While Shi Qing was engrossed in pretending to study (not really) and encouraging his classmates, the school teachers grew fonder of him with each passing day.
Who wouldn't like a good student who not only worked hard for their own studies but also motivated other struggling students?
Especially when Shi Qing displayed such a caring attitude. He took it upon himself to tutor the less fortunate students, including Zhuo Junli, not only helping them improve their grades but also relieving them of worries about tuition fees and study materials.
Every time a teacher walked into the classroom and saw the school bully Shi Qing, who would diligently recite the lesson even during break time, they couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.
After teaching for so many years, it was the first time a student had voluntarily started using a respirator even before the teacher could intervene and had taken the initiative to provide oxygen to others in need. It was truly heartening.
If all students worldwide could exhibit self-discipline like Shi Qing and also warmly guide others, wouldn't the world be a better place?
The teacher found Shi Qing increasingly admirable.
Take today's evening self-study session, for instance. In their school, evening self-study was meant to be just that—students were expected to study on their own, and teachers generally didn't sit in the classrooms.
However, every class teacher had a knack for mysteriously appearing in various places during the evening self-study.
—Through the crack in the back door.
—Through the middle window.
—On the front door, for the convenience of supervision, there was glass.
They didn't inform anyone before arriving, and their appearance had no set pattern. They often used cat-like agility to move silently and go unnoticed before making themselves visible.
Then, they would silently, stealthily, and soundlessly scan the students in the classroom with their soul-piercing, X-ray-like eyes, from top to bottom and bottom to top.
Their main focus areas: students whispering, students hiding their hands in desk holes, and students whose gazes were locked on a stack of books.
Usually, behind those stacks of books, students hid their phones or extra study materials.
Today's class teacher was no exception. With a graceful movement, he had avoided the glass on the front door and appeared at the middle window.
He only showed half of his body, and his eyes, puffy from receding hairline, stared intently at the students in the classroom.
After nearly half a minute of scrutiny, someone in the previously noisy classroom finally noticed the teacher's presence and hushed up. They even prodded the person next to them to alert them.
Then, more and more people noticed him.
In less than half a minute, the classroom transformed from a place of chatter and laughter into complete silence. Students either diligently read their books or pretended to, pens in hand.
Although it was highly likely that their pen tips weren't actually touching the paper.
Under this false pretense of calm, the teacher found that two students had not changed at all since he arrived.
It was Shi Qing and Zhuo Junli.
Every student seemed to have a built-in radar for teachers. Even if they hadn't seen the teacher arrive, they would quiet down as soon as the surroundings did. They would lower their heads, feigning intense focus on their books or busily jotting down notes.
Of course, this radar occasionally malfunctioned. For example, when everyone stopped talking suddenly and those who wanted to speak thought the teacher had arrived, they stayed silent, heads down.
After a while, when they realized the teacher hadn't come, the previously quiet classroom would suddenly erupt with noise, like a flock of noisy ducks.
But Shi Qing and Zhuo Junli remained perfectly calm, whether or not the teacher was present. They didn't change their demeanor, not even their actions.
Even their movements remained consistent.
The teacher entered the classroom through the front door, watching as Shi Qing lazily leaned against Zhuo Junli's shoulder, holding his Chinese textbook like a boss. He felt a sense of satisfaction.
This was how students should be—unafraid of scrutiny. Furthermore, their relationship seemed harmonious. Thinking back to the past when Shi Qing used to bully Zhuo Junli openly or subtly, it was heartwarming to see how things had changed.
Of course, as a teacher, even though he felt proud and gratified inside, he had to maintain a stern demeanor. He walked to the front of the classroom and began admonishing them.
"I could hear your voices from downstairs! It's too noisy! Why aren't you quiet?"
"As we walked here, it was our class that was the loudest. Isn't that embarrassing? You're all in your second year of high school! Second year! After this comes the third year, and beyond that is the college entrance exam! Time is ticking! You're wasting precious time! Don't you want to go to college?"
Zhuo Junli listened to the teacher's heartfelt words without a flicker of emotion. After all, teachers always said such things, and every teacher had the same spiel.
He devoted all his attention to Shi Qing, who was playing with his fingers openly while the teacher spoke. Why fingers, you might ask? Well, it was the middle of winter, and everyone was bundled up like rice dumplings. Just being able to show their hands was a luxury.
