"Is this supposed to be a consolation?" Wang Zehao wailed, clutching his head.
Wang Zehao was often anxious, and the three of them had gotten used to it. Gu Chen turned away and went about their own business.
The dean entered the classroom before the preparatory bell rang, strolling around the classroom as if taking a leisurely walk through the back door. All was quiet except for Wang Zehao, who was whimpering with his head in his hands, which stood out in the quiet classroom.
Wang Zehao slowly raised his head halfway through his groaning, and the dean on the podium and the students in the front row looked at him with amusement.
The dean smiled so hard his face wrinkled. "Wang Zehao, are you having a lot of trouble learning?"
Wang Zehao remained silent, so embarrassed he wished he could disappear into the desk drawer.
The dean didn't give him much of a look and solemnly instructed him: "You senior students are about to head to the college entrance examination battlefield. After the 7th and 8th, you will be soon-to-be senior students."
"Ah—" A chorus of wails erupted from below.
The dean then changed the subject, revealing a pleasant surprise: "However, the school is organizing a three-day, two-night study tour for the second-year high school students on the 6th, 7th, and 8th."
Class 2 of the Literature Department suddenly fell silent, with most students looking dazed.
In an instant, as if water on a stove were boiling and making a buzzing sound, cheers and roars suddenly came from classroom 2, and all the listlessness was gone.
"Holy crap! Holy crap! Three days and two nights!"
Wasn't the last one only two days and one night?
"Cards! Games! Let's all get together!"
Where are we going?
Class 2 erupted in chaos. The dean, unable to control the noise, could only turn to Gu Chen for help.
Gu Chen was still pondering the three days and two nights plan when he met the teacher's gaze and understood. He stood up and shouted to maintain discipline, "Quiet down! Listen to the teacher's next instructions!"
The effect was outstanding; Class 2 of the Literature Department became much quieter, but there were still plenty of chattering discussions.
The dean cleared his throat twice. "I've already sent the fees to the parents' group. After class, the class monitor will distribute the parent notification form and student commitment form. The information is all on them. Those who are interested can sign and submit them."
Gu Chen went to the office and took out two small stacks of printed A4 notices to distribute.
After Gu Chen finished sending out the notices, he browsed through them. “W City… aquarium and zoo, guesthouse, triple room…” Gu Chen frowned slightly and leaned closer to Xiang Yu, complaining in a low voice, “How can it be a triple room?”
Xiang Yu glanced at the list in his hand, then gave Gu Chen a brief look. "We'll be hiking and camping in tents the next day. We have a double room for you."
Gu Chen exclaimed in displeasure, "Tents don't offer much privacy."
Xiang Yu signed her name in the lower right corner and handed the form to him, saying, "Stop overthinking it, take the form."
Gu Chen got up listlessly.
After he left, he curled the corners of his mouth in a smirk.
Wang Zehao's mind was filled with the happy memories of the three days and two nights. He read the first paragraph of the notice more than once, and he still felt a sense of unreality. He counted on his fingers, "Hey, what day of the week is the 6th?"
"Friday." Gu Chen took the watch.
"Teacher No. 6 is in school for invigilation training and doesn't teach classes anyway." Yang Shuhuan capped his pen and continued, "He was a junior when he left, and he'll be a senior when he comes back."
These words were originally meant to dampen Wang Zehao's enthusiasm, but now Wang Zehao only had his study tour on his mind and didn't take the upcoming senior year of high school seriously at all.
"If you've made it through junior high, what's there to be afraid of senior high?"
"Hehe... I can't plow anymore, Brother Chen~ There's no such thing as a field that's been over-plowed, only an ox that's been worked to death~" Yang Shuhuan mimicked his half-dead tone from earlier, only to be corrected by Wang Zehao with righteous indignation.
"What bull? There's no bull! Haven't you heard? The outcome is uncertain, and we could both be dark horses!" Wang Zehao exclaimed with great pride, patting his chest.
Since Gu Chen wasn't there, he could only pat Xiang Yu on the shoulder first, and after the other turned around, he suggested, "Brother Yu, let's go to the supermarket after school on Thursday afternoon and buy some snacks at that big supermarket in the city."
Xiang Yu exclaimed "Ah!" and retorted, "Isn't the trip supposed to include meals?"
Wang Zehao was stunned by the other person's question. Before he could answer, the other person continued, "Isn't it troublesome?"
It's not that the words are unpleasant, but when Wang Zehao gets excited, it can dampen his enthusiasm.
With Yang Shuhuan letting out a laugh that he couldn't hold back, Wang Zehao fell completely silent.
When Gu Chen returned, he saw Wang Zehao looking rather uninterested, and wondered if he had left quite excitedly.
"What's wrong, Mouse?" Gu Chen comforted him. "You were fine just now. Tell me what's wrong."
"Brother Yu dampened my enthusiasm," Wang Zehao said sullenly, recounting what had just happened.
Looking at Wang Zehao's complaining expression, Xiang Yu thought to himself, "Isn't what I said exactly the same thing?"
Gu Chen nodded, looking knowing, and said, "My deskmate is right. If meals are provided, there's no need to bring snacks. It'll be hard to dispose of fruit peels and wrappers later. Besides, Haozi, you should also control your diet. Your health is the foundation of everything in your senior year of high school. This is for your own good..."
Gu Chen continued, but Wang Zehao had already given up listening. He lunged at Yang Shuhuan beside him, rubbing his forehead against her shoulder, screaming in agony, "Huanhuan, no one supports me! No one!"
