People in the class finally snapped back to attention, rushing over from both sides to pull the two apart, shouting for them to let go. The two of them, locked in the scuffle, were finally pulled apart. The pear-blossom-bob girl, hair-raisingly furious, struggled to kick at Feng Ning, cursing wildly, “Are you insane? I asked Meng Taoyu to come out — what business is that of yours?”

Feng Ning, held back by others, cursed right back without any restraint. “I’m insane? Do you even have any shame? Bullying a young girl day after day — can you even sleep at night, you shameless tramp! Do you know what Article 234 of the Criminal Law says? Try touching Meng Taoyu again and see what happens!”

In other people’s words, Feng Ning at that moment looked like some kind of heroine, a modern-day Hua Mulan, swinging her blade on the battlefield and driving the enemy back step by step. She let loose with such ferocity that the pear-blossom-bob girl stood there stiff-necked, mouth open, unable to get a single word out, as if she’d just been slapped through thin air. Even the people who’d come to break up the fight stood frozen on the spot, stunned by Feng Ning’s sheer verbal firepower.

The whole commotion finally ended when a teacher arrived. The pear-blossom-bob girl forced down her fury, glared viciously at her, and left with a parting threat. “Fine, I’ll remember you. We’ll settle this later.”

In the chaos of the scuffle, Feng Ning had inevitably taken a few kicks herself. She brushed the dust off her clothes, and, unhurried, pressed a finger to her lips at the departing girl, utterly disdainful. “Shh.”

The teacher stood at the front, and the crowd quickly dispersed, everyone returning to their seats. Meng Taoyu was on the verge of tears below. “I’m sorry, you got dragged into this because of me.”

Feng Ning, completely relaxed, clicked her tongue after hearing this. “Starting that again? Let me tell you, if I don’t want to be dragged into something, no one can drag me into it. Since I chose to help you, I wasn’t afraid of being dragged in!”

She pouted, tapping Jiang Wen’s back with her pen. “Thanks for earlier, by the way.”

He didn’t even turn his head.

Qide teachers graded exams assembly-line style, so results came out quickly. The day rankings were posted, even Tie Niangzi’s usually harsh expression couldn’t hide her delight. She stood at the classroom door, scanned the room, and the class quickly quieted down.

“I’ve noticed our class’s study atmosphere is really lacking. I just walked past the other classes, and hardly anyone was running around during break — they were all heads-down studying. Now look at yourselves. Whatever slacking you do in high school, you’ll pay for it eventually.”

After a lengthy round of moral instruction, Tie Niangzi cleared her throat. “Oh, right, I also have good news to share today. Our grade has twenty-three classes total. On this placement exam’s honor roll, over thirty of our own class made it, and among the top five in the whole grade, three are from our class — fifth place, Wan Yang; second place, Jiang Wen; and first place — Feng Ning.”

The moment she finished speaking, the whole class’s attention instantly turned to a listless figure in the back row, someone who didn’t even look like they’d been paying attention.

The sudden applause startled Feng Ning out of her drowsiness. She looked around in confusion, lowering her voice to ask Meng Taoyu, “What happened?”

Meng Taoyu was thrilled, whispering, “The teacher said you got first place in the whole grade this time!”

“Oh, huh.” Feng Ning responded lazily, still half-asleep, without much energy.

Meng Taoyu poked her. “You’re not excited at all?”

“I’m used to it by now.”

“Feng Ning?? Seriously? I never would have guessed.” Zhao Binlin found it hard to believe, turning around. “Damn, that’s insane — it’s not someone with the same name, is it?”

Feng Ning wrinkled her nose, tilting her head. “Right, by the way.” Her voice carried genuine confusion, not too loud, but just loud enough for the person in front to hear. “Who got second place again?”

The person in question showed no reaction, ignoring her. Zhao Binlin, seeing Jiang Wen flustered for the first time, laughed so hard he nearly choked. “Feng Ning, you’re something else. My man here got beaten right into the ground by you — how’s that feel?”

“Tch, so I was sitting on his head, huh? Not bad, I guess.” Feng Ning, feigning surprise, then said, in that tone that made people want to kick her, “Keep working hard, Jiang, or you’ll end up resenting me.”

Zhao Binlin asked, “Huh, why would he resent you?”

Feng Ning grinned, shameless as ever. “Because he’ll be eternal runner-up forever! You have no idea how much our middle school’s second-place kid hated me.”

She paused, then clasped her hands together with a sigh. “Speaking of which, I should give special thanks to a certain classmate for encouraging me. He told me, rather than dwelling on all that nonsense, better to put my mind to studying. Crude words, but sound advice — let’s keep encouraging each other!”

Publicly humiliated by her, Jiang Wen couldn’t even react. His thin face went pale, then flushed, then a blush rose up again. It took him ages to recover from the anger.

Monday’s flag-raising ceremony. Shuang Yao came to find Feng Ning, handing over payment for the notes she’d copied. “Someone in our class heard you got first place, and now they carry your notes around all day just staring at them, it’s hilarious.”

Feng Ning happily pocketed the money. “Ah, having money is so nice. I wish someone would write notes for me too.”

Shuang Yao said, “He’s pretty satisfied. From now on just photocopy a set for him once you’re done, same price.”

As they talked, they walked downstairs, and in the blink of an eye, right after they stepped out — Feng Ning had vanished.

Shuang Yao stopped in her tracks and rolled her eyes at the person standing in front of the courtesy mirror, fixing her hair and clothes. “Girl, you really don’t need to be this shamelessly self-obsessed.”

