Chapter 5, Integrating into Campus

Two individuals, both very natural, express their feelings within the bounds of propriety

Generally speaking, individuals like Gu Mojie, who come from common backgrounds, do not typically associate with the wealthy second generation. However, over the three years of high school, among the wealthy second generation in the class, Gu Mojie had a particularly good relationship with Ferdinand

In this context, Gu Mojie could only follow the lead of the conversation, casually inquiring about Lu Wenjun's mother's health. He learned that it was merely a case of a headache or a mild fever, and that it was not serious. After exchanging some comforting pleasantries, just as he was about to steer the conversation back on track, he had already turned the last corner before the station, and suddenly a few familiar classmates appeared before him.

Gu Mojie secretly spat, the days of his past life were truly lived like a dog, so utterly pathetic, wasting resources in such a manner

In this situation, Gu Mojie has been observing for two and a half years; if it were not for the rebirth, he would undoubtedly not have taken notice.

"What a 'gentleman' you are—asking whether the bow is heavy, yet you show no intention of helping. Here, take this for me, and return it to me when we get to the station. Don't let anyone see it."

... ...

At this moment, Gu Mojie was not unfamiliar with this set of rhetoric, as he had heard it several times before. However, hearing these words again at this moment carried a significantly different meaning.

Lu Wenjun swiftly dragged the bag resting on Gu Mojie's suitcase away, creating a distance of three to four meters just right.

"One wouldn't develop feelings among those they are too familiar with," this underlying implication was likely used to deflect which kind of speculation at the beginning? Clearly, it can only be applied when others are suspicious, "Is Lu Wenjun involved with a certain old classmate she is quite close to?" As we delve deeper, who is closest to Lu Wenjun? ... Obviously, it is ...

Seeing that everyone's views on the Christmas class meeting are quite similar, even Ferdinand, who seems to enjoy showing off at every opportunity, appears to have lost interest. As everyone chatted, the class bus arrived, and everyone rushed on board. All are well-mannered individuals, so there was no issue of seat grabbing.

Gu Mojie slightly accelerated, smiled and greeted a boy who was looking over, and began to tease him, as if he and Lu Wenjun had just naturally bumped into each other at the corner of the street.

Just in conjunction with her oval face, apple cheeks, and small dimples, the slight pout of her cheeks creates a rather endearing expression

At the intersection of Jianguo Road, in the alley next to the old campus of Qiantang No. 2 Middle School, there are still a few hundred meters to the bus stop for the pick-up and drop-off service. Gu Mojie was dragging his suitcase, walking forward with his head down, not looking at the road.

Because Ferdinand's name is quite similar in pronunciation to that of the Austro-Hungarian heir who was assassinated in the "Sarajevo Incident" mentioned in history textbooks, his classmates often made jokes about his name, but he did not take it to heart

Lu Wenjun was clearly unaware of the malice that the term "gentleman" would encompass in the future. After speaking, she gracefully tossed a large tote bag onto Gu Mojie's suitcase, then slightly turned her body to cleverly ensure that the two maintained a distance of more than one meter.

Lu Wenjun noticed that Gu Mojie had been silent for more than ten seconds without saying a word, unaware that Gu Mojie had already fallen into a whirlpool of thoughts. Feeling somewhat awkward, she searched through Gu Mojie's earlier pleasantries and continued, "My mother is ill today, so she didn't see me off and asked me to return to school by myself—resulting in me carrying so many things, it's quite heavy!"

It is as if, should a familiar classmate appear around the next corner, Lu Wenjun would instantly straighten up and put away her bag, concealing any signs of abnormality.

