July was drawing to a close. The long rainy season had ended, replaced by brilliant sunshine that illuminated the clear sky and earth.

The summer vacation left the campus deserted, with cicadas tirelessly chirping in the camphor trees.

In the office, the air conditioning hummed steadily, while the cicadas’ song mingled with the adults’ voices, all falling into Sheng Xia’s summer-dazed ears.

“Student Sheng Xia’s Chinese scores are quite good. This essay would make it to our school’s model essay wall!”

The grade director reviewed Sheng Xia’s last semester’s report card and final exam papers before offering this assessment. He passed the essay to the balding man beside him, “Teacher Wang, take a look.”

Teacher Wang accepted it, his eyes scanning up, down, left, and right before his deep voice rumbled from his abdomen: “Hmm, the handwriting is truly excellent.”

Sheng Xia sat quietly on the black leather sofa, hugging her canvas schoolbag, secretly observing her new homeroom teacher: Wang Wei.

His gaunt frame supported an oversized head, topped with a few strands of hair combed diagonally across, his scalp gleaming. He had thick eyebrows, narrow eyes, and cheeks that looked like they were stuffed with cotton.

He bore no resemblance whatsoever to the pastoral poet Wang Wei of the same name.

He had introduced himself as a chemistry teacher.

Having a chemistry teacher evaluate an essay and quickly dodge the content by praising the handwriting – regardless of his appreciation abilities, his emotional intelligence was certainly not low.

The grade director remarked, “You can tell it’s from early training.”

Wang Lianhua’s obvious delight showed in her beaming smile as she chimed in: “Director, you have a good eye. Sheng Xia started practicing calligraphy at age four, both with brush and hard pen.”

“These days, it’s rare to find children who can sit still and practice handwriting.”

Wang Wei quickly followed up: “Indeed, and if she catches up in other subjects, there shouldn’t be any problem. I can see Student Sheng Xia is promising material – it would have been a waste to keep her at No. 2 High School.”

Wang Lianhua: “Sheng Xia just needs to work on her chemistry and physics foundation. We’ll be counting on Teacher Wang’s guidance.”

“Of course, of course. Once in my class, I can’t guarantee…”

Wang Wei’s passionate speech was interrupted by a melodious yet jarring tune.

The opening notes of “Moonlight over the Lotus Pond” filled the office – it was Wang Wei’s phone.

He shifted his body, stretched his leg, fished the phone from his pocket, glanced at it, and immediately hung up, continuing: “Once in my class, I can’t guarantee to get into a 985 university, but there will be a noticeable improvement. Student Sheng Xia’s foundation isn’t bad and in our class…”

“Moonlight over the Lotus Pond” rang out again; the caller seemed persistent.

Wang Wei’s eyebrows furrowed into an inverted figure eight. He shot an apologetic look at the director and Wang Lianhua, and without stepping aside, answered: “I’m busy, call me in the afternoon!”

Then without waiting for a response, he hung up again.

“A student from my class,” Wang Wei explained.

The grade director changed the subject: “Placing Student Sheng Xia in Teacher Wang’s class was a considered decision. The experimental class would be too much pressure, and Teacher Wang’s Class 6 is perfect – though not an experimental class, it’s among the top parallel classes. The year’s top student is in their class; that student ranked first citywide in last semester’s unified exam.”

First in the city – Sheng Xia had heard about this.

Last semester, their school had participated in the citywide unified exam for the first time, and they had swept the top ten positions. That first-place student’s score had been particularly remarkable. Perfect scores in math and English, only three points deducted in science.

Sheng Xia had ranked in the top ten at No. 2 High School, but around two-thousandth in the city.

When the results came out, her class group chat had been filled with lamentations. The top students at No. 2 High School had all wilted like frost-beaten eggplants.

If the affiliated school’s participation in the unified exam was a dimensional reduction attack on ordinary schools, then this academic god’s score was like rubbing the pride of No. 1 and No. 2 High Schools’ top students into the exam papers.

If they knew this person was actually in a parallel class at the affiliated school, who knows what they would think?

And now, she would be in the same class as someone like that?

Wang Lianhua, however, was very pleased with this information. Her eyebrows lifted slightly, eyes brightening as she nodded with slightly parted lips, showing an appreciative expression.

