Chapter 2, he remembered her name

Mother He said: "With your poor handwriting, what do you need such a good pen for? Don't waste things. After dinner, review your homework. You've played around all summer, and I haven't seen you do homework for a few days. You're about to enter your third year of high school, and you're still not serious! If you keep playing like this, how will you get into a prestigious university?"

Mother He certainly knew that she was still throwing a tantrum, saying: "There are four classes in the morning, how can you skip breakfast! Hurry up and sit down." She claimed that there was not enough time and complained that her mother did not call her, then put on her shoes and ran out.

Han's father has not yet returned from his overseas visit, and Han's mother is busy with school matters due to the start of the new term, so she is also not at home. Without any constraints, a few people gathered together to chat and laugh, with crumbs, fruit peels, and sunflower seed shells scattered all over the table. Lin Danyun was eating ice while watching the detective show "Detective Ke Lan," while He Ruchu and Han Zhang leaned together discussing the exam papers, occasionally glancing over. Once they finished a set of exam papers, she strolled back home. Lin Danyun continued to eat ice and watch "Detective Ke Lan," while He Ruchu and Han Zhang leaned together discussing the exam papers, occasionally glancing over. Once they finished a set of exam papers, she strolled back home.

As soon as she heard her mother call her by her full name, she knew that it could only mean trouble. Feeling guilty, she stood there without daring to make a sound. It was only after her mother called her again that she reluctantly went upstairs

This is why everyone calls him "Xu the Demon Head"; he excels at catching others off guard and attacking when they are unprepared. Upon hearing about the exam, He Ruchu was so startled that her soul seemed to leave her body. The textbooks had not even been distributed yet, and she thought Xu the Demon Head would have some routine speech to deliver. To her surprise, before the class even began, he first delivered a show of force. Looking at the other students, they were indeed all exceptional talents, sitting there with expressionless faces, as still as mountains, seemingly the only one in a state of panic.

Because she was criticized, she stubbornly refused to go downstairs for dinner that night. Mother He knocked on the door several times, and seeing that she ignored her, decided to let her be, thinking she would eat when she got hungry. She was waiting for her father to come back and coax her into eating, but little did she know that by 10 PM, Father He still had not returned. At that age of growth, she was already so hungry that her stomach was pressed against her back. Seeing that everyone else had gone to their rooms to sleep, she quietly sneaked into the kitchen and found a large bowl of rice in the microwave, piled high with chicken, duck, fish, and meat, along with a golden fried egg. Without a second thought, she carefully carried it back to her room, feeling like a thief. The stolen food tasted exceptionally delicious, no wonder people always teased her as "cat food." She used to complain about the smell of cooking oil wafting from the kitchen into her bedroom, but now, hiding inside to eat, she was completely unconcerned.

Where did you buy it

It turns out he was poached from elsewhere, and He Ru initially thought to himself, quietly saying to Han Zhang: "Then why did he come to our school, to show off?"

Mother He smiled upon hearing this. Although her daughter is mischievous, her academic performance is commendable. She has not had to worry much about her studies, having gained admission to a key junior high school, a key high school, and a key class all on her own merit. She has never had to ask for favors or gifts on her behalf, saving a great deal of trouble compared to the children around her

She still did not understand and said, "It's too hot, I invite you to the cold drink shop for ice." She dragged her away.

In the order of the list, the first name that Xu Mo mentioned was "Zhong Yue". He raised his head in a hurry, wanting to see who it was. Even before the person arrived, a great commotion had already been stirred up. It is likely that no one in the entire class or even the whole grade was not curious about this name

She weakly argued: "It was all watched during the summer vacation"

In fact, it is still quite early, with the preparatory bell ringing at 7:10, and it is only 6:40 now. Due to a rescheduling, we have moved to a new classroom. The school has provided the best possible learning environment for these "top students" who are about to bring glory to the school. Other classes have at least fifty or sixty students each, with some tutoring classes having over a hundred students, while this class has only twenty-eight students. Not only is the space spacious, but a special area has also been set up as a classroom from the library's reading room, making it extremely quiet. The desks and chairs are all brand new, equipped with the latest multimedia devices, and it is the only classroom in the entire school that has air conditioning, truly a unique advantage. No wonder everyone is enviously focused on Class 0 of the third year.

