December 12, 2012.
Wednesday.
"Tongtong, put on your scarf before you run!"
The woman with long, wavy hair shouted.
Zhang Shutong's steps paused, and he took the scarf his mom handed him.
He hadn't fully swallowed the egg in his mouth. He wiped his mouth haphazardly, and without bothering to speak, he waved at his mom and got out of the car.
The time was 7:25 AM, the first day of school.
He was discharged yesterday afternoon. He had been cooped up in the hospital for three full days and felt like he was about to grow mold all over. Well, Zhang Shutong admitted that he was a person who couldn't sit still. Although he always talked about returning to a normal life, given the chance, he would definitely choose to run out and have fun.
Not a lot happened in these three days, but not a little either.
If it was just his own schedule, it was incredibly simple. It was nothing more than staying in the ward to watch TV, sleeping when he was tired, sometimes going to the corridor to look at the scenery, and chatting with the nurses while eating sunflower seeds at night. The only thing he didn't do was study. It proved that what they say, "Your classmate will bring you the homework for the past few days when you're hospitalized," is a lie. At least Zhang Shutong didn't have such classmates.
Qingyi brought him a stack of books, and Zhang Shutong spent three days studying Ghost Blows Out the Light.
Besides that, he was also quietly sensing the changes around him.
The direction of many things had completely deviated from his expectations.
For example, Gu Qiumian. She had overcome the hurdle of that Sunday morning. Her reward was still a large bag of snacks, various chocolates, potato chips, and beef jerky, which successfully made Zhang Shutong gain one pound.
These past few days, they were always chatting on their phones. In theory, you're not allowed to bring a phone to school, but for the young lady, theory was just theory. So he chatted the most with the ID Qiuyu Mianmian these days. But Gu Qiumian's security level had risen another notch. She only moved between the villa and the school, and the two could only chat on their phones.
A big event happened at school, which Zhang Shutong called the class reshuffle incident.
Maybe it was related to Zhou Ziheng's matter, or it was Boss Gu's request, or maybe it was an adjustment made right before graduation.
In any case, everyone in the entire ninth grade was broken up and reassigned into four classes.
Zhang Shutong was now in Class 1. Young Lady Gu was in Class 2.
She was a bit unhappy about this, saying that her spot where she could draw sheep was gone.
Gu Qiumian had no circle in Class 1 before. Although she had a large group of followers, there were very few people she could talk to in class, and she was always a bit solitary.
Zhang Shutong felt that since she was welcoming a new life, this was a new beginning.
So he just said, "It's okay, it's okay. You can find another spot to draw sheep."
As a result, Gu Qiumian stopped replying.
His close friends were also separated. Qingyi went to Class 2, and Du Kang and Ruoping went to Class 3. Looking at it this way, only Class 4 was left without their influence, and they almost unified the whole school. It was truly a shame.
Some were happy, some were sad. The impact was actually very small. They would always have a chance to meet.
For example, Gu Qiumian had already pre-booked this weekend. It was similar to last time, where she said she wanted to treat everyone to a meal.
His last meeting with Lu Qinglian was on Sunday night. After that, he hadn't heard from her.
Zhang Shutong occasionally thought about how the two of them had temporarily cooperated for a goal before. Now that the clay figurine was dealt with, the cooperation ended, and she had returned to her solitary ways.
On Monday night, a few close friends were in the ward to celebrate Du Kang's 16th birthday.
He remembered that this birthday used to be celebrated at Du Kang's family restaurant, where everyone secretly drank a bottle of beer and played until very late.
But now, the three of them came to the hospital after eating, bringing a piece of cake they had specifically saved. They turned off the lights and drew the curtains. They lit candles in the dark observation room. This birthday was something Zhang Shutong had been thinking about for a long time. In the end, it was a very ordinary one, but sometimes, ordinariness was the greatest happiness.
Perhaps that's what Teacher Song thought as well.
His small car was totaled. Fortunately, he had insurance, and he was compensated with a sum of money, so it wasn't too much of a loss. But some things, once lost, can't be found again, such as that pirated, out-of-print Bulbasaur, and his spleen.
This car accident caused Teacher Song to have his spleen removed. His condition was even worse than his. Zhang Shutong had spoken to him on the phone a few times. Once, they talked about future plans, and the man was silent for a while before saying:
"Shutong, I might need to take a long leave of absence."
He said that he had been cooped up on the island for too long these past few years, and he planned to take this opportunity to go home to be with his parents and visit old friends and classmates. If his body allowed it, he might even plan a trip.
This meant that until the end of the first semester of ninth grade, Zhang Shutong wouldn't see this man.
Naturally, Class 1 of ninth grade would be welcoming a new homeroom teacher.
