A confrontation with a sex offender led to the formation of a study group?
The second hand ticked away as new messages kept popping up.
Lin Shih-ren didn't know when she fell asleep until the bright morning light and the noisy cicadas woke her up.
The first thing she did upon waking was unlock her phone to see the confession post from last night. The online discussion continued until after 2 a.m. before the hype finally died down. Fortunately, no one tried to pin the post on her anymore, which relieved her.
I really don't want to have anything to do with him anymore.
Lin Shiren felt sleepy all morning, and time slipped away with the alternation of the class bell. He had no appetite for lunch, so he took a nap in the classroom. Around one o'clock, he was awakened by the sound of more and more doors opening. Dong Rui's voice seemed to come from a very distant place: "Wake up, the physics test papers are being handed out."
Upon hearing a certain keyword, she sat up abruptly, her eyes darting around involuntarily.
Shen Xuqing was the physics class representative. Many students looked grim after receiving their test papers from him. Only near Zhou Lin were there slight discussions, and the harsh words "full marks" could be faintly heard.
This physics quiz has made many people restless.
The rustling of conversations rose and fell, but Zhou Lin remained quietly reading his book amidst the commotion, completely absorbed in his work.
A pair of long legs stopped in front of Lin Shiren amidst the comings and goings, and their eyes met at that moment. Shen Xuqing looked at her with his clear black and white eyes, and said in a clear voice: "Lin Shiren".
"Thanks."
Lin Shiren took the test paper, her gaze shifting downwards. She awkwardly tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, a barely concealed emotion flickering in her eyes. She quickly covered her face, reminding herself not to lose her composure.
"The first round of review really exposed your true colors."
Chen Mo also broke down, the chalk in his hand snapping into three pieces. His expression was like looking at a bunch of rebellious children: "You've forgotten Newton's three laws of motion, and you've even written the acceleration formula wrong! Are you like bears picking corn, learning one chapter and then throwing it away? This is the first monthly exam, and I want to see your true level. At this rate, forget about getting into a 985 university, you won't even get into a regular undergraduate program..."
As if he was still not satisfied, he threw the chalk in his hand at several dark heads in the back row: "Don't let me see anyone yawning in class again. If you can't stick your head up from the rafters and prick your thigh with an awl, use a toothpick to prop your eyelids open."
The classroom was quiet. Lin Shiren secretly pinched his thigh, as if to prove that he didn't need toothpicks, and his eyes were wide open.
How can someone be so funny?
Zhou Lin was amused by her bright goldfish-like expression. Even someone as knowledgeable as him was opening Pandora's box for the first time.
His fingers twirled the pen nimbly and at a steady pace. Perhaps because he was distracted, the pen fell to the table with a "thud." Chen Mo glanced in his direction but ultimately didn't say anything critical.
Lin Shih-ren pouted, thinking that being a top student must be great, as one can be favored to the point of being fearless.
When get out of class ended, Chen Mo earnestly reminded them again: "From today onwards, every day that passes is one less day. Working hard is not to show off to anyone, but to be worthy of your own dreams. You should all think about it carefully."
After he left, Dong Rui deflated like a punctured balloon: "We've been neglecting mechanics for a year, and now they're suddenly putting us on a test. Who can do well?"
She immediately retorted, "No, Zhou Lin still got a perfect score. A master is a master. You can't compare with him, you can only worship him."
Lin Shih-jen's mood was also low, and he wasn't in the mood to respond. He rubbed his forehead with his palm, propped his forehead up, and continued to memorize the formulas, memorizing them over and over.
There is a physical education class in the afternoon.
It was very hot, and the PE teacher knew how hard the senior students worked, so after leading everyone through warm-up exercises, he dismissed them. The girls gathered in twos and threes under the shade of the trees to chat.
Lin Shiren hadn't applied sunscreen when she came out, and now there were scattered red spots on her arms. She scratched them a couple of times, and the rash looked even bigger.
"Oh dear, how did it get so serious?"
Dong Rui gasped in surprise. Lin Shiren caught a glimpse of someone looking over in the distance and quickly covered her mouth, saying, "It's okay, I'll go back to the classroom to get my sun protection clothes."
Do you need me to come with you?
"It's okay, I can manage on my own."
On her way back to the teaching building, she passed the basketball court and saw Zhou Lin dribbling the ball on the court from afar. Under the blazing sun, sweat from his neck slid down his collarbone and into his black jersey. After receiving a pass from Song Ci, he jumped to shoot, his arm lines clearly defined, giving him a youthful look.
A few girls were sitting in the shade of the stands, watching the game or gossiping, and bursts of laughter could be heard from time to time.
"Who do you think posted that confession post yesterday?"
"It doesn't matter, Zhou Lin won't watch it anyway."
How did you know?
