Chapter Six: The New Classmate

Shi Zhaodi excelled academically and smoothly advanced to the middle school division of her current school. Later, she was personally appointed class monitor by the homeroom teacher. For Shi Zhaodi, who had served as class monitor since the fifth grade of elementary school, this role was already second nature.

In truth, being class monitor came with no special privileges; rather, it entailed many responsibilities. She had to help the teacher collect homework, grade papers, unite classmates, assist those who were struggling, and so forth. In short, it was much like being a minor magistrate—handling every little detail.

Shi Zhaodi naturally possessed a diligent and clever character, traits her teachers admired. Coupled with her habit of helping classmates and her good rapport with them, she performed her duties as class monitor competently, without incident—until a new student transferred into the class.

Under the guidance of the homeroom teacher, as the newcomer stepped into the classroom, Shi Zhaodi, who was reading, suddenly heard her deskmate Qian Duoduo’s suppressed exclamation. Curious, she glanced at Qian Duoduo.

“He’s so handsome!” Qian Duoduo excitedly tugged Shi Zhaodi’s sleeve and whispered.

Only then did Shi Zhaodi raise her head to look toward the front of the classroom, where the boy stood. He was about the same height as the teacher, with refined features, but his gaze was somewhat defiant and unrestrained. His backpack hung casually on one shoulder, and his hands were thrust into his pants pockets.

The homeroom teacher introduced him as the new student, Zou Kai, and invited everyone to welcome him with applause. Zou Kai’s seat was in the last row, directly behind Shi Zhaodi. Though seating was arranged by height, Shi Zhaodi, as class monitor, had chosen to sit further back to accommodate classmates with poor eyesight.

When class ended, Qian Duoduo eagerly turned to Zou Kai to introduce herself. “Hello, Zou Kai, I’m Qian Duoduo!”

Zou Kai lifted his head, looked at her, and smirked, “Did your dad go crazy wanting money when he named you that?”

Qian Duoduo’s face immediately darkened. She hated it most when others mocked her name. She had actually been born with the surname Lin, but after her parents divorced, she lived with her mother, who changed her surname to Qian, thus transforming Lin Duoduo into Qian Duoduo.

Shi Zhaodi couldn’t help but glance at Zou Kai, finding the new student’s personality utterly unlikable. She tugged at Qian Duoduo’s sleeve, urging her not to be upset.

“Mocking someone’s name is like mocking their parents—it’s wrong because these are things beyond our own choice,” Shi Zhaodi said calmly.

Zou Kai looked up at Shi Zhaodi, his gaze equally unfriendly, but he said nothing further to provoke.

Class began, and Shi Zhaodi was the first to stand and call out, “Please stand.”

The classmates all rose and greeted the teacher, but Zou Kai alone remained slouched over his desk, looking utterly indifferent.