She could only walk home in silence. After exiting the school gate, she crossed the road and turned right, where there was a large area of high-end apartments. Her home was less than ten minutes away from the school, and if she walked quickly, it would only take five minutes. Because the distance was so short, she had always wanted to ride a bike to school like her classmates, but she was never able to do so, which she deeply regretted.

She turned and left, and Han Zhang hurriedly asked, "Where are you going?"

Having received another lesson, as soon as Mom He went out and hearing the footsteps already descending the stairs, I began to make a phone call, crying and saying: "Lin Danyun, your comic book has been discovered by my mom"

She gritted her teeth and said, "I bought it—" her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz

After a brief moment of calm, she said again: "Mom, the school has established a new zero class, with only twenty-eight students, and I am one of them"

Han Zhang's father is the principal of "Shanglin No. 1 High School," and his mother is the head of the biology department, residing in the senior teachers' apartment on campus. On the way, he encounters Lin Danyun, and the two go together to find Han Zhang. They have known each other since childhood, having grown up in close proximity, one could say they grew up together in the nude. Lin Danyun's mother is the deputy secretary of the Party Committee at "Shanglin No. 1 High School," which is why she also lives on campus. However, Lin Danyun is in a regular class due to insufficient scores. Lin Danyun's mother is the deputy secretary of the Party Committee at "Shanglin No. 1 High School," which is why she also lives on campus. However, Lin Danyun is in a regular class due to insufficient scores.

I completed a set of mathematics mock exam papers, but I have become somewhat rusty in analytic geometry. There is a proof question that I cannot solve no matter what, so I packed my backpack and went to find Han Zhang

Han Zhang hurriedly stepped forward to support her. Seeing them like this, he understood somewhat and pulled her aside, lowering his voice to say: "Let's talk outside first. Making a fuss in the library, chattering away like this, what does it look like!" He dragged her out.

After eating, she felt drowsy. She still remembered to secretly put the bowls and chopsticks back, then fell asleep until dawn. When she opened her eyes, the sky was bright. She hurriedly got up, shouldered her backpack, and was ready to leave. When Mother He called her to have breakfast, she merely said she wasn't hungry, her expression still stiff.

Seeing her daughter’s ashamed expression, Mother He understood the situation and said: "Hand over all your pocket money; in the future, let me know what you wish to buy." In the face of the empress's great anger, she dared not defy her and could only obediently hand over all her pocket money.

The aunt at home called her to come downstairs for dinner, but she lay on the bed secretly reading comics, not moving for a long time. Mother He personally came upstairs, pushed the door open and said: "It's time to eat, what are you dawdling for?"

She said nervously, "It's nothing, I just asked him why he didn't come home for dinner." Mother He glared at her, "One should not speak while eating or sleep while talking, and there is so much nonsense even during a meal! Your father is busy."

Find Dai Xiao, she may be facing some troubles

Han Zhang also lowered his voice and said: "The school has gone to great lengths to invite him here. Not only have they waived all fees such as tuition and insurance, but they have also arranged accommodation for him off-campus." Hearing this, He Ruchu expressed his astonishment.

At the dining table, distracted by thoughts of comics, I absentmindedly took a couple of bites and asked, "Where is Dad?" Without looking up, my mother replied, "What does it matter to ask your dad?"

How could I hold her back, "Dai Xiao, what is wrong? Why are you suddenly unhappy?"

He turned his head to look at him and asked, "Why?"

Then she called Han Zhang, crying poverty: "I got into trouble, my pocket money has been confiscated, please help me out." Han Zhang mocked her: "When have you not gotten into trouble? How many times have I helped you? You say you neither lack food nor clothing, what do you need money for?"

Mother He sat on her bed, throwing several palm-sized comic books onto the floor, remaining silent with a pale face. She glanced around and noticed that the sheets, quilt, and pillows were all missing, knowing that her mother must have taken them to wash, having discovered the comic books hidden in the pillow. Thus, she lowered her head and stared at her toes, refusing to speak.

