During the break in the afternoon class, Lin Jinglei was notified to gather on the fifth floor. As he walked out of the backdoor of his classroom, he coincidentally bumped into Yan Zizheng, who was walking out of the front entrance of Class 17.

These two people still did not say a word as they walked up the stairs one after the other. When they reached the staircase landing, Zheng Qiaoyin, who had come from the first floor, called out to Lin Jinglei through the passing students.

"What's up?" Lin Jinglei rarely had the patience to stop.

Yan Zizheng slowed down his footsteps, leaving no trace. It seemed like he was continuing to walk, but in reality, he was listening to the conversation behind him.

Zheng Qiaoyin first asked, "From your voice, are you having a cold?"

Lin Jinglei nodded in response.

The girl shook a stack of colorful paper in her hand and said, "Can you help me distribute these to your classmates?"

Lin Jinglei furrowed his brow and asked, "What is it?"

"Here are some promotional flyers for my beverage shop. Students with valid student IDs can enjoy a 50% discount. Help me promote it, will you?"

Lin Jinglei turned around and left, saying, "I won't help."

Zheng Qiaoyin had expected this outcome: "Alright, alright, I won't trouble you. I'll go find Tang Shan."

Lin Jinglei only found out a couple of days ago that Zheng Qiaoyin was also a radio broadcaster at the school's broadcasting station. He understood that even if he didn't help Zheng Qiaoyin, she still had Tang Shan to assist her. Therefore, he decided it would be better for him to have fewer responsibilities rather than more.

He strides up the stairs, with only twenty minutes for the break between classes. Seeing that three and a half minutes have already passed, he wants to hurry up and go upstairs to listen to the senior's lecture. With a dizzy and swollen head, all he wants is to go back to class and sleep.

Just as he rounded the corner of the staircase and surpassed Yan Zizheng, his nose suddenly itched, and he let out a loud sneeze.

Yan Zizheng, who was originally turning his head unconsciously, was unexpectedly sprayed by Lin Jinglei's saliva. He immediately stopped in his tracks and closed his eyes, his face filled with disgust. He exclaimed, "Damn, how filthy are you!"

Lin Jinglei sniffed and said, "If I could control myself, I wouldn't curse, but you turned your head."

Curling up on the sofa all night was the direct cause of Lin Jinglei catching a cold. Since morning, his nose had been stuffy and his throat dry. He couldn't stop sneezing, which was such a relief. He completely surpassed Yan Zizheng and continued climbing the stairs.

This time, only a few people who were notified to gather quickly dispersed.

Lin Jinglei was the last one to come out and happened to see Tang Shan, who had just come out of the broadcasting room. That kid still had a white bandage wrapped around his head, which looked like he was attending a funeral from a distance.

When Lin Jinglei approached, Tang Shan asked, "So, did you get elected?"

"I don't know. Making me report my height, weight, and mental health. Why do you have to bother with such trivial matters and come all the way here? Can't you just ask everything all at once?"

"Tang Shanxing exclaimed excitedly, 'It must be for ordering custom-made uniforms. That means you've been chosen!'"

Damn it, Lin Jinglei was displeased because Yan Zizheng was chosen among the selected people. Who would want to cooperate with that idiot?

Tang Shan squinted his eyes: "What a great opportunity! All the girls in the school will be able to see you. Why worry about not having any suitors?"

Lin Jinglei pushed away Tang Shan's hand that was touching his chin in disdain and said, "Get lost. Do I really need to resort to such methods just to meet women?"

Tang Shan was stunned: "Yeah, that makes sense."

Lin Jinglei listened to the music playing on the radio while he was going downstairs. He muttered, "This song again? It's still at the top of the campus chart. I'm so tired of hearing it. Can't they play something different for once?"

Tang Shan scoffed, "The committee teacher doesn't allow us to play other songs. It's either this or all kinds of revolutionary songs. Isn't it almost Red Culture Month?"