The middle school he attended was a poor-quality school located close to home. During the high school entrance examination, out of several hundred students in his cohort, only a single-digit number managed to gain admission to Qiantang No. 2 Middle School

By the way, she just mentioned "gentleman" ...? ... Well, it seems that "gentleman" doesn't have any negative connotations, does it

In the moment he just realized, Gu Mojie almost called out the nickname "Junjun" but fortunately stopped after uttering just one character and then switched to addressing her by her full name

The more such girls there are, the less willing they are to distance themselves from old acquaintances after being revered by others, even if it is merely to demonstrate that they are not superficial

Lu Wenjun heard Gu Mojie almost call her "Jun Jun" but then change his mind at the last moment. A fleeting glimmer of cunning and disappointment flashed in her eyes, as if she were reminiscing about the carefree life of the past, and she subtly puffed out her cheeks.

They are all nothing but boring and tedious honor students! Such tricks would have worked on someone else long ago! What kind of days have we been living! Truly pathetic!

Perhaps the two share some similarities, feeling a sense of mutual sympathy, and Ferdinand is not as arrogant as the other officials' and merchants' children in the class

The reason for the excitement is quite simple: Lu Wenjun is a beauty. Especially her long, sleek ponytail that is always tightly tied and not coarse, which gives a very energetic and refreshing impression; the female protagonist Maria from the famous Japanese anime "2077 Japan's National Isolation" embodies this feeling.

... ...

At this moment, one would expect that a person well-versed in the ways of the internet would feel a twinge of displeasure. However, Gu Mojie remained calm at heart—he understood that Lu Wenjun's action was merely due to shyness, not wanting to be talked about behind her back. It was certainly not a case of a "goddess-level green tea trying to secure a few more connections, fearing a blowout, and taking precautions to keep things under wraps"

Those born in 2002 are still unaware of the concept of cuteness, and their evaluation of beauty dictates that the chin should be as sharp and pointed as possible, lacking an appreciation for the merits of an oval face. However, Gu Mojie, having experienced two lifetimes, hesitates briefly and realizes that Lu Wenjun is truly "born in the wrong era"; had she been ten years younger, according to future standards, her beauty would undoubtedly fall between an eight and a nine out of ten.

In silence, Gu Mojie and several boys, including Nan Ge, leaned against the pole, chatting and joking in a circle as they bumpy made their way back to school. The girls, having seats, were relatively quieter. However, Gu Mojie could still hear that a few academically successful unattractive girls in the class were teasing Lu Wenjun again. Lu Wenjun remained as usual, "using laughter to fend off the enemy," not engaging much in discussions about "why she is always more popular with boys." Nevertheless, Gu Mojie could still hear that a few academically successful unattractive girls in the class were teasing Lu Wenjun again. Lu Wenjun remained as usual, "using laughter to fend off the enemy," not engaging much in discussions about "why she is always more popular with boys."

The term "Jun Jun" was something he dared to call Lu Wenjun only during his middle school days when they would joke around. As they transitioned to high school and their interactions became increasingly infrequent, those two characters had long been sealed away, replaced by a complete formality in their dealings.

A Jie, are you alright? Why are you walking without looking where you are going

Ajie, you are mocking me again! Most of the time, I take the bus, alright!" Nan Ge punched Gu Mojie on the shoulder from a superior position. Gu Mojie is also 1.8 meters tall, which is not considered short among boys in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions, but he still fell slightly short in front of Ferdinand, causing him to sway involuntarily.

At the end of the 20th century, the year Gu Mojie entered junior high school, the private junior high schools in Qiantang City abolished entrance examinations and replaced them with a lottery system for admissions, similar to the lottery system for car license plates in later years. In contrast, public junior high schools continued to admit students based on school districts

Gu Mojie felt a warmth in his heart, thinking to himself that in his past life, he was truly a foolish novice, unable to discern who treated him well and who was close to him. Some girls actually do not wish to be regarded as the "class flower"; they hope not to be labeled as mere ornaments.

Brother Nan, you are so "down-to-earth" today, even taking the bus.

Feeling a jolt from the wheels of the box, as if it had rolled over something, Gu Mojie suddenly turned around and realized it was his classmate Lu Wenjun greeting him

This is the voice of Lu Wenjun. Just a few seconds ago, one of her close friends in the same dormitory was teasing her again, saying how a boy from the neighboring class had approached Lu Wenjun over the weekend, asking if she had any feelings for him. Of course, everyone knows such remarks are made in jest. Lu Wenjun merely recited the same few lines that neither offend anyone nor reveal too much.

