I have few friends, but many childhood sweethearts.

Chapter 106. The New Semester

Summer vacation flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was time for school to start again.

"Hmph, let's see how you explain this to Teacher Guan later!" Xia Xiaoxiao carried her newly changed schoolbag, her gaze level with the endless stream of vehicles on the street.

"Whatever, Teacher Guan isn't going to eat me!" Xu Qingfan said lazily, looking like he hadn't woken up yet.

"You'll be punished by having to clean the blackboard for a whole semester!"

"If she dares to punish me by making me erase the blackboard, I'll wipe up her entire timetable and change it all to physical education!" Xu Qingfan said, feeling a strange sense of longing for Teacher Guan, whom he hadn't seen for over two months.

He suddenly remembered that it was Monday, and there would be a flag-raising ceremony during the morning reading period. Young Pioneers would be penalized if they didn't wear their red scarves.

Xu Qingfan took out his red scarf from Xia Xiaoxiao's schoolbag and handed it to the little girl: "Help me put on my red scarf, I almost forgot today, it's Monday."

"You can't even wear a red scarf properly." The little girl muttered, but she still obediently took the red scarf and carefully helped Xu Qingfan tie it on.

"Thank you."

Xu Qingfan suddenly had the illusion that his wife was tying his tie for his clumsy husband. After Xia Xiaoxiao finished, he reached out and pinched her cheek.

"Tsk~ How annoying!" Xia Xiaoxiao slapped his hand away in disgust.

"Let's go, the school bus is here!" Xu Qingfan took Xia Xiaoxiao's hand and ran towards the approaching bus.

The two sat down in two seats by the window in the back row, with their matching pink and white backpacks casually placed on their laps.

Xia Xiaoxiao secretly smiled as she looked at the two of them wearing matching backpacks. But when she saw Xu Qingfan about to look away from the scenery outside the window, she immediately put on a poker face again.

The schoolbag was a birthday gift she gave to Xu Qingfan during summer vacation.

Having learned from last year's experience, Xia Xiaoxiao made preparations well in advance this time, and had Xiao Ruanwen accompany her to buy a backpack she had her eye on.

Xia Xiaoxiao's schoolbag, Xiao Ruanwen's wallet, Lin Wanning's shoes, and Zhang Yiyi's watch.

Apart from his underwear, almost everything Xu Qingfan is wearing now was given to him by the four girls.

"Good morning, Brother Fan! Little darling!" At the next intersection, Xiao Ruanwen and Wu Lingyu got into the car together.

"Good morning." Wu Lingyu nodded timidly to them as she followed behind.

"I heard from Xiaoyu that we have to do test papers and make hand-copied newspapers as summer homework? Did you know that?" Xiao Ruanwen asked in confusion after sitting down.

"Pfft...cough cough cough. Maybe Teacher Guan thinks we did well on the final exam, so she deliberately didn't make us do it," Xu Qingfan explained with an embarrassed laugh.

Xia Xiaoxiao glared at her childhood friend: "Xu Qingfan took the homework to Class 19, and no one in the class did it. Teacher Guan shouldn't punish us, right?"

"Fan-ge! How could you do this? What am I supposed to say if Teacher Guan asks?" Xiao Ruanwen was suddenly in a dilemma. As the class monitor, she was responsible for collecting summer homework. What was she going to do?

"Alright, I'll go back and talk to Teacher Guan first, so you won't be in a difficult position." Seeing Xiao Ruanwen pacing anxiously, Xu Qingfan said with amusement.

"That won't do! We've all benefited, how can you be the only one punished? I'll go with you!"

"Alright, alright, it's just a small matter. I've heard that college students often skip classes and don't do their homework, so Teacher Guan can understand," Xu Qingfan said with a smile.

"Impossible! Getting into university is so difficult!" Xiao Ruanwen exclaimed as if she were listening to gibberish.

"Really? They skip all the required courses and all the elective courses. Summer vacation is for playing, why do they have to do so much homework?"

"Hehe, Fan-ge, you should just say that to Teacher Guan then."

"Go ahead and say it, she dares to turn the tables!"

