The office door was ajar.

A faint aroma of jasmine tea wafted from inside.

Lin Que called out "Report!" and pushed open the door to enter.

Shen Qingqiu sat behind her desk.

Holding in his hands that old-fashioned enamel mug with "Jiangcheng No.1 Middle School" printed on it,

The steam blurred her cool, aloof features.

On the table, there was only one exam paper on top.

That bright red "59" score was exceptionally eye-catching.

She didn't speak immediately, but simply pointed to the chair opposite her.

"sit."

Lin Que didn't stand on ceremony, pulled out a chair and sat down.

He also reached for the oranges on the table, but halfway through his reach...

Meeting Shen Qingqiu's ambiguous gaze, he sheepishly shrank back.

"Teacher, these oranges look very fresh."

He made conversation out of nothing.

Shen Qingqiu put down her teacup.

The fingertip tapped lightly on the test paper, making a soft tapping sound.

"The entire Chinese language group used a lot of tissues today."

Shen Qingqiu tapped the exam paper with her fingertips.

"Lin Que, you're quite capable."

Lin Que looked humble.

"It's mainly because Professor Jian Shen's book is so well written. I'm just standing on the shoulders of giants and adding my own interpretation."

Stop arguing with me.

Shen Qingqiu leaned forward slightly.

"The topic is to ask you to write a letter, to express your hopes, your vision, your communication, and your warmth."

You're something else; you start by writing your own death.

Using death to highlight family bonds, and the idea of ​​finding life in the face of death—that's a brilliant move.

Lin Que leaned back in his chair and spread his hands:

"Teacher, no one listened to you when you were alive, but people are willing to read your will after you died."

This isn't a tragedy, this is reality.

I was just rehearsing the process beforehand.

"A rehearsal?"

Shen Qingqiu laughed in exasperation.

"Do you call that a rehearsal?"

That line, "The money is in the card, the love is in the wind," even brought tears to the eyes of a hard-hearted person like the head of the teaching department.

"Tell me honestly, are these insights really something someone your age could write?"

She always felt there was something off about Lin Que.

Although he is a high school student of seventeen or eighteen, sometimes his eyes look as weathered as an old man who has lived two lifetimes.

That insight into human nature, that indifference to life and death...

It's not something you can achieve by doing a few practice tests.

Lin Que remained silent for two seconds.

He raised his head, his playful expression vanishing.

"Teacher, some things don't require experience, just observation."

After seeing so many cries outside hospitals and so much smoke rising from crematoriums, you'll naturally understand.

Didn't Professor Jian Shen say something similar?

Everyone has a hole in their heart.

Some people choose to cover it with mud, while others choose to grow a flower.

Shen Qingqiu was stunned.

Looking at the boy in front of her, that familiar yet elusive feeling welled up inside her.

"Your mouth..."

Shen Qingqiu sighed, her tone softening.

"Alright, this essay is indeed very well written."

Although the theme is somewhat extreme, the emotions are sincere and the writing is skillful.

You know perfectly well why that point was deducted.

"I understand, I'm afraid you'll become arrogant."

Lin Que replied with a grin.

"I'm afraid you'll treat death like a game!"

Shen Qingqiu glared at him, then took out a registration form from the drawer and pushed it in front of him.

"This is the registration form for the Provincial Middle School Students' On-site Writing Competition, also known as the 'Relief from Worries Cup'."

"Our school has three spots, and you're the first one to be confirmed."

Lin Que glanced at the form.

The clauses were densely packed, and a two-inch passport photo had to be affixed.

"Teacher, can I not go? I want to catch up on sleep at home this weekend."

He asked tentatively, already knowing the answer in his heart.

"Not going?"

Do you know how prestigious this competition is?