Chapter 70

◎The new transfer student◎

Before the physical education class the next day, Zhan Xinyue did not go downstairs immediately after leaving the classroom, but waited for someone on the railing outside the door.

When most of the people in the classroom had left, Shi Ziqian finally appeared at the door, and Zhan Xinyue immediately called out to him.

Shi Ziqian glanced at her and slowly walked over: "What's wrong?"

Zhan Xinyue spoke solemnly: "Shi Ziqian, I have thought about it carefully."

Shi Ziqian said, "Don't say it."

Zhan Xinyue paused for a moment, but continued, "You are a very good deskmate, and I have long considered you a friend, but I can't reciprocate your feelings. It's impossible for us, it will never be possible."

She finished speaking in one breath, and Shi Ziqian remained silent for a long time.

Zhan Xinyue was about to say something more when she suddenly heard his very soft voice: "I didn't expect a response from you. Is it really a burden for you if I just like you one-sidedly?"

Zhan Xinyue shook her head: "I just think it's better for both of us to be clear about things. I have to respond to what you said that day, and I need to let you know my thoughts, otherwise wouldn't I be keeping you hanging in the air?"

“No.” Shi Ziqian’s eyes were lowered, his long eyelashes casting a small shadow on his eyelids. “You can not respond to me, just like you said, keep me hanging on, and I would rather you do that.”

Zhan Xinyue remained silent for a long time before whispering, "I'm sorry."

"Don't say sorry." Shi Ziqian gently rubbed his temples with his index finger, his voice a little low. "You did nothing wrong."

Shi Ziqian left, and Zhan Xinyue silently watched his retreating figure, feeling even more uneasy.

Because she knew the weight of their feelings in his heart, she felt she needed to handle the matter more decisively.

She didn't have much experience in dealing with relationship issues. She was initially convinced that her decisive approach was the best for both him and herself, but at this moment, she became uncertain again.

However, no matter what, what she said was not wrong.

She was very clear that it was simply impossible for the two of them to be together.

Behind the classroom is a small balcony, which is used to store mops and brooms and is rarely used.

During break, Xu Shen pushed open the door to the back balcony of the classroom, leaned on the railing, and gazed into the distance.

This spot faces the basketball court, and a class that was having PE class next period was walking over in twos and threes.

"Hey, all alone in the wind. Trying to look serious?" Yu Bai saw his back through the classroom door, then pushed the door open and came in, making the already cramped space feel even more crowded.

"Whoever's pretending to be profound, get lost." Xu Shen's gaze remained fixed on the distance.

"What are you looking at so intently?" Yu Bai mimicked him, leaning against the railing and gazing at the view. "I saw you sneaking in here as soon as get out of class ended. What mischief are you up to hiding here?"

"What bad things could I possibly do? I'll just watch the PE class downstairs," Xu Shen said lazily.

"PE class?" Yu Bai craned his neck to look. "What's so interesting about PE class? Which class is next?"

Xu Shen smiled but remained silent.

"What are you laughing at? Say something."

Xu Shen said helplessly, "What do you think?"

"What did I say?" Yu Bai looked at his smiling expression with confusion, then suddenly realized, "Class 10?"

"Otherwise what?" Xu Shen said calmly.

Yu Bai clicked his tongue, then suddenly remembered something: "Oh right, didn't you say you invited her to watch your game the other day? Did she come?"

"It seems he didn't come," Xu Shen said.

Yu Bai: "How heartless."

Hsu Shen: "The sidelines were so crowded that day, so if they didn't come, they didn't come."

"What kind of love-struck nonsense are you talking about?" Yu Bai frowned. "Although she is indeed quite pretty, I feel like she doesn't seem to be interested in you. Every time I saw you two together before, she didn't seem to have a good look on her face. Are you just having a one-sided crush on her?"

"Don't talk nonsense," Xu Shen said. "You know, everyone in her class says she has a very good temper and is very gentle."

Yu Bai: "So?"

Xu Shen smiled and said, “So you see, she’s only a bit short-tempered with me.”

Yu Bai was completely speechless: "Seriously, what are you so smug about?"

Xu Shen looked at him, put his hand on his shoulder, and gently straightened his collar: "She is gentle to everyone, but she is only impatient with me. This is blatant discrimination. Doesn't that mean I am different from others in her heart?"

Yu Bai felt uneasy at his laughter and took a step back: "I say, you people who are immersed in love are really scary. I think you seem a little mentally unstable."

Xu Shen let go of her hand: "Forget it, you wouldn't understand even if I told you. A girl's mind is very subtle. She has never rejected me, which speaks volumes. Besides, she's been much nicer to me lately, and she even smiles at me."

"I don't understand, because I don't have your masochistic tendencies."

Xu Shen smiled again, unconcerned, and turned back to look downstairs.

"From this distance, how can you tell who's who? You're just watching for fun," Yu Bai retorted.

