Jian He continued, "this pattern will be easy because it all depends on the question you asked during the homeroom period. So go home and form your questions. However, it won't be only your question because I'll also do the same."
"Is it compulsory?"
Qing You and Zhen Bai asked confusedly; they hoped someone would clarify this issue for them. That reminded me: I did not see any particular action those two took on the special test. Seeing my brooding face, Li Min questioned me with concern.
"What is it?" she whispered.
"Nothing!" my response was curt. However, I knew that wouldn't satisfy a proud icy devil like Li Min. In fact, nothing could convince her until she threw me out on that stage to face that horrendous ghost, Jian He. Jian He had been rapidly but furtively seeking opportunities to punish me because the punishment he gave me during winter break hadn't satisfied him in any way. He also felt he needed to fringe me more because I still had some fighting spirit. So in his incredible ideal, he thought, he must break my courage for good because I was his only headache. Most evidently was my punishment report! That well-deserved piece of paper riled Jian He to the very gate of hell. And if gods had permitted him to make a deal with the devil to destroy my soul, he would have done so. But unfortunately, he couldn't. And just as I had predicted, Li Min succeeded: she disturbed me until Jian He noticed us.
"Why must I be interrupted while addressing important matters? You, Guang Fang, do you understand a thing that I said for the past few hours? You will be the one dragging everyone's feet later. By the way, what was I emphasizing for the past few hours?" Jian He repleted the class with his gloomy air; sure enough, he had neglected Li Min to face the class nuisance. This girl had successfully dumped the pot on me using her innocent and powerful face to free herself; even Jian He had to be cautious. But who would defend a homeless kid like me? Pretentious bevies! And now that the girl had gotten her most deserved wish, she had pretended to be paying attention to Jian He: she looked all serious.
"You said we should do our best," I said lazily; who cares about his screed. This answer was the best respectful response my mouth could produce; he shouldn't push his luck.
"Was that what I was saying for the past two hours?" Jian He laughed in frustrated anger.
"Who cares how long you've been talking. I just summarized the full difficult speech, which you obviously couldn't explain." I muttered, but Jian He heard me, and so did the class. They gaped at my boldness, but I obviously didn't care. I haven't even dealt with Jian He for the last unjust punishments. Now he came with his disturbing screed.
"Hey! Giant Fang, you never get enough, do you? You will wash the floor of class B toward evening."
'How many times have I corrected them that it's Guang Fang, not Giant Fang!'
"But sir….." I wanted to refute him even though I knew he would not allow me to.
Still, he annoyingly cut short my explanation. "Say one more word, and your punishment will increase." But as if thinking of something, he exploded again. "Hell! Do you possibly want to lie? Do you want to tell me that Miss Li was the one disturbing you? Or do you want to claim I didn't hear your irresponsible arrogant words? Who the hell are you?" he forced himself to recklessly shout for minutes, which made him look like a goat in the process of childbirth—he especially seemed funny; it was not his usual him, after all. However, something unexpected happened.
"Sir, I will serve the same punishment as him. It was not totally his fault."
What did she mean by 'it was not totally my fault.' For god sake, it was not my fault in any way. How the hell was this girl placed behind me? Who positioned her here? I had a tormenting hunch: I would be serving punishment every week. And no more peace. I prayed desperately for help; I was exasperated.
"My dear, you cannot deign so low for this moron. There is nothing he could contribute to society. It just so happens that he can contribute now with my punishment sequence. But after now, he will become irredeemably useless." He retorted.
"I will do what I want; say no more." Li Min did not shirk back; she stood her ground.
"Well, if you are feeling pity for him—that is understandable, but you shouldn't get too close to this delinquent; he's not a good fruit." He forewarned.
I was even more furious than anyone in the class knew; heaven sure played dirty jokes with me repeatedly. What did he mean by self-pity? That girl clearly caused my sorrow, yet he blamed me? This Jian He is becoming a lot more arrogant.
