131 Revisiting Old Haunts

"From the very first day you stepped into this classroom, there should have been only one thought in your minds: treat every single day as if it were the day before the college entrance exam."

"If the exam were tomorrow, would you still be as relaxed and stress-free as you are now?"

"Learning is like rowing against the current; if you do not advance, you fall back."

After a long-winded lecture that lasted the entire period, the bell rang. Qian Rong scanned the classroom with a cold gaze. "I want an essay from everyone tonight. Choose your own topic, but let me know how you plan to spend these three years of high school and whether you can actually stick to your plans. Once finished, hand them to You Xin. You Xin, collect the assignments and bring them to my office. That is all. Class dismissed. You Xin, come with me."

Only after Qian Rong led You Xin out of the classroom did the students finally let out a collective sigh of relief.

As soon as class ended, Sun Xiaoxiao and Zhao Qian turned around to chat with the others.

"Wow, she's such a fierce teacher," Sun Xiaoxiao said, patting her chest. "The way she looked at me, I almost didn't dare to breathe."

"I know, right? If we have to be taught by her for three years, how are we supposed to survive?" Zhao Qian nodded, mimicking Qian Rong’s stiff demeanor and giving an exaggerated shiver, which made Lin Xia and Xie Xitong laugh.

"My brother says this teacher is actually very capable," Xie Xitong said. "She has over twenty years of teaching experience, a deep foundation in Chinese literature, and she has always taught the experimental classes and served as a homeroom teacher. She may be strict, but then again, a strict teacher produces brilliant students. Since we are in an experimental class, it’s only right that the teacher is a bit tougher."

"Exactly, and it's high time someone powerful came along to tame you, you little monkey," Lin Xia teased Sun Xiaoxiao.

At this, Sun Xiaoxiao flopped onto Lin Xia’s desk and wailed, "Oh heaven, I can already foresee how miserable my future days will be."

"Oh, stop it. With your personality, I bet you’ll be back to your old ways in two days," Zhao Qian rolled her eyes. "By the way, Xiaxia, we’re coming over to your place this Saturday. Is everything ready? Is there anything we need to prepare?"

"That's right!" Mentioning this brought Sun Xiaoxiao back to life. She sat up, excited. "We definitely need to bring snacks, and fruit. Oh, and that little speaker we brought on the last outing—we can find a lawn and sing songs. And, and, we should bring a small mahjong set so we can play."

Xie Xitong chuckled. "We aren't staying overnight, why bring mahjong? Bring some food. Umbrellas and sunscreen should be enough."

Lin Xia smiled, "No need for mahjong; there won't be a table to play on. But we could bring two decks of cards. Playing 'Upgrading' or 'Thousand Points' out in the countryside would be quite nice."

"True, cards will work. As for mahjong, we can do that when we have time to go to a resort for a hot spring soak. Then we can play. Haha, four of us will be just enough for one table," Sun Xiaoxiao said with a grin.

Just as they were laughing, You Xin walked over. "What are you all talking about? You seem so high-spirited."

"We’re talking about our trip this Saturday."

"Is that the trip to Xiaxia's hometown?"

"Yes, that's the one. We'll set a time and let you know," Xie Xitong nodded. "By the way, what did the teacher want with you just now?"

"She wanted me to be the class monitor. But you know my temperament; I’m not really suited for that, so I suggested she choose someone else who could shoulder the responsibility," You Xin said with a gentle smile that put everyone at ease.

Xie Xitong laughed, "It sounds like the class officers won't be directly appointed by the teacher after all; there will be an election."

"If that’s the case, I’m going to roll up my sleeves and give it a real shot," Sun Xiaoxiao said, clearly interested, as she had been a class officer for all three years of middle school.

A few more words were exchanged before the next bell rang.

Qian Rong stepped into the room just as the bell finished, observing the silence that fell the moment she entered. She nodded. "Now that everyone is here, I originally planned to hold a class meeting tonight to elect officers and representatives, and then rearrange the seating. However, a student suggested that I don’t know you well enough yet, and that my understanding is limited only to your entrance exam scores—and a good class officer shouldn't be judged by scores alone. Therefore, I’ve decided that this election will be democratic. We will hold a vote in a week, and whoever gets the most votes will take the position!"

As soon as she finished, the room began to buzz with discussion.

Electing class officers themselves was unprecedented. In elementary and middle school, teachers always made direct appointments, and high school was usually no different. The students were hesitant, whispering to one another.

Seeing this, Qian Rong let out two sharp coughs, and the room went silent instantly.

"I hope everyone will actively participate in class activities." Fearing the students might think that becoming a class officer would hinder their studies, she added, "You should know that once you become an officer or a subject representative, you’ll have more opportunities to interact with your teachers, making it easier to ask questions when you're confused."

