CHAPTER 73: CHAPTER 72: PRESCRIBING THE RIGHT MEDICINE

On the first day of school, no need to wear uniforms, Zhao Meimei wore a white short sleeve shirt and a knee-length pleated skirt. Her shoulder-length hair hung down behind her, with two thin braids along the temples, tied together at the back, and a bright yellow bow on top.

Her neatly trimmed bangs just covered her eyebrows, revealing a pair of long, dark eyes. Her skin wasn’t as fair as most girls; its healthy light brown complexion was caught perfectly in the sunlight streaming in through the doorway, as if glazed with a layer of fluff, radiating vibrant energy.

The classmate sitting in the front row at the door saw Zhao Meimei coming and greeted her with a smile: "Meimei! Morning!"

Zhao Meimei, with her cool squinty eyes, looked sideways at people, waved with style: "Morning! Skinny!"

The classmate called Skinny wasn’t bothered, smiling as he asked her, "No seating assignments this morning. Want to sit together?"

Zhao Meimei raised her head to glance at Xu Xu who was sitting with the literary committee member, walked to Skinny’s side, and tossed her backpack onto the table: "Sure!"

After she said that, she walked to the table where Xu Xu was sitting with her stuff in hand.

As soon as Zhao Meimei entered the classroom, Xu Xu noticed her. He stared fixedly, tracing her playful smile from her childhood blondish hair to her mouth. Honestly, he wanted to go over, like before, and greet her eagerly, hoping for a smile just like that.

Xu Xu bit his lip, watching Zhao Meimei throw her backpack onto the front row’s desk, feeling extremely disappointed.

Zhao Meimei darted in front of Xu Xu and threw the items she was carrying onto his desk.

With a bang, it startled both Xu Xu and the literary committee member.

Both of them looked up at her simultaneously, Zhao Meimei grinned and greeted them: "Morning!"

The literary committee member was completely fond of Zhao Meimei because of love and appreciation, and indeed found her interesting, nodded with a smile: "Morning."

Xu Xu reached out and opened the bag Zhao Meimei threw over. Inside were two washed apples and a bag of snacks.

Xu Xu’s heart suddenly surged with joy, quickly looked up at Zhao Meimei, his beautiful big eyes sparkled as he gazed at her.

Xu Xu loved eating those snacks, Zhao Meimei used to like them too. But after starting to lose baby teeth, she didn’t fancy them much anymore...

Xu Xu couldn’t contain his excitement, stared at Zhao Meimei and asked softly, "Is it for me?"

Zhao Meimei’s lips slowly curled: "Of course! What kept you busy during the holidays? Why didn’t you come to find me to play?"

Xu Xu’s eyes lit up: "Can I still come to find you to play?"

Zhao Meimei was taken aback: "Why not?"

Xu Xu murmured: "I thought... never mind, I had things going on during the holidays."

Zhao Meimei nodded in understanding, waved her hand coolly: "Alright, I’ll go back to my seat now." After saying that, she glanced at the pretty literary committee member sitting beside Xu Xu, grinned mischievously: "Lest I, the big lamp bulb, blind you both."

Xu Xu panicked upon hearing this, hurriedly explained: "Meimei, it’s not like you think!"

Zhao Meimei mimicked Qu Chaozong, cast a meaningful glance at Xu Xu: "No worries, I understand!"

The literary committee member blushed, shyness tinged with annoyance, glared at Zhao Meimei: "Naughty! Meimei! Stop talking nonsense!"

Zhao Meimei chuckled twice, turned away to chat with Skinny.

Zhao Meimei, animatedly bragging to Skinny about the game she played at Brother Yangyang’s house, was interrupted when a female teacher suddenly entered from the classroom door.

The teacher appeared to be in her thirties, sporting a neat short haircut, with black-frame glasses perched on her face. Her gaze from behind the lenses was especially imposing, unlike the primary school teachers.

As soon as the teacher entered, all students’ attention was drawn, and everyone fell silent, collectively watching this teacher whose mere glance made their hearts tighten with fear.

The teacher’s gaze swept across the class and finally landed on Zhao Meimei. Her tightly pressed lips curved slightly as she pointed at her: "You must be Zhao Meimei? Come with me to the office to fetch the study manual."

Zhao Meimei’s long eyes widened in surprise, pointing at herself: "Me? Teacher, how do you know my name?"

The teacher gave her a glare: "Quit the chatter! When I call you, you come quickly!"

Zhao Meimei always instinctively obeyed those she viewed as compelling. This unfamiliar teacher had her conquered with just a look.

Quickly, Zhao Meimei sprang from her seat and ran after the teacher, glancing at the teacher’s armful of teaching materials, fawning: "Teacher, let me carry your stuff?"

The teacher turned her head, amusement in her eyes, casually handed over the teaching materials.

Zhao Meimei cradled the heavy teaching materials, her eyes darting, as she asked: "Teacher, how do you know my name? Have you met me before?"

Teacher: "Shi Yang was my student before."

Zhao Meimei’s eyes brightened, mentioning Shi Yang made her feel closer to the teacher, so she smiled and said: "Turns out you taught my brother, Teacher, wasn’t my brother excellent?"

The teacher laughed: "Your brother was quite outstanding, but I noticed your grades aren’t doing that well, only ranked tenth in the entrance exam? Your brother never dropped below the top three in my class."

Zhao Meimei panicked upon hearing this: "I, I’m excellent too. I used to always rank in the top five in my class. This time, it wasn’t my best performance!"

The teacher glanced at her, smiled: "Really? Well then, for the upcoming midterm exam, we’ll see if you can make it to the top five, whether you are as excellent as your brother."

In that moment, Zhao Meimei’s heart sparked with fierce ambition, wanting to prove herself for the first time in her life.

Zhao Meimei exclaimed without thinking: "Not only will I get into the top five in the midterm exam, but in every future exam, I’ll rank in the top five. Teacher, I’m excellent too."

The teacher’s lips curved deeply, containing a smile, stretching her hand to pat Zhao Meimei’s head, found her quite amusing, nodded: "Alright, I’ll be looking forward to seeing your performance."

Zhao Meimei left the teacher’s office carrying a thick stack of study manuals, walking with pride on her way.

The teacher sat at her desk, watching Zhao Meimei walk away before turning to her colleague, saying: "That’s our class’s Zhao Meimei, the mischievous student Teacher Xiao Wang constantly spoke of back in the primary section, said she’s especially smart but always naughty."

A colleague sitting nearby smiled: "I find the little girl quite clever."

The teacher laughed: "She is smart, just now she even challenged me, saying she will rank in the top five of the class. I’ve seen a lot of smart kids like her, for them, reverse psychology works wonders; they are all particularly fond of this tactic."