"Dingdangdangdong, dangdongdingdang——"

The melodious sound of the class bell rang slowly, injecting a bit of life into the sleepy classroom.

"That will be all for today. Remember to do the exercises after class, and go out for a walk, catch a breeze, and wash your face to wake up."

The bald middle-aged teacher adjusted his black-framed glasses, scanning the listless students below him.

He quite understood the kids whose eyelids were battling sleep.

It was the first class in the afternoon...

With no lunch break in autumn and winter, it’s normal for students to feel sleepy.

Especially in the high-pressure environment of high school.

Of course, today was much better than usual. Normally, over half the class would "go fishing" during class, nodding off, but today, although they were still drowsy, not many fell asleep.

Perhaps it was because it was the end of the month, and it was Friday, perfectly coinciding with the two-day big break of the month.

The middle-aged teacher didn’t linger in the classroom; he put down the infrared electronic pen, then picked up his lesson plan and the old glass thermos he had used for seven or eight years, and left the classroom.

As the classroom door opened, a cold wind rushed in, acting like a wake-up call.

"Achoo——!"

The boy sitting by the door sneezed instinctively, then deftly pulled a tissue from his deskmate’s table, as skillfully as an old man flipping pancakes at the market for decades.

He blew his nose vigorously, earning an eye-roll of disdain from his deskmate:

"Bring your own next time!"

"Got it, got it. I’ll bring it next week, for sure, for sure."

A series of apologetic chuckles followed.

Just another ordinary daily conversation.

The valuable break time had arrived. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Some students couldn’t hold it any longer and collapsed onto their desks for a quick nap, while others, having held it for half a class, dashed out of the classroom, disappearing from sight...

However, more students gathered in threes and fours, starting an ordinary yet slightly peculiar break "gathering."

It’s normal because it’s typical for the boys and girls to chat in groups during breaks.

Yet it’s peculiar because as the first class after lunch in the autumn and winter, it shouldn’t be this lively.

Especially with the heating on, making people feel lazy. Even if it’s the end of the month on a Friday, there should be many asleep...

But today, it was particularly different.

"Have you connected to the internet? Have you?"

"Wait... the speed is a bit slow. My phone is my dad’s old one, and the signal’s not great."

"Hurry up! There are two more people waiting after you! Why not refresh again? Try switching it to airplane mode and back."

"Don’t rush... Wait, I’m on it... Okay, I’m in, I’m in! Hold on, let me register an official account first..."

"Hurry! Hurry!"

"Whoa! How long has it been? Over ten million sign-ups already?"

"What did you think this game was? This is ’Elf Kingdom’!"

Conversations like this could be heard all around the classroom.

There was one tall and thin boy, playing with his phone, his gaze wandering leisurely throughout the classroom.

He couldn’t be called handsome, but he was quite fair-skinned.

It’s often said that Tianchao’s school uniforms are a measure of attractiveness. Although the boy’s looks were average, he was quite a clothes horse, giving off a cheerful and energetic vibe.

However, the anime-styled book covers and the cute decorations on his pencil case seemed a bit peculiar.

He occasionally stretched, shook his head, and hummed odd little tunes, seemingly in a great mood.

Seeing his classmates’ excited and expectant expressions, he couldn’t help but grin broadly.

His slightly raised chin exuded a little pride.

With the occasional glance around and his eyes shining, he seemed to say— "Come over and talk to me, someone come over and talk to me"...

Until a small pale hand landed heavily on his shoulder:

"Xu Ge! Let me borrow your phone!"

"Ouch!"

The boy couldn’t help but cry out in pain.

He turned his head, rubbing his shoulder while looking at the pretty little face that was so close, and said sullenly:

"Miss Zhao Linqian, can you please be gentler next time?"

She was a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl, not very tall, quite petite.

Her features weren’t exactly delicate, but she had a vibrant and approachable aura that gave her a girl-next-door charm, the kind that grows on you. Her simple bob haircut made her look even more lively and cute.

She chuckled:

"Haha, I’ve been hitting you since we were kids, just a habit... Ahem, alright, alright, I’ll be gentler next time, Brother Xu~ Quickly, give me your phone!"

Hearing the latter part said in a somewhat coquettish tone, Xu Ge almost got goosebumps.

By this time, the girl also saw the phone on his desk, and her eyes lit up.

She held onto his shoulder, quickly leaned over, and skillfully grabbed the phone:

"Haha, got it!"

Xu Ge: ...

Feeling the warmth on his shoulder, and smelling the unique fragrance of the girl, the boy felt his cheeks getting hot.

Especially the softness he accidentally touched, made him realize that the girl he grew up playing with was no longer the same.

"Be careful, acting so carefree all the time. You might have trouble finding a boyfriend in the future."