaking nonchalantly. Shen Qian’s expression darkened. "Let’s go. You better not forget what was said today." She slammed the door as she left. After finishing their meal, the four of them returned to the classroom. He Junming and Gu Helin headed off to play basketball. Meanwhile, Yu Fei was lying on her desk, holding her stomach, cold sweat forming on her forehead. Her face was pale. "Yu Fei, are you okay? Do you want me to take you to the infirmary?" Lin Shizhao asked with concern. "I’m fine… it’s just cramps," Yu Fei gritted her teeth, struggling to even speak. Lin Shizhao quickly fetched her a cup of hot water and made her some brown sugar ginger tea. After giving Yu Fei the tea, she dashed out of the classroom. She was headed to the infirmary to get painkillers for Yu Fei but ran into Tan Jiang and his gang along the way. Tan Jiang's arm was wrapped in white bandages, and the wound on his forehead had scabbed over into a dark red crust. His expression was menacing. Lin Shizhao didn’t know him personally but had heard rumors. It was said that Shen Qian was close to him, even addressing him as "Big Brother" and acting deferential whenever they met. As she reached the staircase, his group blocked her path. Tan Jiang leaned against the wall, holding a cigarette between his fingers. A lackey quickly stepped up to light it for him. Lin Shizhao tried to sidestep them, but someone moved behind her, trapping her in place. Tan Jiang exhaled a puff of smoke and smirked. "Not bad, you look pretty. Want to be my girlfriend?" Her heart pounded—not from embarrassment, but from sheer fear. "Sorry, senior, but I’m not interested in dating," she replied cautiously. "Heh. You and Gu Helin seem pretty close, huh?" "I…" Lin Shizhao was too nervous to speak. "Don’t leave after school. Go to the alley next to the school. Someone wants to talk to you. If you don’t show up… well, Gu Helin might not need his arm anymore." After delivering his message, Tan Jiang turned and left, leaving Lin Shizhao standing frozen in place. Now, she finally understood—Gu Helin's injuries that day were definitely connected to Tan Jiang. Returning to the classroom with a clenched fist around a box of ibuprofen, she handed the medicine to Yu Fei, then slumped into her chair, lost in thought. The afternoon brought the math exam, with only a few subjects left to complete the midterms. For Yu Fei, the math test was particularly difficult. She struggled with the last few big questions, while Gu Helin, from the start of the exam, barely picked up his pen.