It's not because they copied my homework, but because seeing them around makes me feel that the world is a wonderful place.
Strange, why do I have this feeling?
When they arrived at the school stop, the girl got off first, and the three of them followed behind, playfully bickering and discussing playing soccer after school.
The classroom was bustling with activity. Yangyang stuffed her schoolbag into her desk and sat in the first row, while Qingchen and his friends sat in the last row by the window.
Sunlight shone on his face, and his gaze fell on the girl's back.
During recess, the students stood in formation on the playground. Qingchen stood at the front, silently counting the beats. Only during the sixth period, when they did the turning exercises, could he turn around and glance at the girl diagonally behind the line. The girl was wearing a white school uniform and looked youthful and charming.
The little secrets of student days, even putting your homework next to someone you like, can bring a secret joy.
Youth is like a cheap, chilled soda from a convenience store; it was wonderful then, but looking back, you can't find that taste anymore.
At noon, three friends went to the cafeteria for lunch. Wang Yuchao, Zhao Mingke, and others who grew up in the same neighborhood came over. When Wang Yuchao saw meat on Qingchen's plate, his eyes lit up immediately: "Your brother and sister-in-law are so good to you. They work so hard on the construction site and still give you such a high allowance, afraid that you will go hungry."
Qing Chen smiled but did not respond. He ate all the food on his plate, leaving it so clean that it was almost reflective.
Just then, an old man with a hunched back walked past the cafeteria, smiling kindly as he supervised the students, reminding them not to waste food: "Every grain of rice on your plate is the result of hard work. You should all learn from Qingchen and not waste food!"
Upon seeing him, the students immediately stood up in a flurry to greet him: "Hello, Principal."
Principal Li Xiurui said with a smile, "Sit down, everyone, sit down and eat quickly."
Qingchen looked at the principal's hunched back. Day after day, the principal would stand guard in the cafeteria, watching over the students as if they were his own children.
If the other party discovers that a student is so poor that they can only afford protein bars, they will also provide opportunities for part-time work.
It is said that this principal even went on a hunger strike in front of the education department last year, and finally got a lunch subsidy for the students, making the food in the cafeteria half the price of food outside.
Biology teacher Wrench and geography teacher Hawthorn were chatting when they mentioned that the Ministry of Education was going to stop this subsidy this year, and the old principal was planning to stage another sit-in at the Ministry of Education, and they would go with him this time.
The teachers at this school are notorious troublemakers in City 5. If the Ministry of Education doesn't approve it, they'll block the entrance to Ginkgo Manor and force the Qing family to approve the subsidy.
However, the old principal instructed everyone to carry some protein bars in their pockets and sneak a bite when no one is looking, so they don't really starve...
The former principal was notoriously cunning, causing headaches for ministries and conglomerates alike.
It is said that the former principal and the head of the Qing family were classmates at Qinghe University, so no one dared to really do anything to him.
...
...
When the afternoon bell rang, physics teacher He Jinqiu walked in, carrying an LCD screen. He was wearing a smart gray suit: "Your PE teacher, Iodine, is sick today, so I'll teach this class."
The classroom echoed with the students' groans. No more girls playing volleyball in short sleeves and shorts. They couldn't run wild on the playground, or sneak off to the convenience store to buy popsicles and snacks. The boys could only practice shooting hoops in the corridor during breaks to satisfy their cravings. It seemed to be one of the biggest regrets of this age.
He Jinqiu pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses and looked at Qing Chen with a smile, "Class monitor, remember to collect the homework."
Qingchen nodded: "Okay, teacher."
While other students complained about He Jinqiu taking up physical education class time, Qingchen felt particularly close to him. This Boss He... wait, why did he call him Boss He?
This Mr. He is usually very strict, but he never calls the parents when students make mistakes.
He Jinqiu once said in class that if a teacher has to rely on calling parents to solve students' problems, it means that the teacher is not competent.
Nowadays, federal classrooms are all equipped with holographic multimedia, but this Mr. He, I don't know where he bought the chalk, specially broke it into small pieces, and would throw it at anyone who was distracted.
The tiny chalk stubs, like flying swords, have eyes and hit their targets every time.
The students privately called him He Jianxian.
When school ended at 3 p.m., the students rushed out of the school in a swarm, and Qingchen walked towards the library with his schoolbag on his back.
He had a fixed seat, and the girl never seemed to change seats either, so the two of them sat facing each other across a wide table.
The library was filled with the quiet sound of turning pages and the scratching of pens.
The girl was wearing headphones and concentrating intently on correcting her mistakes.
At 9 p.m., the two packed their bags again and walked towards the light rail station. There were hardly any people on the light rail at this time. The two sat in the carriage separated by an aisle, neither of them speaking to the other.
But amidst the rumbling of the Baima Light Rail passing through the buildings, it seems like everything is there.
Life, like this light rail, rumbles and rushes towards the distance.
Qingchen was happy every day, as if he hadn't lost or missed anything.
Days passed by one after another, autumn turned to winter, and winter turned to spring.
The atmosphere at the school gradually became lively, as the annual spring recruitment for Qinghe University was about to begin.
The blackboard in each classroom had a countdown written on it: 100...9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
It's not just a countdown, it's also a slogan.
