Shu Lan entered Licai Vocational High School with light steps. Since Meng Ting had to study, she could only remove the bandages early and switch to special glasses.
On Monday, No. 7 High School held a flag-raising ceremony, and students from each class had to gather under the national flag.
After the students lined up by class, chattering among themselves, appearance inspectors would come down to check.
First, they checked the school uniform. No. 7 High School had two sets of uniforms worn alternately – one white and one blue. Wearing the wrong color was not allowed.
Besides this, they also checked student IDs.
If a student didn’t bring their ID, the class would lose conduct points. So the homeroom teacher, Fan Huiyin, was very strict. If the class lost conduct points, individuals would also face corresponding punishments.
Zhao Nuancheng stood with Meng Ting, in front of her.
As the director of education spoke into the microphone, the appearance inspectors began checking the second-year students.
They started with Class 1.
Two boys at the back of Class 1 wore the wrong uniforms and were immediately singled out. Fan Huiyin’s face darkened. She had emphasized this many times, yet there were always a few who didn’t listen.
Zhao Nuancheng couldn’t stay still. She wanted to chat quietly with Meng Ting but turned around to find that Meng Ting wasn’t wearing her student ID around her neck. Zhao Nuancheng was startled: “Ting Ting, where’s your student ID? The teacher is coming.”
Meng Ting lowered her eyes: “I lost it.”
“What should we do? Not bringing a student ID deducts 0.2 points. Teacher Fan will be angry.”
Meng Ting gently pressed her lips together. There was nothing she could do. She would rather be punished than ask Jiang Ren to return her student ID.
However, worrying was useless. The appearance inspector approached: “Student, where’s your student ID?”
Now everyone looked over.
Surprise showed on their faces. After all, this was Meng Ting. She rarely made mistakes. She was the top student in Class 1, and although her quiet and gentle nature meant she didn’t stand out much, she was known for being a teacher’s favorite and trouble-free.
Yet today, she was the one who didn’t bring her student ID.
Fan Huiyin was stunned for a long time, her expression changing repeatedly before she finally sighed.
Meng Ting had done well. After being recommended for admission, despite her eye condition, she had consistently ranked first and was even a class representative. Teacher Fan naturally liked her, but rules couldn’t be broken. Back in class, she scolded all the students who had violated regulations.
Below, there were whispers: “It’s normal for Liu Yun and Li Yilong to break rules, but how did Meng Ting end up deducting points for our class?”
“Maybe she forgot to bring it.”
“Does that mean she’ll have to run after school with the others?”
“It’s 1500 meters. Will her eyes be okay?”
“I don’t know.”
Sure enough, Teacher Fan said: “After school, the three students who lost points will run 1500 meters around the school perimeter. Class monitor, go supervise.”
The class monitor, Guan Xiaoye, was known for being strict and had good grades. She immediately responded with a “Yes.”
After school, Meng Ting, along with the other two punished boys and Guan Xiaoye, went to the school gate.
Guan Xiaoye, carrying her backpack, said: “Alright, start running.”
Li Yilong said with a grin: “Monitor, how about we let Meng Ting off? Her eyes aren’t good. It wouldn’t be nice if she fell. If we all keep quiet, no one will know.”
Guan Xiaoye kept a straight face: “No. Everyone must run. She didn’t bring her student ID.”
Liu Yun and Li Yilong clicked their tongues.
Meng Ting put down her white cane: “It’s okay, I can do it. Thank you, Li Yilong.”
Li Yilong felt embarrassed. He was one of the most troublesome students in the class. Those with good grades were separated from them. Though they didn’t say it, in their hearts, they looked down on them.
Meng Ting was the top student, but she had a very comfortable aura about her.
The three began to run.
Meng Ting remembered this path. Because there were basketball games on the playground after school, they were arranged to run there. There was a wide road between No. 7 High School and the vocational school, perfect for running. 1500 meters wasn’t short, and it was tough for those with poor physical fitness.
Meng Ting had run 800 meters when she started to feel a faint burning sensation in her breathing.
She adjusted her breath and then ran back.
Her eyesight wasn’t good, so she ran at a steady pace. By then, Li Yilong and the other boy had finished running and left.
When Jiang Ren and He Junming came by on their motorcycles, they immediately spotted Meng Ting in front.
Strangely enough, although she was wearing the No. 7 High School uniform and should have blended into the crowd, he spotted her at once.
She was running with difficulty, her hair tied in a ponytail, swaying in a slight arc.
Her fair, slender neck was exposed.
Seeing Jiang Ren stop his bike, He Junming followed his gaze. Seeing Meng Ting’s slow running motion, he couldn’t help but laugh: “Is she running or crawling? I could walk faster than her.”
Jiang Ren couldn’t help but curve his lips too.