Zhang Shutong felt a little melancholic. He wasn't sure if these changes were for the better or for the worse.
His body had almost fully recovered. There was still some inflammation in his lungs, and he would occasionally cough, but as long as he stayed warm, he wouldn't be left with a permanent illness. Just now, his mom insisted that he wear a scarf. In reality, Zhang Shutong was already wearing two layers of jackets and was sweating a little in the car.
As the saying goes, it takes a hundred days to heal from a broken bone. His arm wasn't broken, but it still had to be in a sling for a week. Riding a bike was naturally impossible. Now he was a person who went to and from school by car.
His mom originally wanted to take him all the way to the classroom, but Zhang Shutong felt it wasn't necessary to go through all that trouble.
Du Kang said that in the few days he was gone, he had become a celebrity. Legends of "Senior Zhang Shutong" were circulating everywhere.
This senior had, in just one week, caught a poacher, solved a vicious revenge incident at school, and then—
Coolly broke his arm.
Some people said they saw him riding a motorcycle around over the weekend.
That made sense. He had crossed through the city center several times, and the small island wasn't big to begin with, so it was normal for people to notice him.
In the end, it was Gu Qiumian's little secretary who came out and made the final judgment, saying that Senior Zhang had bravely fought a villain and was unfortunately injured. Only then did the rumors die down, and thanks to her, "Senior Zhang Shutong" suddenly gained a large number of fans.
Now he walked into the school gate, with one hand in a sling around his neck, and the other casually holding his backpack. He was indeed outstanding. Many people looked at him. Zhang Shutong had always been indifferent to these gazes, but what was with the people paying close attention? And what about those two students who were fighting while on duty? Why did they suddenly freeze when they saw him?
Seniors just ride motorcycles. They aren't delinquents.
He thought to himself, speechless.
Zhang Shutong walked into the teaching building calmly. When he went up the stairs to the fourth floor, the time was 7:30. It was morning reading time, which reminded Zhang Shutong of what happened last Wednesday, the first day of the rollback. He didn't turn in his homework and was punished by Teacher Song to be on duty for a week.
Logically, it should have been his turn for the new week, but since Teacher Song wasn't here, who would care about being on duty?
Zhang Shutong had not yet met the new teacher.
She also taught English. It was said that she was temporarily transferred from the seventh grade and had just finished teaching a graduating class.
He walked to the back door of the classroom, expecting to hear the sound of students reading aloud, but today it was surprisingly quiet. Zhang Shutong stepped inside and saw a woman standing on the podium.
The woman was about 40 years old, wearing glasses. She had high cheekbones and gray hair, a symbol of a senior teacher.
Actually, Zhang Shutong had already heard Du Kang talk about it. The new teacher's last name was Xu. She was very strict. It was said that one student who dozed off in class was called to stand in the back for the entire period.
She was probably the type who didn't allow drinking water in class.
"Are you Zhang Shutong?"
The woman pushed up her glasses. The whole class's gaze turned to him:
"It's already ninth grade, so get serious. Don't go crazy on the weekends."
Zhang Shutong just then realized that they were dictating vocabulary, which was why it was so quiet.
After Ms. Xu finished, she didn't pay attention to him anymore. Instead, she clapped her hands:
"Group leaders, collect this dictation first. Hurry up and change seats..."
Zhang Shutong stopped in his tracks.
He thought, why are we changing seats again? And why is it always on a Wednesday?
Only then did the class become lively. Students stood up one after another, picked up their bags, and left the classroom. Some said hello to him. Although Zhang Shutong looked unfamiliar to them, he also nodded back. He hadn't even sat down yet, but he inexplicably followed the crowd out of the classroom.
A new official takes a big step?
Now he was the only one left in Class 1. Who he would be desk-mates with was completely up to fate. In any case, Zhang Shutong didn't know anyone familiar.
The other three classes were doing morning reading, and only the students of Class 1 came out to the corridor to line up. Zhang Shutong thought this new homeroom teacher was a real handful.
Then the homeroom teacher pushed up her glasses again. In the three days he was gone, she had already established enough authority. For a moment, no one dared to make a sound. The sight of Teacher Song laughing and joking with students was long gone.
"I'll say a few words first."
Ms. Xu cleared her throat. After the familiar opening line:
"Our class is an advanced class. We have several students who are in the top ten of the entire grade. The principal and I have high hopes for you. Everyone is about to enter their last semester of middle school. Your former teacher, Mr. Song, had his own set of methods, but since I am now the homeroom teacher, Class 1 of ninth grade will have a new set of rules..."
Then she went on about how a circle cannot be drawn without a compass, which made Zhang Shutong look up at the sky.
"So, from now on, the seats in our class will be determined entirely by your monthly exam results. People strive to go up, and water flows down. Ambitious students should sit with ambitious students."
