The three of them walked toward the notice board in the hall.
The corridor smelled of wet wood and chalk dust after the rain.
Desks and chairs were stacked on the side.
Hao walked slowly, trying to look calm, but inside his chest a small thorn was pressing deeper and deeper.
Kang Hui still looked the same, smiling, talking casually, like nothing had ever happened.
But Hao knew, in another time line, this smile would hide a future betrayal.
"Why you keep that dark face?" Weihao tilted his head at him.
"Not feeling well," Hao said flatly.
"Then why don't you stay at home?" Kang Hui asked from the other side.
"Do you think that's possible?" Hao's voice was cold.
They reached the board. Names lined up in rows.
Yes—Hao and Kang Hui were placed in the same class again.
Weihao, as always, was in Class 1.
Kang Hui laughed, "Looks like we're classmates again."
Weihao shrugged, "Good for you two."
"Nothing good or bad," Hao muttered. "Let's just line up."
Nine-year-old kids were gathering into class lines.
Some whispered, some fixed their schoolbags.
Rain kept falling from the roof, breaking into ripples on the ground.
Ding—ding—ding.
The bell rang. The headmaster and the discipline teacher gave their same welcome speeches.
Hao could almost recite them word by word.
The homeroom teacher led the students back to the classroom.
Basketball court, gazebo, canteen—Hao looked at each spot as if looking at yesterday and another lifetime at the same time.
The rain matched the weight in his chest.
—
Inside the classroom the teacher lined them up by height.
Hao and Kang Hui ended up sitting one behind the other.
"See? Told you we'd be together," Kang Hui grinned.
Hao turned and said quietly, "Keep talking and the teacher will move you."
"Hahahahaha!" Kang Hui laughed anyway.
The teacher clapped her hands on the platform.
"Quiet, students. My name is Ms. Huang. I'm your homeroom teacher."
Her voice was soft but powerful, carrying a quiet authority.
Hao stared at the chalk on the blackboard, fingers clenching under the desk.
At that moment he realized —
The people and the stories from his old life had returned.
If destiny allowed change,
maybe the first step would start with Kang Hui.