Upon reaching the third year of high school, the school administration is not foolish; no matter how much they advocate for quality education, they would not joke about the admission rates at this critical juncture. Some teachers who are clearly not suited for intensive education have been replaced, continuing to teach lower grades. In Gu Mojie’s class, the new English teacher is a man in his thirties with a warm smile, referred to by the boys as "Mr. O".

Therefore, the only classmate who was able to attend both middle school and high school with Gu Mojie is Lu Wenjun, which is indeed quite rare

The boy referred to as Nan Ge, named Ferdinand, stands at over 1.8 meters tall, being tall, slender, and handsome. Gu Mojie had not inquired into the other party's family background, but he was aware that the other party's family was wealthy and influential.

More than two years ago, when Gu Mojie had just arrived at Qiantang No. 2 Middle School and looked at the class assignment list, he felt a bit excited.

Lu Wenjun and Gu Mojie have been classmates for six years, having attended both middle school and high school together. At this moment, they are also carrying a large package, clearly filled with supplies for a week.

The sentiments of 2002 were indeed much more genuine than those of a decade later. At least the schemers had not yet become so professionalized and formulaic in their output, and the "Standardized Production Operation Manual for Schemers" had not yet been compiled.

However, the high school life over the past two years has proven that this proximity to the water tower is of no use. The school culture at Qiantang No. 2 Middle School is exemplary, with no more than two or three couples in the class daring to engage in romantic relationships. Moreover, these relationships are limited to holding hands or minor flirtations. It is unlikely to find even one case in a whole grade where someone dares to cross the line and create a "fatal" situation. This high-pressure line of campus romance, of course, has nothing to do with Gu Mojie

Gu Mojie and Ferdinand exchanged a few words, diverting the topic, while several boys passed by and joined the discussion group. The Miss Wang they referred to was their homeroom teacher and English teacher during their first and second years of high school, a beautiful woman. Unfortunately, she was too idealistic in her approach, constantly dreaming of an unattainable utopia, which made her ill-suited for teaching in the fiercely competitive environment of the college entrance examination. If she were placed in a university setting, teaching courses unrelated to admission rates and purely for the sake of interest, she might fare better. However, in the brutal and cutthroat environment of exam-oriented education, she truly cannot be considered a good teacher.

Speaking of serious matters, Christmas falls on a Wednesday. Do you think Mr. Ou will do something like last year's Miss Wang, fussing about 'balancing work and rest, quality education,' and making everyone compete in singing English songs at the Christmas class meeting—have you practiced over the weekend

Is this not an opportunity to seek, or is it still a matter of being a man

However, after being reborn, a person's confidence is inevitably multiplied several times, and things that were once unthinkable now seem conceivable. Thus, he cannot help but perk up his ears to listen closely—of course, he still talks nonsense with his brothers about O Sir and English songs, from "Singin' in the Rain" to "The Phantom of the Opera," as if he were being utterly serious.

Limited to puffing the cheeks, excluding pouting the lips

Alright, even if I want to date in the future, I will definitely find someone specifically for that purpose. How could I possibly develop a romantic relationship with someone I am too familiar with? It would be so awkward and embarrassing. What if it doesn't work out? Wouldn't that mean we couldn't even be friends? You all understand! As a Capricorn, I believe in keeping things straightforward: classmates are classmates, friends are friends, and that kind of friend is that kind of friend. Don't worry about it!

Jun ... ... Hey, Lu Wenjun, good morning. I was wondering—why didn't Auntie take you to the station this week? Is the luggage heavy?

Practicing knitting, Mr. Ou is quite straightforward as a person and will not force things unnecessarily. Moreover, we are already in our third year of high school; can it really be the same as when we were in our second year? In my opinion, there are still a few genuine people in this school.

Gu Mojie is not a child of privilege, and naturally cannot manipulate the lottery, thus he cannot enroll in a private junior high school