Qingteng's Mind - Middle School Era

Chapter 1398 Holiday
The last Friday of April.

When the bell rang for the end of the last class, everyone exclaimed, "Great! It's holiday time!"

Cheers erupted from the classroom of Grade 11 (5) and quickly spread throughout the entire floor.

For students burdened by both midterm exams and the upcoming final exams, a five-day holiday is like an oasis in the desert.

"We're on holiday! Five days!" Tang Ji nudged Ling Chuyang beside him with his elbow. "Where are we planning to go? Your aunt and uncle will definitely feel relieved this time. Let's find a place—"

"I'm not going." Ling Chuyang didn't even look up. He was stuffing a thick physics exercise book into his schoolbag. After thinking for a moment, he pulled out a math error book and stuffed it in as well.

The schoolbag bulged at a visible rate.

Tang Ji stared in disbelief: "Yangyang, that's enough. Why did you bring so many books? Aren't they heavy?"

Ling Chuyang didn't say anything, but just looked down at the drawer.

There were also two notebooks inside—one was a collection of chemistry mistakes, and the other was a summary of English grammar that He Shiling had copied. He hesitated for a moment, then finally took them out and stuffed them into his schoolbag.

Although the holiday is five days long, there are only two months left until the final exams.

He ranked 76th this time, which is still some distance from his goal of being in the top 50 of his grade.

He wanted to be in the top 50 in the final exams, and he wanted to be in the same class as her when they were reassigned in the third year of high school, so as not to let down her help with their studies over the past two months.

The word "she" rolled gently through my mind, carrying a warmth I dared not utter aloud.

"Let's go, let's go!" Tang Ji slung his backpack, which he had haphazardly stuffed with a few books, over his shoulder, the zipper not even fully zipped up. "If we don't leave now, there won't be any dinner left when we get home!"

Ling Chuyang zipped up his backpack. The heavy weight pressed down on his shoulders, but it made him feel at ease.

"We're on holiday!" Wang Xinyi turned around, her eyes shining like stars. "Shall we walk to the city together? It's on the way anyway."

Ling Mengchu remained silent, simply continuing to slowly and methodically pack her schoolbag.

He Shiling smiled and nodded.

Wang Xinyi turned back, satisfied.

At this moment, Ling Mengchu quietly tugged at He Shiling's sleeve, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, "Little Lingzi, do you think... we might run into Anan during this holiday?"

He Shiling was slightly taken aback.

Anan. Ke Mengnan. This name was like a pebble thrown into a still lake, creating subtle ripples in her heart.

She had almost forgotten that after the physics competition in April, she was busy reviewing, busy with midterm exams, then visiting Jingyun Normal University, and then going on a spring outing.

She didn't have time to think about that person.

"Do you think he'll receive the letter I sent him?" Ling Mengchu frowned and sighed softly. "You weren't here, so I just wrote down a random address."

Uh, He Shiling's eyes flickered slightly, "Trust?"
If Mengmeng hadn't mentioned it, she would have forgotten about it. There was also a letter, a letter that Cao Xiao had put away. She didn't know exactly what Mengmeng had written.

Although she asked afterward, Mengmeng stammered that she hadn't written anything down, she had just recalled their encounter on the bus and asked for his name.

If he actually receives it, who knows what he'll think?

It's better not to meet at all than to do that.

"Who knows?" He Shiling smiled slightly. "Let's go, pack our things and go home." Wang Xiaoxiao nudged Geng Xinyu beside her and gestured forward with her chin: "What are they whispering about?"

Geng Xinyu covered her mouth with her hand, but her voice leaked out through her fingers: "Go downstairs and ask Mengmeng later."

Wang Xiaoxiao's eyes lit up: "Smart."

The school building was bustling with activity as students left school. The corridors were packed with people, backpacks clattered, laughter filled the air, and five days of freedom seemed like golden feathers fluttering before everyone's eyes.

Wang Xiaoxiao quickened her pace to catch up with Ling Mengchu and grabbed her backpack strap: "Hey, what were you and Xiaolingzi whispering to each other just now?"

Ling Mengchu turned around, blinked, and said, "Since it's a private conversation, of course I can't tell you." She then gave a sly smile and quickly disappeared into the crowd going downstairs.

"Tch, fine, I won't tell you then." Wang Xiaoxiao pouted, but wasn't really angry.

Geng Xinyu watched from behind and smiled quietly. Her laughter blended into the bustling crowd and became the most vibrant part of the youthful background music.

The crowd flowed towards the school gate, towards the bus stop, towards their respective holidays. Some worries, like the heavy textbooks in their backpacks, were quietly taken home, to be slowly digested in undisturbed time.

The Chinese Language Teaching and Research Office is located on the second floor of the office building.

Yan Xu was still writing furiously. The manuscript paper in front of him was already three pages full, and the pen nib made a soft scratching sound as it glided across the paper, like a silkworm eating leaves.

Ding Kailing leaned back leisurely in her chair, her neatly trimmed nails tapping lightly on her lesson plan, her gaze occasionally glancing at the clock on the wall.

“Professor Yan,” she finally spoke, her voice as languid as ever, “you don’t need to write too much, two pages will suffice. The focus of the seminar is on speaking, so just write an outline.”

Yan Xu looked up, a hint of youthful shyness in his smile: "Teacher Ding, let me tidy it up a bit more. After all, this is my first time participating in a teaching seminar hosted by Principal Cao, and I'm afraid that if I just write an outline... I'll forget everything in my nervousness."

Ding Kailing nodded in understanding, then looked out the window again.

She was waiting—waiting for Zhu Yan and Tan Xiling to pass by the window so they could go to the cafeteria together.

And of course, there's Mr. Li. After a resounding victory in the midterm exams, he generously announced, "Lunch this week is on me!"

Unfortunately... Ding Kailing glanced at Yan Xu, who was engrossed in his writing again, and chuckled inwardly.

This silly boy is unaware of this "secret." Every day before lunch, she would "casually" ask if he wanted to go to the cafeteria together, and he always had various legitimate excuses—preparing lessons, grading homework, or writing materials.

Well then, Ding Kailing shook her head inwardly, thinking to herself, "That silly boy didn't get any luck."

A familiar figure finally appeared by the window. Zhu Yan and Tan Xiling walked side by side from the east, chatting and laughing, carrying lesson plans and handbags.

Ding Kailing slowly got up, straightened her almost floor-length beige wool coat, and walked gracefully toward the door.

"Kailing!" Zhu Yan greeted with a smile at the door.

"Where's Teacher Li?" Ding Kailing asked. They usually went downstairs together.

“Teacher Li went to the cafeteria first,” Tan Xiling said, her smile filled with anticipation. “She said today is the last meal of April and she wants to treat us to something nice.”

Ding Kailing raised an eyebrow and nodded. The three of them walked downstairs side by side.

She just didn't expect—

As they entered the cafeteria, they could see from afar that not only was Li Shiping sitting at the large round table by the window, but also Cao Xiao was there.

Cao Xiao was holding a teacup and talking to Li Shiping when he heard the noise. He turned around, waved to them, and had a rare, completely relaxed smile on his face.