Chapter 3, The Friendship Among Girls

She lifted her waist and chuckled, "Am I doing well?" She seemed quite pleased with herself. Immediately after, she complained, "Oh dear—my waist, it hurts so much—"

However, Zhong Yue could no longer bear to watch from outside. Someone was dragging the mop around like a crab, completely oblivious to their surroundings. It was simply making things dirtier, with her shoe prints all over the floor. She took the mop and said, "Let me handle this; it is only right for the boys to do such physical work."

Dai Xiao was filled with grievance, her voice choked with emotion, "Then why was I eliminated despite scoring better than you? Isn't it because your family has a good relationship with the school leaders? I can only blame myself for having a family without power or influence, allowing others to trample on me" Tears that she had fought to hold back rolled down her cheeks.

To not enjoy one's blessings would be foolish. She happily stood in the aisle, enjoying the cool breeze. Turning her head, she saw Dai Xiao's figure appearing at the stairway, and hurriedly went to greet her, pulling her along and calling out: "Dai Xiao, you have come! I haven't seen you in a long time—"

Dai Xiaohen said angrily: "Aren't you showing off yet? What gives you the right to enter Class Zero? Isn't it just because your family is wealthy! Even the principal has to consider your father's influence! What are you pretending for here!"

After taking out the trash, she picked up a light green exercise book specifically for "Shanglin No. 1 Middle School" to use as a fan, and looking at the mop and cloth, she asked Zhong Yue, "Can you clean the windows?" She thought to herself, how could a big boy like him know how to mop the floor? The previous classroom had a cement floor, and sweeping it was sufficient. Now, the floor is made of marble with large, half-length windows. To protect the environment, Xu Mo demanded that everyone mop the floor and clean the windows every day

Not only did she not feel ashamed, but she also followed closely behind him, saying, "Zhong Yue, I find that you can do everything, it's really impressive." Zhong Yue smiled and did not respond. She snatched the mop and insisted on cleaning it herself, saying, "This is what I should do, how can I let you help me?" Listening to her words, she sounded quite righteous and dignified.

Just as the seats were arranged, a short boy sitting behind He Ruchu raised his hand and said that she was blocking him. After saying this, he pushed the thick lens that was even thicker than bulletproof glass. He Ruchu gritted her teeth in resentment, thinking to herself that his small nose and small eyes were so tiny that they might as well not exist, yet his mouth was disproportionately large. Xu Mo hesitated for a moment and asked for her meaning. She had no choice but to say that her eyesight was good and that sitting in the back was not a problem. Thus, she moved to sit in front of Zhong Yue. Xu Mo hesitated for a moment and asked for her meaning. She had no choice but to say that her eyesight was good and that sitting in the back was not a problem. Thus, she moved to sit in front of Zhong Yue.

At that time, mobile phones were still a rarity, and most people simply could not afford them. The signal was also not very good, and only busy individuals like Father He could manage to have one. Although Father He dotes on his daughter, he has not reached the point of being indulgent to the extreme; with just one question, he dispelled her thoughts: "Is the school allowing the use of mobile phones?"

Dai Xiao still appeared indifferent, standing there without moving, and said lightly: "I have something to discuss with you as well; let us clarify things today."

She was taken aback, her face filled with joy suddenly frozen in place, the rapid change in her state of mind reflected in her expression, which had not yet had the chance to transform, as if it were solidified like plaster, and after a long while, she blankly said: "Dai Xiao, what do you mean by that? When have I ever shown off?" The tone of her voice had already taken on a hint of grievance.

Upon exiting the restroom at the other end of the corridor, I saw a person standing in the hallway. He appeared to be in his thirties, dressed in a suit, and seemed to be a figure of authority. When I came out, I noticed he had been standing there, constantly checking his watch. He saw Zhong Yue and politely asked, "Classmate, are you from the zero class?" Upon seeing Zhong Yue nod, he smiled and said, "I would like to trouble you with a small favor. I am He Ruchu's father. She didn't eat breakfast this morning and forgot to bring any money. Could you please take this to her? I don't want to disturb you during your exam, and I need to leave in a hurry—"

She had never heard such sharp and sarcastic words before, and her expression immediately changed, unable to tolerate such an insult to her abilities. Trembling, she said: "Even if my family has a little money, that is my father's money, what does it have to do with me? I entered the zero class based on my own merits—" Throughout her life, no one had ever spoken to her like that, and for a moment, she felt as if a thunderclap had struck above her head, leaving her pale and speechless.

