Approaching lunchtime. Chen Yunyun and Wang Yuhe rushed over from the dormitory, their freshly washed damp hair loosely draped behind their heads. They entered the classroom, picked up their homework, and stood outside basking in the sun. Jiang Nian was originally doing his homework in his seat when his phone in his pocket gently vibrated. He looked down to see a message from Chen Yunyun. "Come out to sunbathe? (Confused)" He thought for a moment and replied. The two girls didn’t stay in the hallway outside the classroom but went up to the rooftop of the administrative building next door with their books. Under the clear winter sky, the sun made them a bit dizzy. The clear blue sky seemed like a huge mirror, turned upside down over the small county of Zhen Nan. Wang Yuhe stood at the edge of the rooftop, gazing into the distance, her long hair dancing with the wind. After a while, she ran back quickly. "Hey, what do you guys think the outside looks like?" The damp part of her hair wet a portion of her round-necked top. The fabric clung tightly to her skin, releasing briefly when she bent over. A white vertical line flashed before Jiang Nian’s eyes. He stood up immediately, took two steps toward the rooftop, disguising his earlier awkwardness. "Let me see, aren’t they just mountains?" Wang Yuhe glanced back at him, feeling puzzled. "What’s beyond the mountains?" "It’s the road, the highway to the city, probably," Chen Yunyun said. "My dad drove there once during a family visit for the New Year." "I’m envious, I don’t have relatives in the city," Wang Yuhe pouted, then looked up, "What about you, Jiang Nian? Have you been there?" Jiang Nian scratched his face, "I think so. My uncle lives in the city, but during New Year, my parents go, not me." "Ha, just to avoid me." "Why?" Wang Yuhe looked puzzled. "It’s nothing, just some trivial matters," Jiang Nian changed the topic, "I’m getting my driver’s license this month." "When we get a break, I’ll find a car, take you guys for a spin to find out." "Really?" Wang Yuhe jumped up immediately. "You’re getting your driver’s license so soon?" Chen Yunyun was slightly surprised, subconsciously thinking Jiang Nian took a leave today to practice driving. "Not quick, it’s been almost a month and a half," Jiang Nian explained, "If you talk about speed, it was faster before." "A month?" Chen Yunyun asked. "Bought it in three days." Upon hearing this, Chen Yunyun realized once again that this guy was a novice driver. Concerned about his road safety, she couldn’t help but ask. "Driving on the road right after getting your license? Isn’t that dangerous?" Jiang Nian thought for a moment and nodded. "True, maybe I’ll wait two years before touching a car then." "That’s even more dangerous!" Chen Yunyun blushed, biting her lip, "Then when you go, take me along." "Us!" Wang Yuhe jumped forward, adding. The topic circled back to safety, shifting from concern about driving risks to worrying about Jiang Nian having an accident alone. Youths are like that, timid yet fearless. "Don’t worry, it’s not like I’m filming a Guo Xiaosi movie." Jiang Nian reassured them, "I wouldn’t take you along if I wasn’t confident." "I finished practicing all the subjects my first day of learning to drive, drove more steadily than my instructor, he has to greet me with a cigarette when he sees me." The two girls were amused by him, giggling uncontrollably. The three of them stayed on the rooftop for more than half an hour, chatting and sunbathing the whole time, not touching the homework they brought up. Jiang Nian woke up from his desk to see Zhang Ningzhi’s flawless profile, mesmerized. Just woke up, feeling a bit dazed. Wondering what it feels like to kiss her. Suddenly, Zhizhi turned and shot him a sideways glance. As if there was some telepathic connection, she suddenly got angry. What, Mind Reading Technique or something? "You said you would return for the physical education class this afternoon, where were you?" Zhang Ningzhi accused, "Liar again!" "I actually wanted to come back, but..." he casually took a sip of water, "it’s not exactly lying." "At most, it’s standing someone up, your choice of words is clearly inappropriate." The corrected Zhang Ningzhi blushed and simply became stubborn. "If you say so, then so be it," Jiang Nian shrugged, using the classic scoundrel line, "If you insist on thinking that way, then I have nothing to..." Someone’s arm took a heavy blow, effectively put out of commission, and the privilege of drinking beverages was temporarily frozen by the spoiled rich girl. Jiang Nian didn’t panic at all, if I’m not allowed to drink my beverage. Then I’ll just drink yours. Zhizhi was the softest; find an opportunity to whine and plead. Not to mention the right to share drinks, every right would be unlocked. In the language of flowers, steel wool represents forbearance and wealth. Isn’t this just means of begging? If you’re begging, isn’t it necessary to kneel? If you stand, you can’t successfully beg; you can’t have both. But can you eat without kneeling? Zhang Ningzhi and Yao Beibei went hand in hand to fetch water, leaving Jiang Nian alone at his desk, feeling