I'm a senior in high school, and the system says I'm going on a blind date with my childho

Chapter 316 Back to School
Two days later, the sun was shining brightly in the morning.

Shen Yuan and Li Zhi walked side by side on the familiar road leading to the teaching building.

After the hustle and bustle of the college entrance examination subsided, the campus became exceptionally quiet, filled with the scent of camphor trees and a sense of lightness in farewell.

The girl's slender fingers were tightly enveloped by the boy's broad palm, and the rings on their middle fingers occasionally glittered in the morning light.

"Here, we're here."

Shen Yuan raised his chin slightly and pointed to the classroom sign of Class 15, Grade 12.

Li Zhi's steps quickened, a relaxed and bright smile appeared on her face, and her hand, which was clasped with his, tightened unconsciously.

Pushing open the classroom door, I found that quite a few students had already gathered inside.

The clamor in the air surged forth instantly, carrying with it the relief of those who had just finished the college entrance exams and the familiar intimacy between them.

With the heavy shackles of the college entrance examination completely removed, the air is filled with pure excitement for the infinite possibilities of the future.

"Holy crap, A-Jie, you got a 92 in English?! That's awesome! You really turned things around!" Chen Mingyu slapped Zhou Shaojie on the shoulder hard, his voice booming.

Zhou Shaojie's chin practically reached the ceiling as he patted his chest proudly: "That's right! I've been holding back for three years, just waiting for this moment! That foreman, Prison Supervisor, wasn't a waste of his time; I'll treat him to a big meal later!"

He Zhiyu and Zhuo Peipei huddled together in front of their phone, excitedly swiping the screen: "Peipei! How about we go on a trip together this summer vacation? How about we go sometime?"

"Great! Great!" Zhuo Peipei's eyes lit up, but quickly dimmed.

"But I need to get my driver's license first, right? My mom said the first thing she'll do after the college entrance exam is urge me to start driving practice!"

“Yes, yes, yes! To get a driver’s license!” A boy next to me immediately raised his hand in response.

"Let's form a group and sign up together! We can encourage each other and try to pass the test during the summer!"

"Take me one!"

"Count me in! Maybe we can get a discount if we sign up as a group!" Several voices immediately chimed in, discussing which driving school was the best.

Yang Ze pushed up his glasses and interjected without looking up, "Getting a driver's license is a necessity, but since the results just came out, we still need to figure out our college applications first... Have you decided which school and major to apply for?"

"Hey, what's the rush! We're just here to collect the materials to study!" someone replied with a smile.

"I need to think about how to have a blast this summer! I'm going to the beach to feel the breeze and sleep in until I naturally wake up!"

"Exactly! I've taken the exam three times, can't I enjoy myself a bit?! Ah Shuai, didn't you say you were going to do a summer job to experience life?"

Yang Shuai chuckled: "Absolutely! I'll save up some money first, then I'll go on a trip with my girlfriend!"

"roll roll roll!"

The noisy sounds mingled together, filling the entire classroom space.

Some people are excitedly comparing their report cards and sharing the thrilling experience of checking their scores on that day.

Some people are already planning their graduation trips, debating whether to surf at the beach or escape the heat in the mountains.

Some people chatted about their dream universities while imagining the carefree life they would enjoy for the next four years.

Sunlight streamed through the bright windows, illuminating the young and spirited faces.

The green shadows of the camphor trees sway outside the window, and the cicadas still chirp enthusiastically, but no longer as a urging horn, but as a free symphony bidding farewell to this grand youth.

Shen Yuan and Li Zhi exchanged a smile and walked into the classroom.

"Hey! Look who's here!" Zhou Shaojie, with his sharp eyes, was the first to notice the commotion at the door and immediately shouted at the top of his lungs.

The students, who were chatting and discussing their grades and holidays, all turned their attention to this.

The classroom fell silent for a moment, then erupted into even louder laughter and good-natured teasing.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk!"

"So cloying so early in the morning!"

He Zhiyu and Zhuo Peipei leaned closer with smiles, their eyes sweeping over the two's clasped hands with an unspoken teasing tone.

Li Zhi's cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn't let go of Shen Yuan's hand. Instead, she scratched Shen Yuan's palm with her fingertips, her clear eyes meeting everyone's gaze with a hint of arrogance.

"Is it any of your business? Are you envious?"

Shen Yuan lifted her hand slightly, as if making a silent declaration, his gaze sweeping over every familiar face in the classroom.

"Envy is useless."

His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly, carrying a sense of self-satisfied pride.

This slightly arrogant declaration instantly ignited an even bigger wave of laughter.

