The intern taught a top-performing class, and the parents wanted to change the homeroom teacher.

Liu Mingchao played a few rounds of billiards; after a month without playing, his skills had become a bit rusty.

While the others around him were gossiping, he would occasionally chime in with a few words.

They drift through life, going everywhere and experiencing far more things than Liu Mingchao.

It sounds interesting.

"Chaozi, how's school?" Tiger asked as he walked over.

"That's great, we got a new homeroom teacher." Liu Mingchao's eyes lit up with excitement as he thought of Teacher Lu.

Tiger laughed, "With a class like that, you still need a homeroom teacher? I'd think the principal has a compulsion for round numbers if he didn't disband the class."

Liu Mingchao used to talk about school matters, so these people knew a little about Class 25.

In their eyes, there is no difference between everyone.

One hangs out off-campus, the other hangs out on campus.

it's the same.

It's better to go off-campus; it's more free.

"It really is different. My class is now fifth in the grade." Liu Mingchao said with a bit of pride, "Last time, I was ranked over 200th in the whole grade."

"Over two hundred? You're just bragging." Tiger didn't believe it at all. Last time he was at the bottom of the grade, and this time he's in the top ranks?

Liu Mingchao took out his phone and found a screenshot of his report card. "Look, I'm 225th in the grade, but still near the bottom in my class."

He had a helpless expression, but it gave people the feeling that he was showing off.

Upon seeing the report card, Tiger was greatly surprised. He looked at it carefully for a while before exclaiming, "Holy crap, is this for real? You haven't actually been studying all this time, have you?"

"Yeah, I already told you, but you didn't believe me." Liu Mingchao raised the corners of his mouth, finding pleasure in showing off.

Others also rushed over upon hearing the commotion, and each of them looked at the photo of the report card.

"Holy crap, Chaozi's learned it!"

"It can't be photoshopped, can it? He can learn this well in just one month."

"Hey, it's useless. There are tons of college graduates these days, and they still end up working anyway."

"Chaozi, don't become a bookworm."

"..."

Various different voices rang out around them.

Liu Mingchao was stunned for a moment when Tiger kicked him again, cursing under his breath.

"Get lost. A bunch of high school dropouts are criticizing Chaozi. Go play billiards with me."

The others dispersed amidst laughter and chatter, and one of them casually took Liu Mingchao's golf club.

Tiger repeated a grade in junior high, so he was a year older than them, but he still didn't get into high school. His family repaired cars, and he usually hung out aimlessly. He often got into fights in junior high, and he was quite respected among this group.

Tiger looked at Liu Mingchao's report card with a strange expression.

He subconsciously took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, pulled one out and put it in his mouth. Just as he was about to light it, he remembered that Liu Mingchao was next to him, so he handed him one.

"Want one?"

Then, before Liu Mingchao could speak, he turned around and took the cigarette back, saying, "Don't smoke this stuff, at least not when you're at school."

After saying that, he took the cigarette out of his mouth, tucked it behind his ear, and muttered to himself while looking at Liu Mingchao's report card.

"That's amazing progress, it's incredible! That's awesome!"

Tiger turned his head and looked Liu Mingchao up and down. It had been almost a month since he last saw him. He seemed to have changed a bit. He wasn't as dull anymore. Could this be the aura of a top student?

Liu Mingchao shrugged. "It's mainly because the teacher is good."

"That's true, your teacher is pretty awesome too," Tiger said admiringly.

To be able to teach someone who is last in the class to become fifth in the grade, their skill level must be exceptional.

After chatting for a while, Liu Mingchao went over and took the cue back to play billiards.

He swore twice while he was speaking.

Tiger watched his retreating figure, and upon hearing those two swear words, frowned. He went to the window, but couldn't resist lighting a cigarette, lost in thought.

Liu Mingchao lay on the pool table and played a few shots, listening to others talk about things in society.

Who's in a relationship? Who got into a fight? What kind of customers did I see while working? Has the arcade gotten a new pretty girl?

He suddenly felt a jolt in his heart, and the noise around him seemed to fade away only to return in the next moment. He stood up and looked at the people around him, feeling that something had changed, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

This inexplicable sense of incongruity made him feel a little strange.

Especially when I announced my grades just now, some people were surprised, some were disdainful, and there was a feeling that... well... they couldn't stand to see him improve in his studies?

He couldn't explain it, but... no way.

His classmates would scold him for improving again, then turn around and secretly study again. Sometimes, when discussing problems, they would even curse each other, "Damn it, please stop studying, you're improving too fast."

Only Xie Tianming remained arrogant, saying, "Brothers, study as you like. If you don't understand, come ask me. I'm still the highest mountain on your math journey." He was then met with a barrage of insults, including the comment, "You're a real dog!" But in the end, when he encountered a problem he couldn't solve, he'd still ask, "Brother Ming, how do I do this problem?"

Then Xie Tianming became even more arrogant, and the others were holding back, waiting for the right moment to kill Xie Tianming and show off in front of him.

However, no matter how much they cursed, it didn't feel malicious; in fact, everyone seemed to enjoy it.

After learning how to curse, they would curse again, then learn again, and then they would put their arms around each other's shoulders and go buy a bag of spicy strips to fight over.

Liu Mingchao felt something was strange; his buddies seemed different from before.

"Chaozi, let's go out for a drink tonight!" A blond-haired guy with a cigarette in his mouth put his hand on Chaozi's shoulder.

"No, my mom's cooking dinner," Liu Mingchao said.

"Hey, what are we going to eat at home? It's more fun to eat together." The blond guy said, blowing out another puff of smoke. "Chaozi, you haven't shown up for a month, and we've met quite a few new people. Go out for a stroll, there are a few girls here too."

A burst of laughter erupted around them.

Tiger frowned as he watched from the side. He stubbed out his half-finished cigarette and threw it away. He walked over and said, "All you guys do is eat and play games. Chaozi, come with me to buy a pack of cigarettes."

"Brother Tiger, I still have some here." A blond-haired guy tossed over a pack of cigarettes.

Tiger stuffed the cigarette into his pocket and muttered, "What kind of person are you, smoking the same cigarettes as me?"

As he spoke, he pulled Liu Mingchao out directly.

Once outside and breathing in the fresh air, Liu Mingchao felt refreshed.

"Hiss—I feel like I've come back to life."

"Ugh, it stinks! Let's go to the store."

The two went to the shop across the street.

"Boss, give me a pack of Yuxi cigarettes, the soft kind, and a bottle of water too."

After paying the bill, Tiger put away his cigarettes and handed Liu Mingchao some water, saying, "Have some water."

"Thank you, Brother Tiger."

The two stood at the store entrance, watching the passersby.

"Chaozi, how does it feel to make progress in your studies?"

"Hmm...it gives me a sense of purpose, it's pretty good."

Tiger nodded silently, then after a moment said with a sigh, "Great, that's good. With your grades now, you should be able to go to university."

Liu Mingchao nodded. "That's fine."

"Damn, I'm so envious!" Tiger cursed, turned around and patted him on the shoulder, "Study hard, get into a great university, so I can brag about it when I go out."

"Alright, go home."

"Don't come looking for us again."

.

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