Fang Tan thought for a moment: “Their No. 7 High School often has people running here. I heard it’s for violating discipline.”
Now everyone was curious.
“What discipline could she have violated?”
He Junming guessed uncertainly: “Early love?”
Jiang Ren turned back and slapped him on the head: “Early love my ass, you think everyone’s like you.” He Junming looked bewildered. Why did he get hit? Couldn’t he just guess?
Jiang Ren’s silver hair shone brightly as he chewed gum and casually pointed at a boy: “You go and see.”
The boy, having received the order, quickly ran over. Soon he came back grinning: “Ren bro, I asked that girl over there. Are those No. 7 High School people sick? They punish you with running for not wearing uniforms and not bringing student IDs. Our school is so much better. What stupid rules.”
The smile gradually faded from Jiang Ren’s face.
His dark pupils showed a hint of coldness as he suddenly got off the bike and walked over.
This time, He Junming refused to be the vanguard. Fang Tan spoke up: “What’s wrong with Ren bro?”
He didn’t seem angry, but he certainly wasn’t happy either. Wasn’t everything fine just now?
By the time Meng Ting finished running, she was completely out of breath.
Guan Xiaoye grumbled: “Why are you so slow? I’ve been waiting for ages.”
Meng Ting, breathing heavily, said: “Sorry for wasting your time.”
Only then did Guan Xiaoye pack her bag and leave.
Meng Ting was exhausted after running 1500 meters. She didn’t mind that the nearby stone was dirty and sat down, hugging her knees to catch her breath. She knew that after three years without exercise, her once-good physical condition had deteriorated.
In the past, when she practiced dancing, even running 2000 meters wouldn’t have been this difficult.
Just as her breathing was returning to normal, a shadow fell over her, and something was hung around her neck – it was her student ID.
Meng Ting looked up to see Jiang Ren.
Jiang Ren had one hand in his pocket and was looking down at her. His face was expressionless, seemingly in a very irritable mood.
“Meng Ting.”
She stood up hurriedly, responding with some confusion: “Hm?”
“Do I owe you something? How can you be so stupid?”
Meng Ting didn’t know what to say. How could someone who didn’t pass a single subject call her stupid? After hesitating for a while, faced with his unpleasant mood, she softly responded: “I’m sorry.”
She understood that Jiang Ren was domineering and unreasonable. Although she didn’t know why he was angry, it was best not to provoke him.
His irritation had nowhere to vent and oddly wouldn’t subside.
“Do you hate me that much? Look down on me?” He had noticed earlier that Meng Ting didn’t like talking to him much.
He had heard she was the top student in Class 1 of the second year. Class 1 was specifically for those aiming for top universities. These good students always looked down on people like him who didn’t study – smoking, skipping classes, fighting, going to bars, and dating early. In their eyes, he was just a rich little hooligan.
Even someone like Shen Yuqing always had a sense of superiority about being a good student at No. 7 High School.
Meng Ting fell silent. She lowered her head, seemingly confirming his question.
Jiang Ren laughed coldly: “What right do you have to look down on me? At least I’m physically whole.”
This was mocking her poor eyesight.
Meng Ting didn’t get angry. Her eyes would be fine in a little over a month.
She gently pressed her lips together, picked up her cane, and started walking home. Her pace was unhurried, step by step, but it felt like knives stabbing his heart.
Jiang Ren watched her back, kicking the stone she had sat on.
F*ck! Who the hell cares if you like me or not?
Just an ugly, stupid blind girl.
But the more he thought like that, the worse he felt.
The year his mother had an affair, he told himself: The more talented and aloof a woman seems, the more heartless, cruel, and loose she is.
So when he saw girls like Shen Yuqing trying to get close to him, he viewed them like clowns.
He wasn’t like his stupid, infatuated father.
Giving money to someone, giving his heart to someone, only to end up with a green hat (being cheated on).
He would never like that type of woman.
Beautiful, talented, excellent, and hardworking – for many years, these became the type of girls he hated most.
Besides, Meng Ting wasn’t even close to being beautiful.
He Junming, not seeing Ren bro return for a long time, had to go look for him.
Jiang Ren was leaning against the wall, smoking.
Girls from No. 7 High School passing by secretly glanced at him.
They whispered excitedly: “Ah, so that’s Jiang Ren…”
“He’s quite handsome.”
“Don’t even think about it. I heard he’s super fierce…”
“Shh, someone’s coming.”
He Junming glanced at them: “Want to die?”
The girls ran away in fright.
Only then did He Junming approach: “Ren bro, are we still going to play games?”
Jiang Ren replied indifferently: “Sure.”
“Did that little blind girl make you angry? Should I…”
Jiang Ren suddenly raised his eyes, then turned to leave first: “Mention her one more time and I’ll kill you.”
She didn’t like him. If he sought out Meng Ting again, he’d just be degrading himself.