Wang Wei’s face was filled with pride, his seemingly complaining tone carrying familiar indulgence: “This first-place student had very ordinary entrance scores, and remained unremarkable until choosing between the arts and sciences track. That’s why they were placed in our class. Since joining our class, they’ve consistently ranked first in the grade. But they’re quite difficult to manage, often misbehaving here and there, taking advantage of their good grades, lacking discipline.”

The grade director said: “Fortunately, they’re in Teacher Wang’s class; they’re much more disciplined now.”

Wang Lianhua understood perfectly, praising: “So Teacher Wang is skilled in both teaching and management.”

Wang Wei: “Not really, I just sincerely hope for the students to do well, both in grades and as people. That way, we won’t let down the school’s and parents’ trust.”

“This visit has made me even more reassured,” Wang Lianhua’s smile hadn’t faded, her voice gentle, seemingly very satisfied with today’s meeting.

As the three adults gestured over the report card, Sheng Xia, who hadn’t slept well the previous night, began to doze. The human voices gradually gave way to cicada songs, and she even began to hear a melody in them.

Finally, Ms. Wang Lianhua stood up first, continuously expressing thanks. Sheng Xia also stood, lips pressed together in what appeared to be a slight smile.

“Then I’ll trouble the teachers to take care of Sheng Xia.”

“It’s no trouble. Give my regards to Secretary Sheng.”

“He had an important meeting come up today, otherwise he would have come along.”

After leaving the office, Wang Lianhua declined the grade director’s offer to see them out, saying they wanted to tour the campus. Mother and daughter wound their way down the stairs to the first floor.

The teaching building was empty.

Wang Lianhua pointed at the sign for Year 3 (Class 6), turning to whisper to Sheng Xia: “See how special this affiliated school is, even the classrooms are different.”

Sheng Xia nodded slightly, examining her future learning space for the next year.

This classroom was indeed different from any she had been in before.

The corridor was especially spacious, wide enough to play badminton. The classroom had three doors, and the side walls were only desk-height, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows above, even the doors were glass, making the entire classroom transparent and bright, everything visible at a glance.

The blackboard was divided into three sections, with a smart whiteboard in the middle and movable blackboards on either side.

The desks were arranged oddly too, with three groups of double seats, plus a row of single seats along the wall without desk mates.

The strange and unique environment made Sheng Xia’s brow furrow slightly.

South University Affiliated Middle School was the best high school in South Li City, ranking among the top in the province. With over 90% of students qualifying for tier-one universities, getting into South University Affiliated Middle School meant having one foot in a key university.

Sheng Xia had underperformed in her high school entrance exam and ended up at No. 2 High School. Over two years, her grades had gradually climbed to the top ranks, but at No. 2, even being in the grade’s top ten merely meant slightly exceeding the tier-one university cutoff line.

When they heard she was transferring, the teachers at No. 2 tried hard to keep her, saying it was better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix, and that No. 2 would give Sheng Xia the most attention and best education to secure her place in a top 211 university.

The phrase “head of a chicken” instantly angered Sheng Mingfeng. He had only considered the transfer because he couldn’t stand Wang Lianhua constantly saying they were “being irresponsible to Sheng Xia” and “not planning for the child’s future.” Now he was determined to transfer Sheng Xia.

During the high school entrance exam, Sheng Xia’s score had been too low to even consider the No. 1 High School, let alone the affiliated school. Now that her grades had improved and she had achieved decent results in the citywide unified exam, she had a foundation for entering the affiliated school. Wang Lianhua wanted Sheng Xia to take another shot since she could only get so far at No. 2 anyway.

As for the teacher’s comment that “given Sheng Xia’s personality, who knows if she can handle such pressure at the affiliated school,” Wang Lianhua had automatically filtered that out.

Sheng Xia must be stronger than her – this was her obsession.

The opening notes of “Moonlight over the Lotus Pond” rang out again, echoing from the second floor.

That ringtone was loud.

Even louder than Wang Wei’s phone volume was Wang Wei’s voice.

“Hello?”

“Not allowed, not allowed! I’ve said it several times, who asks for leave right when school starts? Are you sick or lame?”

“You want to report the school for having supplementary classes? How dare you!”

“Do you know you’re going to be in senior year? Think you can maintain your grades just like that? Everyone else gets serious when they enter senior year, you think those students at No. 1 High School are idiots?”

“Come back right now!”

“Did you hear me? Hey? Zhang Shu!”

“You brat!”

…

Wang Wei’s deep voice echoed through the empty teaching building.