"Qiaoqiao said that Zhou Lin never uses the campus app."
"Song Ci has such a big mouth, she'll tell him eventually."
"Some people say the poster was Lin Shih-ren. Do you think that's possible?"
"I don't think so. She seems quite introverted; she doesn't seem like the type to be so bold and direct in confessing her feelings..."
Lin Shiren vaguely heard her own name. She looked over again and saw Xu Yiqiao sitting between them.
She didn't join the girls' lively chatter; instead, she was intently watching the game, wearing a pale yellow off-the-shoulder dress that revealed her shapely swan neck, and her long, black hair was being tossed about by the wind.
At the same time, Zhou Lin scored a goal, and cheers erupted from the crowd. The girls stopped chatting and joined in the applause. One of the girls noticed Lin Shiren walking over from the sidelines and gestured to the people on either side of her with her elbow: "Watch your mouth, don't talk nonsense."
It was because of this reminder that Xu Yiqiao noticed her presence and looked over from afar.
Her pupils were a light color, making it seem as if she were looking at people through a layer of ice. After three seconds, she looked away, her eyes continuing to follow Zhou Lin on the field, carrying a subtle sense of arrogance.
Lin Shih-ren found it somewhat ironic.
If you like Zhou Lin, go after her! She's not anyone's obstacle. She's just the hard shell on top of a crème brûlée, which is not only fragile but also useless. So stop treating her like someone important and chewing on her like that.
Although gossip is everywhere on campus, Lin Shiren knows clearly that she doesn't want to become anyone's fodder for conversation. She wasn't the one who confessed to Zhou Lin on the confession wall, but the gossipmongers will spread all sorts of unfounded stories behind her back, and sooner or later these stories will reach Shen Xuqing's ears.
Countless complaints churned within him, but Lin Shiren maintained his usual low-key style, walking past them silently without revealing his emotions excessively.
In the classroom, Chen Mo seemed to be playing a game of blindly distributing test papers. When he saw her, his brow furrowed slightly: "PE class is for you to relax, why are you back?"
Lin Shih-ren showed him the red rash on his arm: "Teacher Chen, I'm allergic to ultraviolet rays, come and get some sun protection clothing."
Chen Mo put the test paper aside and said gently, "Do you want to go to the school clinic to get some medicine?"
Most anti-itch creams contain hormones, but she felt she could tolerate it, so she shook her head: "It's okay, I often have allergies, and they usually subside by night."
"Okay, if you can't be in the sun, then stay in the classroom and rest."
"No need, my mom says that getting more sun helps with calcium absorption."
If there were a third person in the classroom, Lin Shiren would choose to stay in her seat to rest. But at this moment, she left without delay, not wanting to be left in an awkward situation with Chen Mo.
On the way back, we will inevitably pass by the basketball court again.
She glanced at the stands and saw the group of girls still sitting there. She stared at her shadow at her feet, trying to minimize her presence.
Of all times, a basketball flew over.
Although it didn't hit Lin Shiren, it still startled her. She straightened her lips and looked over.
Amidst a chorus of whispers, Zhou Lin made an apologetic gesture, then waited for her to pass the ball. Finally, her rebellious streak erupted, and she turned and walked away without a word, leaving them with a rather dashing back view.
All the way, she kept complaining about herself, saying in a soft voice: "Is there no manners? They didn't even apologize. Do they think everyone can understand sign language? Basketball is becoming more and more accessible. Even people with no hand skills can play."
Someone was running towards her from behind. Lin Shiren glanced back and saw that Song Ci had caught up with them at some point. She ignored her and quickened her pace.
"Lin Shiren".
This time, we can't pretend we didn't hear it.
She secretly rolled her eyes in a corner where no one was watching, and when she turned back, the displeasure on her face had disappeared: "What is it?"
Song Ci stopped three steps away from her, still at a light jog pace, hands on his knees, panting heavily: "Why are you running?"
"ah?"
Lin Shiren thought he was there to apologize, but he wasn't. He flashed her a bright white smile and said, "I added you as a friend on WeChat, why didn't you accept?"
Who's that direct?
What other reason could there be for not passing?
Why not look for the cause within yourself?
Lin Shiren wanted to keep her silence to avoid her embarrassment, but Song Ci blocked her every step she took, which quickly attracted the attention of many people.
She took a breath and hastily made up an excuse: "It's not that I can't pass, it's that I don't have a phone. My mom confiscated it."
Because he's not good at lying, he breaks up sentences twice and speaks incoherently.
"But I saw you using your phone on the subway yesterday."
"It was confiscated last night."
Song Ci scratched his head, as if thinking: "I see..."
Lin Shih-ren nodded vigorously.
That's right, that's exactly it.
Can I spin, jump, and then get further away now?
