That morning, the student body witnessed something unprecedented: a student pulling on a school jacket while swaggering toward the flag-raising platform.
He was supposed to be delivering a self-reflection, yet he walked with the sheer presence of a model on a high-fashion runway.
Jiang Wei took the microphone from the student host and cleared his throat.
"I am Jiang Wei, from Class One, Grade Twelve."
The students, who had been chatting and laughing moments before, fell silent. Everyone turned to look.
"Self-reflection."
"On this clear, albeit slightly chilly day, it is my great honor to be the first person from Class One in three years to stand on this stage and read a self-reflection..."
Thunderous applause erupted from the crowd, accompanied by bouts of playful jeering from the more mischievous students.
Ding Banfan clapped while laughing. "Holy crap, that’s legendary. Forget three years—I’ve lived for seventeen years and never heard anyone write a self-reflection like that. Hahaha!"
Xia Shan chimed in, "It’s ridiculous! How can someone read a public apology like it’s an Oscar acceptance speech?!"
Laughter rippled through the neighboring classes.
"When did Class One get a character like this? Boss!"
"Hahaha, this guy is too much!"
"Jiang Wei is so cool, ahhh!"
Jiang Wei wondered if these people had never heard a self-reflection before. Why were they so excited?
He scanned the crowd. He couldn't hear exactly what they were saying, so he simply continued with a straight face, "I am also deeply sorry for tarnishing Class One’s golden reputation. However, I hope this serves as a psychological buffer for any future classmates in Class One who might make a mistake, reducing the pressure they might feel..."
This time, even most of Class One couldn't hold back their laughter.
"Holy shit, hahaha! This is a total power move!"
"Isn't he afraid Boss Shi will assassinate him the moment he steps off the stage?"
"Hahaha, he might die from his own sheer audacity first!"
"As an Alpha, why do I suddenly think Jiang Wei is kind of hot?"
Xia Shan raised an eyebrow and shook his head in admiration. "Jiang Wei deserves to be called 'Brother' from now on. Brother Tang, you’re no longer my only 'Brother'."
"Who cares?" Tang Zihe was also clapping, his gaze fixed on the person on stage.
"...I have realized my mistakes and conducted a profound self-reflection..."
Xia Shan remarked, "I don't know if *his* reflection is profound, but I'm certainly profoundly impressed."
Tang Zihe let out a silent laugh.
"That concludes my self-reflection. Thank you all for your support." Jiang Wei gave a polite bow to the audience.
"Whoo—!"
For the umpteenth time, thunderous applause broke out. The scene looked less like a disciplinary action and more like the curtain call of a superstar’s concert.
Jiang Wei shoved the microphone back into the hands of the stunned host and returned to the back of Class One’s line under the watchful eyes of the entire school.
"The reception for that speech was better than I expected," Jiang Wei said enthusiastically, completely unaware that anything was amiss. "The people at this school are so friendly, they’re really supportive."
"Boss Shi’s face is practically black," Tang Zihe said, throwing a bucket of cold water on his excitement.
"Brother Jiang, where did you copy that reflection from? It was incredible," Xia Shan turned around to ask.
"Can't you tell? Who else possesses the literary talent to write such a beautiful and moving reflection?" Jiang Wei was clearly offended by Xia Shan’s lack of recognition.
Xia Shan had a sudden realization. *Oh, I see. He wrote it himself.*
As expected of Brother Jiang.
"If any of you get into trouble in the future, feel free to ask me to write your reflections. I’m highly experienced; satisfaction guaranteed," Jiang Wei boasted, patting his chest.
Just as he finished speaking, he felt his back collar being tugged.
Tang Zihe reached out his left hand, palm up, in front of Jiang Wei.
*What’s this for?* Jiang Wei didn't quite follow, so he confusedly placed his own hand into Tang Zihe's.
As their palms met, Tang Zihe froze.
Jiang Wei froze too.
Xia Shan’s jaw dropped, feeling like he had just witnessed something major.
Tang Zihe said helplessly, "The jacket."
"Ah, oh." Jiang Wei finally snapped out of it and hurriedly pulled off the school jacket he was wearing.
Tang Zihe curled his left hand into a fist. Just now, the other boy's fingertips had—intentionally or not—scraped across his palm. It felt... itchy.
But the culprit simply draped the jacket over Tang Zihe's shoulders with a smile, completely oblivious.
"Jiang Wei, Tang Zihe, let's go. Why are you still standing there?" Ding Banfan called out from ahead.
The flag-raising ceremony had ended, and the classes were dispersing into a disorganized swarm, slowly heading back to the teaching building.
"Coming!" Jiang Wei ran a few steps to catch up.
"Why is your face so red?" Shen Yannan pointed it out with a teasing look.
"Huh? Maybe I just got too hot." Jiang Wei rubbed his face and pursed his lips.
