The opening day was also the day the exam results were announced. I had just said goodbye to Auntie Wang before going to school, she smiled gently and said:
"Um, Xi Ye, be careful when you go."
I happily replied:
"Yes."
My heart was filled with anticipation when I heard that this year's 10A1 selective class gathered all the best students, and more importantly, I… could be in the same class as Xie Junxing, the person I had always wanted to see again.
When I arrived at school, everything went quite smoothly. Because it had been arranged in advance, I quickly entered class 10A1.
Xie Junxing saw me and smiled, his eyes shining with joy. I also responded with a light smile, my heart was slightly stirred.
But that joy was quickly cut short when Hua Min Dao, the person I didn't like very much, blatantly sat in the seat next to Xie Junxing, where I was planning to sit.
She laughed falsely, her voice sweet as honey yet full of provocation:
"Oh no, this is my seat… Classmate Lam, isn't he planning to sit there?"
I tried to keep my voice calm, even though my heart was a little cold:
"No, I was planning to sit up there."
Xu Minyao heard this and curled her lips in satisfaction, while I just kept silent, thinking to myself:
"Alright, let's see how long you can keep smiling."
Xie Junxing frowned slightly beside her, seemingly dissatisfied with her behavior, but remembering his father's instructions, he didn't say anything. Even though Xu Minyao tried her best to start a conversation, his eyes still followed me who was sitting at the front row of tables. Although my face was cold at that moment, it seemed to make others want to get closer.
A moment later, the teacher stepped onto the podium, his voice resounding throughout the class, unable to hide his excitement:
"Hello students! I am your homeroom teacher this year."
Then, before anyone could react, the teacher continued:
"This year, it is an honor for our school to have a valedictorian, and that valedictorian is someone in our class…"
While everyone in the class was talking excitedly, wondering who it was, the teacher continued:
"That is Lam Tich Da, this year's valedictorian with a total score of 750!"
I was stunned for a few seconds, and Hua Man Dao was stunned. The smug smile on her lips immediately froze. Her face was ugly, she jumped up, pointed at me and shouted:
"Teacher, I disagree! Student Lam here finished the test in less than forty minutes, how could he have gotten such a high score! He must have cheated!"
The whole class fell silent, then quickly whispered and discussed. I looked at her, only to find it ridiculous.
The teacher frowned, his voice became serious:
"Do you have any evidence? If not, do you know that you are slandering other students?"
Being pressed, Hua Man Dao stammered, unable to say a word.
The teacher continued, his voice cold:
"This time I will let it go, but if it happens again, I will request the school to take strict disciplinary action. Did you hear?"
She lowered her head, her hand fiddling with the hem of her skirt, and softly replied:
"Yes… yes."
Then she sat down on the chair, her face extremely unsightly.
I was a little surprised, but still stood up politely and said:
"Teacher, I think this is just a small matter. I just hope that everyone will try their best to improve together."
The teacher smiled when he heard that, walked over and patted my shoulder:
"Very good, I really like your learning spirit."
Then the teacher turned to the class and said loudly:
"You guys should also learn from Lin Xiye!"
The whole class answered in unison, "Yes sir," despite Xu Minyao's face being completely dark.
During recess, while everyone was surrounding me, asking questions and making friends, Xie Junxing also walked over and said with a smile:
"You're really good."
I was a little embarrassed and stammered:
"No… no, it's just luck."
The atmosphere around me was bustling and strangely happy.
However, that joy didn't last long.
I suddenly received a notice that I was transferring to class 10A2.
Even though I knew who was playing a trick, I still silently accepted it. When I picked up my bag and walked out of the classroom, Xie Junxing's eyes hesitated for a moment, as if he wanted to say something, but then stopped.
My heart sank, but I still tried to keep my head up and keep walking.
The new class seemed quieter. The homeroom teacher looked at me with a somewhat sympathetic gaze, and sighed softly:
"Student, can you sit at that table?"
I nodded and replied softly:
"Yes."
Just as I pulled the chair to sit down, the boy at that table raised his head. His eyes glanced at me coldly, his voice carrying a bit of annoyance:
"Hey, this seat is already occupied. Go somewhere else, don't make me angry."
I tilted my head and calmly replied:
"But the teacher told me to sit here. If you have any comments, you can tell the teacher."
He was stunned for a moment, as if he didn't expect me to dare to speak so directly. Several curious gazes from around immediately turned towards us.
The atmosphere was a bit tense, but I didn't bother to pay attention, just opened my bag, took out my books, and started taking notes as if nothing had happened.
He frowned, intending to say something more, when the teacher called him to stand up and answer the question. He just stood there, unable to say a word.
I tilted my head slightly, feeling a little pitiful for him, so I lowered my voice enough for the two of us to hear:
"The answer is… twenty-three."
He was startled for a moment, then immediately repeated the questionu there, making the teacher nod in satisfaction.
When the class ended, he turned around, his expression softened a lot, his lips curved into a bright smile:
"Hey, you… thank you. I'm Trinh Vien Han, please forgive me for what happened just now and if possible, let's be friends."
I blinked, pausing slightly.
This name… is strangely familiar.
Trinh Vien Han.
If my memory is correct, in my previous life, his father was a powerful figure but also the most tragic victim in the chain of events that collapsed.
I looked at his bright smile, only slightly curling my lips, thinking to myself:
"If I help him now… what will I gain?"