Of course, for Shi Qing, even if they were dumplings, Zhuo Junli was the most handsome one.
The teacher continued with his scolding, "You guys! You are the worst-performing class I've ever taught!"
Shi Qing's hand left Zhuo Junli's finger and moved downward, stopping at the base of his hand, where the blood vessels were more prominent due to his fair skin. Shi Qing gently traced these veins that stood out slightly, seemingly discovering something fascinating, and tapped on this relatively soft bone, caressing it gently.
"You think I don't care about you? I'm telling you, your grades are your own, not mine. The benefits of getting into a good college are also yours, not mine. It has nothing to do with me. Now, if I'm strict with you and you think I'm not good, let me tell you, when you grow up, graduate, and enter society, that's when you'll see if I'm good or not!"
Shi Qing began to press on the veins on Zhuo Junli's hand back. Like most guys, his veins were slightly raised but not very prominent, appearing quite flat until you touched them to feel the difference.
As Shi Qing's touch deviated from his usual style and became more gentle and different, Zhuo Junli, with his light brown eyes, gazed softly at Shi Qing, who was still focused on his hand.
Shi Qing raised his eyes and met his gaze, instinctively narrowing his long, narrow eyes, a slight curve forming on his lips.
Everything flowed naturally.
Further back in the classroom, Lu Tao, who was sitting in the very back, rubbed his eyes. Strange, why did it feel like there were pink bubbles surrounding Shi Ge and Zhuo Junli?
The teacher, back at the front of the classroom, shifted his focus to Shi Qing, saying, "Here, I want to commend a student, Shi Qing."
Hearing his name, the school bully, Shi Qing, who had been leisurely playing with his classmate's hand, lifted his head to look up.
The teacher spoke about him with a touch of excitement, "Shi Qing's academic performance wasn't great before, and he used to enjoy playing around. But he's shown a sense of urgency recently. Not only is he working hard himself, but he's also motivating other students to study diligently. He actively tutors Zhuo Junli after class, and in a short time, their grades have improved significantly."
"This is a classic example! It doesn't matter if you start late or work slowly. There's still time! As long as you don't give up and start working hard now, even if your grades are poor, you can recover!"
Being praised didn't make the school bully uneasy. He continued to touch Zhuo Junli's hand, calmly looking up at the teacher.
The teacher didn't find Shi Qing's attitude problematic. After all, he was accustomed to this unruly student. It didn't matter; as long as he focused on his studies, other matters were secondary.
Having delivered his motivational speech, the teacher left the classroom.
Not long after he left, the classroom that had fallen silent erupted in noise once again.
Lu Tao, that guy, scurried forward like a monkey, saying, "Shi Ge, the supermarket seems to be selling red strings, you know, the ones you tie on your wrist. Do you want to buy one?"
Shi Qing leaned on Zhuo Junli, his brows furrowed in disdain, "What do I need that for?"
"I'm telling you, Shi Ge, this red string has significance. Even though it's just one yuan each, the school is buzzing about it. They say that if you buy one and give it to someone you like, you'll be together forever."
He winked at Shi Qing, "If you buy this and give it to someone, hehehe."
The school bully was skeptical, "Is it for real? Only one yuan, can it be that effective?"
Zhuo Junli, however, remained composed and asked, "You said everyone is talking about it, but who started spreading this?"
Lu Tao replied, "It was the supermarket owner's son."
"Hmph."
Shi Qing chuckled, "You know it was started by him, and you still believe it? He's just trying to make money by selling their stuff."
Just as Tong Xinyu, who had stopped to listen, twisted and fidgeted, walking over with a shy and embarrassed expression.
"Um, actually, this red string can't be that effective as everyone knows. The main point of buying it is to convey a message. Even though it costs only one yuan, the idea is that if you give someone the red string, they'll understand your feelings. If they have similar feelings, they might also buy a red string and give it to you as a sort of confession token."
She spoke in a hushed tone, "If it were me, and someone I liked gave me a red string, I would be very happy."
Yes, she was dropping hints like crazy.
It had been so many days, and logically, if Shi Qing or Zhuo Junli had feelings for her, they should have confessed by now.
