"No, but if you study hard, you can go to a better place and get away from these low-level losers."

For example, look at Zhangshui Middle School in Hebei Province. There's no bullying or delinquents there, right? Although it's known as a "college entrance exam factory" and is quite intimidating, everyone there focuses solely on studying, so naturally, such things don't happen. Of course, this is only relative.

Furthermore, generally speaking, and I mean generally speaking, a person's character is linked to their level of education. There are definitely more troublemakers in vocational high schools than in top-tier high schools; that's the general idea.

After listening to these words, Bai Yitong pondered for a long time, then looked up and asked, "Brother Bing, where are you going to go for high school?"

"Me? I think it should be Shangping County Experimental High School (official name). I have an uncle who works there."

"Bing-ge, with your excellent grades, you must be going to a top-tier high school there, right?"

"Hmm~" Chen Bing remained noncommittal, since there was nothing to be modest about anyway.

After hearing him shout that, Bai Yitong, a student from an ordinary class, said with a determined look, "I will also work hard to get into that school! I believe that everyone there is as good as Brother Bing!"

Although it was a bit unrealistic, Chen Bing still casually encouraged him, "Yeah, believe in yourself, good luck."

After saying that, he turned and walked away without looking back, preparing to go to sleep.

He genuinely didn't believe Bai Yitong could get into a top-tier high school, because to get in there, one's middle school entrance exam score would need to rank in the top 80 in Shangping County, which translates to roughly equivalent to a top-tier university in the national college entrance exam. As for Bai Yitong, Chen Bing estimated that he was only around the 1,000th level in the county, and let alone a top-tier university, he would struggle to even get into a regular undergraduate program.

But none of that mattered to Chen Bing now. Whether Bai Yitong passed the exam or not, to Chen Bing, he was just another ordinary passerby in his life over the past ten years. They saw each other often in junior high and occasionally in high school. But in college, and even further into the future, their lives would diverge completely.

No, something feels off about that.

It's like what lovers think when they break up.

Shaking her head to clear her mind of those strange thoughts, Chen Bing lay back in her warm bed and went to sleep.

When I woke up the next day, it was already six o'clock. Neither Bai Yitong nor Wu Feng had returned.

Having experienced such a minor incident of school bullying right at the start of the semester, it's not that Chen Bing was completely unaffected. While washing up, images of herself bullying Xiao Shang kept flashing through Chen Bing's mind.

————

After school, gang leader Chen Bing dragged the pitiful, weak, and helpless Shang Yunmiao to a dark corner, then pinned her against the wall, trapping her there.

"It's been a while since you paid your protection money, hasn't it?" Brother Chen Bing gently lifted Shang Yunmiao's chin, staring at her mouth with a playful expression.

"I'm so sorry, Mom forgot to give me money when I left home today. I...I promise, I'll definitely bring it next time...Please, please don't hit me..."

Upon hearing that he had no money, Boss Chen flew into a rage, grabbing Xiao Shang's cheek and saying, "You said you had no money last time, do you think I'm easy to fool?! It's fine if you can't hand over the money, I can accept handing over the person..."

After saying that, Chen Bing started touching him inappropriately, while making strange noises.

"Hehehehehe!"

————

Okay, the rest is paid content. Today is Crazy Thursday, pay me 50 to unlock the rest of the story.

With a mix of anticipation, excitement, and guilt, Chen Bing finished washing up and headed to the classroom.

As soon as he entered the classroom, he saw Shang Yunmiao writing something diligently. There were about ten people in the classroom at the time; not a lot, but not a small number either.

After sitting down, Xiao Shang turned her head to look at him, and then showed a very surprised expression and voice.

"Mmm~!"

Seeing her like this, Chen Bing was also very happy. She pulled the stool in front of Shang Yunmiao, glanced at the people around her, and then whispered in Shang Yunmiao's ear, "Let me kiss you, my lips are a little itchy."

As the eldest brother, Chen Bing's words were naturally law. So after he finished speaking, without waiting for Shang Yunmiao's response, he personally went closer to relieve his slightly itchy lips.

Hmm, Xiao Shang's face is still the same as always, soft and bouncy, and it tastes strangely like an apple.

Caught off guard by Chen Bing's sudden action early in the morning, Xiao Shang was both delighted and embarrassed. She playfully pushed Chen Bing away twice before continuing with her own activities, her face flushed. Chen Bing didn't pursue the matter further, as it wouldn't be appropriate in the classroom.

After evening self-study, when everyone goes back to the dormitory, we'll ask Xiao Shang to stay behind for a bit, and then we'll continue our daily routine since online classes started. It's something we're really looking forward to.

Because she looked forward to the evenings so much, and because there was so much to look forward to, Chen Bing always felt that the forty-minute morning reading session passed very slowly.

The days felt like years; about four days (twenty minutes) had passed.

Halfway through the morning reading session, Fang Anmin, wearing a mask and carrying a stack of materials, came to the podium and said he wanted to hold a small class meeting.

The students' reading aloud stopped abruptly. Some looked at Fang Anmin intently, preparing to listen to the class meeting; some lowered their heads to do their homework; and others continued to silently read their books. Chen Bing, however, was different. He was secretly observing Shang Yunmiao, who was listening attentively to the class meeting.

Regardless of the reason, the classroom immediately quieted down, which made Fang Anmin feel very comfortable.

Looking at the familiar and unfamiliar faces below the podium, he couldn't help but think to himself: All the heroes of the world have entered my school!

Just kidding. What Fang Anmin was really thinking was that these kids were all among the top 25 students in this year's class at Baishi No.1 Middle School. Based on past experience, using Experimental High School as a template, about three or four of them would get into the top key high school, eleven or twelve would get into the key class, and the rest would definitely get into the second-tier key high school.

There's even a top contender among them who could have been the county's top scorer in the high school entrance exam.

After nodding in satisfaction, Fang Anmin couldn't help but praise the students first. He said that although this class was a temporary one, their "Pandemic Class One" was definitely the best class at Baishi No. 1 Middle School in recent years.

After praising him, Fang Anmin got down to business.

The first is the specific details of the Zhu Xiaole incident, which serves as a clarification. This has already been mentioned before, and it's roughly in line with Chen Bing's estimation, so I won't go into further detail.

Secondly, the midterm exams that everyone was talking about before the start of the semester were ultimately scheduled for the day after tomorrow because of the different situations in the junior high schools across the county.

As for the last thing, that's a bit interesting.

It's about filling out college application forms for the high school entrance exam.