The two of them continued talking as they walked all the way up to the second floor. Lin Jinglei didn't stop and kept on walking.

"Leizi, where are you going?"

It was only when Tang Shan mentioned the Red Culture Month that Lin Jinglei realized there were still two choir practice sessions left. Since he wasn't participating in the choir, his idea of getting some sleep went down the drain. He might as well go to the field.

"Play ball."

"I also want to go." Tang Shan suddenly regretted volunteering to be the lead singer.

Lin Jinglei turned around with a wicked smile on his face, waving his hand and saying, "You chose your own path, so go back and crawl on your knees."

The half-closed office door was pushed open without hesitation. Zou Jing, without looking up, already knew who it was. He continued writing on the teaching plan: "Close the door."

Zhaoyu kicked the door shut with force and said, "Did you come to tell me that you want to dismantle my chair?"

Zou Jing pulled open a drawer and took out a mobile phone, placing it on the table. He looked at You Zhaoyu and said, "During last class, I went back to the classroom and saw you playing with your phone again through the rear window. Do you also want to hand this in?"

Yu Zhaoyu stood there with arms wide open, saying, "You've got it wrong. I don't have a cellphone. If you don't believe me, you can search for yourself."

Zou Jing pushed the mobile phone on the table forward and said, "Take it back."

"What do you mean by this? Are you trying to please me?"

Zou Jing leaned back in his chair and smiled, his gaze piercing. "Why should I try to please you?"

Zhaoyu let go of his arm and said, "Aren't you afraid that I'll embarrass you in front of the whole class?"

I really can't understand the thoughts of these teenagers now. Zou Jing had already sighed over Zhao Yu's way of thinking many times before, and he continued, "So you indirectly admit that you were the one who broke my chair."

"How could it be me? Wasn't Feng Yi the one who admitted to it?"

"If that's the case," Zou Jing stood up, "should I also add the charge of intimidating classmates to you?"

Their interaction pattern was never like that of a teacher and student from the very beginning. Although Zou Jing, who was ten years older than Yu Zhaoyu, should have been more mature and stable, he inexplicably became unpredictable and unreasonable when speaking to Yu Zhaoyu. He was surprised at how his severity and decisiveness seemed to vanish, leaving behind only boundless indulgence and patience.

He acknowledged that when facing Zhao Yu, he lacked the authority of a teacher, or perhaps it could be said that this rebellious teenager should not be treated according to common sense.

Yu Zhaoyu snorted, "You have no evidence. Why would you say that I intimidated him?"

"Your reasoning is quite clear," Zou Jing nodded slightly, staring at the teenager in front of him. "So, you think I dismantled your chair, but you have no evidence. On what basis do you accuse me?"

"What do you mean?"

"From now on," Zou Jing stepped out from behind his desk, "any pranks played on me may very well come back to haunt you. Be cautious."

Before Yu Zhaoyu could say anything, a book was thrown at him from the bookshelf. He instinctively caught it.

Zou Jing walked over and said, "Now, take off all the book tacks and don't try to argue that it wasn't you who did it. A real man should have the courage to take responsibility."

At this moment, a knocking sound could be heard. Zou Jing answered, "Come in."

Seeing that Gōng Yuè was holding a stack of exercise books, Yóu Zhào Yǔ did not argue back. Instead, he stood honestly in front of the desk and began prying open the densely filled staples on the textbook with a ruler on the table, one by one, and then pulling them out.

Zou Jing asked the class representative of Class 18, "Have you collected everything?"

"A few more books to go."

Zou Jing sighed, "Our class is always going to be short of a few books."

"Teacher, I'll try to collect it next time," Gong Yue said while picking up the topmost exercise booklet and flipping it open. "I have a question about a problem."

Zhou Yu's gaze remained fixed on Gong Yue, who was sitting next to Zou Jing, listening to the questions politely and with a gentle smile. He didn't even notice when his fingertips were scratched by the staples in the book.