The mother and daughter walked out of the building before Wang Lianhua worriedly said: “Your homeroom teacher has such a temper, will this work? What kind of person did your father find? Who knows if he cares about the students.”

Sheng Xia understood that “having a temper” was already Wang Lianhua’s euphemistic way of putting it. Wang Wei’s demeanor and way of speaking probably didn’t match Wang Lianhua’s image of what a key high school teacher should be like.

This was typical of her mother.

Earlier she had wondered why her mother had seemed satisfied so easily; sure enough, those appreciative looks and satisfied words had just been part of Ms. Wang Lianhua’s social etiquette.

But.

Maybe the person on the other end had an even worse temper?

That person called Zhang… Shu.

Daring to talk back to the homeroom teacher.

Even threatening to report them – how fierce.

Sheng Xia remained silent, only thinking to herself.

…

Sheng Xia’s home was only two kilometers from the affiliated school, so Wang Lianhua decided against having her board there. Sheng Mingfeng bought her an electric scooter and had the driver teach her how to ride it.

There wasn’t much to learn about the electric scooter – just twist the throttle and it would go. After circling the residential complex a couple of times quite steadily, Sheng Xia tried riding toward school.

She had been too hasty. The main road was different from enclosed roads, with vehicles coming and going, the sound of large vehicles rushing past threatening to sweep her up. Her back was drenched in nervous sweat.

After nearly failing to brake at an intersection, Sheng Xia decided to avoid the main road and cut through the residential area behind the affiliated school.

Turning into the complex, still shaken and not fully alert, she saw two mountain bikes coming down the gentle slope ahead, the riders in a low crouch, looking at her like eagles swooping down aggressively.

Sheng Xia froze completely. Before her brain could react, her body instinctively avoided danger: she quickly jumped off the scooter, and being too nervous, accidentally twisted the throttle while jumping.

The brand new electric scooter suddenly accelerated with a “whoosh,” violently crashed into the curb, and toppled over with a loud crash.

The two boys on the bicycles who had made an emergency stop, one fat and one thin: …

The security guard poked his head out of the guard room at the noise: …

Sheng Xia, standing unharmed in the middle of the road: …

The scene fell silent for a moment, with only the endless chirping of cicadas in the roadside camphor trees.

Chirp — chirp chirp —

The fat boy came to his senses and said to the thin one: “Wait, why did she suddenly jump off? This has nothing to do with us, right…”

Indeed it didn’t – they were still more than ten meters away.

The thin boy sneered: “If she tries to extort us, this would be like getting scammed on the moon.”

This detached tone and obvious disdain sent an inexplicable chill down Sheng Xia’s spine as she stood frozen in place.

“What happened?” The security guard hurriedly came out of the guard room, reached Sheng Xia, and seeing how pale the young girl was with fright, softened his tone, “Are you alright?”

“I’m… I’m fine.”

Though she said she was fine, her voice trembled.

The guard then looked toward the two boys about ten meters away and called out: “What’s going on?”

The fat boy quickly shook his head: “We don’t know what happened either…”

They had been riding normally, not even fast in the residential area, when suddenly this “helpless” girl appeared.

The guard quickly went to pick up the scooter, looked it over, and twisted the throttle, “Pretty sturdy, just scratched up a bit. Should still work. If there’s no problem, better ride it away quick, vehicles will be coming through here soon.”

Sheng Xia’s body was still stiff. Hearing this, she finally shuffled to the scooter, softly thanked the guard, steadied the scooter by the handles, and took out her phone to make a call.

She didn’t dare ride anymore.

“Brother Li, I’ve had an accident…”

“Accident?” The fat boy shrugged. What kind of accident was this? He found the helpless yet serious girl by the roadside somewhat amusing.

“Stop looking, let’s go.” The thin boy’s tone was impatient. His long leg kicked off, the mountain bike’s gear shift clicking like a gun being cocked.

The bicycles passed in front of Sheng Xia, stirring up a breeze that carried the fat boy’s words to her ears.

“Shu, do you think she got nervous and jumped off because she was stunned by the sight of you?”

Sheng Xia caught in self-doubt and slight dejection: …?

A… Shu?

Where had she heard this name before? Sheng Xia instinctively turned her head.

South Li City was covered in tall camphor trees, the entire city hidden under a canopy of green shade. The sunlight filtered through, breaking into pieces, and softening the harsh summer day.

The bicycles wove through the dappled light and shadows, the boys’ unrestrained laughter gradually fading away, their thin backs disappearing around the corner.