Their classroom is on the fifth floor. From here, the people on the playground look smaller than a fingernail.

“I can see clearly,” Xu Shen said. “Go get yourself a pair of glasses.”

“My eyesight is 1.5 in both eyes,” Yu Bai said. “If you can see clearly, tell me where that girl is.”

"That's it." Xu Shen casually pointed down to the flagpole, stared at it for a while, and then laughed. "Why are you so serious? You're even reading during PE class."

Yu Bai carefully examined the faces in the direction he pointed, but still found them all blurry. He couldn't help but exclaim in amazement, "You're really something! I don't know whether to say you have good eyesight or that the power of love is great!"

Xu Shen said, "Is it possible... for both of the reasons you mentioned to exist simultaneously?"

Yu Bai clicked her tongue again, tilting her head to examine him closely: "I didn't realize you were such a romantic."

"Little Bai, you'll understand when you reach my age," Xu Shen said in a profound tone.

"Get lost! Who's Xiaobai!" Yu Bai slapped him. "Besides, I'm clearly two months older than you, okay? I'm your older brother, aren't I!"

Xu Shen moved aside and said, "Alright, you're too noisy. Go do what you're supposed to do and let me have some peace and quiet." As he spoke, he opened the door and pushed Yu Bai out.

"Damn, you really have no heart when it comes to girls. You're starting to find your good brother annoying, aren't you?" Yu Bai shouted, holding the door. "Look at you, like a statue waiting for your husband. If you ask me, if you really like her that much, you might as well just marry into her class. That way you won't have to look at her from so far away."

Xu Shen stared at him for a moment, then a smile suddenly appeared on his face.

"You make a lot of sense."

Then, without any hesitation, she closed the door.

Yu Bai stared at the door, dumbfounded: "No, what I said makes no sense at all?"

Soon, following the incident last week where Xu Shen's parents were called in because of the arts festival, the news that he was going to transfer to another class spread like wildfire once again.

"I just passed by Lao Fang's office and saw him still standing inside." Lu Meng returned from outside the classroom with firsthand information. "That kid is really stubborn. Lao Fang tried to persuade him for a whole class period, but he just wouldn't listen and insisted on transferring to another class."

"Will the homeroom teacher of Class 1 let him go?" Everyone gathered around, chattering amongst themselves.

"Of course we wouldn't want to. Xu Shen is one of the top students in our class. Do you think we can easily let him come to our class?"

Someone had a sudden inspiration: "Why is he suddenly changing classes? Could it be because of Xinyue?"

A dozen pairs of eyes then turned to Zhan Xinyue, who remained aloof from the situation.

"Of course!"

After all, the arts festival was only recently over, and everyone still remembers Xu Shen's performance.

Lu Meng hadn't been around this area much since he changed seats, but now he came over again: "New Moon, you're so charming!"

Zhan Xinyue was doing her homework when she heard the sound. She looked up and calmly asked, "He said it was because I'm transferring classes?"

Lu Meng recalled, "No, I vaguely heard them saying that they were not used to the teaching style of the teachers in Class 1, and that they liked the teachers of the courses in our class."

"That's settled then." Zhan Xinyue withdrew her gaze and looked back at the exercises on the table. Seeing her completely indifferent expression, everyone gradually lost their gossipy interest and dispersed.

Lu Meng scratched his head and returned to his seat, looking dejected. He was still sitting at the same table as Xin Wenhua, and whispered to him, "Don't you think Zhan Xinyue is starting to look more and more like Shi Ziqian lately?"

Xin Wenhua glanced over in that direction; the two of them were both looking down at their books, their faces expressionless. Sure enough, spending so much time together had gradually blurred their personalities. He exchanged a glance with Lu Meng, both of them looking wistful.

The matter of Xu Shen transferring to another class dragged on for several days. During this time, several teachers took turns talking to him, but he insisted that he was not used to the teaching style of Class 1 and even said that if he could go to Class 10, he would guarantee that his average score in all subjects would improve.

Their homeroom teacher was furious with him: "We've been in different classes for over a semester, and you're only now realizing that Class 1 isn't right for you!"

Xu Shen nodded earnestly and with a clear conscience: "Yes, whether something is suitable for you or not can only be determined by the test of time."

...

After some back and forth, since Xu Shen was in the experimental class and ranked very high in the grade, the school still valued the performance of these top students. Finally, seeing his firm attitude and with his parents' consent, Old Fang made the final decision: "Let him transfer!"

However, there was a condition attached: "You said Class 10 is suitable for you, but if your total score in the next exam doesn't improve by more than 20 points, you'll have to go back to Class 1."

Xu Shen moved into Class 10 that afternoon. Class 10 had just finished a lesson when he moved in. Zhan Xinyue had just closed her study guide when she looked up and saw him.

The teacher was still on the platform when he saw him standing at the door with his schoolbag and a stack of books, followed by two boys carrying a table for him. He joked, "Hey, the student who was attracted by the excellent atmosphere of our class has arrived."

