The fluorescent lights overhead cast a sterile glow over the classroom on the third floor of Shenzhen High School. Mr. Cheng stood at the podium, his ruler tapping impatiently against his leg as he delivered his lecture. The students before him slumped in their seats, eyelids drooping like weighted curtains.
"Look at the blackboard!" Mr. Cheng's voice boomed through the room, his words punctuated by the scratch of chalk on the board. A few students jolted upright, their eyes snapping into focus. But one student, Ia girl in the third row, layed oblivious to his command.
Her doe-eyes resembled the tranquil sea, a calming blue hinting at the board. The fluorescent light graced her well-toned skin, the glimmer enhancing her beauty. With rose-tinted cheeks, light yet evident beneath her dark long lashes, she gave off a beauty in innocence; cute, but sophisticated.
Lu Hua's head lolled forward, her dark hair spilling across her desk like a waterfall.
Mr. Cheng's eyebrows formed a V, and his eyes narrowed into slits. "Lū Hua!!" he bellowed, slamming his ruler on the desk. The sound made everyone jump, including Lu Hua, who finally lifted her head and stood up quickly.
Mr. Cheng's face turned red with anger. "What did I just say?" he asked, his voice firm.
Lu Hua replied, "The reaction of calcium oxide (CaO) with water (H²O) is: CaO(s) + H²O(l) -- Ca(OH)₂(aq)."
Mr. Cheng's face grew even redder. "I haven't reached that point yet," he growled.
Lu Hua's eyes sparkled with mischief as she asked, "Why did you ask me to stand up, Mr. Cheng?"
Mr. Cheng's expression turned stern. "Why do you think I asked you to stand up?"
Lu Hua responded immediately, "Perhaps you thought I needed a better view of the blackboard, Mr. Cheng?"
The class erupted into laughter.
Lu Hua added, "Or did you ask me to stand up because you wanted me to teach you?"
The class laughed louder, and Mr. Cheng's anger boiled over.
"Excuse me?!?!" Mr. Cheng spluttered. "Are you so smart that you want to take up my position?"
Lu Hua tilted her head to the side, her cheeks filled with a little bit of air, and then she said, "But that's too easy."
The class erupted in laughter, and Mr. Cheng's anger intensified. Just then, a few students burst into the conversation:
"Teacher, that's a good idea! We have a very pretty person in front of us."
Another student chimed in, "Yeah, and does that mean no homework?"
Mr. Cheng's face turned an even deeper shade of red. "Shut up!" he bellowed. "I'm calling your parents in later, young lady!" he added, his voice echoing through the hallway as the bell rang.
As the students filed out of the classroom, Sheng Yue turned to Lu Hua and whispered, "Why were you pissing off old Cheng today?"
Lu Hua shrugged, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "He's just so predictable."
Sheng Yue chuckled. "You know he loves calling our parents for everything. I'm pretty sure my mom gets a weekly 'attitude adjustment' call even if I'm just breathing too loudly."
Lu Hua rolled her eyes. "That's a bit of an exaggeration, don't you think?"
Sheng Yue grinned. "But you know I'm right."