When Liang Sichen returned to the classroom, his cell phone buzzed in his pocket. Pulling it out, he saw a message from his mother: "According to your class teacher, there's another monthly exam due in a couple of days. I hope you can focus this time. We can't have you coming in second forever."
"In middle school, you were always first," she continued.
"But from the time you started your first year in high school, you've been on a downward spiral."
Annoyance flashed in Liang Sichen's eyes as he turned off his phone screen and put his phone back into his pocket.
But after a while, he took out his phone again and replied: "I know, mom, I'll try harder."
...
The school building faced the south. At the height of summer, when the sun was at its harshest, its rays could reach into the classroom through the corridor.