She could only apologize, and it was not until she offered to give her a purple crystal necklace that this anger was quelled. Lin Danyun was still grumbling on the phone, saying that she would never lend her books to her again.

Everyone has introduced themselves, merely exchanging pleasantries. When it was Han Zhang's turn, someone teased, "Who doesn't know you, Han Zhang, from Shanglin No. 1 High School? Just skip it." Han Zhang chuckled and replied, "I am Han Zhang." After saying this, he sat down, truly concise and to the point. When it was He Ruchu's turn, she, lacking any personality, said, "My name is He Ruchu, with 'ru' as in 'if' and 'chu' as in 'first meeting.' I used to be in Class 1..."

The amiable Xu Motou nodded and said, "There is no need to come up, just stand and speak. I want to say that Classmate Zhong Yue is an outstanding student from 'Meixi No. 1 High School', excelling in both academics and athletics. In the recent joint examination of nine schools, he triumphed over all competitors and won the championship. Everyone should learn from him diligently."

She took the opportunity to make a request: "Mom, I saw a Parker pen at Mingzhu Building, the pen cap is light gold. Could you buy it for me when you turn back?"

She quickly took a couple of bites of her meal, slipped upstairs, and turned back to say: "Mom, remember to buy me a fountain pen, I need it for tomorrow." Mother He did not respond, only urging her to do her homework.

Dai Xiao's face darkened as he forcefully broke free from her grasp, his gaze towards her filled with unfamiliarity, coldly rolling his eyes in extreme impatience

Mother He forcefully slapped the bed and raised her voice: "Look at all this mess, do you still have any justification? What was your rank at the end of last semester? Didn't you swear you would make it into the top five? You spend all day being unambitious, do you think these romantic distractions will get you into Tsinghua or Peking University?" Her head dropped down to her chest, all her usual arrogance vanished. Mother He paused and asked: "Tell me, where did this come from?"

She does not care, only saying that in the future when they go out to eat, he should pay the bill. Han Zhang replied, "Then why don't you just not eat? If you want to eat something, why doesn't your mother buy it for you? I have no money." What she wants to eat is, of course, what she is not allowed to eat at home. Although Han Zhang said this, he still ends up giving in to her every time.

Zhong Yue looked up at her and silently recited "He Ru Chu" once, feeling as if there was a flavor on his tongue, imbued with a unique charm. When he called it out, it rolled off the tongue smoothly, and he secretly remembered her name

A loud knocking on the door startled Mother He, who came out and immediately said: "Be more civilized, just look at yourself, do you look like a girl? Where is your key? You forgot it again—you're already an adult, not a child anymore, always losing things. What will you do in the future?"

Casually picking a seat, I waited for Xu the Demon to assign seats. New students entered one after another, their eyes scanning the room, some familiar faces and some unfamiliar. The preparatory bell for morning reading rang, and Xu the Demon entered, stepping in with his polished leather shoes. He was in his forties, short and stout, with a belly protruding like he was carrying a watermelon while walking. Fortunately, he was fair-skinned, which made him not unattractive. He was extremely amiable when he smiled, but students from previous years had given him the nickname "Xu the Demon," and there was certainly a reason for that.

Only upon hearing it for the first time did I realize why Dai Xiao was so angry. After hesitating for quite a while, I still couldn't make up my mind. Going to find her now would seem like a demonstration, so I timidly asked, "What should we do according to what you said?" She also didn't know how to comfort someone, wearing an expression of guilt and shame, as if it were her fault that Dai Xiao couldn't enter Class Zero.

As soon as he entered, all the buzzing sounds naturally ceased. He scanned the room and leaned on the podium, saying, "Alright, the twenty-eight of you present are the pride of 'Shanglin No. 1 High School', and in the future, it will be up to you to bring honor to the school. I won't say much more. Since you are in a new environment, let's start with a concise self-introduction. After the self-introduction, there will be an exam. Due to the ongoing renovations, the school has not held any supplementary classes throughout the entire summer vacation, and this applies to you who are about to enter the third year of high school as well. Sixty days over two months, an unprecedented situation! You've had enough of a break, and I trust you are all mentally prepared."