"No pain, no gain; no hardship, no joy; no struggle, no success."
"Constant dripping wears away a stone in the battle of the college entrance examination; the years of hard work should be without regret."
"Work hard through autumn, winter, spring and summer, and after ten years of dreaming, the flowers will bloom in my home."
Looking at those slogans, Qingchen felt both familiar and strange.
Class teacher He Jinqiu spoke passionately from the podium: "The day that will determine your fate has finally arrived, but I want to remind everyone to make sure you bring your admission ticket and ID card. If you accidentally lose them, just follow the steps I've taught you to get replacements immediately. My phone number is... You can call me anytime if you encounter any difficulties! Okay, go home and rest now. I wish you all the best in your exams tomorrow and the day after!"
That day, Qingchen did not go to the library again. He and the girl still walked towards the station one after the other.
But this time, Qingchen was in front, and the girl was behind.
The two boarded the train and waited silently for the light rail to arrive at the station.
This time, when the light rail arrived at Ginkgo Station, the girl suddenly took off her headphones, looked at Qingchen seriously, and said, "See you at Qinghe University!"
After saying that, the girl turned and got off the bus.
Someone opened the light rail window, and a refreshing breeze rushed into the car. The boy's school uniform, billowing in the wind, seemed to envelop his entire youth.
Qing Chen was stunned for a long time before he reacted. He clenched his fists excitedly, but didn't know what to say.
However, in this new life, something seems to be missing, but he can't remember what it is.
...
...
Qingchen got out of the car and walked through the chaotic streets. From a distance, he saw his brother had finished work early, carrying a cleaned chicken and a cleaned fish.
"Xiao Chen!" Qing Zhun happily raised his hands: "I'll treat you to a better meal today, and you'll definitely get good grades tomorrow."
Just then, a familiar neighbor passed by and joked, "Hey, the Qing family is going to have a college student from Qinghe University! They should set up a few tables on the street so all the neighbors can share in the joy."
Qingzhun's eyes narrowed with laughter: "No problem, that's a must. You guys don't know, do you? Xiaochen's three practice exams were the best in the city. Getting into Qinghe University is a sure thing!"
"How could we not know? You've told this story to death... Hurry up and go home to cook for Xiaochen!" the neighbor complained. "It's like you got the top score in the whole city."
"Hahaha, Lao Liu, you're just envious and jealous!"
Qingzhun led Qingchen home, where his sister-in-law was already wearing an apron and washing vegetables. In this day and age, you have to spend a lot of money to have a good meal.
When it was time to eat, Qingzhun put two chicken legs and two chicken wings into Qingchen's bowl.
Qingchen hesitated for a moment, then said, "You guys should eat something too."
Kyung-joon suddenly became serious: "You're still growing, so eat it all!"
Father Qingxun watched all this with a smile, but then he sighed.
"Dad, what's wrong?" Qingchen asked.
Qingxun was silent for a moment: "You really made your father proud, but your father couldn't give you a good background like other fathers. I'm sorry as your father."
Qingchen lowered his head: "What are you talking about? I think our family is the best, much better than those conglomerates. There's no human touch in those deep mansions."
Qingxun laughed and scolded, "Have you ever seen what a conglomerate's house looks like? If you haven't, don't talk nonsense."
However, at that moment, Qing Zhun suddenly looked at Qing Chen: "How long have you been here?"
Qing Chen paused for a moment: "Ten years."
Kyung-jun asked again, "When are you coming back?"
This world is so warm, everything is so beautiful. If possible, Qingchen really wants to live like this forever, until the end of the world, until the sun sets behind the mountains and rises again.
Qingchen lowered his head, his expression hidden in the shadows cast by the lamplight. He remembered everything.
He said in a low voice, "But... you are all still here."
The world froze; time was locked away.
Qingxun and his sister-in-law's chopsticks stopped in mid-air.
Only Qing Zhun and Qing Chen are still alive.
Qing Zhun looked at Qing Chen seriously and said, "It's time to go back. There are still people waiting for you. This world is beautiful, but it only exists in your heart. Kid, look ahead. Flowers will bloom again, and different summers have different kinds of beauty. They come and go."
Qing Chen knew where he was. This was the process of being assimilated by the will of the world. If possible, he might really be willing to stay here and repeat those youthful and warm memories again and again.
No wonder Ren Xiaosu said that assimilating with the world and questioning one's own conscience are different.
Asking your heart is to give you pain, to make you unable to face those sufferings.
The process of assimilating into the world gives you everything you want, like being in paradise, and you never want to leave.
However, this time Qing Chen didn't go there by himself; it was Qing Zhun who helped him.
This older brother, who had assimilated into the world, awakened him at this most crucial moment.
With an older brother like that around, even the will of the world cannot assimilate him.
Qing Zhun smiled and looked at Qing Chen: "You know how to choose. The dead are dead, and the living must live. Go."
Qing Chen suddenly said, "I want to wait a little longer."
Kyung-jun was surprised.
...
...
As a new day dawned, Qingchen once again carried his schoolbag and headed to the examination hall.
He completed each subject's exam methodically, checking all the papers again and again until he was sure he had done his best.
After two days of exams, all students returned to school to estimate their scores.