"She actually dropped out of school? So that thing really was her doing? Turns out Liming was telling the truth!"
The morning sun hadn't risen yet,
but I had already started a new day.
Lying in bed, reluctant to get up—that's probably everyone's mood in the early morning.
Before my mind even woke up, an urgent knock came from the door. "What time do you think it is! Still not up?" my mom yelled.
Dragging my feet, I brushed my teeth,
a bland piece of toast in my mouth,
and picked up my heavy schoolbag.
Yep, my high school life had officially begun!
My name is Ying Chuanling, just an ordinary high school student—or rather, not so ordinary.
In everyone's eyes, I was that "troublesome" student.
As I stepped through the school gate,
my school life truly kicked off.
It was a chilly morning, the wind cutting through me.
I still had half a piece of that tasteless toast in my mouth,
and everything just felt dull.
The youthful, spirited eyes a high schooler should have were missing. My eyes were tired,
burdened with heavy textbooks and a backpack that dragged down my 160cm frame.
Maybe this was what my dad meant when he complained, "My shoulders hurt. Life is hard."
Entering the classroom,
there were fewer than five students.
Two were napping, two were flirting, and me… I dropped my bag and lay down to nap too.
That's right. Our school had 15 classes in Grade 11,
and I was in Class 15—the very last one.
The one nobody expected anything from.
In teachers' eyes, we were the problem kids.
When I first came to this class, I was scared of the vibe.
Some boys looked like troublemakers.
Some girls just came to school to show off their fashion.
Some students even got into fights.
I felt like I had entered "mini-society" ahead of time.
For me, surviving in this class was the only way to describe my school life.
Once, the school had a massive brawl involving over ten people, just because a group of guys fought over a girl.
Naively, I thought the red stuff on the floor was paint—walked right through the blood.
Later I saw shattered glass and bloody handprints.
Police cars and ambulances surrounded the school gate.
Eventually, I adapted to this fearful, judged, and scorned life. To teachers, we were unteachable.
To parents,
we were a disgrace.
To relatives, we were cautionary tales. We were called "scum," "parasites," "trash," and "idiots."
Thankfully, I had a group of good friends.
My deskmate had big eyes and a sweet face.
Her name was Liming. She was my best friend and my rock at school.
I'd fight anyone to protect her.
Just seeing her frail frame made me feel she deserved protection.
As I was dozing off,
someone tapped my desk.
Liming: "Why are you so early today?" Me: "My mom had to go on a business trip, so she dropped me off."
Liming: "Guess who I just saw at school?" Me: (staring silently) Liming: "Senior Chen Hao'an!"
Chen Hao'an was our school's top senior and campus heartthrob. Smart, handsome—looked like a K-pop idol—but seemed totally unaware of his good looks.
His clueless charm won over many girls, from juniors to seniors. But all he ever cared about were grades and textbooks.
To hormone-driven students,
he was like a royal prince who fell into a den of monsters.
And Liming? She was one of those "monsters."
I laughed: "What? Did he talk to you?"
Liming: "What do you think? Of course not! But the moment he got off the car, three girls ran up to hand him milk and bread. And guess what he said?"
Me: "Thank you?"
Liming rolled her eyes: "He said, 'Sorry, I'm allergic to milk and grains.'"
Me: "I should be the one rolling my eyes! Wasn't he drinking milk in the cafeteria yesterday?"
Liming squinted at me: "How do you know that?"
Me: "You dragged me to sit at the table across from him
yesterday, remember?"
Liming laughed: "Oh right! I was too mesmerized. Forgot!"
Just then, the bell rang, and everyone returned to their seats—except for one. The seat at the end of my row was empty.
That was the seat of our class's top troublemaker: Sen Lei'an.
If Chen Hao'an was the puppy-like prince, Sen Lei'an was the wild wolf-type heartthrob.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the classroom door.
"Teacher, here's your late student. The discipline officer asked me to escort him, in case he tried to skip."
Liming's eyes lit up like spotlights. She stared hard at the door. It was Chen Hao'an… and behind him—Sen Lei'an.
Sen Lei'an called out: "Puppy boy! Patrol dogs really love to butt in!"
Teacher: "Sen Lei'an! Get to your seat!" Then, with a complete face change, she smiled sweetly at Chen Hao'an: "Thank you for your help, you're so responsible. Go on, get to class."
Sen Lei'an walked past me and tapped my desk: "Wait for me after class. I've got something to tell you."
The whole class went "Ooooooh~"
To them, I was the cold, quiet girl—never smiled,
never talked much.
But no one knew why the cocky Sen Lei'an always tried to talk to me. And I never really entertained him.
Yet he never once got mad at me.
Still sleepy and chewing on my tasteless toast,
I coldly glanced at him and said nothing.
The moment the bell rang, students dashed out to the cafeteria like mad. Liming grabbed my hand: "Hurry! Or we'll miss it!"
Me: "Right! You're so smart, Min!"
But once we got to the cafeteria, she pulled me into a seat at the third row. I blinked, confused. Across from me—Chen Hao'an.
That's when I realized: when Liming said "we'll be late,"
she meant late for grabbing a seat near Chen Hao'an.
And now… I had missed the one joy of my Wednesday: the limited-edition sausage buns!
I glared at Liming: "Where's my sausage bun??"
Liming smiled awkwardly as I was about to scold her, when something smacked me in the head.
Turning around, I saw Sen Lei'an,
feet propped on a table, looking smug.
He had thrown… my sausage bun.
I gave him a cold stare and turned away.
Another bun landed in front of me.
This time, he tossed it gently.
Liming quickly stood up: "I'll go see what else is good to eat!"
She fled instantly. In school, Sen Lei'an was hot and scary.
Not many girls dared talk to him directly—he was wild, weird, impulsive, sharp-tongued, and utterly narcissistic (in my opinion).
Sen Lei'an: "Why the constant death stare? I got you your precious sausage bun, didn't I?"
Why did he call me his "little sister"? How did he know I loved that bun?
Because…
Sen Lei'an was my childhood friend.
Our moms were best friends.
But unlike me, Sen was an only child, doted on no matter what. Me? I had a younger brother.
In a household that favored boys,
I was always told to give in,
always compared, and frequently hit.
When I was bullied at home,
I'd hide by the riverside.
Only Sen Lei'an would find me.
Me: "I'm not your sister. I don't need your fans eyeing me for eating your bun."
Sen Lei'an loudly declared: "Anyone who makes my precious sister lose her sausage bun has to answer to me!" He then glanced over at Chen Hao'an.
I snatched the bun and pushed Sen away just as Chen Hao'an looked over.
Liming returned with soup. Me: "Why soup? You hate soupy stuff."
Liming: "It's cold. I needed something warm."
I glanced at Chen Hao'an's tray. He had soup too.
Me: "You little schemer!"
Liming giggled: "Is the bun good? You don't know how many girls stared when Sen Lei'an gave it to you! I even overheard two girls from the next class whispering that you act all cold and high and mighty."
Me: "Hah! Cold-faced goddess!"
Just then, Chen Hao'an shouted: "What are you two doing!"
Startled, we looked up.
He stared intensely at us.
Liming grabbed my hand. I could feel her pulse pounding through her fingers.
Chen Hao'an walked over, then spoke past us: "What do you think you're doing?"
Turning around, I saw the two girls Liming mentioned earlier, standing behind me—holding hot soup—dangerously close to my head.