The students’ eyes lit up at this.

Everything is driven by self-interest. What do students care about most?

Grades!

And what do they fight for? The favor and attention of their teachers.

Impressive. She managed to stir the enthusiasm of the entire class in just a few short sentences. This teacher wasn't as stiff and dull as she looked, Lin Xia thought to herself.

It made sense; once you enter society, everywhere is a battlefield. If you can survive here, you must have some tricks up your sleeve. By calling You Xin out earlier, besides discussing his grades, she had also signaled that she would treat their group differently.

You Xin was close to them; if something happened, telling You Xin was the same as telling them.

After all, Xie Xitong’s father was the principal. If she sucked up to her too obviously, it would not only invite gossip but also hinder her ability to manage the class.

A clever way to curry favor is to be subtle enough that the principal knows, but others do not.

"Alright, use the remaining time for self-study to write the assignment I gave you last period. You Xin, bring the assignments to my office after class. Two periods should be enough time." With that, the students took out their paper and pens and began to write.

Qian Rong stayed in the classroom for about ten minutes, and seeing that everyone was obediently writing, she left. It was only the first day of school, and there was still a lot of work to be done.

"Hey," as soon as Qian Rong left, Sun Xiaoxiao turned around and whispered, "I heard the dorm conditions in high school are quite good. I really want to live on campus!"

Lin Xia shook her head with a smile. She had never lived in a dorm, so it seemed fresh to her. But she knew that if she really moved in, she would probably want to go home within two days.

In a public space like a dormitory, you are with a crowd of people at all times; there is no such thing as privacy. What underwear you bought today, what you hung out to dry tomorrow, what sleeping habits you have—everyone knows everything.

If you happen to have a roommate with a loose tongue, they’ll make sure everyone knows. In her previous life, the ridicule she faced over her flat chest had caused her introverted personality to become even more reclusive, nearly bordering on social isolation.

That aside, there was no freedom of time. There were rules for when to get hot water and when the lights had to be turned off. She needed to write, and even though her own schedule was regular, if inspiration struck, a dormitory was not the best place to be.

Not to mention, she had the Heaven-defying secret of her spatial dimension.

That was why, when she was choosing a place to live, Lin Xia had considered all these aspects, which led her to choose this residential area closest to the high school.

Hearing this, Xie Xitong felt a bit of longing, but thinking about living in a dorm with so many people made her hesitate.

"If the four of us were in the same room, I’d love to live on campus. But if I had to live with strangers, the thought of everything being under someone else's gaze makes me lose interest," Xie Xitong whispered.

"That's true. If I had to live with strangers, I might as well live alone," Sun Xiaoxiao agreed.

"Alright, stop talking. It’s not too late to discuss it after we finish our essays," Zhao Qian said, pulling Sun Xiaoxiao back to her work.

A warm breeze blew in through the car window, bringing a soothing breath of air.

Lin Xia leaned lazily against the back of the seat, chatting aimlessly with Xie Xitong, while Sun Xiaoxiao and Zhao Qian watched the scenery pass by with keen interest.

At first, they were full of excitement, but as time passed, they grew tired and bored, eventually turning around to join the conversation.

Zhao Xin, sitting in the passenger seat, laughed, "You four are glued together every day; how do you still have so much to talk about? I really don't know where you find all these topics." In her past and present lives, she never had many friends she could talk to like this.

Chen Zimo, who was driving, teased, "Exactly. When the four of them get together, they are so noisy—it’s like they're going to bring the roof down."

Xie Xitong pouted in protest, "It’s not as exaggerated as my brother says."

Sun Xiaoxiao chimed in, "Tongtong, don't listen to Brother Chen. He's just green with envy. By the way, Xiaxia, what's the itinerary for today? Tell us in advance so we can be prepared."

Lin Xia’s family had moved into the city, then her second aunt and the others moved as well, and later her uncle, Xia Miao, returned from out of town and started a small business in Rong City. Her eldest aunt was in the countryside, and her fourth aunt had gone to Honghu, so there was no one left in Xishui Town to cook for them. Lin Xia had decided they would eat breakfast before leaving; after all, they had a car with air conditioning, so they didn't have to worry about the sun.

Today, the weather was in their favor—partly cloudy with a gentle breeze. The sun only peeked out occasionally, making it the perfect day for an outing.

"First, we’ll go to my house and park the car. Then we’ll walk along the main street of Xishui Town, see the elementary school I attended, and then I’ll take you to the floodgate to see the Four Lakes River. Watching the sunset from there is truly a unique experience..."

Lin Xia hadn't even finished when she heard Xie Xitong shout, "A cow! A cow! Why is there a cow blocking the middle of the road?"