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The air crackled with the hum of afternoon classes. Zhou Fan, a slender boy with kind eyes and neatly combed black hair, perched on the edge of his seat, reviewed his notes for the upcoming Physics exam. He was a quiet, unassuming student, his intelligence masked by a gentle modesty. He chewed thoughtfully on the end of his pen, his brow slightly furrowed. The concepts of quantum entanglement and wave-particle duality swirled in his mind, complex and fascinating. *I think I'm starting to get it*, he thought, *but I need to review the equations one more time*.
Lin Xue, a tall, graceful girl with long, dark hair pulled back in a ponytail, the class president, sat nearby, her brow furrowed in concentration as she flipped through a thick textbook. She tapped her pen against the page, a small frown creasing her forehead. "Zhou Fan," she said, her voice crisp and clear, "are you sure you understand the principles of quantum entanglement? This is crucial for the exam. Professor Li hinted that there might be a tricky question on it."
"Yes, Lin Xue," Zhou Fan replied softly, "I think I have it. But your explanation of wave-particle duality was very helpful. I was struggling with the concept of superposition, but you made it much clearer."
Yan Mei, a petite girl with soft features and long, flowing black hair, quiet as ever, sat a few seats behind Zhou Fan, her gaze often drifting towards him. She nervously chewed on the end of her pen, a slight blush rising on her cheeks. She had been trying to focus on her own notes, but her mind kept wandering. She admired Zhou Fan's quiet intelligence and his gentle nature. He's so focused, she thought, I wish I could be as calm as he is.
Liu Chen, a lanky boy with a mischievous grin and tousled brown hair, Zhou Fan's best friend, leaned over from the next desk, grinning. "Don't worry, Yan Mei," he whispered, "Zhou Fan's a genius. He'll share his notes with us later. Besides," he added with a wink, "you know he's got a soft spot for you."
Yan Mei blushed deeper and quickly shook her head, her long hair falling forward to partially obscure her face. "I wouldn't want to impose," she murmured, her voice barely audible.
Zhao Rui, a stocky boy with a sneer permanently etched on his face, ever the opportunist, overheard their conversation. He sneered. "Of course, the 'genius' will share his notes," he muttered, loud enough for them to hear. "Just like he always gets all the attention from Su Lanyue laoshi. It's probably because his family bribes her."
Zhou Fan ignored him, focusing on his notes. He knew Zhao Rui's envy stemmed from his own lack of effort. He had seen Zhao Rui spending more time playing games on his phone than studying. It's a waste of time to engage with him, Zhou Fan thought.
Suddenly, Zhou Yifan, a slightly overweight boy with thick glasses and a perpetually excited expression, the self-proclaimed protagonist, stood up, striking a dramatic pose. He adjusted his glasses, which were perpetually sliding down his nose. "This Physics exam," he declared, his voice booming through the classroom, "is merely a stepping stone! In my past life, I was a legendary scientist! This world will tremble before my reborn intellect! I will unlock the secrets of the universe!"
The other students chuckled, used to Zhou Yifan's outlandish pronouncements. "Sure, Zhou Yifan," Liu Chen teased, "and I'm the reincarnation of Einstein. Did you remember to study the Doppler effect? I heard it's going to be on the test."
Zhou Yifan waved his hand dismissively. "The Doppler effect? Child's play! I've already mastered the principles of relativity! I'm just waiting for my latent powers to awaken."
Su Lanyue, a beautiful woman with a serene expression and flowing black hair, their teacher, entered the classroom, her serene presence calming the lighthearted banter. She carried a stack of exam papers, her expression calm and composed. "Alright, settle down everyone," she said, a gentle smile gracing her lips. "Let's begin today's review session. We'll go over some of the key concepts and answer any questions you might have."
Her words were cut short by a deafening roar that ripped through the air, followed by a shockwave that sent desks flying and students scrambling. The fluorescent lights flickered and died, plunging the classroom into momentary darkness. Books and papers swirled through the air like autumn leaves in a gale. The classroom, a sanctuary of learning just moments before, became a chaotic scene of screams and falling debris. Zhou Fan felt a searing pain, a blinding flash, and then… nothing.
He drifted in an endless void…
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-Thank you for reading my first novel and please continue to read it.