"Uu——!"

"Shen Yuan, that's enough! Are you still trying to stir up trouble?"

Zhou Shaojie was the first to jump out. He winked and took a few steps closer, his voice loud and clear, with his usual boastful manner.

"Hey hey hey! Seriously! Is Qiandao Lake any fun or not? You two sneaked off to have some fun behind your brother's back, you should at least share your thoughts, right?"

He asked bluntly, and several heads around him crowded around, clearly curious about the couple's first trip after graduation.

Looking at A-Jie's gossipy and expectant expression, Shen Yuan smiled lazily, his arm still naturally around Li Zhi's shoulder, and pulled her closer to him.

"Yes, the scenery is indeed beautiful."

He offered a concise evaluation, his tone as casual as usual, but the smile in his eyes was genuine.

"Oh, is it just the scenery that's nice?" He Zhiyu immediately caught the implication in the words. She exchanged a mischievous glance with Zhuo Peipei and asked with a grin.

"So, is it the scenery that's beautiful, or—"

She deliberately dragged out her words, her gaze sweeping over Li Zhi's fair and delicate face.

"—Is she good-looking?"

This question hit the nail on the head, instantly drawing cheers and expectant stares.

The eyes of everyone around Shen Yuan were focused on him, and even Li Zhi secretly squeezed Shen Yuan's palm with his fingers.

The girl glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, wanting to hear what he would say.

Under the watchful eyes of several people, Shen Yuan glanced around at the gossiping classmates, his tone as matter-of-fact as he stated:
"nonsense."

His gaze gently fell back onto the face of the girl beside him, filled with undisguised pride and favoritism:

"No matter how beautiful the scenery is, it can't compare to Li Bao."

“Wow——!!!”

"Alas--!!!!"

"I can't take it anymore!!!"

"This dog food!!!"

As Li Zhi listened to Shen Yuan's undisguised declaration of favoritism, the blush on her cheeks instantly turned even brighter and more captivating.

The girl slightly raised her delicate chin, her clear and bright eyes sparkling with confidence and pride as she looked directly at her friends around her.

"What's wrong with that! It's just a fact!"

The girl's clear voice, filled with a sense of entitlement and pampered affection, clearly drowned out everyone's laughter.

"To Shen Yuan, I'll always be the most beautiful!!"

Shen Yuan watched the undisguised arrogance of the person beside him, and a smile spread across his eyes, filled with tenderness and...

And indulgence.

His gaze was fixed intently on Li Zhiming's beautiful face, his deep, indulgent voice carrying absolute certainty:
"Yes, my wife is the most beautiful."

The term "wife" exploded in the classroom again, even more powerfully than Shen Yuan's previous declaration! "Awooo—!!!"

Ah Jie burst into tears.

"Aaaaaah, help!!"

"I can't take it anymore! I'm really going to throw up!!"

"This is broad daylight! Be mindful of the impact!!"

"Report! Someone is continuously feeding highly toxic dog food here!!"

But the food connoisseurs on the sidelines were excited, shouting, "It's so sweet! It's so sweet!"

This classroom is a public place! The illegal possession and use of weapons of mass destruction is strictly prohibited!!!
For a moment, the classroom was filled with a cheerful atmosphere and joyful wails and laughter.

Just as the joyful sounds were about to lift the roof off, a familiar soft cough came from the classroom doorway.

"Cough um."

The sound wasn't loud, but it had a peculiar penetrating power, instantly silencing the noisy classroom.

Everyone subconsciously looked in the direction of the sound.

Old Zhou was leaning against the door frame, arms crossed, his face no longer serious and tense as it was in class, but with a relaxed smile.

His gaze, behind the glasses, gently swept over every youthful and energetic face in the classroom.

This joy of youth seemed to have infected the old teacher as well.

The relaxed smile on Lao Zhou's lips deepened, and deep in his eyes flowed a sense of relief and satisfaction.

There is also a hint of blessing for these children who are about to go their separate ways.

He didn't speak, but just leaned quietly against the door frame, as if trying to firmly imprint this scene full of laughter and farewell in his mind.

The sunlight outside the classroom fell on his shoulders, enveloping him in a peaceful and pleasant atmosphere.

A few seconds later, he slowly walked into the classroom.

The noise naturally subsided, and everyone looked at their old teacher, who had been with them for three years, with relaxed smiles.

"You're having quite a lively conversation?"

Old Zhou walked to the podium and habitually tapped the table with his knuckles, drawing everyone's attention.

He looked at the familiar yet uniquely radiant faces below the stage, and the curve of his lips remained gentle.

