It was currently self-study period, so all the other classes' students highlighted and practiced responses to different subjects. However, Class A wasn't.
Zhang Yongyin diligently read his notes and tried completing the short answers, ignoring the surrounding noises.
Whenever he felt irritated or dispirited, he would study for hours straight until he felt better, but it had been so long since he felt glum, so he was bolting through all the multiple-choice aggressively.
He didn't know what he had circled, but it was better than circling nothing.
When Zhang Yongyin first heard those words coming out of Wang Xing's mouth, his chest started feeling uncomfortable because it recalled a tormenting memory.
Yet, Zhang Yongyin didn't expect Gu Xiao to snap, and because he knew precisely why Gu Xiao snapped, it made him even more disheartened.
While Gu Xiao took the first step to shut Wang Xing's mouth, he just stood there and pretended he heard nothing. Like two years ago.
[If I ignored everything like in the past, wouldn't I be repeating the same mistake as I did two years ago when I stayed blind? I didn't know what was going on. I was completely clueless. No, I knew what was happening, but by the time I wanted to step up, he had already leapt off that building.]
"Why were Gu Xiao and Zhang Yongyin beating you up?" one asked.
"It's just how it is. He is getting more out of control as days pass," Wang Xing scorned and rubbed his aching face.
"You must've pissed him off. He isn't the type to just attack someone randomly. You probably did something wrong. Wasn't he just showing his love for you a few days ago?" one laughed.
"Don't mention that! Also, why are you defending him? I never liked him, but did you see me using my fists? Why don't you go ask his dear friend over there?" Wang Xing complained and nudged his chin over to Zhang Yongyin.
Sliding open the doors, people crowded around in groups and gawked at their phones.
When they saw Lan Yuning walk in, some hid their phones away while one group continued hurdling together and watching a video, unaware that Lan Yuning had walked in.
Wang Xing clicked his tongue and turned back around.
Heading over to the table, who was still out of their seats, Lan Yuning glanced at their phones and saw they were watching a recorded clip of the fight.
Startled, the students immediately sat back at their desks, and the classmate with the phone awkwardly laughed.
"What is that?" he asked.
"Work...?"
"What were you watching?"
The student averted his gaze and hesitantly pushed his phone towards him. After Lan Yuning confirmed it was a video of the fight, a long, tense silence fell on their back.
The student visibly blanched and quickly took his phone away since he couldn't dare risk his dear phone being confiscated, so he promptly opened his textbooks.
Everyone also began planting their heads in their books. Not even a word about the fight escaped anyone's lips.
✎✎✎
The bell rang after an hour, and fourth period started. When that period concluded, some students continued staying in the classroom while others headed towards the library.
Just as Zhang Yongyin was about to walk out, Lan Yuning called out to him.
"Student President?"
"I want to ask you something. Do you have time?"
Zhang Yongyin let out a "huh?" with hints of shock. "Yes, I do. Well, I'm heading to the cafeteria. We can go together."
This time, Lan Yuning let out a "huh?" How long had it been since he visited the cafeteria?
Before they left, Wang Xing spoke out to them. "Lan Yuning, stop hanging out with people like them. Look at what they did to us. What if they just beat you up next for no reason?"
Zhang Yongyin eyed Wang Xing up and down, trying to understand the nonsense he was spouting. "Class Rep, how come I expected nothing from you, yet I am still disappointed? Don't you think you are being a bit hypocritical right now? Do you think we will beat you up for no reason? Do you want me to throw another textbook at you because I sure have a lot in my bag right now?"
"He's even threatening me. Having to sit next to such a dropout. I wouldn't be surprised if you and Song Anwen got beaten up next."
"What did you say? I will knock your teeth out right here," Zhang Yongyin seethed and stomped forwards.
In case another fight ignited, Lan Yuning stepped in between, preventing the heated boy from stepping further towards the class representative.
"Zhang Yongyin," he interjected.
Although everyone was supposed to be studying, their eyes were not glued to their books, but the two talking with such overpowering voices and the calm one.
Zhang Yongyin clenched his jaw and held himself back.
Even though he was always lumped with Gu Xiao, he was never the one to start a fight.
He was never the type that enjoyed arguing or fighting, whether it was verbal or physical. The last time he fought was probably when he was twelve, but right now, he wanted to kick Wang Xing again.
Even Song Anwen, who usually stayed out of these troubles, glanced back in anxiousness.
"Aren't we heading to the cafeteria? I'm hungry."
Zhang Yongyin calmed down and stuttered, "Oh, right. I'm hungry too."
He almost let his former self return. It wasn't only Gu Xiao that desperately tried to hide something, but Zhang Yongyin too. The reason Zhang Yongyin was who he was now was because of Gu Xiao.
The two wandered to the cafeteria without glancing back, leaving Wang Xing to stand there with puzzlement spread across his face.
...
Lan Yuning slowly picked on the rice before scooping a spoonful in.
It had been so long since he sat in the cafeteria, let alone eat cafeteria food since he was always in the library or classroom.
Since the third years were all studying, there weren't many classmates they recognised.
Even so, people stole glances at Zhang Yongyin since they recognised him from the video and because his face and clothes were all battered.
"I'm starving," he gleamed and shoved the rice and vegetables into his mouth all at once, not even allowing one room for words to seep through his throat.
"Student President, can I have your pork ribs if you won't eat it?"
He nodded, and the bedraggled boy immediately grabbed the pork ribs and devoured it in a few seconds, leaving nothing but a clean bone.
After pondering whether to speak up or wait longer, Lan Yuning asked, "Why did you two fight?"
"The fight?" Zhang Yongyin repeated as he swallowed everything in his mouth.
His actions slowed down as he wondered what to say. Now that Zhang Yongyin thought about it, this entire situation reminded him of an incident from their old school, and it suffocated him.
"Before I knew it, Gu Xiao and Class Rep were arguing, so I joined. But...he said something that annoyed him..."
Lan Yuning nodded. Thinking back to the conversation between Mr. Shen and Gu Xiao, their voices resonated out of the office, so he heard every single word. All Lan Yuning could do right now was stay silent because he genuinely knew nothing about this situation.
Zhang Yongyin stopped eating but kept his eyes glued to his food. He was stupid. Everyone was stupid. At this age, the most they did was make mistakes. And it was these mistakes that they carried on into the future.
"Wang Xing was talking nonsense."
"About Gu Xiao?"
"No. About you."
"About me?"
Lan Yuning didn't know what to focus on, since everything was just an ambiguous, lumpy situation.
He wasn't curious about what Wang Xing said about him since he couldn't care less. He already knew Wang Xing never liked him because of jealousy.
Even though Wang Xing always followed him like a dog, pretending they were all close, his distaste for him was evident.
Yet, it was the same with everyone.
All these people crowded around him and acted like they were close, referring to him as a good friend, but he knew this relationship tag with all of them was just a decorative gesture. Because in ten years, or even five years, they would never speak to each other again.
"What did Wang Xing say about me that made Gu Xiao so angry?"