Chapter 3

Four people were facing off over there.

"Lou Xiao" and his "lackey" were bullying the other two.

Those two really did look pitiful. They even seemed a little older, yet they were cowering, terrified of getting beaten up.

Qiao Shao sized up Lou Xiao's "lackey." He was tall too, and wasn't even wearing his school uniform. With sharp eyebrows and thin lips, he looked fierce even in profile.

Birds of a feather really did flock together!

Little Qiao Shao, former School Tyrant and current good student, edged closer to Chen Su.

Chen Su whispered to him, "Those two are second-years, about to become third-years, and he still bullies them."

Qiao Shao lowered his voice too. "Don't they ever fight back?"

Staring at the fierce-looking boy, Chen Su said, "Look how big and tall Lou Xiao is. He's been training in boxing since he was little, too. I heard even ordinary coaches can't beat him."

Qiao Shao fell silent.

He was actually looking at the lazy-looking boy, who happened to take a hand out of his pocket as he yawned. That muscular forearm did look full of strength.

—This delinquent actually had something going for him.

Qiao Shao said, "So they just let him bully them? That's pathetic."

Chen Su paused, then said reluctantly, "Actually, as long as you don't mess with him, he won't bully anyone for no reason."

Remembering how nervous Blue Hair had been in the dorm, Qiao Shao asked, "What counts as messing with him?" Even his bed was off-limits. That was setting the bar for provocation awfully low.

Thinking he was scared, Chen Su couldn't help feeling even more fond of him. He reassured him, "As long as you stay far away from him, you'll generally be fine."

Still brooding over the girls' clothes he'd been given, Qiao Shao wanted to settle the score.

But then he remembered that he'd gone through all that trouble to transfer here so he could study hard... A little impatience could ruin a great plan. He'd set this aside for now. Studying in peace was what mattered.

"I'm here to study. I'm not going anywhere near someone like that," Qiao Shao said.

Chen Su breathed a sigh of relief. "Right. Studying is the most important thing."

Although the two boys had been on completely different wavelengths from beginning to end, they'd somehow hit it off.

They were far enough away that, even looking in the same direction, neither could tell who the other was looking at.

The Lou Xiao Chen Su was talking about was the fierce, cold-looking boy. But Qiao Shao's first impression had stuck: he'd mistaken He Shen for Lou Xiao, and the real Lou Xiao for Lou Xiao's lackey.

After a while, the people outside dispersed, and only then did Chen Su lead Qiao Shao to the academic affairs office.

A transfer student had quite a few things to pick up: standard dorm supplies such as a washbasin, a toothbrushing cup, and towels, as well as a new school uniform.

When he went to get his uniform, the teacher asked, "What size did you wear before?"

Qiao Shao didn't know either. His old uniforms had all been custom-made. Taking his measurements alone had taken half an hour.

When he didn't answer, the teacher turned to look at him.

Seeing the skinny little boy, she paused, then understood.

For boys, especially in front of a new classmate, nothing was more embarrassing than admitting they wore a small size.

Considerately, she said, "Let me see if there's anything that'll fit you."

Qiao Shao quickly said, "Thank you for the trouble."

What a sweet little voice. Ms. Xu had become a mother just five months ago, and overflowing with maternal love, she enthusiastically began searching for clothes for Qiao Shao.

"Hmm..." After quite a while, the teacher said, "We might not have your size left."

Qiao Shao's eyes widened. Did clothes have it in for him? It was either girls' clothes or nothing to wear.

Chen Su asked on his behalf, "What should he do, then? Order one?"

The teacher seemed to know Chen Su and had a very good impression of him too. She said gently, "There's no need. Our school will be switching to new uniforms soon. If he orders one now, he'll just have to order another later."

Clearly, this was news. Even Chen Su hadn't known.

The teacher turned back to Qiao Shao. "What school did you go to before? Just wear your old uniform for now."

Qiao Shao: "..."

His old uniform was formal enough to wear to an important event. If he wore it here, wouldn't everyone gather around to stare?

"The colors are pretty different," Qiao Shao explained. "Wouldn't I look out of place wearing it here?"

"That's true," the teacher said. "Then just wear your own clothes for now. We'll be switching uniforms before long. The new ones look really sharp, not like these big, baggy T-shirts."

"Okay." Qiao Shao thanked the teacher and left with Chen Su.

Chen Su told him, "This works out too. You won't have to spend money on an extra uniform."

As if Young Master Qiao couldn't afford that little bit of money. He didn't have any suitable clothes to wear. Was he supposed to keep wearing the same T-shirt...?

Chen Su looked at his slight frame and offered more reassurance. "Don't worry. Our school cafeteria is really affordable."

At first, Qiao Shao didn't understand what he meant.

Chen Su said, "Three or four yuan will get you a filling meal. If you eat well, you can still... grow taller."

Qiao Shao: "...................................."

Chen Su patted his shoulder. "It's perfectly normal for boys to be late bloomers. Don't lose heart."

If he hadn't sensed Chen Su's sincerity, Qiao Shao would have practically exploded and risen up to fight for his dignity!

The two left the academic affairs office. By the time Qiao Shao had put his things away, it was almost time for class.

Chen Su went back to the classroom first, while Qiao Shao went to find his homeroom teacher.

