Winter Returns

Chapter 134 The Seat Swap Incident
2012 12 Month 12 Day.

Wednesday.

"Tongtong, put your scarf on before you run!"

The woman with long, wavy hair shouted this.

Zhang Shutong paused and took the scarf from her mother.

He hadn't even swallowed the egg completely when he hastily wiped his mouth, waved to his mother, and got out of the car without saying a word.

It was 7:25 a.m., the first day of school.

He was discharged yesterday afternoon. He had been cooped up in the hospital for three whole days and felt like he was going to get moldy all over. Well, Zhang Shutong admits that he is a person who can't stay still. Although he always says that he is going back to a normal life, he will definitely choose to go out and have fun whenever he has the chance.

The events that happened in these three days were neither numerous nor insignificant.

If it were just his own schedule, it would be incredibly simple. He would just stay in his hospital room watching TV, sleep when he was tired, sometimes go to the corridor to enjoy the scenery, and chat with the nurses while eating sunflower seeds at night. The only thing he wasn't studying was that he wasn't studying. As it turns out, the idea that his classmates would bring him his homework while he was hospitalized was a lie. Zhang Shutong didn't have any classmates like that.

Qingyi brought him a stack of books, and Zhang Shutong studied Ghost Blows Out the Light for three days.

In addition, he was also quietly sensing the changes around him.

Many things went completely off course from his expectations.

For example, Gu Qiumian overcame the hurdle of early Sunday morning, and her reward was still a big bag of snacks, including various chocolates, potato chips, and beef jerky, which successfully made Zhang Shutong gain a pound.

These past few days they've been chatting on their phones the most. Theoretically, you can't bring your phone to school, but for the young lady, theory is just theory. So these days she's been chatting the most with the ID "Qiuyu Mianmian". But the security level around Gu Qiumian has been raised to another level. She only moves between the villa and the school every day, so the two of them can only chat on their phones.

A major event occurred at the school, which Zhang Shutong referred to as the class reassignment incident.

Perhaps it's related to Zhou Ziheng's matter, or perhaps it's a request from Boss Gu, or maybe it's an adjustment made just before graduation.

Anyway, all the students in the fourth year of junior high school were scattered and reorganized into four classes.

Zhang Shutong is now in Class 1. Miss Gu is in Class 2.

She was a little unhappy about this, saying that her spot where she could draw sheep was gone.

Gu Qiu Mian didn't have much of a social circle in her class. Although she had a large group of followers, she had very few people she could talk to in class and was always somewhat aloof.

Zhang Shutong felt that since she had embarked on a new chapter in her life, this was a fresh start.

I'll tell you to relax, you can find another spot where you can draw a sheep.

As a result, Gu Qiumian stopped replying.

The best friends were also separated. Qingyi went to Class Two, and Dukang and Ruoping went to Class Three. So, only Class Four was left without their influence. They almost unified the martial arts world, which is really a pity.

Some are happy, some are sad, but the impact is actually very small; they will always have a chance to meet if they want to.

For example, Gu Qiumian had already booked this weekend, similar to last time, saying she would treat everyone to dinner.

The last time I saw Lu Qinglian was on Sunday night, and I haven't heard from her since.

Zhang Shutong sometimes thinks about how the two of them used to work together temporarily for a common goal, but now that the clay figure problem has been solved, the collaboration has ended, and she has returned to her solitary ways.

On Monday night, several close friends celebrated Du Kang's 16th birthday in the hospital room.

I remember this birthday was once celebrated at Du Kang's restaurant. We secretly drank a bottle of beer and stayed out very late.

But now it was the three of them who came to the hospital after dinner, bringing a cake they had specially saved. They turned off the lights, drew the curtains, and lit candles in the dark observation room. Zhang Shutong had been talking about this birthday for a long time, but in the end, it was a very ordinary day. But sometimes, ordinariness is the greatest happiness.

Perhaps that's what Lao Song was thinking.

His car was totaled, but luckily he had insurance and received compensation, so it wasn't too bad. But some things, once lost, can never be regained, like that pirated, rare Bulbasaur, or his temper.

The car accident resulted in Old Song having his spleen removed, and his condition was even worse than Zhang Shutong's. Zhang Shutong spoke with the man on the phone several times, and once, when they discussed future plans, the man remained silent for a long time before saying:

"Shutong, I may need to take a long leave of absence."

He said he had been cooped up on the island for too long and planned to take this opportunity to go home to visit his parents, old friends and classmates. If his health allowed, he might also plan a trip.

In other words, Zhang Shutong would not see this man again until the end of the first semester of her fourth year of junior high school.

Naturally, Class 1 of Grade 9 will welcome a new homeroom teacher.

Zhang Shutong felt somewhat melancholy, unsure whether these changes were good or bad.