***
"Seeing the list in my hand, I think you all know what’s coming," Boss Shi said, waving a thin sheet of paper. "According to tradition, we’re skipping morning self-study today. We’re changing seats."
The entire class, except for Tang Zihe, stood up and headed out the door.
"You're not moving?" Jiang Wei tapped on Tang Zihe's desk.
Tang Zihe glanced toward the door and said, "I don't need to."
Jiang Wei curled his lip. How had he not noticed before that this guy loved to show off so much?
"Hey, how does this seat-changing thing work?" Jiang Wei whispered to Xia Shan.
"Oh, we enter the classroom in order of our grade ranking. The first ones in pick their seats first, and they have the right to refuse anyone who tries to sit next to them later," Xia Shan explained briefly.
Jiang Wei understood.
Boss Shi stood at the front and began calling out names and ranks.
"First place, Tang Zihe."
Everyone looked at Tang Zihe, who didn't budge, as if they were used to it.
"Second place, Fu Cong’an."
A girl walked out from the back of the crowd.
Jiang Wei thought it might be his imagination, but he felt the girl’s gaze linger on him for two seconds as she passed.
"Next is Gu Renwen," Xia Shan predicted in a low voice.
Jiang Wei was startled. "How do you know?"
"The top five are usually the same people. Four of them are in our class," Xia Shan whispered into Jiang Wei’s ear. "Don't be fooled by Shen Yannan’s low profile. It’s only because he didn't take the test this time; otherwise, those two would be ranked behind him."
Jiang Wei glanced toward Shen Yannan. The latter noticed his gaze and gave him a small smile.
*He’s that good?*
"He’s handsome, has a boyfriend, and his grades are that good," Tang Wanbai said sourly from the side. "He’s the one in this school who leaves the least room for the rest of us to live."
"Maybe one day our Brother Tang’s 'iron tree will bloom,' and *that* will be the day there’s truly no room left for us," Yang Xiangtong chimed in.
Tang Wanbai said seriously, "If that day ever comes before we graduate, I will literally perform a 'drop dead on the spot' for you."
Xia Shan quickly waved his hands. "No need, no need, that’s not necessary."
"Twelfth place, Ding Banfan."
"Here, Teacher!" Ding Banfan walked straight through the back door and sat in his original spot.
"That guy did pretty well this time," Xia Shan sighed. "I feel like I didn't do great in any subject."
"Don't even start, I'm already panicking," Tang Wanbai said with a long face. "If I drop out of the top forty, my mom will literally explode my head."
"Eighteenth place, Yang Xiangtong."
"Holy crap, did I really do that well?" As soon as Boss Shi spoke, Yang Xiangtong was so excited he let out a curse.
By now, nearly ten people had filtered into the classroom and sat down. Jiang Wei began to feel a bit anxious.
Was it still not his turn?
"Twenty-second place, Jiang Wei."
His eyes lit up, and he happily prepared to walk past Boss Shi into the classroom.
"Jiang Wei, move to the back," Boss Shi dropped those five cold words.
*Huh???*
Jiang Wei felt like a balloon that had been popped. His little heart hit the floor with a thud.
"Why, Teacher Shi?"
"You think you get to pick a seat after delivering a reflection like that?"
Boss Shi’s smiling expression sent a chill down Jiang Wei's spine. Pouting, Jiang Wei went to stand next to Shen Yannan.
"It’s fine," Shen Yannan said, patting his shoulder. "I’m the very last one anyway."
Since he hadn't taken the exam, he was naturally at the bottom of the list.
Shen Yannan blinked. "Don't look so depressed. Unless... is there someone you really want to sit with?"
***
"Brother Tang, what are you looking at?"
Yang Xiangtong had chosen to sit diagonally in front of Tang Zihe and turned around to ask.
Tang Zihe withdrew his gaze. "Nothing."
An Alpha and an Omega—they had barely met a few times, so why were they standing so close while talking?
If one of them just reached out, they could touch the gland on the back of the other's neck.
"Twenty-fifth place, Xia Shan."
Tang Zihe didn't know what the two were talking about; he only saw Jiang Wei shake his head.
Shen Yannan keenly caught the hesitation before Jiang Wei shook his head and gave a meaningful smile.
"The results of the seat changes in this class are mostly the same every time. Probably less than a quarter of the people actually move. There are certain fixed positions that everyone silently understands. For example," Shen Yannan signaled for Jiang Wei to look into the classroom, "Xia Shan and I, and Yang Xiangtong and Tang Wanbai, are fixed partners. As for Tang Zihe, he’s a perpetual solo seater."
"But you probably don't need to worry. Looking at the situation, you two will likely become fixed partners after this," Shen Yannan recalled with a smile. "Xia Shan tried to sit with him once and was rejected quite brutally."
*Don't need to worry?*
Jiang Wei felt the other was misunderstanding something, but he couldn't find a way to explain it at the moment.
Moreover, he never expected that the current Shen Yannan would be someone willing to say so much in one breath.