It was customary for a teacher to bring a transfer student into the classroom on their first day.

His homeroom teacher was Tang Yu, a forty-year-old man.

Old Tang wasn't tall either, and felt an immediate kinship with Qiao Shao.

High schoolers these days were all so tall. A teacher had to stand on the platform just to look them in the eye. How depressing.

"Come on, let's meet your new classmates." Tang Yu rose from his desk and led Qiao Shao to the classroom.

The first period on Monday was generally pretty relaxed.

Especially in the first year of high school—these were the last happy days of twelve long years of schooling. Once the second year began, the hell mode of the sprint toward the Gaokao would gradually kick in.

They passed several classrooms on their way to Class 1.

Before Tang Yu appeared, the classroom was as noisy as a bustling farmers' market.

The instant Tang Yu walked in, everyone fell silent. You could have heard a pin drop.

Following behind Tang Yu, Qiao Shao felt his heart suddenly clench.

Tang Yu soon spoke up. "Have fun over the weekend? Did you finish all your homework?"

His words set off groans all over the classroom.

Smiling, Tang Yu pressed his hands down for quiet. "All right, your education is your own responsibility. Think it through yourselves instead of making your teacher nag you all day."

Changing the subject, he looked at Qiao Shao. "This is your new classmate. Be friendly and get along with each other... Come on, introduce yourself."

Tang Yu stepped back, leaving Qiao Shao standing at the front.

The classroom fell quiet again. Countless pairs of eyes fixed on Qiao Shao, filled with all sorts of emotions.

Some were curious, some sizing him up, some pondering, and some just watching the show...

Standing on the teaching platform, immersed in a silence like a pitch-black ocean, Qiao Shao couldn't get a single word out.

With a click, the door opened.

The sound was like a pebble tossed onto the still ocean's surface, its ripples jolting Qiao Shao awake.

"Hi, everyone. My name is Qiao Shao. The Shao is written with the components for 'sound' and 'summon.' I look forward to getting along with you!" Qiao Shao finally managed to get his introduction out.

He was so nervous that he bent forward in a bow, lowering his head just as the person coming through the door might have met his eyes.

"Why are you only getting here now?" Old Tang complained, though he wasn't angry. "Get back to your seat."

"Mm," the boy replied. Without so much as a glance at the little lump on the platform, he walked straight to his seat, eyes forward, and fell asleep as soon as he sat down.

When Qiao Shao looked up again, his classmates were applauding. He let out a breath of relief, his palms damp with sweat, unable to make out any of their faces.

Tang Yu said, "Share a desk with He Shen for now. We'll rearrange the seats after a while."

The name He Shen meant nothing to Qiao Shao. All he noticed was an empty seat near the back, against the wall.

Qiao Shao walked over and sat down. It took him quite a while to settle his nerves completely.

By then, Tang Yu had already said a great deal, not a word of which he'd heard. It didn't matter, though. This wasn't a lesson, anyway, and every teacher gave more or less the same beginning-of-school speech.

Only after calming down did Qiao Shao feel up to taking a look at his seatmate.

All his seatmate offered him was the back of a head, the hair tinged flaxen in the sunlight.

He was actually sleeping!

The homeroom teacher was talking up a storm, and this guy was sound asleep!

Qiao Shao wanted to change seats right now. He didn't want an underachiever for a seatmate!

Wait. It belatedly dawned on Qiao Shao that the back of this head looked a little familiar...

Especially that lazy, half-dead air—didn't it seem a little like that School Tyrant, Lou Xiao?

It couldn't be Lou Xiao. Chen Su had said that guy was in the international class. Besides, his seatmate's name was He Shen.

Qiao Shao relaxed, but still couldn't help studying his seatmate.

He was sleeping so soundly he didn't even know someone had sat down beside him. How many lifetimes of sleep had he missed?

Qiao Shao looked up at the teaching platform and found that the teacher couldn't care less. Now he understood: his seatmate must be the underachiever to end all underachievers. The teacher had already given him up as a lost cause.

He'd leave it at that for now, as long as the guy didn't interfere with his studies. Qiao Shao sat up straight and opened his textbook.

By the end of the first period, Qiao Shao had listened attentively and thoroughly grasped the material. He was feeling pretty pleased with himself.

His seatmate was still sleeping, without so much as a change in position. If not for the faint sound of breathing, Qiao Shao would have wondered whether he'd croaked.

The second period was Chinese. The class representative came around to collect their summer homework, but when she reached Qiao Shao's desk, she walked straight past without a word.

Qiao Shao couldn't help asking, "Aren't you collecting his homework?"

"No need, no need!" The class representative was a girl with glasses, and she shook her head so hard they nearly fell off. "He Shen doesn't have to turn in homework."

Qiao Shao: "..."

What kind of demon had he gotten for a seatmate? He didn't even have to turn in homework? Then why the hell did he bother coming to school?

Qiao Shao added another item to his mental list: first, stay away from Lou Xiao; second, stay away from He Shen. School Tyrants and underachievers alike, please keep your distance!

Author's Note: Little Qiao, you've got it wrong. He Shen is neither a School Tyrant nor an underachiever. He's a bona fide Academic God [covers face]