"Hehe." Meng Zhe, who was originally worried, laughed rather unkindly when he heard Shang Lin say something angry for the first time. "You just came here, so you don't know the situation between our school and No. 3 Middle School. No. 3 Middle School was also on the shortlist when we were competing for the county's key high school, but we lost by a hair's breadth. After that, the two schools started to compete against each other in every aspect, trying to outdo each other in everything. And boys, being male animals, are bound to be a bit combative."
Shang Lin paused. There were historical reasons behind the relationship, but... he still couldn't understand. "Isn't the competition between schools about students' college entrance rates? Do they have to resort to violence in addition to academic competition? Isn't this a society governed by law? Who will be responsible for the consequences of violence? Isn't this just a sign of mental instability?"
Shang Lin really couldn't think on the same wavelength as these kids, and in fact, she got angrier the more she talked.
Seeing this, Meng Zhe quickly went along with him, saying, "That's right, he's just out of his mind, and I don't agree with this approach either. But we can't expect everyone to be like us, so don't be angry."
Shang Lin was clearly angry and didn't realize that Meng Zhe's last words were meant to comfort him. He said bluntly, "Even so, I'm still a little angry. People should do what they should do at their age. It's simply unreasonable to have a healthy body but not cherish it and instead cause trouble."
At this moment, Meng Zhe realized that Shang Lin was like his classmate, rather than someone who was out of place and acted like a little adult. So he advised again, "Alright, alright, don't be angry. You're not in good health to begin with. Getting angry will only make you suffer."
Shang Lin suddenly came to his senses and looked at Meng Zhe with some helplessness. Was he being treated like a child? But since the other party had already reached out to push open the dormitory door, he didn't say anything. A child is a child, after all, looking fifteen years old was an exaggeration.
When the two returned to the dormitory, only Su Jinghang was organizing the snacks. As soon as he saw them, he immediately asked, "Xiao Shang, you're back really late. Have you seen Xiao Qiqi?"
Shang Lin glanced subconsciously at Lin Shengqi's bed. "He's not back yet?"
Meng Zhe glanced at his watch. "There are still ten minutes left."
Su Jinghang looked out the window. From their dormitory, they could see the school gate. "What's going on? He'll be late for class if he doesn't come soon. Who comes back to school on time? Doesn't he need to pack his things?"
Shang Lin also walked to the window and looked into the distance, but couldn't see Lin Shengqi at all. "Could it be that he took leave?"
Meng Zhe placed Shang Lin's schoolbag on his desk. "If he doesn't come, we can just ask the teacher."
"No," Su Jinghang immediately stopped them. "What if the teacher doesn't know either? If we ask directly, won't that expose the fact that Xiao Qiqi didn't come? Let's wait."
"Alright." Shang Lin continued while packing his schoolbag, "Let's go to class first, and then we'll see how things go."
Su Jinghang and Meng Zhe said in unison, "Okay."
When the three of them arrived at the classroom, they didn't see Lin Shengqi. However, since it wasn't time for class yet, other students were still arriving one after another. But when the bell rang, he still hadn't appeared, so they realized that he hadn't come.
Lin Shengqi's academic performance is quite good, and his attitude towards learning is also very positive. Naturally, he wouldn't skip class without a reason. Shang Lin knows some of his situation, so he's a little worried that something might have happened to his family. Besides, for a graduating student, there's basically nothing that can interfere with their studies.
Sure enough, just before evening class ended, the homeroom teacher said, "Lin Shengqi has asked for leave because of family matters. Roommates, please help him take notes so that he doesn't fall behind when he comes back."
Su Jinghang wanted to ask, "Teacher, what happened to Lin Shengqi's family?"
But Shang Lin, who spoke first, stopped him, saying, "Teacher, we understand."
"Okay, get out of class dismissed."
Su Jinghang hurriedly whispered to Shang Lin, "Why don't you ask the teacher what happened to Xiao Qiqi's family?"
Shang Lin explained, "The teacher didn't say, maybe it's inconvenient for her to say, or maybe it's unnecessary for her to say. Wouldn't it be better if we asked the teacher separately?"
Su Jinghang looked at Shang Lin with admiration. "You're so thoughtful. Hurry, let's go catch up with the teacher."
Meng Zhe also followed after the teacher and asked first, "Teacher, can you tell us what happened to Lin Shengqi's family?"
The teacher looked at the three of them and said honestly, "His father is injured and hospitalized. It's just the two of them at home, so he has to take care of him for a few days."
The three men looked at each other, bewildered. How serious was the injury? The man was hospitalized. Although living conditions in the county were better than in Shang Lin's village, most people were still of modest means, or even poor, so hospitalization wasn't usually necessary unless it was a serious matter. After all, medical expenses are enormous; for many, an illness could wipe them out of their savings.
The three of them were silent on their way back to the dorm. Finally, Su Jinghang spoke up first, "Shall we go to the hospital to see him tomorrow at noon?"
Shang Lin immediately said, "I have an appointment with someone tomorrow at noon, so I'm afraid I won't have enough time."
Meng Zhe continued, "It's alright, you go about your business. We'll go to the hospital to get checked out and then we'll tell you what happened when we get back."
Su Jinghang asked Shang Lin, "Who did you make plans with? Little Shang, you're not dating yet, are you?"
Shang Lin was taken aback by this sudden leap in thought! But she quickly smiled and said, "You're overthinking it. I won't have a relationship early on, no, I won't have any kind of relationship. I'm a staunch advocate of being single."
Su Jinghang paused, "I don't believe you for a second. You're only fifteen, okay? Wait until you're twenty-five, no, thirty-five, and then I'll believe you."
Shang Lin smiled but didn't say anything, after all, no one believes the truth most of the time!
Meng Zhe looked at Shang Lin and inexplicably believed him a little, but he asked, "Then who did you make plans with? It's not that idiot Chu Jiusheng, is it?"
Shang Lin looked at Meng Zhe with a smile, "What kind of magical thought process do you have? And you know he's an idiot, why would I want to meet up with an idiot? Do I want to get close to an idiot and turn myself into an idiot?"
Su Jinghang immediately became anxious, "Shang Lin, stop with the tongue twisters, what's going on? Are you going to cause you trouble because of my promotion to Chu Jiusheng?"
"No, no," Shang Lin hurriedly reassured, "That idiot wanted to ask me for advice, but I refused."
Su Jinghang looked at Shang Lin in a daze, "Seeking guidance? Really?!"
"Um."
Su Jinghang wanted to say, "That was pretty impressive of you."
But Meng Zhe spoke first, "So who did you invite? Aren't there any safety issues?"
Seeing the two people, one surprised and the other worried, Shang Lin immediately explained, "You're both overthinking it. It's about making money. I'm not an idiot, okay?"
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