"The exams are over, and the scores are out. You're all happy, right?"

"That's right! Old Zhou, we're liberated!" Zhou Shaojie was the first to shout in agreement, drawing a chorus of laughter in response.

"Liberation?" Old Zhou raised an eyebrow, his eyes behind his glasses sweeping over the crowd.

"Wait a little longer before you're free. The college entrance exam is over, and high school life is coming to an end, but what comes after is just as important and cannot be taken lightly!"

He paused, his gaze turning serious: "Listen up, all of you. There are a few main things to do upon returning to school today:"

"First, your academic records and personal materials."

Old Zhou continued speaking.

"Your files will be distributed shortly. They are the foundation of your three years of high school study, proof of your hard work, and a stepping stone to university."

"Once you get it, be sure to put it in your bag immediately! Don't lose it or open it!"

"This is extremely important. It must be handed over to the university intact upon registration! Anyone who loses or damages it will be held responsible!"

"The second important thing,"

Old Zhou picked up a book from behind him and waved it.

"College application! Now that we all know our scores, the next step is to decide where you'll go and what you'll study. Here's the application guide; most of my classmates have bought it."

He earnestly advised, "Don't think that everything is fine just because you got a high score on the exam. If you don't fill out your college application well, you might still fail to get into your desired school or fall into a trap!"

"When you get back these next few days, you'd better study this properly! Don't just play around like an idiot!"

"Make sure you read the university and major codes carefully! Consider your scores, rankings, interests, and future career goals, discuss them with your family, and choose wisely!"

His gaze swept across the classroom: "Volunteering must be our top priority! These next two days, focus and think it through carefully!"

"If you don't understand anything, feel free to ask in the class group chat or ask me privately. Don't wait until the last minute to catch up!"

Looking at the students below the stage, the seriousness on Old Zhou's face softened slightly.

"Alright, I've emphasized everything that needed to be emphasized."

His gaze swept over the entire class, his expression serious and unwavering: "I've already organized your file folders; they're all in my office. Come and pick them up one by one later, and take the form-filling guide with you as well."

"Receive it in person, sign for it yourself, and confirm that everything is correct! After receiving it, put it in your schoolbag immediately. Do not open it or fold it! You know how important this thing is!"

"Remember this, absolutely, absolutely do not demolish it!"

A chorus of knowing replies rang out in the classroom: "Got it, Lao Zhou!"

"Hmm." Old Zhou nodded in satisfaction, his authority as a homeroom teacher still clearly discernible in the relaxed atmosphere.

He said no more, turned and walked towards the classroom door: "Shen Yuan! First one, come to the office with me!"

"Coming, coming!" Shen Yuan immediately responded, jumping up from his seat and scurrying after him.

The classroom returned to its previous lively atmosphere, only now the conversation included more discussions about the files and lighthearted banter while waiting for roll call.

Time slipped by quietly amidst laughter and waiting.

When Li Zhi returned from Lao Zhou's office, it meant that all the preparations for Class 15's return to school were complete.

When Li Zhi returned to his seat, Lao Zhou also walked in from outside the classroom.

In the classroom, the students who had been chatting and laughing gradually quieted down, their eyes falling on their own file folders.

That heavy feeling wasn't just the weight of the paper bag, but also the passport forged from three years of youth.

Having the files in hand felt like a clear and powerful conclusion to this journey of fighting side by side.

The air seemed to become calmer at this moment, carrying a sense of lightness after the dust had settled.

Old Zhou stood in front of the podium, his gaze slowly sweeping over each familiar face.

He adjusted his glasses, his Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and when he spoke, his voice was lower than usual, yet it clearly reached every corner of the classroom:
"We've got everything..."

He paused, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the edge of the podium, and when he looked up again, a complex emotion settled in his eyes behind his glasses.

"—And that's it, you've truly graduated."

The moment the words left his mouth, the classroom was so quiet that you could hear the rustling of camphor tree leaves in the wind outside the window.

There was no cheering or commotion as expected, only a silence as if the pause button had been pressed.

Dozens of eyes focused on Old Zhou. Something heavy seemed to fall in the air, carrying a warm breath and quietly rising with the dampness of parting.

Someone instinctively clenched the file folder in their hand, the plastic cover making a slight rubbing sound.

Someone lowered their head and blinked rapidly.

A silent confirmation filled the air.

This time, high school has finally come to an end.

Old Zhou didn't say anything more, he just stood there like a silent boundary marker.

The "high school" and the "future" are silently separated, and this heavy farewell is imprinted on everyone's heart.

(End of this chapter)