Chapter 39: Hello, Students! Thank You for Your Hard Work!

Liu Wei shot him a fierce glare.

But when she turned to face Bai Qingxia, her expression softened, and she asked with a smile, “Qingxia, do you want Lu Yuanqiu to stand at the front?”

Bai Qingxia still did not speak, but her small hand clung tightly to Lu Yuanqiu’s wrist, her pink nails turning pale from the force, refusing to let go no matter what.

The entire class knew she was eccentric; for several semesters she’d been almost mute, not talking to anyone. This odd behavior fit perfectly with her established image.

Liu Wei was at a loss—her fondness for Bai Qingxia was notorious.

Immediately displaying her double standard as class advisor, she turned and commanded, “Lu Yuanqiu, to the first row!”

“Oh, alright… huh?!” Lu Yuanqiu snapped to attention, dumbfounded.

Liu Wei adjusted her glasses, her tone stern, “Try saying ‘huh’ again. If I tell you to stand up front, you stand up front. Why all the chatter?”

When Bai Qingxia quickly released Lu Yuanqiu’s hand, Liu Wei couldn’t help but laugh, finally understanding what the girl meant.

Oh, you—if you wanted Lu Yuanqiu to stand in the front, why not just say so? Would I have disagreed?

“Sorry, sorry, sudden orders, sudden orders! Make room, make room.”

Lu Yuanqiu pressed his palms together in apology, smiling as he squeezed into the first row, ending up right in the center of the girls.

He was the only boy, standing tall among the girls, like the entire formation was raising a defiant finger to the crowd.

Back in the last row, Zhong Jincheng, Gao Qiang, Wang Haoran, and the others could barely contain their jealousy. Seeing Bai Qingxia hold onto Lu Yuanqiu’s hand had left them stunned.

When did those two become so close?

Hu Caiwei was also in the first row. She voiced her displeasure, “Teacher, why does Lu Yuanqiu, a boy, get to stand with us girls?”

Thinking back to Bai Qingxia’s earlier action filled her with inexplicable anger, and seeing Lu Yuanqiu in the front row only made her more annoyed.

Liu Wei turned to her, “Because I’m the class advisor.”

Hu Caiwei frowned and stomped her foot in frustration.

Usually, Wang Haoran would side with her, but now he was uncharacteristically silent, smoothing his center-parted hair while his gaze remained fixed on Bai Qingxia’s tall, slender figure.

With Lu Yuanqiu confirmed just behind her, Bai Qingxia let out a soft breath, finally turning with the class sign held in her arms.

She didn’t want to take this test—titled “Youth”—all alone.

There was something Lu Yuanqiu had said that wasn’t quite right.

In her heart, only with Lu Yuanqiu by her side could this be called an exam of “youth.” Only then, years later, would she recall it without regret.

Her hand, stubbornly clutching Lu Yuanqiu’s, was a testament to her resolve.

Watching Lu Yuanqiu, who had just been beside her and was now up in the first row, Zheng Yifeng in the back row gave a wistful smile, covering a yawn.

Did anyone really need him to say what kind of person Bai Qingxia liked?

He muttered to himself.

At that moment, he glanced sideways at the passing English teacher, Su Miaomiao, then looked away nonchalantly.

After about half an hour, it was finally Class 27’s turn.

“Let’s go,” Liu Wei called.

Bai Qingxia picked up the class sign and followed behind Class 27 to the starting line, stopping once more at the hundred-meter mark.

All the students of Class 27, dressed in Hogwarts uniforms, walked to the rostrum and halted. Without warning, they all turned to face the field, drew magic wands from their cloaks, and, with perfectly synchronized movements, traced a circle in the air at a forty-five-degree angle before tucking the wands away.

A wave of enthusiastic applause swept the field—the more creative the class’s performance, the more excited the audience grew.

Liu Wei never liked such antics, which was why last year’s Class 28 formation had been so lackluster.

“And now approaching us is Class 28 of the third year, led by their advisor Liu Wei, who have consistently achieved…”

As the announcer began, Liu Wei quietly urged, “Let’s go, everyone. Heads up.”

Bai Qingxia gripped the class sign, her slender white arms crossed firmly around the pole.

She stepped forward, her long legs encased in black knee socks, polished black shoes treading over the colorful ribbons on the track.

In that moment, every first-year, every second-year, and all previous third-year classes focused their attention on the girl holding the sign.

There were no cheers, no applause—just a stunned silence and a gaze of awe for the stunning girl with hair as dark as midnight.

Everyone wondered if Class 28 had brought in some otherworldly ringer to hold their sign—she was beautiful, as if from another dimension.

Many began whispering, asking classmates about this gorgeous girl they’d never seen before—what was her name, where was she from?

Most of those asking were boys, for Bai Qingxia was already well-known among the girls.

The formation moved to the center.

All eyes were on Bai Qingxia, holding the sign.

Tall and willowy, with a slender waist and impossibly long legs, her delicate, fair features framed by a waterfall of hair—her poise was extraordinary, almost like a dancer’s. The way she walked was as graceful and aloof as a swan.

Even the Class 28 sign in her hands seemed to gain a touch of grandeur.

As more and more gazes converged on her, Bai Qingxia’s heart raced. She had never been under such scrutiny before. Although the boy behind her gave her a sense of security, he couldn’t shield her from all those piercing eyes.

Lu Yuanqiu noticed too; the sign in her hands was beginning to waver.

Just as they reached the rostrum, a clear, ringing voice sounded from behind.

“Hello, everyone! Thank you for your hard work!”

Bai Qingxia froze, then smiled, exhaling softly. It was as if life returned to her—injected with new strength, she straightened the sign she’d almost let droop.

With that shout, Lu Yuanqiu drew all the attention onto himself.

Liu Wei turned to see Lu Yuanqiu waving and enthusiastically greeting the crowd from within the girls’ ranks. Her smile froze, but there was nothing she could do now except watch him stir up trouble.

People began to notice the tall boy among the girls, smiling in surprise. Many responded loudly, “It’s no trouble!”

Lu Yuanqiu called back, “No trouble? Maybe you haven’t been assigned enough homework! Teachers, please take note, keep an eye on this class!”

On the rostrum, the third-year director, Ge Ritian, glowered at Lu Yuanqiu, then glanced at the principal’s expression.

Seeing the principal still smiling, he relaxed a little.

Liu Wei, on the other hand, raised her hand to cover her face, wishing she could disappear into the ground.

Still, this playful banter, combined with the unusual sight of a boy among the girls, earned Class 28 a wave of hearty applause.

But the true admiration was reserved for the girl holding the sign—Lu Yuanqiu was merely the spark.

Having completed their march, Class 28 gathered at their assigned spot on the field, Bai Qingxia at the front with the sign, the boys and girls splitting into two columns behind her.

Lu Yuanqiu, naturally, was first among the girls.

“I’ll deal with you after this is over,” Liu Wei hissed through gritted teeth at Lu Yuanqiu.

“Teacher, I’ve got the three-thousand-meter run this morning—don’t give me too much pressure,” Lu Yuanqiu replied.

P.S. The data curve in the backend rises and falls, many are still stockpiling the chapters, which makes it hard to find motivation for three updates a day…