The chain reaction sparked by Xiao was undeniable; Wenwen earnestly asks for your support by adding this to your collection.

Whenever they returned, they would spend at least a few days lying in bed at home—unable to go out, unable even to get up! The mere thought of it was enough to make one’s courage falter. The school took this matter very seriously. Participation was mandatory for everyone. The students referred to military training as “devil’s training.” At its mention, almost everyone avoided it as if it were the plague.

When Yu heard Dongfang Shuo bring up military training, he merely scoffed in disdain and turned back toward the classroom. The others, too, appeared utterly unconcerned. After all, people like them—what hadn’t they been through already? Would they really be afraid of a little military training? Following Yu back into the classroom, they settled in to wait for the next lesson. All was calm on their side, but the teachers’ office was quite another story—it was in an uproar!

The mathematics teacher for Xiao’s class came running back into the office at full tilt and flung open the door, startling the other teachers inside. Seeing everyone frowning at him, the math teacher scratched his head sheepishly. Yet recalling what he had just experienced, he decided to set his embarrassment aside.

He was both anxious and excited, with a hint of mystery in his voice: “Guess what happened in my class today?” The teacher from Class C rolled his eyes. “What, did you see a ghost? You look like a mess!” The mathematics teacher realized the others weren’t planning to humor him, so he grew more desperate and blurted, “No, really! I met a genius in Class F today!” He then recounted what had transpired during his lesson.

He finished by asking in frustration, “Do you think there was a mistake in class assignments? How could someone like that end up in Class F?” The other teachers were skeptical as well. The math teacher approached the homeroom teacher of Class A and asked, “What do you make of this?”

Without even looking up from his book, the Class A homeroom teacher replied, “We’ll know when the monthly exams come around. There’s no point speculating now.” His words were like a calming dose of reassurance, settling the nerves of the other teachers. Indeed, there was no need to hurry—better to wait for the exam results. With that thought, the math teacher finally relaxed.

The day went by quickly, and since it was Friday, everyone headed home early. On Saturday, they still needed to prepare the necessary items for the upcoming military training.

Early the next morning, Meng came to Xiao’s house looking for her. “Xiao, have you got everything ready?” she called as soon as she entered, only to find Xiao lounging on a deck chair in the garden, reading with a carefree air. Meng was at a loss for words.

The garden looked nearly finished—rare flowers bloomed everywhere, lush trees provided ample shade, and it felt like a return to some primordial age. Xiao glanced at Meng. This girl had always been nosy, and since Xiao had agreed to help her, she had only become more relentless. It was a bit exasperating, but Meng meant well. Xiao couldn’t bring herself to disappoint her. Now, Meng asked more questions than even her own mother did!

With a teasing grin, Xiao replied, “Of course, everything’s ready—mother!” Instantly, Meng’s face flushed bright red. She pouted, “You’re impossible!” and playfully swatted Xiao.

They both burst out laughing.

Suddenly, a team of workers in construction uniforms walked by. Xiao’s smile faded at once, and she said with mock politeness, “Well now, gentlemen, you’ve really had a hard journey! Sorry to make you come all the way from America. I suppose it must be seven-thirty in the evening over there now, isn’t it?”

The workers were baffled by her words. Off to the side, Meng managed an awkward smile—she understood why Xiao was acting this way. Apparently, the workers always showed up late, and after all this time, the music room still wasn’t finished. Xiao was understandably upset. Meng secretly pulled out her phone and checked world time online. It was twelve-thirty in the afternoon in Beijing, and seven-thirty in the evening in America. Goodness! Realizing just how accurate Xiao’s calculation was, Meng felt a cold sweat break out. She silently vowed never to cross Xiao—anyone else, maybe, but not her!

－－－－－－Author’s Note－－－－－－

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