His body has almost recovered, but there is still some inflammation in his lungs, and he coughs from time to time. However, as long as he pays attention to keeping warm, he won't develop any chronic illness. Just now, his mother insisted that he wear a scarf, but Zhang Shutong was already wearing two layers of coats and was sweating slightly in the car.

As the saying goes, it takes a hundred days to recover from a broken bone. His arm wasn't fractured, but he still had to be in a sling around his neck for a week. Riding a bike was out of the question, so now he takes a car to and from school.

His mother originally intended to take him all the way to the classroom, but Zhang Shutong felt it was unnecessary to go through all that trouble.

Du Kang said that he had become a celebrity in the few days he was away, and the legend of "Senior Zhang Shutong" was spreading everywhere.

This senior student caught a poacher and averted a vicious revenge attack on campus within just one week, and then—

He broke his hand in a very stylish way.

Some people said they saw him riding his motorcycle around recklessly over the weekend.

That makes sense. He crossed the city several times along the way, and the island isn't very big, so it's normal for him to be noticed.

In the end, it was Gu Qiumian's secretary who came out and made the final statement, saying that Senior Zhang had clearly fought bravely against the thugs and was unfortunately injured. Only then did the rumors die down. Thanks to her, "Senior Zhang Shutong" suddenly gained a lot of fans.

Now he walked into the school gate, one arm around his neck and the other casually slinging his schoolbag across his shoulder. He certainly stood out, and many people looked at him. Zhang Shutong usually didn't care about these looks, but why were some people staring at him? And why did those two students on duty who were fighting suddenly stop moving when they saw me?

The senior only rides a motorcycle, he's not a delinquent.

He thought to himself silently.

Zhang Shutong entered the teaching building with a nonchalant air. After climbing the steps to the fourth floor, it was 7:30, the time for morning reading. This reminded Zhang Shutong of what happened last Wednesday. On the first day of his recollection, he hadn't handed in his homework and was punished by Teacher Song with a week of cleaning duty.

Logically, it should be his turn to do chores in the new week, but with Lao Song gone, who cares about whether it's his turn or not?

Zhang Shutong hasn't met his new teacher yet.

She also teaches English. It's said that she was temporarily transferred from the first year of junior high school and just finished teaching a graduating class.

He walked to the back door of the classroom, expecting to hear the sound of students reading aloud, but it was unexpectedly quiet today. Zhang Shutong stepped in and saw a woman standing on the podium.

The woman was about 40 years old, wore glasses, had high cheekbones, and her hair was already white; she was a symbol of a senior, experienced teacher.

In fact, Zhang Shutong had already heard Du Kang talk about the new teacher, surnamed Xu, who was very strict. It was said that a student was called to stand at the back of the class for a whole period of time because he was distracted during class.

Maybe it's the type of class where drinking water isn't allowed.

"You're Zhang Shutong?"

The woman adjusted her glasses, and all eyes turned to him: "It's already the fourth day of the new year, so get back to normal and don't go out and cause trouble this weekend."

Zhang Shutong then realized that he was actually writing words from memory, no wonder there was no sound at all.

After Ms. Xu finished speaking, she ignored him and clapped her hands.
"Group leader, please put away this dictation test and hurry up and change seats..."

Zhang Shutong stopped in his tracks.

I was thinking, "Why do I have to change seats again? And why is it always Wednesday?"

Then there was some commotion in the classroom. The students stood up, picked up their bags, and left the classroom. Someone greeted him, and Zhang Shutong nodded in response, even though he didn't look familiar. Before he could sit down, he was inexplicably followed the crowd out of the classroom.

Three fires for new officials?
Now he's the only one left in the class, so who he sits next to is entirely up to fate, since Zhang Shutong doesn't know anyone well anyway.

The remaining three classes were all doing morning reading, while only one class of students came to the corridor to line up. Zhang Shutong thought that this new homeroom teacher was also someone who could cause trouble.

Then the homeroom teacher adjusted his glasses. In the three days he was away, the other party had established enough authority that no one dared to make a sound. The scene of Lao Song laughing and joking with the students was gone forever.

"Let me say a few words first."

Teacher Xu cleared her throat and, after her familiar opening remarks:
"Our class is an elite class; several students are among the top ten in the grade. The principal, and I, have high expectations for you. You are about to enter your final semester of junior high. In the past, your teacher, Ms. Song, had her own set of methods, but since I'm now your homeroom teacher, our Class 1, Grade 9, will have a new set of rules..."

Then came the saying, "Without rules, nothing can be accomplished," which made Zhang Shutong look up at the sky.

"Therefore, from now on, seating arrangements in our class will be based entirely on monthly exam scores. People strive for higher positions, and water flows downhill; ambitious students should sit with other ambitious students."

