We ordinary people also need to fall in love.

"Hey Zhao, have you finished your math homework? I'm a few pages short, lend it to me right away."

"It wasn't written."

"You haven't finished writing anything? You bragged to me during Chinese New Year that you'd finished your math homework, and now you haven't?"

As soon as school starts, the school is filled with the sounds of students making up for their winter break homework.

Of the boys in Class 3, all except Yang Kun seemed to have finished writing; at least that's what Li Mubai heard when he pushed the door open and came in.

"Hey, Lao Bai's here." Zhao Feng greeted Li Mubai.

"Um."

Li Mubai nodded slightly. People who don't talk for a long time tend to become cold, especially someone like him. He will need some time to readjust to campus life after returning to school.

"By the way, Lao Bai, have you finished all your winter break homework?" Yang Kun asked.

"It's done."

"Look, it seems like you're the only one among the boys who hasn't finished yet?" Zhao Feng said, looking at Yang Kun.

"I had no choice. My parents took me on a week-long trip to another province during winter break," Yang Kun said helplessly.

"Homework not finished? Can you look for the reasons within yourself? Have you tried to do your homework in the remaining three weeks?"

"Stop talking now, I need to start my homework."

Li Mubai packed his luggage and went to the classroom alone.

Quite a few classmates came, but Xie Shu hasn't arrived yet.

"Hey, Mu Bai, Li Mu Bai, good day for the start of school," Chen Qiuhe greeted him.

"Give."

Li Mubai took the photo out of his schoolbag and gave it to her. He had indeed forgotten about it when he got home after his birthday. When he contacted Chen Qiuhe again, she had already gone back to her hometown for the Chinese New Year and told him to give it to her when school started.

"Hehehe, how did it feel that day?" Chen Qiuhe took the phone and asked with a smile.

"Which day?"

"That day was that day, under the fireworks, looking into each other's eyes, in front of the camera."

"That's good," Li Mubai replied in his mind.

"Chen Qiuhe, have you finished your winter break homework?" he asked, changing the subject.

"Finished writing? What? You want to copy me?"

"I've finished writing too."

"Then why are you asking me?"

"Can't I ask?" Li Mubai retorted.

"Okay, okay, I'll ask you a question too."

Li Mubai immediately sensed something was wrong. Was she going to ask something related to Xie Shu? Before he could refuse, Chen Qiuhe preemptively asked:

"Didn't you participate in the essay contest last semester? Have the results come out yet?"

So that's what it was. But the results of the essay contest were announced on February 1st, and he didn't even notice. Xie Shu sent him a message to tell him.

I won the second prize.

"Not bad, Mu Bai, Li Mu Bai, is there a bonus?"

"without."

The second prize winners received a certificate and a cultural and creative gift box. Xie Shu said that Teacher Yang Qin would give them these things when school starts.

"Hey, I remember XS participated too, didn't she also get second prize?"

First Prize

"Then you still need to practice."

Chen Qiuhe comforted her, saying, "It's alright, there's not much difference between second prize and first prize."

Well, actually he'd be satisfied with just second prize; he's content with what he has.

He and Yan Shu both had their poems published in the provincial poetry and poetry association. Although we haven't seen the print version yet, it should be delivered to the express delivery locker in his neighborhood.

"Xie Shu, you're here," Chen Qiuhe said.

"Um."

Li Mubai looked up and saw a figure sitting down in front of him, bringing with him the familiar scent of green tangerines.

"Qiuhe, this is for you." Xie Shu took out a bag of snacks from his schoolbag and gave it to Chen Qiuhe.

"Hey, I'm in for a treat again."

"Li Mubai." She placed two more packets on Li Mubai's table.

"Thank you, class monitor."

"Xie Shu, what is this? It has a rich milk flavor and tastes pretty good." While the two were talking, Chen Qiuhe had already opened it and started to taste it.

"Dried bread".

"Great, great, I'll try making it when I get back."

"Li Mubai, you should give it a try too." Xie Shu turned to look at him.

"it is good."

He took small bites and started eating, but he still had to be mindful of his table manners in front of Xie Shu.

The bread crisps taste a bit like wafer biscuits, but they taste better.

"How is it?"

Xie Shu asked, which made Li Mubai feel inexplicably like Chen Qiuhe always asking him to taste the desserts she made.

"It's delicious."

"That's good." Xie Shu smiled gently.

…Li Mubai won't eat for nothing; he'll buy Xie Shu something as a reward tomorrow morning.

Wang Rui hasn't arrived yet, but it's fine if he does. He and Xie Shu are friends, and it's normal for friends to share snacks.

"Class monitor, Li Mubai, Teacher Wu wants to see you," a student called as they entered the classroom.

The two got up and walked towards the office.

"Class monitor, is Teacher Wu asking us to go get the textbooks?" Li Mubai asked halfway there.

"Yes, that should be the case."

Upon arriving at the office, Xie Shu gently knocked on the door and then pushed it open to enter.

"Teacher Wu."

Li Mubai also shouted along.

"You two go to the classroom and call all the boys. If there aren't enough people, call a few girls too. Go to the academic affairs office and pick up our class's textbooks."

"OK."

After leaving the office, Xie Shu suddenly spoke:

"Li Mubai, congratulations on winning the essay competition."

Hmm—didn't we talk about this online? Why bring it up again offline? But Li Mubai still responded seriously:

"Class monitor, congratulations on winning first prize as well."

"Yes, keep it up."

Back in the classroom, all the boys were there. Fortunately, the boys in the humanities class were all self-disciplined and took on all the dirty and tiring work.

"I want to go too!" Chen Qiuhe raised her hand high.

"Okay, Qiuhe, you come too." Xie Shu nodded.

Chen Qiuhe skipped and hopped after her, chuckling to herself:

"Xie Shu, I'll keep you company."

……

The boys walked ahead, discussing the final exams, while the two girls walked behind.

"Let me tell you, I've looked at the scores of all six of us boys. Guess who's number one?" Yang Kun said mysteriously.

"Feng Wanli, who else could it be?" Zhao Feng said.

"Haha." Feng Wanli laughed a few times.

"Then guess who will be second?" Yang Kun asked again.

There's no doubt that the boys are number one, but the second place is a bit more of a mystery.

"Wang Rui." Seeing that no one could guess, Yang Kun directly pointed out the answer.

"Hey buddy, don't you always doze off in class and then read extracurricular books when you get back to the dorm at night? Are you secretly cheating on me?" Jiao Yong asked, looking shocked.

"Haha, it's just talent," Wang Rui laughed.

It wasn't talent, but all hard work, and Li Mubai didn't expose his lie.

Li Mubai should be third. He had also glanced at the boys' scores, but only paid attention to those ranked ahead of him.

"Brother Chicken, you're not going to be last in line, are you?" Wang Rui asked.

"Don't make fun of me, I was just protecting my brothers' base."

Being ranked last among the boys is one thing, but to describe it in such a refined and elegant way is another.

"But keep guessing, who has improved the most? Here's a hint: it's not someone from our school."

The others shook their heads; they didn't pay much attention to students from other schools, so how could they guess?

"Oh, didn't I tell you guys last time? That top ten was really good," Yang Kun said excitedly.

"What is it?" Zhao Feng gradually recalled.

"Yes, Mei Yulu! She jumped from seventh place to second place in the school. Isn't that amazing? My classmates at the school all say that she has no man in her heart, so she is naturally a god in exams."

Awesome.