Upon hearing this, she was momentarily stunned. She had never quarreled with a girl before, only accustomed to exchanging barbs with Han and Zhang. At that moment, she did not know how to retort to relieve the frustration in her heart, and could not help but exclaim: "I did not! My dad only found out yesterday that I entered the zero class! I am not someone who cannot stand on my own, so why would I seek connections to take shortcuts?"

As if lost in his own world, he said: "Dai Xiao, isn't tomorrow your birthday? Look at the gift I have for you—last time when we went to Mingzhu, didn't you say you liked Parker pens? Here it is—" Saying this, he took out a beautifully wrapped glass box from his backpack, with a red velvet lining showcasing a golden pen, its metallic sheen quietly flowing under the sunlight, truly beautiful

Zhong Yue found it difficult to refuse her enthusiasm. He took a bite; it was sweet and cloying, not to his taste, yet he finished it all. Everyone became lively over a breakfast.

After the introduction, the seating arrangement began. Teacher Xu said, "In such a large classroom, whether it's next to someone or in the middle, all seats are good, and there is nothing to choose from." It is said that in the past, when it was time to change seats, some parents would give gifts to Teacher Xu. Teacher Xu had once openly stated in class that if anyone had poor eyesight, they could just let him know, and that parents or leaders should not intervene personally.

She firmly believed that she had suffered a great injustice, which led her to harbor a deep-seated hatred for He Ruchu. She thought that He had relied on her family's financial backing to manipulate behind the scenes, thereby unlawfully usurping a position that rightfully belonged to her. As a result, former friends have now turned into bitter enemies.

Zhong Yue could only nod randomly, saying, "Let me do it, let me do it, you stand in the corridor for a while." In her heart, she wished that she would stop causing trouble right in front of her.

Zhong Yue glanced at her, without saying a word, took a cloth soaked in cleaning solution, and with a lift of his long leg, jumped onto the windowsill

Father He chose the light gold fountain pen that she had previously set her sights on, saying that it was delicate for a girl to use. She smiled with her eyes squinting, "Dad, we truly have a tacit understanding; I like this one too." The price was indeed not cheap for a middle school student, qualifying it as a luxury item. As long as his daughter was happy, Father He would not care about such a small amount of money.

She thought about Dai Xiaoluo being eliminated from Class Zero, and with her strong-willed nature, she must be feeling quite upset these days. Therefore, taking advantage of her upcoming birthday, she decided to give her a cherished gift, hoping to bring her some joy.

Next is the physics exam for Old Gao. Unexpectedly, it is another test, and there is no time to sigh or indulge in self-pity; she has already plunged into the endless exam questions. She worries that the afternoon Chinese class will likely also be an exam. After a summer break, she fears she has almost forgotten the classical texts, Tang poetry, and classical Chinese translations she learned before. She must quickly review them, so she has someone convey a message home, saying she needs to study for the exam and will not return home for lunch. There are so many pastries; they are more than enough for her to eat. She worries that the afternoon Chinese class will likely also be an exam. After a summer break, she fears she has almost forgotten the classical texts, Tang poetry, and classical Chinese translations she learned before. She must quickly review them, so she has someone convey a message home, saying she needs to study for the exam and will not return home for lunch. There are so many pastries; they are more than enough for her to eat.

Perhaps women, whether girls or women, find it difficult to coexist peacefully. It is often said that scholars look down upon each other, and women do the same.

The class monitor said irritably, "Who is going to clean the glass and sweep the floor?" It was only then that she remembered it was her and Zhong Yue's turn to take duty. With so few people in Class Zero, it was not long before it was their turn to clean. Reluctantly, she stayed behind. She heard Han Zhang and a few other boys making plans to go to Class One to play basketball with Hu Lei and the others, so she said, "Since that's the case, if you see Dai Xiao, let her come find me. I have something to discuss with her. Just tell her I'm on duty and can't leave right now." Han Zhang agreed.

The next day is the weekend. After finishing classes in the morning, there is half an afternoon to rest, and in the evening, as usual, there are three evening study sessions. The last class is taught by the old physics teacher, who habitually runs over time, only letting everyone go to dinner after finishing the last problem. He Ruchu quickly packs her bag and is about to leave when the class monitor calls out to her as she has already run out of the classroom: "He Ruchu, where are you going?"

She recalled the infamous Xu Mo and shuddered, quickly saying: "I was just joking, why would I need a mobile phone? I can just leave it with the school for safekeeping!" If it is not allowed to be brought to school, then even if I buy one, it can only serve as a decorative item. With twenty-four hours in a day, and including morning and evening study sessions, I spend as much as sixteen hours at school.