The whole class collapsed with discussions.
"what is Li Min doing?"
"If I remember correctly, her seat was opposite that miscreant last year. Why is she behind him?"
"If you ask me, who should I ask then?"
"My goddess can't get close to that lousy skive."
The students unrestrainedly gossip their throats out. They would blame no one but me. Great! It's just fine now. I'm the hated skolly. If those indigent bevies were as good as they claimed, the country would have been a better place for all. Who the hell are they to point their short fingers at me? But one day, I would surely deal with that Li Min; I would take her first kiss. Let's see how she behaves then.
After the homeroom came the interlude. So I left the class and went to the café. The new first year's filled up café, and these people uncourteously did whatever they wanted. However, I noticed that the setting was somewhat unusual. Every one of these first-year students morbidly avoided me. It was as though I was an unforgivable plague. My virile imagination questioned the cloud of people with my scrutinizing gaze. It must be that bastard Jian He, I concluded. So he could actually use me for the first-year opening ceremony? I fumed in rage. Alright, I got it big guy—I will play you slowly.
I ordered a light meal and drink; I sighed in relief after collecting them. At least I have left the iron grip of that horrendous ghost, Jian He. But as I was eating, I had an unexpected visitor: Shun Lei. He was known as the uniquely stubborn one. And he was tenacious enough to disregard the orders of Shen Yongrui. At the very least, that was what people knew him for, but his appearance looked not simple: sharp eyes, bulbous nose, and slightly inflated muscle. The most crucial point was his height—he was huge. Although he appeared miffed, it's alright; he shouldn't be a skolly at the very least. But even if he was, there was no problem because I loved skollies the most.
"Yo! Mr. Delinquent. I can't imagine a fool like you will be roaming freely in this school. Why wouldn't you give your education chance to those educationally minded people to finish your schooling? In fact, you could sit back on your thatch house drinking rotten tea while the proclaimed erudite solve the world's problem." He scoffed.
What's with him? Who sent him here? Hmm, what a glorified busybody! For now, let's ride the wind.
"And you are?" I asked while gorging my food.
"I think you should already have an idea. I am Shun Lei," he was obviously shouting. Did Shen Yongrui send him, or he's here of his volition? If so, for what stupid reason did his ghost wake up.
"You wanted to involve Miss Li in an unnecessary punishment."
Oh! That's what this thing is all about. What a glorified idiot. In any case, I'm thankful for heaven that no one suspected my relationship with Li Min. I took a sip and continued my meal uncaringly, but he foolishly continued in his din and disrespectful speaking manner. However, Jian He wouldn't show up now until I lost myself in rage. But immediately I acted, his surly sick ghost would appear instantly. Anyway, for the time being, I decided not to pay any attention to this noisy child before me; foolishness is transmittance, after all.
After some thought, I decided against my previous idea; I had to give him a hand: "You know, while the whole members of your class are working hard, you are stupidly sabotaging their effort. You're really a clumsy fool like people said." I wickedly smiled as I munched on my food. I was becoming exasperated with his dead effort to make himself outstanding in the café; I just wanted to have a good break, but this fellow wouldn't just allow it. I was beginning to think today is good enough for me to have peace of mind. So I intentionally fell my cutlery on the floor and went for it. As I got to his position, I bent and punched his shoe very heavily but cautiously. He almost went out of control; he unintentionally bit his tongue. And suddenly, he closed his mouth with his hands: it was all peaceful; he's quiet now!
While the situation still transfixed him on his seat, I slowly but happily stood up. Taking a cursory glance at him, I strode toward the exit of the café. In fact, my eating materials still lifelessly lay on the table. "You talk too much. And you are meddling where you shouldn't; I don't care about this school. So if you move out of your space to disturb me, I will kill you and withdraw from this school." I whispered in passing. Meanwhile, he remained motionless with deflated anger; cold fear froze him.