Feng Ning fluffed her ponytail, unbothered. “Being pretty isn’t easy, I’ve got to check the mirror to make myself happy.” She lifted her chin, striking a pose. “Well, do I look good?”

Shuang Yao shook her head. “Gorgeous, disgustingly gorgeous. You’re a national treasure.”

Today it happened to be class nine’s turn to give the flag-raising speech, part of Qide’s traditional flag ceremony routine. Basically each class sent a representative up to the flag platform to read some grand, empty, inspirational essay meant to motivate students.

Tie Niangzi picked Feng Ning without the slightest hesitation.

The morning breeze carried a slight chill. She picked up the microphone, blew into it a couple of times to test it. “Can everyone hear me?”

Laughter rippled up from below.

A teacher behind frowned and reminded her, “Be serious.”

Another teacher noticed something off and murmured, “Where’s her script?”

“Hello everyone. Before I begin, let me introduce myself — I’m Feng Ning from class nine, first year. Feng as in ‘a fated encounter arriving too late,’ Ning as in ‘not a moment of peace.’ As for this speech, I actually didn’t write one, because this whole formality is a huge waste of time, and utterly meaningless — barely anyone actually listens anyway, so I might as well improvise.”

A murmur broke out at once all around. Tie Niangzi stood below, her face changing. Many people, not knowing what was going on, looked up this way, waiting to see how this show would unfold.

Under countless expectant, amused gazes, Feng Ning dropped her casual expression from a moment ago and said seriously, “I’ve recently been thinking about the value of existence. Without a clear answer, I turned to some philosophical readings for one. Marx’s theory of interest made me realize that self-interest is the sole driving force of human behavior. And so another question arises — if self-interest can explain human behavior, then what meaning does the phrase ‘meaning of life’ even carry? Is the so-called meaning of life simply the pursuit of self-interest?”

She threw herself fully into the speech. “In fact, if someone believes their own character is noble, that the meaning of life is to devote oneself, to please others, that must be the influence of Confucius’s teachings.” Feng Ning grew heated. “That’s exactly what the ruling class wants to instill in every single person, for the sake of stability — that’s how traditional moral values exert their influence over people. This is bullying the honest and the well-meaning!”

At this, the whole venue erupted into an uproar.

“If it’s not too presumptuous, I’d say devotion itself is simply one way for kind people to gain spiritual benefit. Because in devoting yourself, what you’re essentially enjoying is the pleasure your own spirit produces. In Nietzsche’s words, you love the desire, not the object of desire.”

The previously noisy venue gradually quieted down; everyone was watching her. Feng Ning’s speech picked up pace, sharp and incisive. “Most people, including everyone here today, will live out their whole lives in mediocrity, never knowing until old age what they truly want, what they love, what they should hold onto. Given that human nature is to pursue benefit and avoid harm, to please oneself, to be driven by self-interest one’s whole life — then why do soldiers, warriors, doctors, scientists exist in this world? So what I really want to say today, the conclusion I’ve worked out, is this: beyond the framework of self-interest, the one true way the strong give meaning to their existence is — faith.”

In her plain, unadorned school uniform, Feng Ning gave off, at first glance, an impression of striking, almost aggressive beauty. But now, carrying a presence utterly at odds with her appearance, she held forth grandly on the flag platform, delivering her sweeping views on life without a script, bold and unrestrained. Below, everything had descended into chaos — some applauding, some sighing, some dazed — while she remained completely composed from start to finish.

Tie Niangzi held back the dean of students, who’d wanted to interrupt Feng Ning, feeling both anger and pride at once — this was her student.

This dazzling, unrestrained speech left a strong impression on many. Some admired her, some were curious, some felt dizzy.

Everyone else was whispering among themselves, but Jiang Wen’s eyes stayed fixed only on Feng Ning.

He stood among the crowd, a hollow emptiness in his chest.

Her spirited, radiant face filled his vision entirely. So dazzling, so proud and free. As if everything revolved around her by nature, as if she were destined to be the center of it all, as if everyone ought to lose their minds over her.

Before he even realized it, he had already begun to submit to her.

After the flag ceremony dispersed.

“That was seriously badass, I’ve never seen a girl that cool.” On the way back, Xi Gaoyuan kept marveling and buzzing with excitement over it.

“Remember, she’s the one who talked to me about the value of existence that time,” Zhao Binlin said, grinning, showing off to those around him. “And she got first place in the grade this time too!”

The others chimed in agreement. Jiang Wen walked alongside them, saying nothing.

Ji Chiyang, from class four, looked thoroughly interested. “Her name’s Feng Ning, right? Help me find out if she has a boyfriend.”

Xi Gaoyuan laughed lecherously. “What do you mean by that?”

“If she doesn’t, I’m going to go ask for her contact info.”

“Damn, you haven’t even broken up with your last one yet and you’re already onto the next? What a player!”

Ji Chiyang let out a sharp breath. “I have a feeling I’ve found true love this time.”

Someone cut in, tone flat and irritated. “Don’t get any ideas about her.”

Before Ji Chiyang could react, he let out a startled “ah.”

“I said, don’t get any ideas about her.” Under their astonished gazes, Jiang Wen looked at him and repeated it once more.

Author’s note: Tomorrow’s update will still be at seven in the evening. I’ll keep the apology notice for Author P and their fans posted for a month before removing it, and once again I’m sorry for the trouble this has caused.