It felt a bit surreal and incredible.
Fortunately, Shen Yannan’s attention was soon drawn to something else, and he changed the subject.
"Your hand..." He frowned and asked softly, "Did you do that to yourself?"
Jiang Wei hummed. "In a way."
Shen Yannan shook his head, the smile on his face fading slightly. "Then you’re really quite ruthless to yourself."
Jiang Wei shrugged, not particularly caring. "It’s just because I thought it looked ugly. Otherwise, I could have taken the bandages off in a few days."
Shen Yannan raised an eyebrow, looking the other boy up and down. He asked tentatively, "Back then, were you..."
"Jiang Wei, Shen Yannan. You two have so much to talk about out there? Get inside and find a seat."
Boss Shi’s voice suddenly appeared, interrupting their conversation at an inopportune moment.
"What were you going to ask?" Jiang Wei whispered as they entered the room.
"Nothing." Shen Yannan didn't feel like prying further and returned to his usual expression. "We’re going to be sitting one in front of the other. Take care of me from now on."
Jiang Wei, being thick-skinned, didn't really listen to Shen Yannan’s last sentence. Seeing the seat next to Tang Zihe was empty, he simply assumed the other was willing to be his desk mate and plopped down.
"Standing for that long was exhausting." As soon as he sat down, Jiang Wei lost all sense of decorum, slumped over the desk like he was falling apart, and let out a series of groans.
Tang Zihe looked up at Boss Shi on the podium.
"I trust everyone’s spirits are quite high after hearing the speech under the flag today?" Boss Shi habitually snapped off the tip of a new piece of chalk. "Student Jiang Wei, as the person involved, I believe you should be the one with the most energy, rather than slumped over your desk like a sick person."
"Where did that vigor from this morning go?"
The whole class burst into laughter.
Amidst the laughter, Jiang Wei sat up straight and scratched his head.
Seeing that the class was indeed in good spirits, Boss Shi contentedly told everyone to take out the worksheets from the weekend and began the lesson.
Jiang Wei poked Tang Zihe’s arm, leaned in, and looked up to ask, "What was your score this time?"
Seeing him like this, the other boy suddenly smiled.
"Including the ten points deducted, 736."
After saying that, he added, "The papers were relatively easy this time."
*?* A question mark slowly appeared over Jiang Wei’s head.
His score, even including the ten points deducted, was only 680. This guy was 56 points higher than him?
*Damn.*
Is that even a human score?
The problem was, this guy then had the audacity to ask, "And you?"
Jiang Wei: "...None of your business."
He was about to find a place to be quiet and soothe his depressed mood when Xia Shan, in front of him, whispered "Holy crap" and tapped on his desk.
"Brother Jiang, look!" Xia Shan seemed to have gotten used to the new honorific and quietly passed his phone back. "The photo of you reading your reflection has already been uploaded to the school website. When I checked just now, it was already the top trending post."
Jiang Wei glanced at it and clicked his tongue. "...Not looking."
Then, he pulled his hood over his head and slumped back onto the desk.
Xia Shan looked confused. "What’s wrong with Brother Jiang? Is he sick?"
The corners of Tang Zihe’s mouth curved up. He nodded and said, "Yeah, he’s feeling a bit unwell. Don't bother him."
"Oh." Although he didn't understand why the guy was fine outside but now too sick to sit up, Xia Shan’s long-standing habit told him: if Brother Tang said he was unwell, he was unwell. Don't ask questions.
Tang Zihe glanced at Jiang Wei, who was lying on the desk with his back turned, then glanced at Boss Shi, who was talking incessantly on the podium. He took his phone out of his drawer.
He opened the school website.
He clicked on the top trending post.
He saved the image.
He dropped the phone back into the drawer.
All in one smooth motion.
Xia Shan chatted with Shen Yannan from time to time; Yang Xiangtong and Tang Wanbai were discussing which eyeshadow palette looked better. The whole class was filled with the sound of chirping voices.
Even though it was autumn, it felt like the height of summer with the constant buzzing of cicadas.
Tang Zihe suddenly remembered something and leaned close to Jiang Wei’s ear.
He knew the other boy definitely wasn't asleep.
"I'm taking you out for lunch today. We just have to climb a wall. You in?"
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
施总 | Boss Shi | Nickname for the form teacher (Shi-laoshi). "Zong" usually means CEO/Boss.
丁半凡 | Ding Banfan | A classmate in Class One.
傅从安 | Fu Cong’an | A female classmate, ranked 2nd in the grade.
谷仁文 | Gu Renwen | A top-ranking student/classmate.
唐宛白 | Tang Wanbai | A female classmate.
杨向潼 | Yang Xiangtong | A classmate.
叶飞阳 | Ye Feiyang | A student from Class Three, known as the "school bully" (校霸).
铁树开花 | Iron tree blooming | A Chinese idiom meaning something very rare or impossible happening (referring to Tang Zihe falling in love).
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