She remained silent. Mother He asked again, "Is there anything else?" She shook her head

The economy has been disrupted, and I feel somewhat depressed. I think the Parker pen is definitely out of the question, which troubles me greatly. I can only wait until my mother calms down before addressing it.

How could she angrily shake off Han Zhang, walk a few steps away, and only then remember Dai Xiao? She turned back and saw her far away, head down, heading towards the library. She hurried to catch up, panting, and asked: "Why did you leave first? You didn't even wait for me!"

Zhong Yuezheng gave a brief self-introduction, and everyone fell silent. Only He Ruchu and Han Zhang were whispering to each other. He couldn't help but glance over and noticed that they were the two people he had encountered at the bulletin board last time. They appeared to be very close, and for some reason, he instinctively began to speculate about the nature of their relationship

Dai Xiao let out a hum through his nose, "Forget it—" Just as he was about to say something more, he saw Han Zhang following behind, and he swallowed his words, pushing He Ruchu aside and leaving without looking back

Lin Danyun asked, "Then what about my book?" She could not care less about He Ruchu, only concerned about her beloved comic book. He Ruchu said it was confiscated, and Lin Danyun angrily shouted, "I told you not to bring it home, you should find a place outside to read it. Now that it has been confiscated, how are you going to compensate me! They don't sell it in the bookstore—"

Upon returning home, I tossed my backpack aside, opened the refrigerator to look for a drink, and complained that the sun had already set, yet the ground was still as hot as a steamer. Mother He came downstairs with a stern expression and said: "He Ruchu, come up here immediately"

Han Zhang, seeing that she still did not understand, pointed at her nose and said: "I am asking if you could be a bit more clever? If you go find her now, aren't you just adding fuel to the fire?"

Han Zhang shook his head and said, "Don't you know why she is unhappy? It's precisely because you entered Class 0 and she did not! Isn't it just asking for trouble to go find her now?"

Not hearing a response, I turned my head in surprise to look at her, only to find her eyes red and her whole demeanor lost and disoriented. I hurriedly asked what was wrong. Dai Xiao remained silent, ignoring me, and quickened her pace up the spiral staircase

Dai Xiao was chubby and fair-skinned, sporting a student haircut that reached his neck. He wore a pair of gold-framed glasses for severe myopia perched on his nose. The force of his palm, propelled by anger, was quite substantial. He was slender and delicate, unable to withstand such a blow, and was forced to retreat several steps until he collided into Han Zhang's embrace, finally halting his momentum. Startled, his face turned pale, and he tightly grasped the ornate iron railing, leaning forward as if about to fall. After a while, he managed to say: "What’s wrong with Dai Xiao? It’s as if he has a grudge against me!"

Han Zhang dragged her away, "What can be done about it? Just watch and see. It’s none of your business; let her think it over herself and we can talk about it later. Maybe in a day or two, it will be fine. What time is it already? You should hurry home for dinner!" She thought to herself, girls can be so petty; not getting into the zero class is not a matter of life and death, is it really worth getting so angry over?

She was so frightened that she fell forward, pressing the comic against her chest, and quickly pretended to be asleep, mumbling that she would go down soon. Once Mother He went out, she hurriedly jumped up, stuffed the comic under the pillow, and after a moment's thought, feeling uneasy, she unzipped the pillow and shoved it into the reed stuffing.

She could only run upstairs with her tongue out, shutting out Mama He’s nagging. When they bought the building, He was occasionally complaining about the smell of cooking oil in her old bedroom. In a fit of anger, Papa He bought both the upper and lower units, merging them into a house style, with the kitchen on the lower level and her living upstairs, which finally silenced the complaints.

Mother He looked at her with a serious expression and said, "How do you explain this?"

Only the boy in the last row by the window stood up. He Ruchu, due to the distance and being blocked by the boys in the back row, could only see his profile and did not get a clear look at his features. He appeared quite tall and, like her, was not wearing glasses