But Watermelon hadn't confessed.
Sesame hadn't confessed either.
This didn't make sense.
Tong Xinyu thought it over. While it was possible that Zhuo Junli might not like her, in the entire class, apart from her, he had never interacted with any other girls.
As for Shi Qing, he had always been possessive of Zhuo Junli, blocking him from getting close to her.
If Shi Qing didn't like her, could it be that he liked Zhuo Junli instead?!
Tong Xinyu knew herself well and, combined with what she had accidentally seen with a senior student last time, she worried that if her male god didn't confess soon, she might shift her affections elsewhere.
So, she began advocating the red string like a promoter.
"You can't buy much with just one yuan, but if you buy this red string and give it to someone you like, it becomes priceless."
"It's not just an ordinary red string; it symbolizes love."
"This red string is even waterproof; you don't need to take it off even when you shower. Just imagine, no matter when or where, the red string you gave your loved one will be worn on their wrist. It's like you're always with them. How beautiful is that?"
Shi Qing's eyes gradually lit up.
"What you're saying makes sense."
Even Zhuo Junli, with his handsome face, had a pensive expression and nodded.
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah!!! Tong Xinyu was screaming inside her heart! What's going on? What do these male gods mean? Do they all plan to buy red strings and give them to her? Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God! Happiness came too suddenly; she felt like she was about to faint with excitement.
What should she do? What if it's really what she thinks, and she has to choose someone to respond to?
Zhuo Junli is gentle, well-mannered, and easy to talk to, suitable for someone straightforward and easygoing.
Shi Qing is assertive and uncompromising, suitable for someone warm-hearted.
Tong Xinyu felt like she was neither of these.
Forget it! Whoever confesses first, she'll accept!
After school, Tong Xinyu, filled with excitement, watched as Shi Qing and Zhuo Junli packed up and left the classroom, and she quickly followed. She certainly didn't want to stalk them creepily; she just wanted to go to the supermarket to buy a red string and "coincidentally" check if the two male gods were buying red strings too.
Tong Xinyu casually walked behind the crowd, following Shi Qing and Zhuo Junli.
She watched them as they chatted while walking, Shi Qing laughing happily, and Zhuo Junli looking at him with a gentle smile. Whichever one she looked at, they were both exceptionally pleasing to the eye.
When they arrived at the supermarket, Tong Xinyu nervously adjusted her angle and wished she had a telescope to get a closer look.
After a while, Shi Qing and Zhuo Junli emerged from the supermarket, each holding a red string packaged in a transparent bag.
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah!!! Tong Xinyu let out another groundhog-like scream in her heart.
Red strings! Just as she suspected! They're coming down the steps! They're walking in her direction! Zhuo Junli is already unwrapping his! Has he noticed her?
Ah, ah, ah, ah, he's unwrapping it! Tong Xinyu held her breath, and then she saw:
In the dim light on a nearly deserted path, the handsome young men took out their red strings. Shi Qing, with a gentle expression, lowered his eyes and put it on Zhuo Junli's wrist. Tong Xinyu: "???"
The usually aloof school bully didn't pull his hand away, letting Zhuo Junli put the red string on him.
And she couldn't hear it, but Shi Qing, with an arrogant expression that seemed to say, "Since you've gone this far, I'll generously grant your wish," reluctantly said as he put his red string on Zhuo Junli's wrist, "You gave me yours, so I'll give you mine."
Seeing Shi Qing put his red string on Zhuo Junli's wrist, Tong Xinyu: "..."
She just stood there, staring in disbelief as her two male gods exchanged red strings.
Then, the two gods, who were both top-notch in terms of looks and physique, leaned affectionately against each other and walked down another path, heading towards the dormitory.
Tong Xinyu was still standing there: "..."
She stared dumbfounded at the backs of her two male gods.
And then, in her mind, she inexplicably remembered her previous thoughts. She had been worrying that Zhuo Junli was gentle and easy to talk to, while Shi Qing was assertive and uncompromising, and she felt like she didn't match either of them.
As it turned out, they complemented each other perfectly.
After thinking for a long, long time with her mind in chaos, Tong Xinyu finally faced the reality with a shattered teenage heart and a sense of hopelessness.
So, her two male gods...
They were meant for each other...
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