Yang Shuhuan was nearly pushed to the ground by his weight. He gripped the table with one hand and the chair with the other, barely managing to stay seated, and gritted his teeth, saying, "I support you! I'll go with you! Stop pushing me!"
On the day of departure, Gu Chen waited early in front of the bus for Class 2 of Literature, preparing all the statistical work.
The students in Class 2 of the Arts Department were also very helpful. Students who are usually late arrived early. While other classes were still lining up to count passengers in front of the bus, Class 2 students had already boarded the bus. Everything was ready except for the bus to start.
The class monitor and the accompanying teachers each have a roster of students and a travel guide. The roster lists the contact information of each student's parents and the student themselves, while the guide outlines the itinerary.
They were all seventeen or eighteen-year-old teenagers, and when they came out to play together, they were all as excited as if they had been injected with chicken blood.
The dean, wearing a red baseball cap, turned around with a beaming smile and said to the tour guide, "Look how happy the children are."
The tour guide, a rather young girl, was adjusting her microphone. Hearing this, she smiled and spoke twice into the microphone as a test.
A clear and crisp female voice came from the car stereo.
"Hello, students of Class 2, I'm your tour guide for this trip. My name is Wei Xiaoqian." Wei Xiaoqian stood at the front of the bus and introduced the destination, "Our first stop is the Shipu Wildlife Park and Lingtong Oceanarium in W City. This itinerary..."
Xiang Yu sat by the window, not playing on his phone much, just staring blankly out the window. When his eyes got tired, he would close them and rest for a while.
In a daze, a hand stealthily reached out and took her hand.
Xiang Yu opened his eyes a crack and looked at the guy next to him who was playing with his phone with one hand.
It struggled free twice.
They couldn't break free.
Seeing that he was still trying to break free, Gu Chen leaned closer and said, "You can sleep as you please, don't worry about it."
"..." Never mind that.
Gu Chen was holding hands openly, without any cover, sitting in the back row, across the aisle from Wang Zehao and Yang Shuhuan, who were wearing headphones and playing games.
Xiang Yu had no desire to sleep at all, and used his other hand to help pull the other hand out.
"It's Luo Zai's and his sister's birthday today. What gifts are you planning to give them, boyfriend?" Gu Chen leaned close, seemingly afraid that Xu Youluo, who was diagonally behind him, would hear.
The warm, moist breath soothed my earlobes.
Feeling uncomfortable, Xiang Yu pushed him away and pointed to the spot above his head where his backpack was, "Neck massager, Bluetooth headphones."
The second gift was relatively normal, but the first one didn't seem like something a high school student would receive. Gu Chen paused for a moment, still uncertain, and asked, "A neck massager for Xu Youqing?"
Xiang Yu snorted. It was the first time he had given a gift to a girl other than an elder. He was so confused that he couldn't think of anything to give her, so he simply asked the girl herself.
Xu Youqing was straightforward and decisive, without any excuses or pleasantries, and immediately sent a shopping link.
Xiang Yu looked at Gu Chen, "And you?"
Gu Chen felt that his gift of "999 pure gold twin longevity locks" was quite thoughtful, and he emphasized the word "twins" because "they are twins, so one for each of them. Also, they gave me a watch for my birthday, so I discussed it with my parents and decided to give them something valuable in return."
"..." Xiang Yu was stunned. Shouldn't longevity locks be given to newborns?
But I'm not sure, maybe the siblings will really like it?
"Yes, it's good."
The boys sat in the back row, while the girls sat in the front row interacting with Wei Xiaoqian, laughing and joking.
Tang Yue stepped forward, took the microphone, and, in response to the other party's suggestion to perform a show to liven up the atmosphere, took the lead in setting an example.
"Let me start with a song for everyone."
"Good!" Zhang Boyuan stood up and clapped his hands loudly, shouting as the person in front of him suddenly stopped heartily.
I was startled.
Upon seeing this, Gu Chen silently turned around, his indifferent yet profound eyes containing a desire to kill.
Zhang Boyuan gave an apologetic look and secretly shrank back into his seat.
As the cultural and sports committee member, Tang Yue had to show off her skills. She sang a cappella without any accompaniment. Her voice was sweet and the rhythm was light, perfect for a day of travel.
Once the atmosphere was sufficiently lively, Tang Yue finished her song and asked if anyone wanted to sing next.
The girls looked at each other, wanting to go for it but not daring to.
The front and middle rows suddenly fell silent, while those in the back rows pulled themselves out of the game and looked up.
"I'll do it! It's Luo Zai's birthday today, I'll sing him a happy birthday song." Gu Chen suddenly stood up without any warning, and Xiang Yu didn't even have time to react before he could pull him back.
Xiang Yu: "......"
Xu Youluo was suddenly called out and heard Gu Chen say that he wanted to sing a song to wish him a happy birthday, which made her panic.
"No, I won't."
Tang Yue's smile froze for a moment, then returned to normal.
Seeing Gu Chen's smile, she unconsciously gripped the microphone in her hand and asked, "Is anyone coming? If not, the class monitor will have to sing."
Gu Chen said, "That sounds a bit strange."
Xiang Yu advised him, "Mistake, sit down first. It's not your turn to perform yet."
Tang Yue noticed that Xiang Yu sat up straight, and her eyes lit up.
"Shall we sing a song for the top student?"
"?" Xiang Yu didn't understand how this matter could be related to him, and shook his head, "No."
How could we not? Some people started to egg us on.
"Give a shout-out to the top student!"
"If the top student comes, I'll come too!"
"I second that proposal!"
"+1!"