After staying at home for more than a month, the day finally arrived for school to start. This was my first time going to school in another city, so my parents attached great importance to it. They packed up all the living necessities in advance and rushed to Beiyuan City early in the morning with bags and bundles. Of course, Beinan High School was located in the south of Beiyuan City, and it took two bus rides to get there. The ticket seller rolled their eyes at us as we struggled with our bedding and blankets.
Upon arriving at the school, we were surprised to find out that the dormitory already provided bedding and blankets. Helpless, my parents had to carry everything back again.
After settling in the dormitory, it was time to report to the class. Coming to a new school and meeting new classmates naturally filled me with excitement. Each unfamiliar face seemed so familiar and friendly. Everyone greeted each other and asked where the other came from. I happily chatted with everyone, enjoying the harmonious relationship among classmates that I hadn't experienced in a long time. Remembering the bad relationships I had with classmates in junior high, I felt especially grateful for everything now.
At this moment, a girl in the class caught my attention. With her curly hair, doll-like face, gentle voice, and fair skin, my heart raced. I unconsciously leaned closer and smiled as I asked, "Hello, my name is Wang Hao, what's your name?"
"I'm Xia Xue," the girl replied with a gentle smile, making her look even more beautiful.
Back in junior high, how could I have faced such a smile? My mood became even more joyful. Beinan High School was indeed great; everyone was an outstanding student from various places, and there would definitely be no one like Zou Yang, that despicable person! After chatting with Xia Xue for a while, the school broadcast announced that everyone should bring their own stools to the playground for the freshman assembly. I volunteered to help Xia Xue carry her stool, and she smiled and agreed. Walking beside Xia Xue with two stools in hand on Beinan High School's campus, I felt like a free bird, as if I had been given a brand new life.
No, it wasn't just a feeling; it was indeed a new beginning. The willow branches danced lightly in the breeze along the road. During the freshman assembly, I sat next to Xia Xue. Breathing in the faint fragrance from her, I felt intoxicated. After the principal finally finished speaking, everyone dispersed, and I returned to the classroom with Xia Xue. Soon after, the class teacher arrived. He was a handsome young man in his thirties, causing many girls in the class to swoon.
"My name is Ge Chen," the class teacher wrote his name on the blackboard. "If you have any questions in the future, feel free to come to me."
The class teacher chatted happily with everyone. All of this was the campus life I had dreamed of and looked forward to. Handsome teachers, harmonious classmates—I felt like a fish returning to the river, swimming freely. Since seating arrangements hadn't been made yet, everyone sat wherever they liked. I seized the opportunity and sat next to Xia Xue, and we even discussed sitting together if we had the chance.
After a while, the seating arrangement began. Just as the class teacher was about to speak, he received a phone call. After a couple of "Mm-hmm" sounds, he hung up and said to everyone, "We have another new student reporting today. Let's wait for him before arranging the seats."
Arriving late on the first day, I wondered who this student was. There was a whispering among the classmates, and Xia Xue quietly said to me, "He must have entered through the back door!" I nodded in agreement, showing disdain for such students.
After a while, the classroom door was knocked. The class teacher walked over, opened the door, and led the late student to the platform.
My breath stopped at that moment, and my fists involuntarily clenched.
That tall and chubby boy, like a recurring nightmare, stood on the platform not far from me.
The class teacher warmly introduced him to everyone, patting his shoulder with enthusiasm and saying, "Introduce yourself to everyone!"
"Hello, everyone, I'm Zou Yang," his voice rang out, and the class listened quietly as he spoke. "My academic performance is not that great. I entered Beinan High School based on my basketball talent. I hope everyone can give me more guidance in the future!"
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Zou Yang flashed a sunny smile and scanned each classmate with his gaze. Undeniably, he had a strong presence, born with a leadership demeanor from his privileged family background. Everyone applauded warmly, evidently welcoming this new classmate.
Zou Yang continued to smile, looking friendly and sunny to everyone except me.
"Zou Yang will be our class monitor from now on!" the class teacher announced cheerfully from the platform, and the classmates cheered enthusiastically.
I knew it was over, everything was over. My eyes closed, and the world went dark.
Before this, I was full of fantasies and expectations for Beinan High School. This was the beginning of my dream. I could get along well with everyone here, even sit with the girl I liked. But with Zou Yang's arrival, everything fell apart.
