As soon as mid-October arrived in Quan City, a cold, demonic wind began to blow.
When Zhi Ying went out, she wrapped her school uniform around her tightly and walked slowly to the classroom. The hair that had just grown out of her scalp was blown all over the place.
She managed to walk to the teaching building, and upon reaching the stairway entrance, she noticed Jiang Wei immediately. After thinking about it, she quickly walked up the stairs.
Jiang Wei's legs were longer than Zhi Ying's, so she caught up only upon reaching the fourth floor. Looking up again, she noticed Jiang Wei was about to enter the classroom.
Zhi Ying took a big step, stretched out her hand, and patted Jiang Wei's shoulder.
Jiang Wei raised his eyebrows and turned around to look at the person who patted him.
"You can do it!" Zhi Ying made a sincere gesture to Jiang Wei and entered Class Two's classroom on her own.
Jiang Wei turned his head and glanced at his shoulder, then looked at Class Two opposite the door of Class One and contemplated thoughtfully.
Every day, when Jiang Wei entered Class One, there would always be a commotion. Everyone studied harder than in other classes. They would all be immersed in their homework during the ten-minute break time, but they would still be shocked by Jiang Wei's appearance and temperament early in the morning.
Some people said that if Jiang Wei put on an ancient costume, he would look like a person who came out of an ink painting. With a pair of indifferent eyes, exuding a dignified atmosphere.
But today seemed to be a little different.
Like... watching a play?
Jiang Wei frowned and walked to his seat. He noticed that the many students who usually studied frantically, without even raising their heads, were looking at him.
"Is it true that you talked with Zhi Ying from the other class yesterday?" A boy asked, gathering his courage to voice what was on everyone's mind.
"..." Jiang Wei recalled what he said yesterday when he tried to comfort Zhi Ying, and responded coldly, "It's true."
He mistakenly thought she wasn't in first place, but in reality, she was tied for first place with him. Although Jiang Wei rarely felt embarrassed, he was still willing to admit his mistake.
There was a gasp at that moment, and they all bowed their heads, whispering to their deskmates or friends.
Jiang Wei ignored their small movements and looked out the window, mulling over something.
…
"What's with all the unnecessary fuss?" Han Jiaojiao muttered, keeping her eyes fixed on the textbook on the table. However, she leaned forward in the chair so that Li Ge could squeeze in.
"Big news!" Li Ge took a deep breath, "Jiang Wei from Class Two has officially given us a challenge letter!"
"What's the situation?" Zhao Qian put down the chicken drumstick that was dripping with sauce in his hand, gossiping. "Wasn't it suspected only yesterday?"
"I went to hang out with some students in Class One, and everyone in their class heard it!" Li Ge said solemnly.
"What do you mean?" Han Jiaojiao finished calculating a question and turned around to join the interesting gossip.
"Didn't I reveal some gossip to their class yesterday? Some people couldn't help asking today, and Jiang Wei admitted it himself." Li Ge punched the table, exclaiming, "This Jiang Wei is too crazy!"
Zhi Ying was as calm as a mountain in the wind and rain, burying her head in solving her math problems. She wasn't surprised at Li Ge's words, though.
"Deskmate, you must torture him to death in the next exam! He is too arrogant. You have to kill his spirit!" It seemed as if it was Zhan Qian who was provoked, not Zhi Ying. He shook Zhi Ying, trying to persuade her to fight against Jiang Wei from the opposite class.
Zhi Ying raised her head and said seriously, "Classmate Jiang Wei has worked hard to prove himself. He feels that first place in one exam is nothing. This kind of unyielding spirit is worth learning."
Lao Han came in through the back door ahead of time and overheard what Zhi Ying said. He couldn't help nodding, "Well said!"
The group of students who were chattering just now instantly quieted down like chickens.
Lao Han slowly walked to the podium with his hands behind his back, saying,"Students, I just heard about something interesting. The students in Class One insisted on competing with our class and swore that they would have higher scores than us on the next exam."
The entire Class Two's atmosphere was boiling the moment their minds registered those words.
"The total average score of our class this time is two points higher than their class!" Someone in the class couldn't help but explode, "Isn't it just that they had someone in first place, and yet they're puffing up? Why are they acting like our class doesn't have first place too? "
"I know, right. I'll just say that Class One is too crazy. Unfortunately, the headteacher said that Class Two could only be placed behind Class One!" Lao Han said.
Han Jiaojiao rolled her eyes and said nothing.
The pen tip pressed heavily against the white paper, and Zhi Ying inexplicably felt something slipping out of her grasp.
…
"Student Jiang Wei..." Yu Qingyin came to Jiang Wei's desk in a well-fitting school uniform. Her big eyes were full of admiration and encouragement for him. "Our class supports you, and you will definitely be number one next time!"
Jiang Wei stopped writing and looked up, asking in confusion, "What do you mean?"
Yu Qingyin replied softly, "We all heard that you are going to compete with Zhi Ying from next door. The headteacher asked me to tell you that our Class One will definitely be better than that Class Two."
"..." Jiang Wei looked down at the unfinished exercises, not knowing what kind of vortex he was caught in.
Only after two days had passed did Jiang Wei finally understand what was happening. By that time, though, the rumor was known to the whole school.
In the first year of high school, there was no need for night-time self-study. Jiang Wei changed into his home clothes and laid on the bed. After staring at the ceiling for a long time, he finally picked up his phone.
He continued to type and delete characters, trying to craft an appropriate message before finally sending one: [Last time, you misunderstood me. There is no challenge letter.]
He didn't explain the reason, but he also didn't want to be misunderstood by her.