The winter in Qingzhou is dry and cold, catching people off guard.
The students usually wear a down jacket or a padded coat over their school uniforms. Inside the classroom, the heating is cranked up so high it feels like a furnace.
Sitting by the window, Shen You'an always has the window cracked open slightly, letting in the crisp cold air as she works on problems.
After the math class ended that day, Chen Zhou announced some news: "The math league results are out. This time, Qingzhou has a total of fifty-seven winners. Our class has twenty-five. You all will represent the school and attend this year's winter camp during the break. I hope the students who qualified will stay humble and work harder to achieve great results at the camp. Next year, you'll compete on behalf of the nation."
The moment Chen Zhou finished speaking, the quiet students burst into chatter.
There are thirty students in Class A—who are the five unlucky ones that didn't qualify?
