Learning from the experience of the first group of mountain-climbing students, subsequent classes were no longer required to reach the summit. By the time the “Wangu Mountain” excursion ended, it was already late November.

The temperature had dropped to just a few degrees, and students began wearing bulkier clothing.

Fan Huiyin had Guan Xiaoye post the results of the last monthly exam in the classroom. Everyone gathered around to check their scores. As expected, Meng Ting once again ranked first in the grade.

The school’s honor roll was updated, with Shu Yang in second place.

Zhao Nuancheng blew on her palms and said admiringly, “Ting Ting, you’re first in the grade again. That’s amazing.” She paused, her gaze lingering on the second-place name. “That Shu Yang from Class 2 is also impressive. He’s only three points behind you.”

Shu Yang was indeed very intelligent. Meng Ting looked at his name next to hers. Few people knew they were siblings, albeit with a distant relationship. In her previous life, even when Meng Ting found herself in difficult circumstances, Shu Yang showed no inclination to acknowledge their relationship in public. So, the two tacitly agreed to keep quiet about it. Who could have imagined that her death would be the result of going to search for Shu Yang during a landslide?

Meng Ting was momentarily lost in thought, wondering if Shu Yang had been found after she died.

Towards the end of the month, Fan Huiyin announced in class that students would be receiving hepatitis B vaccinations.

Many girls in the class were worried, and fearful of getting shots.

Teacher Fan said, “This Saturday, line up and go to the hospital for the shots. It’s at H City Central Hospital. The class monitor will organize this. It’s free and voluntary, but for everyone’s health, it’s best if you all get vaccinated.”

Guan Xiaoye came down with a notebook to tally who would be getting the shots so they could go together.

Meng Ting checked the “Going” column.

Zhao Nuancheng asked her, “Ting Ting, are you afraid of shots?”

Meng Ting nodded a bit embarrassedly, “Mm, a little.” The feeling of a needle-piercing flesh was quite uncomfortable.

Zhao Nuancheng was also scared. She hesitated for a long time over the “Not Going” column but ultimately checked “Going” for the sake of her health as if facing a certain death.

In the end, only a few students in the class opted out.

As school let out, Guan Xiaoye tapped the podium and said, “So tomorrow our class will meet up together. Remember to bring your student IDs.”

Licai Vocational High School also announced the vaccination news.

He Junming and his group weren’t going. The wealthier one was, the more attention they paid to health. They had received all these vaccinations since childhood.

The life committee member, Peng Bo, was afraid of them and skipped over their names when taking the tally.

Jiang Ren put down his phone. “Peng Bo.”

Peng Bo turned around, pleasantly surprised but stammering, “Ren Ge… no, no, Classmate Jiang Ren.”

He Junming laughed convulsively, “Haha!”

On Jiang Ren’s first day in this class, everyone knew he wasn’t someone to mess with. The classmates were generally afraid of him, and who knows what they said in private. They probably referred to him as “grade boss Ren Ge” when gossiping. Peng Bo had accidentally let it slip, and his face turned pale.

Jiang Ren crossed his legs and said nonchalantly, “Give me the tally sheet.”

Peng Bo hurriedly handed it over.

Jiang Ren wrote “Going” next to his name, then tossed the notebook back. Peng Bo fumbled to catch it.

He Han asked, “Ren Ge, haven’t you already had this shot?”

Jiang Ren was quite direct: “I have.”

He Han said, “Then what’s the point of getting it again?”

This time, He Junming was the first to catch on: “Several schools are going for the shots. Ren Ge wants to see if his little darling will be there.”

Jiang Ren smiled and said, “Get lost.”

But he didn’t deny it either.

Although the two schools were close, it wasn’t easy to see Meng Ting normally. These guys weren’t just famous at Licai; quite a few at No. 7 Middle School knew them too. As soon as school let out, Meng Ting would take the bus home with Zhao Nuancheng. She’d be lost in the crowd of students, making it difficult for Jiang Ren to talk to her.

Early Saturday morning, No. 7 Middle School students arrived. Guan Xiaoye and Fu Wenfei quickly had everyone line up.

Meng Ting looked out and saw a sea of students. Since it was the weekend, no one wore uniforms, making it hard to tell which school anyone was from.

Fan Huiyin had forgotten to remind them to arrive early, so now they had to queue behind others after slowly gathering. By the looks of it, they might have to wait until noon when the doctors went off duty.

The students could only chat among themselves.

When Jiang Ren arrived, his classmates recognized him. Licai students had come earlier, and those in line from his class made way for him.

That year, Jiang Ren was unique. He had an air about him that didn’t belong to his age group—somewhat lazy, yet commanding attention and inspiring awe.

He didn’t join the line but stood outside the crowd, searching for someone.

Then he saw a girl from their class coming out with her shoulder exposed, holding a cotton swab, and crying.

The girl was sobbing heartbrokenly. Her friend’s face was angry: “What kind of nurse is that? Can’t even give a shot properly. She stabbed three times and was so mean about it. The bleeding won’t even stop. Alright, stop crying. I remember her name. We’ll go complain about her.”

This caught the attention of the crowd, causing some unease. Everyone hoped they’d get an experienced nurse.

Getting a shot in winter was different from summer. In summer, you only needed to roll up your sleeve, but in winter, you had to take off your coat and pull your sweater down from your shoulder.

The crowd had formed several long queues. Jiang Ren’s gaze swept over them, spotting the Class 1 students at the end. Meng Ting stood among them, talking to Zhao Nuancheng.