Light turned into darkness, and living felt like dying.
With Zou Yang's methods, he could easily make my life miserable at Beinan High School.
This guy, why did he even get into Beinan High School! What basketball talent, clearly he just bribed his way in through the back door!
My anger was useless, and I watched helplessly as Zou Yang went from entering the classroom to becoming the class monitor in just over a minute. Winning the favor of teachers and classmates also took just over a minute. This guy was powerful, but he happened to be my enemy.
I felt like I couldn't breathe. The classmates, who were still unaware, would start ostracizing and bullying me under Zou Yang's leadership from tomorrow onwards...
Xia Xue noticed something was wrong with me and asked quietly, "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing," I shook my head. What could I say? What dared I say?
"Alright, everyone quiet down," the class teacher clapped his hands. "Let's start arranging the seats now."
Zou Yang casually found a seat, and I didn't dare to look at him. Students with good grades could choose their seats first, but my grades, although fifth in the whole junior high school, were now bottom-tier in this prestigious high school. As everyone chose their seats, Xia Xue also sat in the middle of the class, immediately surrounded by a group of admirers. When it was my turn, only seats in the back were left to choose from, so I looked around and sat next to a bespectacled student. I just needed to avoid sitting next to Zou Yang.
As everyone gradually sat down, Zou Yang sat in the last row, diagonally across from me. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, but he didn't look at me. Instead, he chatted with the people around him, occasionally showing a happy smile. It seemed like he had already bonded with them. I looked at the bespectacled student next to me; although my wish to sit with Xia Xue had been dashed, it was still necessary to establish a good relationship with my new desk mate.
"Hello, I'm Wang Hao," I smiled and said to him.
"Oh, I'm Liu Zihong," Liu Zihong scratched his head, seeming a bit awkward.
I breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed like my new desk mate wouldn't join in if Zou Yang bullied me.
"We're friends from now on," I said with a smile. "We study together, eat together, what do you think?"
"Sure," Liu Zihong looked quite happy, obviously lacking friends.
The class teacher said a few more words about rules and regulations, then let everyone have free time until formal classes in the afternoon. After he left, the class erupted into noise, with everyone chatting with their classmates. "Everyone, quiet down!" Zou Yang's voice suddenly rang out. He was sitting behind me, and I could clearly hear his voice. Since I had a fear of him, I immediately stopped talking.
He stood up, and his voice became louder. "It's fate that we can gather in one class. I suggest we go out for lunch together at noon. How about it?"
"Great, no problem! Anyone wants to drink?" A voice from the front row, belonging to a teenager with dyed blonde hair exuding a rebellious air, asked. Just now, Xia Xue mentioned that he seemed to be a local student from Beiyuan City who had entered the prestigious class through connections.
The area around Li Jie, as I heard the class teacher call him, was surrounded by several rough-looking boys who were his followers. They clapped the table and shouted, "Drink, drink, drink!" Obviously, they were Li Jie's lackeys.
"Drinking at such a young age!" Liu Zihong next to me whispered, his face showing a surprised expression.
"Yeah, that's right," I agreed. I couldn't imagine drinking at just sixteen years old.
"Going out for lunch, how are we splitting the bill?" Another voice from another corner asked. "It's the first day of school, and we haven't even collected class fees yet."
"Don't worry, I'll treat everyone!"
Even though I didn't turn my head, I could hear Zou Yang patting his chest. With over forty students in the class, he was going to treat everyone to lunch. He was indeed a rich second-generation; not everyone had the courage to do this.
The class erupted with excitement. Some were surprised, some were delighted, and some cheered. "Great, class monitor treats us to lunch!" "Class monitor, what does your family do? So rich!" "Class monitor, is it just lunch? What about drinks?" The last question came from Li Jie.
"I'll cover everything!" Zou Yang laughed heartily.
I clearly felt that the way classmates looked at Zou Yang had changed; some girls even looked at the last row with admiration.
But I never once turned to look at Zou Yang; I was afraid that if our eyes met, he would start mocking me in front of the whole class.
So, from beginning to end, I kept my head down. Liu Zihong was also a silent type; he didn't say a word from start to finish. Having such a silent desk mate was both a blessing and a curse for me.