The long week finally passed, and Monday arrived again. Zhang Shu moved to the second group, once again separated from Sheng Xia by an aisle.

As they separated their desks, Zhang Shu asked, “Did you leave anything at my desk?”

She did tend to have a lot of things scattered about, always flying around. Often in the middle of class, she’d be unable to find her pen or correction tape, and Zhang Shu would lift his workbook to reveal her belongings nine times out of ten.

Sheng Xia checked and said, “No, nothing left.”

When she saw him checking his drawer, she remembered that gift – had he seen it after all?

He showed no particular reaction or indication – either he hadn’t seen it, or he had but hadn’t connected it to her.

Either way, she was safe.

Xin Xiaohe moved to her left side again.

Watching Xin Xiaohe and Yang Linyu bicker every day was quite invigorating.

After all, as the weather grew increasingly stuffy, everyone fell into a state of lethargy. By afternoon, Sheng Xia would feel drowsy, and when Hou Junqi in front of her dozed off, she felt even more sleepy.

At times like these, she would look at Zhang Shu constantly solving problems and Xin Xiaohe’s intense focus and she wouldn’t dare feel sleepy anymore.

Surrounded by top students, the pressure doubled.

Over these few weeks, Sheng Xia felt the biggest difference between Fu Zhong and Er Zhong was the sense of urgency – there were always unfinished tasks in her mind, unabsorbed content in her brain, and her entire being was operating at high speed from body to mind.

Unable to stop.

Because everything around kept moving, kept changing.

People were like being wrapped up in a huge machine, unconsciously turning with it.

Meal times were when Sheng Xia felt most relaxed.

She liked the food at the lunch program – homestyle and delicious, nutritionally balanced.

But occasionally running into Hou Junqi and Zhang Shu could make even relaxing meal times not so relaxing.

That afternoon after school, Sheng Xia first bought cucumber juice from the Fresh Fruit House before going upstairs to eat. Zhang Shu and Hou Junqi were already eating.

Hou Junqi waved, “Little Sheng Xia, over here!”

Sheng Xia hesitated with her tray – if she didn’t go over, would it seem too obviously like she was avoiding them?

Thinking it would indeed be impolite, Sheng Xia still walked over.

At the square table, Zhang Shu and Hou Junqi sat facing each other. No matter which empty seat Sheng Xia took, she would be “guarded” by two boys.

Quite conspicuous.

She kept her head down while eating, but could see from the corner of her eye many people looking their way, including the serving aunties and… the beautiful proprietress.

“Little Sheng Xia, are you 1.66 meters tall?” Hou Junqi could never stay quiet while eating.

Sheng Xia paused slightly, unconsciously glancing at Zhang Shu.

Were they such close friends that they’d discuss such trivial matters?

She nodded, “Mm.” That was last year’s physical examination data; she seemed to have grown a bit taller.

“Are you close with Lu Youze?” Hou Junqi asked again.

The topic shift was quite abrupt, leaving Sheng Xia confused.

Lu Youze sat behind Xin Xiaohe, very close to Sheng Xia, but Lu Youze wasn’t a chatty personality either. They didn’t interact much, just discussing Wang Zengqi’s books that morning, talking a bit longer than usual.

Sheng Xia answered concisely: “Same class in middle school.”

Hou Junqi said, “Did he like tattling on people in middle school too?”

Sheng Xia: …

She looked up, “I don’t think so, I’m not sure.”

“Then you…” Hou Junqi was about to say something else when Zhang Shu interrupted by tapping his chopsticks on the edge of his tray.

“So talkative. If you’re not eating, go stand aside and do your comedy routine to lose weight.” Zhang Shu’s voice was flat, but his words weren’t polite.

Hou Junqi made a zipping motion across his lips and obediently fell silent.

Sheng Xia remained quiet, thinking Hou Junqi had it tough being friends with someone so irritable and harsh.

During evening self-study, two workers carrying ladders came to the classroom and tinkered at the podium for a while, with everyone curiously watching while resting their chins on their hands.

Finally, the workers mounted a huge countdown board and left, leaving behind a scene of widespread despair.

“Ah, why do I suddenly feel scared…”

“No way, it’s not even 300 days!”

“No, I’m still a baby!”

August was quietly reaching its end. With makeup classes finished, next week would be the official start of school – the real beginning of senior year. High school life only had the bright red numbers left on the countdown board.

286 days.

People always talked about having a whole year of senior year left, but looking at the actual date, where was there still a year?

The sense of urgency crashed over them like surging waves.

“What’s all the noise about? Knowing time is short but not seizing it, will wailing here make time longer?” Wang Wei suddenly appeared at the back door, looking sternly at the students who had gone wild.

It wasn’t Wang Wei’s evening study hall duty tonight, why was he here?

The classroom quieted down, everyone burying their heads in their work. Wang Wei called out: “Zhang Shu, come out for a moment.”

Zhang Shu tossed down his pen and stood up.

“What is it now?” Outside the classroom, before Wang Wei could speak, Zhang Shu impatiently started, “Getting first place means weekly heart-to-heart brother time? Then maybe I’ll consider getting second place next time.”

“You kid!” Wang Wei pulled out the book tucked under his arm, about to swat it at Zhang Shu’s back, but stopped halfway through raising it. He glared at his incomprehensible student, “This is important business!”

Zhang Shu: “Say it.”

Wang Wei pulled him by the shoulder to face away from the classroom, assuming his dedicated serious-business posture.

“Next week’s opening ceremony flag raising, the school arranged for you to give a speech under the flag, you…”

Before Wang Wei finished, Zhang Shu refused: “Won’t do it.”

“Is this something you can just refuse? Every year at the opening ceremony, the top senior gives younger students some study tips. You have to give the speech whether you want to or not!”

This kind of speech was just motivation.

Zhang Shu said, “What study experience can I share? What can I say – that I’m naturally gifted? It’s nothing special, just paying attention in class and finishing homework?”

Wang Wei was momentarily speechless.

“I heard your wrong-answer notebook was quite popular in the second year. Almost everyone had a copy,” Wang Wei started using soft tactics, “Why don’t you talk about how to make a wrong-answer collection?”

Huh? If Wang Wei knew he was selling wrong-answer notebooks, how did some people think he was selling pornography?

Zhang Shu laughed, “Everyone’s wrong answers must be different. Don’t know what use getting my wrong-answer notebook would be, probably just for some mystical worship.”

“You!”

Every conversation with Zhang Shu left Wang Wei half-dead from anger. He steadied his emotions and continued: “If you don’t know what to say, ask Lu Youze – he’s got lots of public speaking experience. If that doesn’t work, write something first and have Student Sheng Xia edit it for you.”

Zhang Shu relented: “Fine.”

Wang Wei sighed in relief. Though stubborn, Zhang Shu generally wouldn’t mess up things he agreed to.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Shu added, “I can’t ask them myself, why don’t you arrange it?”

Wang Wei: “Arrange what?”

“Arrange someone to edit my draft?”