She was unaware that many people were looking at her.

She was beautiful, full of youthful vigor.

Since it was the weekend, she had rarely left her hair down. Her black locks cascaded down, giving her a different kind of beauty. Zhao Nuancheng must have said something funny, as they both laughed.

Her smile was sweet, her big eyes slightly curved, seeming to hold starlight.

He watched for a good while before making a phone call.

When Zhang Yiyi received the call, her face turned pale. The young man’s voice on the other end was languid: “Remember what I said before?”

Zhang Yiyi quickly said she did.

“Now go apologize and call her to the hospital corridor.”

Zhang Yiyi didn’t dare refuse. After hanging up, she and a few other girls went to find Meng Ting.

When she approached the Class 1 students, everyone looked over.

Zhang Yiyi had dyed her hair brown and wore earrings, clearly not a student from their school.

Meng Ting turned around, remembering who they were.

They were the Licai students who had pushed her and broken her glasses that day, apparently having some grudge against Shu Lan.

Zhang Yiyi’s face reddened: “Classmate Meng Ting, we’re sorry about that day. Can you accept our apology?”

Meng Ting was somewhat surprised.

The girls all nodded, and Zhang Yiyi said, “We were wrong. We’ll never dare do it again.”

Meng Ting frowned but didn’t speak.

Zhang Yiyi grew anxious, her face pale: “We’ve already been disciplined by the school, and we’ll pay you back for the glasses too.”

Meng Ting didn’t need those glasses anymore. She shook her head: “It’s not necessary.” She didn’t want to dwell on it further and nodded to signify her forgiveness. After all, school discipline was quite serious. The fact that they were punished for their mistake made her feel a bit surreal.

It was clear that these girls weren’t easy to deal with when they beat up Shu Lan that day. Why would they suddenly come to apologize?

Zhang Yiyi said softly, “We must. Can you come with me to the corridor? I’ll give you the money for the glasses.”

Meng Ting looked up, guessing something: “I won’t go. I don’t want the money for the glasses.”

Zhang Yiyi was in a dilemma, but her phone rang.

After answering with a couple of “mums,” she handed the phone to Meng Ting.

On the other end, Jiang Ren laughed: “Meng Ting, just come over when I ask you to. Are you afraid I’ll hurt you?”

Meng Ting glanced at the curious Zhao Nuancheng and said quietly, “I’m in line. I won’t come over.”

Jiang Ren said, “Then I’ll come find you.”

Meng Ting’s heart tightened. She looked up, sensing something, and saw Jiang Ren watching her from outside the crowd, seemingly about to walk over.

She had no choice: “I’ll come over.”

He smiled.

Zhang Yiyi led her to the hospital corridor, where there were few people, creating a stark contrast to the bustle outside. The delinquent girls hurriedly bowed and apologized. To Meng Ting’s bewilderment, Zhang Yiyi shoved the money for the glasses into her hand and ran off.

Then Meng Ting looked up and saw Jiang Ren.

She gripped the money tightly, understanding why these people had apologized. She could only say softly, “Thank you.”

Jiang Ren said, “No need for thanks. Will you agree to one request from me?”

Meng Ting was truly scared of him now. She had a bad feeling and wanted to leave.

Jiang Ren smiled. He leaned against the wall, blocking her escape route: “What are you afraid of?”

Meng Ting looked up and saw his chest. She took two steps back and finally couldn’t help but say, “Jiang Ren, aren’t you tired of this?”

He curved his lips: “I’m already holding back a lot. I don’t mean to harm you. They said the new nurse isn’t good at giving shots. I’m afraid you’ll be in pain.”

“I want to go back.”

“I’ll let you go back after you get the shot.” He paused, then said, “After you’re done, I won’t bother you anymore, okay?”

She looked up and said quietly, “Really?”

He cursed silently in his heart but nodded.

In the end, Meng Ting followed him to the head nurse’s treatment room.

The head nurse was a kind-looking middle-aged woman who didn’t ask unnecessary questions. She knew who Jiang Ren was—a young man even the hospital director would accommodate.

The head nurse smiled and said, “Little student, please expose your arm.”

She hesitated for a moment and looked at Jiang Ren.

Jiang Ren raised an eyebrow: “What now? Got something else in mind?”

Her cheeks reddened: “Can you not look?”

“You think I want to look?”

The head nurse was highly amused and coughed twice.

Meng Ting said seriously, “I feel uncomfortable with you watching.”

Jiang Ren put his hands in his pockets and turned his face away, agreeing to her request. He impatiently said to the head nurse, “Hurry up and give the shot. I’m in a rush.”

The head nurse thought to herself that this young Master Jiang was quite irritable. She gently told Meng Ting to take off her coat.

Meng Ting removed her coat. To expose her arm, she had to pull her sweater down from her shoulder.

Her exposed skin was white. She obediently followed instructions and revealed half of her shoulder.

The head nurse tapped the needle and looked up.

The young girl’s shoulder was fair and delicate, her collarbone beautiful. When she looked over with her tea-colored eyes filled with unease, there was a breathtaking beauty about her.

The head nurse couldn’t help but say softly, “Don’t be nervous, student. Close your eyes and don’t look.”

Meng Ting nodded and closed her eyes as the head nurse said.

Her long lashes fluttered lightly. The head nurse instinctively looked up and saw the young man’s pitch-black eyes.

At some point, he had broken his promise and turned his head, his gaze falling on…

Meng Ting’s fair shoulder.

The head nurse looked back at the little girl, who remained completely unaware.