Zhang Shutong felt a little embarrassed. He felt like he was completely getting by on luck in this advanced class.
He had always been second in the grade. Perhaps it was this result that got him into the advanced class, but in reality, if he had to retake the test, he would only be hovering around the hundredth place.
Ms. Xu paused:
"I'll be calling names from highest to lowest score. The students whose names are called should go directly into the classroom and sit down. Don't make a fuss. Start from the third row by the window..."
Zhang Shutong probably understood the new teacher's strategy.
Unlike Teacher Song, where good students had priority in choosing seats, this new teacher was making the good students cluster together, but not letting them sit in the first row.
It was estimated that the frontmost seats would be reserved for students who needed special observation.
"Now, I will begin calling names—"
She was a very practical person.
Zhang Shutong made a judgment in his heart and walked out of the line.
"Lu Qinglian."
Zhang Shutong was stunned.
Why was it Lu Qinglian? He hadn't heard anyone say that he and Lu Qinglian were in the same class.
Besides, he had a good look at the classroom when he first walked in and didn't see her.
"Teacher, Student Lu hasn't arrived yet..."
Someone reminded her in a low voice.
The homeroom teacher ignored it:
"I'll take this opportunity to say something. Last year, I just finished teaching a graduating class, and what results did I get? Of all the students in the entire school who entered the top one hundred in the city's high school entrance exam, two-thirds were from my class. Mr. Song's leave was very sudden, and I was given the task in a moment of crisis. I didn't agree to the principal transferring me. My condition at the time was very simple: unless the top student in the grade and the second-ranked student in the grade were assigned to me, I wouldn't take over.
"Student Lu was originally in Class 4. I fought hard to get her. Everyone must use them as role models in the future."
What kind of role models?
Zhang Shutong couldn't help but think.
So that's how it was.
No wonder he hadn't heard anyone mention that Lu Qinglian was in Class 1.
And it seemed that not only he didn't know, but the rest of the people didn't know either. The class reshuffle happened on Tuesday. Zhang Shutong noticed that many people's faces were filled with surprise, especially the boys.
Zhang Shutong knew how popular Lu Qinglian was in the entire school. She could say one sentence on the flag-raising platform and cause a stir. The mysterious temple keeper girl, beautiful and aloof. It felt like many people liked this type—at least on the surface.
But for the others, they could only watch from afar before, occasionally paying attention to her whereabouts. Coincidentally meeting her once could make them excited for half a day. Zhang Shutong had also had a crush on other girls and knew this feeling. Now, to be in the same class, it would be strange if they weren't excited. Du Kang was definitely not the only one.
He suddenly thought, but if that's the case, doesn't that mean—
Ms. Xu pressed her hands down:
"Student Lu hasn't arrived yet. The next student will leave a spot for her. Zhang Shutong..."
Just then, a light sound of footsteps came from far away and then got closer. Everyone's gaze instantly went to the stairwell. The girl in the green robe walked up the steps. She was wearing her backpack and had her hair tied in a ponytail. She calmly glanced at the large group in the corridor.
One minute later.
"Morning."
Zhang Shutong picked up his backpack and greeted his new desk-mate behind him.
"Morning."
Lu Qinglian also replied politely.
"What a coincidence. We're desk-mates." Zhang Shutong explained the new teacher's rules to her.
Lu Qinglian didn't say anything, just nodded. The two walked one after another towards the seat by the window in the third row.
Zhang Shutong stepped aside, indicating for Lu Qinglian to go in first. According to the homeroom teacher's arrangement, she was the first to be called, so she should sit on the inside.
But Lu Qinglian just stared at him from in front of the seat.
"You can just say it if you want to sit on the outside." Zhang Shutong helplessly moved to the inside.
"Student Zhang Shutong, why do you always think I have strange thoughts like you?" she said with a headache. "Didn't you notice it yourself? Your broken arm is your left arm. It would be very troublesome to sit on your left."
"...Actually, it's a fracture."
"You're a bit noisy."
Sure enough, as soon as the matter was over, she returned to her 'strangers-don't-come-near' demeanor.
Being number one in the grade wasn't for nothing. Lu Qinglian took out the books for the first class and began to preview. The conversation ended there.
Zhang Shutong also took out his textbook. Now the two of them were model students in the class, and every move they made was being watched.
Soon, the classroom was filled. The homeroom teacher came again to have a morning meeting and used the remaining time to have Lu Qinglian share her study experience.
The girl took off her green robe. She was the girl with the aloof temperament in everyone's eyes. In a round of enthusiastic applause, she calmly walked onto the podium. Zhang Shutong held his chin and thought, from now on, there will be many events in the world.
Well, at least the new life had finally begun.