"Hehehe, Teacher Guan, you're getting more and more beautiful! I watched Mona Lisa online during summer vacation, but I didn't feel anything at the time. Now I know why. Teacher Guan, do you know why?"

"Stop trying to fool me, what trouble have you gotten yourself into now?" Guan Bianyue glared at him amusedly and asked. "Teacher Guan, I have to seriously criticize you, you're judging people with prejudice!" Xu Qingfan said indignantly.

"Don't use small print. Just say what you have to say. I'm busy!" Guan Bianyue raised her hand and smacked Xu Qingfan on the head.

"Well, last semester you asked me to take back the exam papers from our class, but Class 19 took them. I was worried you were busy, so I didn't tell you about it," Xu Qingfan said with an awkward smile.

"Hehe!" Guan Bianyue was amused by her anger. After teasing Xu Qingfan for a while, she said, "If you didn't write it, you didn't write it. By the way, you and Wan Ning should prepare yourselves for the flag-raising ceremony. You will be going up on stage to receive the award."

"An award? What award?" Xu Qingfan asked, tilting his head.

"It's all because of you, you can cause trouble wherever you go. You even managed to get on CCTV for helping an old man. Your teacher is really impressed!" Guan Bianyue said with a hint of disdain, but her eyes were full of satisfaction.

"How can you blame me? Who knew that Focus Interview would have nothing better to do than broadcast about such trivial matters in our little town?" Xu Qingfan said helplessly, spreading his hands.

"Alright, alright, get ready. You might be asked to give a speech later. The principal said he wants to award you a special award for bravery and righteousness, and each of you will receive an extra three thousand yuan."

"Okay!" Xu Qingfan nodded frantically. "If Teacher Guan is alright, I'll go back to class now."

"Hey, you still haven't said why!" Guan Bianyue grabbed him.

"Why what?" Xu Qingfan asked, puzzled.

Why don't I feel anything when I see the Mona Lisa?

"Oh, you mean this? Haha, is that even a question? The moment I saw Teacher Guan, I knew I had already met my Mona Lisa!"

"You brat~" Guan Bianyue shook her head with amusement as she watched Xu Qingfan run away.

"This summer vacation, three students from our school did a good deed. They helped an elderly person who had accidentally fallen down. However, the elderly person falsely accused them of knocking him down. Faced with the false accusation, the three children chose to use the law to protect themselves. Facing the camera, the three children said, 'Do good deeds and don't worry about the future!'"

Please give a warm round of applause to Xu Qingfan, Lin Wanning, and Zhang Yiyi from Class 16, Grade 2. Every one of us should learn from these three!

After the applause subsided, the principal continued, "Now, please welcome three students to the stage. After discussion, our school has decided to award these three children a 'Brave Act Award,' with a prize of 3000 RMB!"

"Wow~"

"Brother Fan is awesome!!!"

Amidst the envious gazes of all the students, the three walked side by side onto the podium.

Several school officials warmly handed the three men the prepared envelopes and certificates of merit for their acts of bravery, and took a group photo with them.

Hundreds of second-grade students shouted Xu Qingfan's name at the top of their lungs, and students from other grades followed suit and joined in.

With such influence, if this were in ancient times, slipping a note with "King Qingfan" written on it into a fish's belly would have been enough to establish a regional power in no time.

Xu Qingfan thought to himself.

Even ten years later, the mobile internet is still adept at liking posts on WeChat Moments and cutting corners on Pinduoduo.

Perhaps feeling that Xu Qingfan was too high-profile at school, the principal ultimately cut off the originally planned speaking session. Xu Qingfan had a lot of witty remarks stuck in his throat and couldn't say them. He glared resentfully at Li Haichao before returning to his class with Lin Wanning and Zhang Yiyi.

"Brother Fan, let us see your award certificate!"

"Is the three thousand yuan reward in Fan Ge's envelope?"

"Brother Fan, I'll treat you to spicy snacks after school!"

When the three little ones returned, the classmates chattered excitedly.

"We'll meet at the canteen after we're dismissed, and I'll treat the whole class to spicy snacks and cola!" Xu Qingfan said, holding up the envelope in his hand.

"Wow~ Brother Fan is awesome!!!" (Voice cracks.)
(End of this chapter)