Song Ci stared at him intently, a roguish smile on her face: "So, were those headphones you used to listen to music this morning connected to a satellite?"
"..."
Now that's it, Lin Shiren has been bluntly and ruthlessly exposed. He stood frozen in place, a surge of heat rising to the top of his head, and he wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
"Song Ci!"
The awkward atmosphere was broken by a male voice, and the two looked in the direction of the sound.
Zhou Lin came over with the ball between his legs, his forehead damp with sweat, looking travel-worn, with a bunch of basketball players watching the excitement behind him.
He had barely reached her when he threw the ball at Song Ci: "Are you still going to play ball or not?"
"It's halftime now, why are you interfering more than my dad?" Song Ci pouted unhappily and threw the ball back into his arms.
Zhou Lin's chest heaved, his face expressionless: "Why do you keep teasing her?"
Song Ci retorted without hesitation: "What's it to you?"
The afternoon sun at three o'clock was scorching and intense. Lin Shiren stood between two boys who were over 1.8 meters tall, watching his sweat-dampened hair sway in the vibrations of the sound waves, and dared not breathe.
In that tense moment, Song Ci curled her lips into a nonchalant smile: "I was talking to my new classmate about forming a study group...?"
Zhou Lin was slightly taken aback.
But she quickly realized what was happening, because Lin Shiren's expression had changed from restraint to a furrowed brow of confusion, and his posture was one of "Are you kidding me?" In just a few minutes, her face had turned red from the sun, and Song Ci raised an eyebrow at him: "You want to join too?"
Zhou Lin didn't respond, but gave him a slightly warning glance, clearly implying that he should stop.
"Lin Shiren".
Someone was calling her. Lin Shiren's attention shifted from what was in front of her to what was behind her. She saw Dong Rui running over from the shade, her voice panting, "Why did it take you so long to get a sun protection shirt?"
"I'm sorry for the delay." Lin Shiren didn't know how to respond, so he could only purse his lips and stand there awkwardly.
Dong Rui's eyes darted around, her gaze shifting between the group, a hint of curiosity in her eyes: "Why are you all stopping my Renren?"
Song Ci immediately complained, "What kind of look is that? We're just concerned about our new classmate. We're worried she won't adapt to the class's pace, so we're planning to form a study group for us to work together..."
He had the madness of a mischievous teenager, which could fool strangers, such as Lin Shiren, who was very principled. But he couldn't fool Dong Rui, who knew his true nature. She scoffed, "Tear off your true colors already. I don't believe you'd be so kind."
Do you have paranoia?
Song Ci, displaying high emotional intelligence, quickly added, "You can participate too if you don't believe me!"
Dong Rui stared at his expression for several seconds, then looked at her and asked, "Renren, would you like to join the study group?"
In no mood! ! !
No one would want to form a study group with them. If I had known Song Ci was so difficult to deal with, I should have accepted his friend request yesterday. It would have been better than having my every move watched by so many eyes in the shadows.
But in order to end all of this, Lin Shiren closed his eyes and nodded with a heavy heart.
Zhou Lin found it both novel and amusing.
What kind of rare breed is this? Her face clearly showed utter disgust, yet her body could lie so smoothly.
With Lin Shiren's approval, Dong Rui immediately began negotiating: "In that case, let's agree on three rules. The study group is temporary, and members should do their best to support each other. If the grade ranking doesn't improve in the first monthly exam, the study group will automatically disband. Does everyone agree?"
She stated her conditions while simultaneously asking them questions with her eyes.
Song Ciyang said in a different tone, "Let's forget about Zhou Lin, there's not much room for him to improve his ranking..."
Dong Rui waved her hand: "Zhou Lin certainly doesn't count."
“Then it’s settled.” Song Ci answered without hesitation, then nudged Zhou Lin with his shoulder, signaling him to make a statement.
The air fell silent as all three gazes turned to him. Zhou Lin's long eyelashes were lowered, his thoughts seemingly wandering elsewhere. His fingers tapped the basketball idly, the prominent lines of his wrist bones standing out more than the sunlight.
Seeing that he remained unmoved, Lin Shih-ren's hope was instantly rekindled.
If you're first in your grade, there's no need for you to join a study group. You won't get anything from us, you'll only be exploited. If you know what's good for you, just refuse.
But she underestimated Song Ci's relentless nature; he swiftly leaned close to Zhou Lin's ear and whispered a long message...
A few seconds later, Zhou Lin gave a noncommittal "hmm".
His deep, nasal voice was like a heavy hammer blow. The light in Lin Shiren's eyes went out instantly, and she couldn't hear what Dong Rui and Song Ci were saying afterward. She stared at a point in the void, her mind a little numb.
What can one learn from two perverts?
A note from the author:
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50 red envelopes~
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