He seemed to finally understand what it was about Zou Jing that he couldn't put into words but found annoying.

This resource-based small city in the northern plights is characterized by distinct seasons. Its typical climate is freezing cold winters, scorching hot summers, and strong winds blowing throughout the spring and autumn.

As the autumn season just began, a strong wind blew in, bringing with it a blue warning. Most people who went outside would wear masks and glasses, some looking handsome while others appeared comical.

Lin Jinglei criticized the chubby girl, Si Meiqi, for wearing a mask when going to exercise. "Don't you have any self-awareness? The mask you're wearing is as good as not wearing one at all. It doesn't block anything."

Simei Qi didn't retort, staring wide-eyed as she swung her arms and headed straight towards Lin Jinglei.

Lin Jinglei immediately started running, knowing full well how much it hurt when Simei Qi hit him, yet he still boasted recklessly. Most likely, he relied on his speed to make it difficult for her to catch up.

When they reached their position on the playground, he slowed down his pace and said, "Don't chase after me. The wind might not be able to move you, but it could definitely blow me away."

Simi stood with her hands on her hips, watching as the figure of that person slipped away into the back of the team. When Tang Shan passed by, she smiled and reconciled, saying, "Bad people will get their comeuppance, don't get angry with him."

"Doesn't karma take care of scum like you?" Si Meiqi said, pulling down her face mask as she strode forward. "Stop kidding yourself, the heavens are busy, so you have to take matters into your own hands."

Lin Jinglei thought that Si Meiqi had already given up on chasing him. When he was engrossed in a conversation with two boys, he suddenly saw a plump face that was very close. He immediately stepped back to avoid it and happened to bump into the Class 17 team.

The music of the radio exercise began to play, and all the participating first and second-year high school students in the venue became more orderly.

He stepped on my sneakers again.

Lin Jinglei heard a familiar voice and turned around. He rubbed his arm, which was sore from being pinched by Si Meiqi, and snorted at Yan Zizheng, "What's the matter? Want to fight again?"

As soon as these words came out, the boys near Class 17 immediately gathered around. However, when they saw Yan Zizheng standing upright and starting to do exercises, they all retreated back.

Lin Jinglei returned to their class team, and several boys in Class Seventeen were wearing sneakers for exercises. He guessed that they had physical education class next. He looked at Yan Zizheng's left shoe with half of his shoe print on it. Last time, before the soccer game, he had deliberately stepped on it. This time, it was not intentional at all. He didn't expect that it would be the same foot and the same spot.

He averted his gaze, thinking to himself that Class 17 really produces a lot of fools. Why play football on a windy day? It would be strange if the ball didn't get blown away.

He immediately felt frustrated again. It was idiotic for the school to have physical education class in such windy weather. He felt sad for his messed up hairstyle from being blown around, and even sadder for his eyes that could only squint because of the strong wind.

Lin Jinglei still hasn't learned how to do the radio calisthenics until now. Just like all the boys standing at the back, he is simply fooling around. He randomly gestures a few times while the headmaster is patrolling, and spends most of the time just watching the commotion.

Liu Zhihe knew the kind of people in this group and couldn't be bothered to deal with them anymore. He glanced around and pretended not to notice their laziness.

As soon as the music stopped, the crowd on the playground immediately dispersed. Lin Jinglei rubbed his right eye, which had gotten sand in it, and followed the flow of people in the direction of the teaching building.

Suddenly, a piercing pain surged through the left foot, as if it was being crushed. Someone who brushed past said in a casual tone, "Now we're even."

Lin Jinglei turned around and looked at Yan Zizheng's back. "Damn, are the soles of your shoes spiked?"

Yan Zizheng's mouth curled slightly at the corners as he walked backwards facing Lin Jinglei. He extended two fingers and said, "It's twice."