In the afternoon, I took two exams. The teacher announced a general amnesty, stating that after a long day of exams, we could skip evening self-study. Everyone finally got a breather. He Ruchu and her classmates compared answers and felt that the results were neither particularly good nor bad. Mathematics might be a bit lacking, but English should be able to make up a few points.

It was just like when He first started school, when Father He had not yet gotten up. When he learned that his precious daughter had left in a huff without eating breakfast, he blamed Mother He for not packing her something to eat on the way. Mother He then told him about the comic incident from yesterday, and upon hearing it, he hurriedly said: "You can say what you want, but why take her money? She is just a little child, without a penny to her name. What if something happens?"

Mother Xu had someone bring her a thermal container, filled with dishes that were as beautifully arranged as in the pictures, rich in color, aroma, and flavor, with a layer of fragrant mushroom and wild chicken soup underneath that had been skimmed of its oil

Dai Xiaoling sneered: "Relying on grades? What a ridiculous joke! I originally didn't want to say anything, but I have endured this feeling long enough. After all, I have become disheartened and finally see clearly that in this world, as long as you have money, it doesn't matter if you push a ghost to grind, the mill can push the ghost! It is truly shameless of you, and I can no longer tolerate it! In the last semester's final exam, I ranked eighth, and you were not ninth, ranked behind me? Why did you get into Class Zero while I did not?" In the last semester's final exam, I ranked eighth, and you were not ninth, ranked behind me? Why did you get into Class Zero while I did not?

Dai Xiao casually glanced over, and not only did she show no signs of excitement, but instead she mocked, "He Ru, you should stop showing off; who doesn't know that your family is wealthy!"

She let out an "oh" and obediently carried the mop back to the bathroom. After a short while, she came back, looking confused, and asked, "How do I wring it out?" Zhong Yue sighed, dropped the cloth, and stood in front of the sink to demonstrate, "Just apply pressure in one direction and it will be dry."

Indeed, before she could finish her words, Han Zhang arrived, grabbed a red apple, and started eating it while crossing his legs. He said, "Haven't you had breakfast yet?" She pretended to stop him from eating and said, "This was specially sent to me by my dad, it's not for you!" She also didn't forget to invite Zhong Yue, saying, "Go ahead and eat, it won't be fresh if you wait too long."

She firmly believes that she is the most innocent victim and has ample reason to resent He Ruchu—yet, is this not a form of jealousy? Jealous of her family's wealth, having everything she desires; jealous of her being slimmer and more beautiful than herself; jealous of her close relationship with Han Zhang; jealous of the affection she receives from teachers and classmates.

Lying listlessly on the table, having skipped breakfast and just gone through a round of intense exams, she felt a bit of pain in her stomach from hunger. Zhong Yue handed her a paper bag and explained something. She couldn't help but cheer and hurriedly opened it. As she took out the cake and fresh milk, a handful of cash fell out. There were no hundred-yuan bills, mostly tens, twenties, and fifties, along with a few five-yuan notes, scattered across the table. After counting, she found there were as many as five hundred. Her father still regarded her as a child, giving her only small change.

Mother He then said, "What could possibly happen? The school is so close; if there is something, she will naturally come home." Father He still felt uneasy and replied, "On a day like today, even if she wants to buy breakfast outside, she has no money! She is quite upset; whether she is willing to come back for lunch is uncertain, not to mention going to class on an empty stomach, how can she manage that?" He insisted on personally buying freshly baked pastries and delivering them to his daughter's school.

Before the class bell rang, Xu the Demon Head had already pulled out the exam papers to begin the test. In an instant, the only sound heard was the rustling of paper, and everyone held their breath in silence. In busy times, time is most easily lost; how could one take a long breath and prepare to tackle the next difficult question, only to catch a glimpse of Zhong Yue standing up to submit his paper? This caused a bit of panic, and upon checking the time, it turned out he had finished a full forty-five minutes early. Secretly cursing him for being inhuman, one wondered if others still had a chance to live, and thus, one could only bury oneself in hard work. In busy times, time is most easily lost; how could one take a long breath and prepare to tackle the next difficult question, only to catch a glimpse of Zhong Yue standing up to submit his paper? This caused a bit of panic, and upon checking the time, it turned out he had finished a full forty-five minutes early. Secretly cursing him for being inhuman, one wondered if others still had a chance to live, and thus, one could only bury oneself in hard work.

Zhong Yue immediately said, "Alright, alright, Uncle, you go ahead first, I will hand this over to her right away." As he took the large paper bag, a fresh and rich fragrance wafted towards him.