Zhang Shutong felt a little embarrassed, realizing that he had been slacking off in Class 1.

He used to be second in his grade, and maybe he got into the top class because of that. But if he were to retake the exam, he would only score around 100.

Teacher Xu paused for a moment:
"Students whose grades are called, from highest to lowest, go straight to your seats in the classroom. Don't make any noise. Start from the third row, by the window..."

Zhang Shutong roughly understood the new teacher's strategy.

Unlike Old Song, who had priority in choosing seats for high-achieving students, this new teacher allowed the good students to cluster together but didn't let them sit in the front row.

It is estimated that the front seats should be reserved for students who need close observation.

"Now I will begin calling roll—"

A very pragmatic person.

Zhang Shutong made his own assessment and stepped out of the group.

"Lu Qinglian".

Zhang Shutong was taken aback.

How could it be Lu Qinglian? He hadn't heard anyone say that he and Lu Qinglian were in the same class.

Besides, he had already taken in the classroom as soon as he entered, so he didn't see the other person.

"Teacher, Lu hasn't arrived yet..."

Someone whispered a reminder.

The homeroom teacher ignored it:
"I'd like to take this opportunity to talk about what I achieved last year when I finished teaching the graduating class. Two-thirds of the students from my class were in the top 100 in the city's high school entrance exam. Teacher Song's leave this time was very sudden, and I was appointed to the position in a time of crisis. I didn't agree to the principal transferring me here. My condition at the time was very simple: I wouldn't take over unless the first and second place in the grade were given to me."

"It turns out that Lu was in Class 4, and I strongly advocated for him to be there. Everyone should take them as role models in the future."

What role model?
Zhang Shutong couldn't help but think of it.

It turned out to be the case.

No wonder he hadn't heard anyone mention Lu Qinglian being in Class 1.

Moreover, it seemed that not only he didn't know, but the rest of the people didn't know either. The shift change was on Tuesday, and Zhang Shutong only then noticed that many people had a look of surprise on their faces, especially the boys.

Zhang Shutong knew how popular Lu Qinglian was in the whole school. She could cause a chorus of howls and screams with just a single sentence on the flag-raising platform. She was a mysterious temple keeper girl, beautiful and aloof, and it seemed that many people liked this type of girl—although it was only on the surface.

But for the others, they used to only be able to watch from afar, occasionally paying attention to each other's movements, and being excited for half a day if they bumped into each other. Zhang Shutong had also had a crush on other girls and knew what it felt like. Now that they were sitting in the same class, it would be strange if they weren't excited. Du Kang was definitely not the only one who felt this way.

He suddenly realized, "If that's the case, doesn't it mean—"

Teacher Xu pressed her hand down:

"Lu hasn't arrived yet, so the next student will make room for her, Zhang Shutong..."

Just then, a soft sound of footsteps approached from afar, and everyone's eyes immediately turned to the stairwell. A girl in a green robe walked up the steps, carrying a schoolbag and with her hair tied in a ponytail. She calmly glanced at the large group in the corridor.

One minute later.

"morning."

Zhang Shutong picked up her schoolbag and greeted her new deskmate behind her.

"morning."

Lu Qinglian replied politely.

"What a coincidence, we're now deskmates." Zhang Shutong explained the new teacher's rules to her.

Lu Qinglian didn't say anything, she just nodded, and the two of them walked one after the other to the third row of window seats.

Zhang Shutong stepped aside, gesturing for Lu Qinglian to go in first. According to the homeroom teacher's arrangement, she was the first to be called and should sit inside.

But Lu Qinglian was staring at her from right in front of her seat.

"If you prefer to sit on the outside, you can just say so." Zhang Shutong reluctantly moved to the inside.

“Zhang Shutong, why do you always think I have the same strange ideas as you?” she said with a headache. “Haven’t you noticed that your broken arm is your left hand? Being on your left side will cause a lot of trouble.”

"...Actually, I have a fracture."

"You're being a bit noisy."

Sure enough, once the matter was over, she reverted to her aloof and unapproachable demeanor.

Being number one in the grade isn't for nothing. Lu Qinglian took out her textbook for the first lesson and began to preview it. The conversation ended there.

Zhang Shutong also took out his textbook. Now the two of them are model students in the class, and their every move is being watched.

The classroom was soon filled up, and the homeroom teacher held a morning meeting, using the little time left to let Lu Qinglian share her learning experience.

The girl took off her green robe, revealing a cool and aloof demeanor in everyone's eyes. Amidst enthusiastic applause, she calmly walked onto the stage. Zhang Shutong, resting his chin on his hand, thought to himself, "From now on, many things in the martial world will unfold."

Thankfully, a new life has finally begun.

(End of this chapter)