"Leizi, let's go," Tang Shan shouted, "to the supermarket."

Lin Jinglei bowed his head and looked at his dirty shoes, feeling annoyed. "I'm not going."

"I'll treat you."

"Then let's go."

Returning to the classroom, they were informed that the English class had been replaced with math. Many classmates had some reactions, but Lin Jinglei sat there eating ice cream with an expressionless face. To him, it made no difference what subject they were studying.

When I turned around to throw the popsicle stick into the trash can, I saw You Zhaoyu standing at the back door. Rarely, he spoke in a normal tone, "Looking for someone?"

Since the last time they fought with the juvenile delinquent and made peace, these two individuals can now talk relatively harmoniously. Zhao Yu nodded and said, "Find Gong Yue."

Lin Jinglei knew this would be the result. Just as he was about to call out to Gong Yue, You Zhaoyu stopped him.

"Don't call out anymore. We're going to be late for our physical education class. Give this to her."

Lin Jinglei felt a little displeased, feeling as if he had been ordered around by You Zhaoyu. That person didn't even bother to ask if he was willing before throwing things on his desk and running away.

This was not the first time Zou Jing had seen Zhao Yu loitering around the entrance of Class 18 after class. He knew that there were many students in these two classes who were willing to provoke fights. Otherwise, they wouldn't always end up in brawls. If it turned out that it was his own student who started trouble first, he felt it necessary to deal with it decisively.

But he saw a kind of genuine joy on the face of the young boy running past him, a smile that he had never seen before, which was quite unexpected.

Turning around again, there was only a gust of wind left.

The bell for class rang, and there were only fewer than ten people in their class. He was somewhat angry. These little brats were becoming more and more audacious, even daring to come back late for his class. After throwing their books onto the lectern, he loudly asked, "Where is everyone? Where did they all go during class?"

The students spoke up one after another, saying, "Teacher, this class is Physical Education."

Zou Jingxin trembled. He realized that he had indeed made a mistake. He was in the class next door. He cleared his throat and tucked the book back under his arm, saying, "Why didn't you go to class?"

A girl replied, "I asked for leave."

Zou Jing's question was purely asked to divert the awkwardness. Deep down, he knew that there would always be a few girls in each PE class who would have to catch up on their self-study due to their menstrual cycle.

He exited through the front door of the classroom and entered through the back door of Class 18, where he happened to witness a few students passing something along in the corridor, just as he overheard a certain sentence.

"Passed to Gong Yue, Class Seventeen was given by Zhao Yu."

Zou Jing walked towards the podium while watching the box of cookies passing through many hands before finally reaching its ultimate destination.

He also didn't really know where his anger came from and shouted, "Don't you know it's time for class! Why are you still sending things around!"

Inside the room, there was silence, with the students wearing incredulous expressions on their faces. How could this usually gentle and handsome male teacher suddenly explode?

In Zou Jing's eyes, the students of Class 18 did not fear him like their own class students did. After all, he was not their class leader. There were always a few troublemakers in his class, and there were always a few students who didn't turn in their homework, completely disregarding his authority.

He became angrier the more he thought about it. After stepping onto the podium, he looked over the entire class and said, "Whoever passed around that thing, stand up."

Watching as a few sparse lines stood up crookedly, he corrected, "Who did it start from?"

All the students who stood up sat back down.

Zou Jing frowned and said, "Who was the first to spread this? Stand up!"

Lin Jinglei cursed under his breath before slowly getting up, causing the chairs and tables to make a noise.

Zou Jing looked towards the boy standing at the back row and said, "You stand and listen to the class, confiscate your belongings."

As soon as the teacher's voice fell, Gong Yue sitting in the front row swiftly handed the box of biscuits to the lectern without any hesitation. Then, she casually sat back in her seat, as if effortlessly defusing a bomb.

Zou Jing glanced at the sticky note on the biscuit box beside him, it seems like someone had an early love.