restless again. He turned to look at the class leader, who was reading. Li Qingrong couldn’t take it, so she looked up. "Nothing, just seeing what you’re doing," Jiang Nian rifled through her book, "When did you buy this magazine?" "During lunch," Li Qingrong hesitated for a moment, then handed it to him, "Do you want to read it?" "I’ll wait till you’re done. I’m not in a rush," Jiang Nian didn’t refuse. Reading the same book would spark more conversation topics. The class leader hardly spoke, finding conversation topics meant only a few chats a year. Hearing this, Li Qingrong retrieved the book again. Zeng You and Wu Jungu entered through the front door, glancing over at Jiang Nian after sitting down, then started to chuckle before speaking up. Are you bluffing? Attempting fraud? Jiang Nian smiled, "How am I done for?" "The PE teacher called your name at lunch, but you weren’t there," Zeng You smirked, "I promise, if I’m lying, may the gods strike me." Upon hearing this, Jiang Nian’s smile disappeared, no more giggles. Zeng You took a sip of water, "Said you keep skipping his classes, next time he catches you, he’ll make you run three thousand meters." "It’s true," Wu Jungu turned around, laughing, "Said you’d have to join the class football team unless you play." Upon hearing these words, Jiang Nian was puzzled. "Why is no one joining the class football team?" Zeng You took out his phone, justifying himself. "We’re Scholar Generals." Jiang Nian thought for a moment and understood. "This is conscription, isn’t it?" As class was about to start, Yao Beibei and Zhang Ningzhi returned. Yao Beibei took one look at Jiang Nian and showed a cunning smile. "Get lost," Jiang Nian thought irritably, ready to give a quick rebuttal. "Sheesh," Yao Beibei knew someone had taken her line, "Why so harsh, got issues?" Zhang Ningzhi sat down, whispering. "During PE class, it was Beibei who suggested you join the football team." "Her?" Jiang Nian was surprised. "Yeah, Beibei said you were the three-thousand-meter champion, why not pull you for football?" Zhang Ningzhi said, "Then the teacher agreed." "Oh... Then I wronged her, but since it’s done, might as well bury it." Jiang Nian hesitated before saying. He looked up and met Zhang Ningzhi’s dissatisfied gaze, feeling guilty. "Fine, fine, after class I’ll apologize to her, okay?" Jiang Nian slid to his knees, "I’m actually a good kid." Not a rotten cabbage. But he said this in his heart. The first lesson on Wednesday afternoon was Chinese, which meant class teacher’s lesson. Lao Liu, this guy, has been slacking more and more recently. The classic three-minute late arrival, one minute for discipline. Three minutes for a joke, six or seven minutes for announcements. The master tricked away a third of the class time. The remaining twenty minutes for lecture, ten minutes for boasting. Okay, class dismissed. Yet somehow, this approach was popular in Class Three. The students relied on Lao Liu’s three-minute jokes and six-to-seven-minute talks for inside school information. After getting used to it, it’s like watching a weekly talk show, it feels off without it. "Ahem!!" Lao Liu walked in three minutes late, carrying a thermos cup, "Ah, settle down, class is starting." "Every time I come in, the class is chaotic. With someone acting up... in the future, there will be a new rule." After settling the discipline, Lao Liu started his classic joke compilation. He told a story about the office catching couples, making the entire class laugh before addressing the class business. "There are two important matters this week: the school’s mandatory football class games, and the New Year’s Day party at the end of the month." "The priority is the New Year’s Day party, just a notification for now. Details will be discussed next week." "The football game is mid-month, on the 8th, which is rushed, taking about a week or so." Once he finished speaking, the class erupted. "Teacher, so quickly, without a chance to practice?" "Yeah, how can we play against other classes?" "Damn, ain’t that next week? Thought it was around the 20th, hoping to practice some skills!" The short four-day prep time left the boys flustered. Thanks to Qianbao’s spoilers the day before, they had no real chance to practice; otherwise, they would’ve gone in completely unprepared. Wouldn’t they just get thrashed by the teams that knew how to play? Below, public opinion boiled. Lao Liu was also helpless, coughing to interrupt the discussion. "This was also a school last-minute arrangement. Lots of activities this month, needing to make room for the New Year’s Day party and venue." "Let’s confirm participants first, Liu Yang will lead the team." Liu Yang promptly raised his hand and spoke up, "Teacher, I’m no good at soccer." "Play anyway, just put together a team first," Lao Liu decisively appointed more students. "Li Hua, Jiang Nian... okay, add Ma Guojun." After realizing even the bench was short, he pointed out a few more. "Also, choose a captain." Suddenly, Yao Beibei spoke. "Teacher, Jiang Nian played in a soccer match in Year One." Upon hearing this, the whole class turned their eyes towards a certain someone.