Vol 2 Chapter 12: Changing Deskmates

Sun Fan felt his good friend had changed.

He seemed somewhat unfamiliar now.

Normally, when Sun Fan took out the bottle, his friend would immediately snatch it away to secretly do some shameful things behind everyone's back.

But now he was covering his face, looking ashamed of his past actions.

This guy... putting on an act...

Unaware of Liu Changqing's true thoughts, Sun Fan froze momentarily before reacting. He nudged Liu Changqing's waist with his elbow and whispered:

"Take it. Though I also think what you do is pretty gross, who told you to like drinking yogurt so much?"

"......"

These words snapped Liu Changqing back to reality.

His vacant eyes turned toward Sun Fan.

Muttering to himself:

"You're saying... I had you get yogurt bottles because I like drinking yogurt?"

"Obviously. Why else would you keep licking the bottle openings? And you're so picky - it has to be the ones Li Wanran threw away... Look, if you really want some, I'll bring you a bottle tomorrow. Keeping this up isn't good - if someone sees you, they'll definitely think you're a pervert."

Though Sun Fan spoke as if trying to be discreet, his volume wasn't actually low.

Their conversation was clearly heard by the classmate sitting in front, and Liu Changqing noticed the student sneakily turning to glance at them.

Noticing Liu Changqing's gaze, the student immediately turned back like a thief covering his ears, pretending to focus on drawing with his pen.

It's over.

Covering his face again, Liu Changqing felt too ashamed to face anyone.

Who could have imagined his body's original owner had such bizarre habits?

Having a crush on someone was understandable, and doing strange things for love made sense.

But this...

How am I supposed to live this down?

Before class started, Sun Fan kept trying to chat with Liu Changqing but got no response. Bored, he casually tossed the bottle back into his desk and resumed his usual activity of admiring his crush.

Liu Changqing sat silently in his seat.

Questioning his entire existence.

The world seemed to lose all color after learning this truth.

Thinking of Li Wanran, of her face...

This life...

Seemed rather hopeless.

——————————

After class.

Sun Fan dragged the dispirited Liu Changqing along with some friends from other classes to a secluded area of campus.

The group huddled together and took out a pack of cigarettes.

This was one of their group activities.

Somehow, the boys had become obsessed with imitating adult behaviors.

To Liu Changqing, this was extremely childish.

These guys just wanted to appear mature by pretending they could smoke.

How pointless.

Thinking this, Liu Changqing took a deep drag.

Then exhaled the smoke.

Only after this puff did his gloomy mood improve slightly.

Unbeknownst to him, his skilled ash-flicking and the melancholic expression while exhaling deeply impressed all the boys around him.

Just two days ago, Liu Changqing could only playfully blow smoke. Now he looked like a seasoned smoker.

They were stunned.

Recovering, they crowded around to ask questions.

Sun Fan pushed to the front.

Before Liu Changqing could respond to their questions, a shout from nearby startled them.

Turning, they saw an adult man approaching.

The discipline master.

Liu Changqing remembered him well.

This was the man who'd smacked the back of his head multiple times.

After a brief silence, the discipline master pointed at them and yelled:

"You little brats! Smoking at school? You've got a death wish! Don't move, stay right there!"

"Oh shit, we're screwed!"

"Run!"

Someone shouted, and the tight-knit group immediately scattered in all directions.

Sun Fan was the fastest runner.

Seeing this, Liu Changqing didn't hesitate either, immediately turning to follow Sun Fan.

Perhaps because Liu Changqing stood out, the discipline master zeroed in on him.

Of all people to chase, he chose Liu Changqing.

The two fleeing boys quickly noticed this. True to his loyal nature, Sun Fan abruptly changed direction to separate from Liu Changqing.

Sure enough, the discipline master let Sun Fan go.

Still pursuing Liu Changqing.

However, youth has its advantages.

His superior stamina soon allowed him to shake off the discipline master.

After confirming he'd escaped, Liu Changqing hid alone beneath the school building's staircase until the class bell rang, then emerged.

He climbed the stairs toward his classroom.

Unexpectedly, upon reaching his floor and turning toward class, he saw a row of people squatting in the hallway.

Along with the discipline master holding a stick.

Sun Fan was conspicuously among them.

Before Liu Changqing could process this, Sun Fan spotted him.

Forcing a smile, Sun Fan waved at him.

And called out:

"Come over. You're the only one missing."

"......"

These useless idiots.

How'd they all get caught!

In the discipline master's office.

The group stood neatly in line, waiting for their homeroom teachers to collect them.

After students from other classes were taken away by their teachers, only Liu Changqing and Sun Fan remained.

Their teacher arrived last.

After receiving a scolding from the discipline master, the teacher led the two out of the office.

Class was already in session.

Liu Changqing realized this was his fourth office visit today.

All within a single day...

Their teacher seemed too tired to even scold them now.

What's worse than being scolded?

Not being worth scolding.

As a dedicated teacher, while he occasionally used corporal punishment on misbehaving students, he never gave up on any of them.

Liu Changqing admired his teaching philosophy.

Until he said those words:

"You two shouldn't sit together anymore. I'm changing your seating arrangements."

"......"

"......"

While doing wall squats as punishment, the two heard their teacher's declaration.

Sun Fan reacted most strongly.

He and Liu Changqing were extremely close friends.

Their academic performance was similarly matched.

Since becoming deskmates, Sun Fan had never imagined being separated.

He'd grown accustomed to Liu Changqing's company.

To confiding in him about his crush...

Now the teacher wanted to split them up? He absolutely wouldn't allow it!!

Unaware of Sun Fan's thoughts, the teacher flipped through some papers before announcing:

"Sun Fan, you'll sit with Zeng Yihui. Liu Changqing, you'll—"

"I LOVE YOU, TEACHER WANG!!!"