Vol 2 Chapter 19: You... You Pervert!

Friday.

The third day in this world.

Liu Changqing had somewhat adapted to classroom life. He never imagined that after graduating from university and entering the workforce, he would return to school again.

It felt strange.

Like accidentally stepping back into a circle he'd already left.

Truthfully, Liu Changqing was still completely clueless about why he'd come to this world.

He simply couldn't figure it out.

He clearly remembered resigning from his company and going home. After enduring his mother's blind date arrangements, exhausted from a day-long train ride, he collapsed onto bed.

He also remembered sending his cousin a WeChat message before sleeping, asking him to come over the next morning...

What had he sent? Why had he messaged his cousin?

No matter how hard he tried, Liu Changqing couldn't recall.

Dazed and confused, he'd somehow arrived here, waking up to the distinctive smell of a toilet assaulting his nose.

Probably the most disgusting way to transmigrate.

As an atheist, Liu Changqing had never imagined something that only happened in novels would occur to him.

Yet when it actually happened, he didn't feel particularly shocked.

Instead, it seemed... natural.

He couldn't understand why he felt this way.

"Liu Changqing!!"

The sudden shout snapped him out of his thoughts.

Startled, his body jerked before he raised his head toward the lectern.

The Chinese literature teacher leaned forward against the lectern, hands gripping its edges, glaring at him.

The anger was palpable.

Caught daydreaming.

When Liu Changqing met his gaze, the teacher didn't lecture him. Instead, he tapped the textbook a few times with his right hand.

"Translate 'The Peach Blossom Garden Essay' for the class."

"..."

Peach Blossom Spring? I know this one! I memorized it perfectly in middle school!

To encounter familiar classical Chinese in this world—after a brief moment of confusion, Liu Changqing perked up immediately.

He sprang to his feet, casually flipping open his textbook before reciting loudly to the teacher:

"During the Taiyuan era of Jin, a fisherman from Wuling... followed a stream, forgetting the distance... suddenly came upon a peach blossom grove lining both banks for hundreds of—"

"Wrong..."

Qin Ruoliu, sitting beside Liu Changqing, hunched her shoulders and whispered a correction.

But Liu Changqing didn't hear her.

The teacher at the lectern looked extremely displeased, brows furrowed as he slapped the desk several times to stop the recitation.

"Stop! Stop!!"

Three sharp commands.

Liu Changqing halted, utterly confused.

"What nonsense are you reciting?"

"Huh? Isn't this 'Peach Blossom Spring'?"

"'The Peach Blossom Garden Essay' is a modern prose by poet Wang Anfen. What were you reciting?"

"Wang Anfen..."

Frowning, Liu Changqing seemed to realize something.

He looked down at his textbook—he'd flipped randomly earlier, so the page before him wasn't the mentioned essay at all.

He began flipping pages frantically, but even after several turns, he couldn't find the correct article.

The entire class's attention focused on him.

Silence filled the classroom, broken only by Liu Changqing's page-turning.

Seeing this, class monitor and deskmate Qin Ruoliu decided to help.

Head lowered, she mumbled softly like someone covering their ears while stealing a bell:

"Page thirty-two..."

"Qin Ruoliu!"

But in the dead silent classroom, no matter how softly she spoke, the teacher heard clearly.

Scolded, the timid girl immediately hunched further, pushing up her glasses as if nothing had happened.

Thanks to her whispered hint, Liu Changqing found page thirty-two.

When he saw the unfamiliar prose...

"..."

"Look at you! Eyes wide as ping pong balls during class! We were just discussing Wang Anfen's mindset when writing this essay—crucial test material! How will you pass if this appears on the exam? With this attitude, if you manage to pass this test, I'll let you kick my head like a soccer ball!"

"HAHAHAHAHA—"

The class erupted in laughter.

Sun Fan in the back row laughed loudest.

Seeing Liu Changqing's silent demeanor, the teacher didn't continue scolding after his critique.

With a soft sigh, he didn't tell Liu Changqing to sit either, simply resuming the lesson.

Class didn't last long. Soon, the bell rang.

After brief delays, the teacher gathered his materials and left.

Only after the teacher departed did Liu Changqing slump back into his seat with relief.

He'd thought he could show off...

"Don't daydream in class. Study properly."

Before he could reflect further, Qin Ruoliu closed her textbook and turned to him.

Her eyes behind glasses focused on Liu Changqing with encouraging warmth.

"It might seem hard at first, but once you get used to it, you'll enjoy learning! Studying can be really joyful!"

"..."

What was she saying?

Unaware of Liu Changqing's silence, Qin Ruoliu continued enthusiastically:

"Especially Wang Anfen's 'Spring'—it's absolutely wonderful! That's my favorite essay of hers!"

Perhaps from excessive admiration, Qin Ruoliu grew excited, gradually leaning toward Liu Changqing while chattering nonstop.

She explained the essay's beautiful phrases, hoping to spark Liu Changqing's academic interest.

In reality... it had zero effect.

Liu Changqing watched her.

Gradually, her voice faded from his ears—he only saw her lips moving.

He observed the girl before him:

Her speaking mouth.

Her glasses.

Her dress.

Her shoulders.

The slightly twisted shoulder strap.

With mild OCD, once Liu Changqing noticed the asymmetry, he couldn't look away.

Who knows what possessed him in that moment.

As if guided by ghosts, he reached out and adjusted the strap.

Release.

*Snap.*

The elastic strap snapped back against skin with a faint sound, simultaneously cutting off Qin Ruoliu's words.

"..."

Her mouth clamped shut abruptly.

Qin Ruoliu's eyes widened enormously.

Meanwhile, Liu Changqing felt like a heavy object had smashed his head.

A dull ringing filled his ears.

What... what did I just do...

"You—"

"W-wait! Let me explain! It's my OCD—uneven things bother me—"

"You... you PERVERT!!"

Terrified, Qin Ruoliu clutched her shoulders as fear propelled her body.

Face burning red, she jumped up and bolted toward the front classroom door.

Instantly realizing her destination, Liu Changqing scrambled after her, shouting:

"No! Don't send me to the office again, PLEASE!!"