Vol 2 Chapter 20: Changing Classes

"You really went and did it!"

In the office, Teacher Wang's face showed three parts anger and seven parts disappointment as he repeatedly poked Liu Changqing's forehead with his finger. Although after hearing the student's explanation, Teacher Wang realized the boy wasn't actually acting like a hooligan, publicly pulling on a girl's clothing still created an extremely bad impression regardless.

This could clearly be seen from the looks other teachers at nearby desks were giving them.

Within just three days, Liu Changqing had visited the office every single day without fail. Any other teacher would have already contacted his parents by now, yet the homeroom teacher hadn't done so. After reprimanding Liu Changqing, he didn't administer any physical punishment either, merely assigning him to write a self-criticism essay before letting him return to class.

Liu Changqing didn't say much either. After the teacher's verdict was delivered, he left the classroom somewhat gloomily, heading back toward his own class.

Liu Changqing felt gloomy. Extremely gloomy.

He felt he'd become somewhat strange recently - and not just because of the incidents that had happened to him, but in how he'd been conducting himself ever since arriving in this world.

He didn't know if it was just his imagination, but Liu Changqing kept feeling like his IQ had dropped significantly. He frequently did things even he couldn't understand afterward.

It felt... like he'd become an idiot.

Although age-wise he wasn't much older than the high schoolers here - in his previous life he'd only recently graduated as a promising young man - he shouldn't be acting this way, constantly doing things that would baffle even himself later.

Like pulling the class monitor's shoulder strap earlier.

Though it did look uncomfortable, why had he been unable to resist giving it a tug?

Turning these thoughts over in his mind, Liu Changqing returned to his classroom in contemplation. After sitting back down, Qin Ruoliu beside him seemed to want to say something, opening her mouth to look at him but not making a sound.

Actually, after reporting him and returning, she'd already realized her actions might have been inappropriate. The image of Liu Changqing heading to the office kept replaying in her mind...

Simply put, Qin Ruoliu was feeling somewhat guilty.

The seated Liu Changqing had no idea what she was thinking though, and held no opinions about her reporting him. Putting himself in her shoes - if he were a girl and an unfamiliar boy randomly pulled his clothes, he'd react the same way too.

Realizing this, Liu Changqing silently took out a notebook from his desk and began writing his self-criticism essay.

The classroom was rather noisy, with Sun Fan in the back row constantly talking with his deskmate, though all his efforts were in vain.

Qin Ruoliu hesitated for a while.

Then she secretly glanced at Liu Changqing beside her.

Watching him take out a notebook... to write his self-criticism.

Qin Ruoliu had never observed him like this before, but seeing him now, she suddenly noticed Liu Changqing had quite a handsome profile. His jawline was pleasing to look at, his nose bridge straight, and especially his thick eyebrows added points to his appearance.

If only he didn't talk...

And... his skin was a bit dark.

"Um..."

The pen tip paused on the paper as the sound from beside him made Liu Changqing stop. After a moment, he turned to look at Qin Ruoliu.

Their gazes met at that instant.

Compared to Liu Changqing's direct stare, Qin Ruoliu clearly couldn't handle it. The moment their eyes met, for some reason she quickly averted her gaze to stare at the textbook on the desk.

At the pen he held in his hand...

"Was I too impulsive earlier..."

"Huh?"

"I mean... I thought about it, and even though you're usually weird, I don't think you're the type to act like a hooligan."

"......"

Hearing these words, Liu Changqing couldn't help feeling surprised.

If you didn't think I was that type of person, why did you run so fast when reporting me to the office earlier!

So fast he hadn't been able to catch up.

Hard to believe that running speed had come from a girl.

She looked so delicate and frail...

"Did the teacher punish you physically in the office?"

"......"

"He just made you write a self-criticism?"

"......"

Hearing Qin Ruoliu's questions, Liu Changqing fell silent.

As if thinking of something.

He averted his gaze, the hand holding the pen continuing to write in the notebook as he responded.

"No, he also made me do pushups and hold a horse stance, and kicked me a few times too."

"Huh?"

"Every time after you reported me before, the teacher punished me like that too."

"......"

At a momentary loss for words, Qin Ruoliu clearly felt guilty hearing Liu Changqing describe the unfair treatment he'd received in the office. Having never been scolded or physically punished by teachers since childhood, she obviously didn't know what punishments teachers gave misbehaving students.

Her expression growing somewhat remorseful, Qin Ruoliu subconsciously clenched her hands tighter. She stammered a few words.

"I... I didn't know..."

"It's fine. You're the class monitor, reporting things is your right. Even though the teacher's punishments are harsh, I don't hate you at all. Really."

"Really?"

"Of course that's fake!"

"I..."

Qin Ruoliu clearly wasn't used to Liu Changqing's way of speaking. Before she could respond, the class bell rang through the room.

Students outside returned to their seats. Perhaps because of what Liu Changqing had just said, Qin Ruoliu unusually didn't immediately take out her textbook and notes like she normally would.

The classroom became exceptionally quiet.

This was the homeroom teacher's class. As a math teacher, he was known for his punctuality, yet even after the bell had rung for a while, there was still no sign of him.

Until movement came from the classroom door.

Soon after, the homeroom teacher entered the room.

But unlike usual, this time he was followed by three people.

One girl and two boys.

Of the two boys, one carried a desk while the other held a chair and some textbooks. In contrast, the sole girl followed obediently behind the teacher empty-handed.

"You can sit over there."

The teacher said this, then directed the two boys to set up the desk. Once everything was ready, the two left the classroom.

Leaving only the class students looking at each other in confusion.

The homeroom teacher stood at the podium, the girl beside him.

Facing the class.

Her gaze fell on the boy in front who was bowing his head writing something.

A faint smile appeared on her face.

"Introduce yourself."

Hearing the teacher's voice, Li Wanran nodded in response.

Then staring at the boy with his head lowered, she spoke.

"Hello everyone, my name is Li Wanran."