"Yes, Professor Zhou, I came here because of your reputation." Xu Shen's tone was very sincere.

Everyone was watching him with amusement, some even stealing glances at Zhan Xinyue, their eyes brimming with gossip. To go to such lengths to pursue someone, and actually succeed in transferring classes—that was practically a first in the school.

"Alright, come in." Old Zhou waved him over.

Xu Shen asked, "Teacher Zhou, where should I sit?" As he spoke, Xu Shen's gaze swept around the classroom, then slid past Zhan Xinyue.

Old Zhou pondered, "There aren't any extra seats in our class..."

Xu Shen spoke up first: "How about..."

"How about this, you sit next to the podium," Old Zhou said, pointing to the area next to the lectern.

"Alright then." Xu Shen seemed a little regretful as he put down his book and walked onto the podium under everyone's intense gaze. He calmly began, "Hello everyone, my name is Xu Shen. From now on, I will be a member of Class 10. Please take good care of me."

When she said, "I'm now a member of Class 10," a chorus of ambiguous "Eek—" came from below.

Xu Shen ruffled his hair, and amidst the cheers of the crowd, his gaze lightly fell on Zhan Xinyue. Their eyes met briefly, and he looked away again, his face expressionless. But a moment later, his eyes gradually curved into a smile.

Old Zhou was confused and didn't know what everyone was fussing about. He pressed his palm in the air to signal everyone to quiet down: "I don't know what you're all so happy about. Let me tell you, although Xu Shen transferred here halfway through, his grades are pretty good. You should be a little worried. I think many of you are going to drop one place in the class rankings again."

"Teacher Zhou, I've only been here for one day, don't be so aggressive," Xu Shen said helplessly.

“I’m giving them a warning.” Old Zhou turned to him. “Don’t be too happy. I just looked at your report card. Although you’ve always been okay, this is the second time I haven’t seen you ranked properly. You better watch out. If you have these kinds of problems again in the next exam, I’ll ask your homeroom teacher to return you.”

As soon as Lao Zhou stepped out of the classroom, a large group of people swarmed around him, with Xin Wenhua and Lu Meng being the most excited.

When Zhan Xinyue injured his hand, he came to Class 10 frequently and got to know many people. Now that he has transferred to this class, many people have gathered around to watch the excitement.

"You, an unofficial member of Class 10, actually got a permanent position! That's quite an achievement!" the boy next to me teased.

"There's nothing I can do, I'm just destined to be with our class." Xu Shen leaned back in his chair and smiled.

"That's impressive! They've only just arrived and they're already using 'our class'."

Xu Shen: "Of course! I'm a full-fledged member of Class 10 now, so you guys have to take good care of me."

“Brother Shen, tell me the truth, why did you transfer to our class? Is it because…” Xin Wenhua stopped abruptly, leaving the sentence ambiguous.

"Yes, confess honestly."

Xu Shen sat sideways in the chair, one hand resting on the back: "Do you want to hear the official reason or the real one?"

"Who wants to listen to the official version? Tell me the truth, the absolute truth!"

"Yeah, isn't the official reason just what you said in the office about not being able to adapt to the teaching style of Teacher 1? It sounds fake. Hurry up and tell us the real reason."

“It’s true…” Xu Shen said slowly, drawing out his words. “That’s naturally because I like our class. I think the atmosphere in Class 10 suits me perfectly, so I came here.”

"Give me a break, this is way too fake! It's even faker than what you said in the office. You're just trying to fool us like this?"

Lu Meng used his words to her advantage: "Do you like our class, or someone in our class?"

Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter, accompanied by sighs of dismay.

"Alright, everyone, let's not say anything since we all see through this. Can't you give me some face?"

When has the class ever been so lively? When Zhan Xinyue looked in the direction of the sound, Xu Shen was in the middle of the crowd, leaning back in his chair and laughing leisurely.

After the group had their fill of teasing Xu Shen, they didn't let Zhan Xinyue off the hook either.

Several people had already passed by her, winking and saying, "New Moon, you're pretty good!"

"Can what?" Zhan Xinyue seemed not to understand.

Everyone just smiled and remained silent.

But there are also people like Lu Meng: "Of course Xu Shen is great! When I heard he was going to transfer to this class, I thought it was ridiculous, but I didn't expect him to actually transfer. This guy is quite reliable."

Xin Wenhua joined in the fun, "Xinyue, listen to me, I think this new classmate is really quite good, you can consider him."

Xu Shen officially became a member of Class 10. Zhan Xinyue was teased repeatedly all afternoon until she was numb, while Xu Shen himself had been very well-behaved since moving in. Except for going out a few times during breaks, he stayed in his seat the rest of the time and did not take a single step to the back of the classroom.

However, even when he was in his seat, he could never sit still. He would chat enthusiastically with the students next to him, looking just like an old-timer from Class 10.