Holding her father's hand, she asked the salesgirl to bring out several models of fountain pens and inquired which one looked good. Her father naturally replied that they all looked good and let her choose. Pouting in dissatisfaction, she exclaimed, "Dad—" He hurriedly reassured her, "Alright, alright, I'll choose, I'll choose." He truly focused on the task at hand. Even when he was pursuing her mother back in the day, he never showed this level of enthusiasm; he was never patient enough to accompany his wife shopping. Yet when it came to his daughter, his personal preferences were completely disregarded, truly resembling the so-called "model father" of the twenty-four filial pieties.

She turned her head and said confidently, "Going home for dinner!" In fact, she was in a hurry to find Dai Xiao. Ever since their last unpleasant encounter on the spiral staircase in the library, they had not seen each other again due to her having changed classrooms.

She casually rolled it up and stuffed it into her backpack, smiling at Zhong Yue and saying, "Do you want to eat? It's too much, enough for my breakfast for three days." Zhong Yue hurriedly shook his head, but she insisted on stuffing a coconut cake into his hands, saying, "If you don't eat it, someone else will eat it later."

Father He still does not realize that he has boarded a pirate ship, and he cheerfully says: "What do you want? Dad will buy it for you, just consider it a reward for getting into the zero class. I just heard about your class, it’s truly remarkable. Uncle Chen tried every possible way, but his son still couldn’t get in. Today, you have brought honor to your father." When he delivered breakfast in the morning, he saw his daughter bent over her desk writing furiously through the window. He stood there for a quarter of an hour, noticing that she hadn’t lifted her head once, and he couldn’t help but feel a pang of heartache. In the afternoon, while chatting with a friend, the friend was astonished to learn that his daughter had entered the zero class at "Shanglin No. 1 High School," saying that it was a "young genius class," and he praised her profusely. This made him, as her father, feel extraordinarily proud and quite glorious.

By the time she returned home, it was already dark. Father He had come back early and was waiting for her to have dinner. Mother He had heard that they had been taking exams all day and had prepared a large table of delicious food. After finishing the meal, she took her father's hand and suggested going for a walk to aid digestion, and on the way, they would stop by the Mingzhu Building.

She stood below and watched for a while, then sighed and said, "I didn't expect that besides being good at studying, you can also clean windows." Zhong Yue, upon hearing her words, was both amused and exasperated; he neither argued nor responded, and efficiently finished cleaning one window before moving on to the next.

Xu Motou looked at him with an approving gaze, silently patting his arm to show encouragement. Zhong Yue was not eager to be the first to submit his exam paper; rather, it was because Xu Motou had taken up the time after class, and he was in a hurry to go to the restroom, leaving him no choice but to submit his paper early

On the way home, she was playing games on her father's phone, feeling very fresh. Father He kept urging her, "Watch the road, watch the road, be careful of the cars ahead," but she paid no attention, thinking, with her father around, how could a car hit her? As they were nearing home, she suddenly said, "Dad, why don't you buy me a phone too? It would be so convenient"

As she bit down on the pen, she was working on the final proof problem. After much effort, she finally drew the auxiliary lines correctly, but by the time the bell rang, she had not finished writing. Xu Motou kept urging her to submit her paper, so she had no choice but to hand it in. She thought to herself that it was over; in a place like Zero Class, not to mention a single problem, even a one-point difference could be fatal.

There are only six girls in the class, so of course they are given special attention. He Ruchu enjoys the best seat in the middle, thinking that girls in the science class have many privileges. Xu Mo intends to move Zhong Yue to the front, but Zhong Yue says that he is tall and has good eyesight, so sitting at the back is just fine for him. Xu Mo nods in approval, praising him for being sensible and composed, with the demeanor of a leader, and immediately appoints him as the study committee member. Han Zhang, being familiar with both teachers and classmates, is undoubtedly the best choice for class monitor. Xu Mo nods in approval, praising him for being sensible and composed, with the demeanor of a leader, and immediately appoints him as the study committee member. Han Zhang, being familiar with both teachers and classmates, is undoubtedly the best choice for class monitor. Even He Ruchu is appointed as the English class representative; she was previously the representative for Teacher Fan's class, and this time she is taught again, which can be considered as taking the initiative.

She returned from the bathroom carrying a wet mop, leaving a trail of water dripping all over the corridor. Even before she started mopping, the classroom was already filled with puddles. When Zhong Yue saw her like this, he wanted to start mopping and hurriedly said: "There is too much water, wring it out a bit before mopping."

I did not expect that after changing classes, I asked several people and none knew where Class Zero was. Later, I ran into Teacher Fan, who teaches English, and learned that it was on the second floor of the library. However, I encountered them taking an exam, and the company was waiting for him to hold a senior management meeting, which made me anxious. I saw Zhong Yue coming out of the classroom, so I asked him for help