“Does it smell good? That can’t be right!” Huang Xiu looked utterly bewildered.
He sniffed himself, but detected nothing beyond the scent of Blue Moon laundry detergent.
“I’ve always used Safeguard soap! You’re probably just smelling the Blue Moon laundry detergent on my clothes.”
“Impossible! Absolutely impossible!”
Shi Lei’s face was grave. “It’s definitely not the scent of laundry detergent or Safeguard.”
“My nose is incredibly sensitive.”
With that, he leaned in again, intending to sniff, only to be shoved back by Huang Xiu’s hand pushing against his face.
“Damn it, buddy, I’m not *nantong* (TL Note: A Chinese slang term for gay), so back off!” Huang Xiu’s face was etched with disdain.
“Neither am I!” Shi Lei retorted, a hint of grievance in his tone. He had indeed caught a faint, natural fragrance, one that brought a refreshing sense of comfort.
“Also, why do I feel like your skin has gotten lighter?”
“You damn idiot, hurry up and do your homework! Bald Liu will catch you tomorrow if he checks it!”
A horrified Huang Xiu quickly reined in the increasingly alarming Shi Lei.
By invoking the threat of Bald Liu, he managed to divert Shi Lei’s attention from himself to his homework.
Having spent the day on homework and idle chatter, time swiftly advanced to ten o’clock at night.
The classroom gradually emptied, leaving mostly diligent top students and a handful of those who hadn’t finished their assignments.
Yet Huang Xiu, whose homework was long completed, remained.
He held a book of essay materials, but his mind seemed elsewhere, his gaze flitting from the pages to the world outside the window below.
Taking a deep breath, he steeled his resolve.
Biting his lip, Huang Xiu walked out of the classroom, each step feeling like an advance towards an execution ground.
The corridor was quiet, devoid of people.
Incandescent light spilled from the classroom windows, and occasionally, the murmur of student voices could be heard from within.
Beyond the railings, the world was utterly tranquil; the moon hung high, and insects chirped occasionally.
Inside and out felt like two completely different worlds.
He stepped somewhat forcefully onto the stairwell, a *pa* sound echoing as he awakened the sound-activated lights.
Huang Xiu descended floor by floor, pausing on each landing to peer left and right down the corridor.
From time to time, he checked his phone’s signal, his right hand gripping the device so tightly his knuckles whitened.
He continued all the way to the first floor, returning to the spot where the incident had occurred that day, his phone signal still full.
Huang Xiu wandered back and forth in the vicinity for a while, but with nothing happening, he returned to his dorm.
“It’s a good thing the Pig-headed Man didn’t appear.” He quickly showered, then lay in bed, burying his head under the covers.
As long as he remained at school, he couldn’t avoid evening self-study, so he might as well probe the situation beforehand.
It was with this mindset that Huang Xiu had stepped out of the classroom.
‘It would be even better if they never appeared again for the rest of my life.’
Sometimes, only after losing something does one realize its true value, and now, he understood.
Compared to the tumultuous world of anime, he truly preferred his ordinary high school life.
Just like today… an ordinary day of doing homework, and an ordinary gaze… at her retreating figure.
‘Ha, normalcy is truly wonderful!’
A smile curved Huang Xiu’s lips as he closed his eyes, slowly drifting into sleep.
****
Monday, April fifteenth, dawned clear and bright.
In the classroom of Class 4, Grade 11, Bald Liu was outlining the arrangements for today’s Tianshan University admissions physical examination—this was the school’s top priority, overshadowing all other matters.
“Today’s main event is the physical. According to the schedule, our Grade 11 is the first batch, and Grade 12 is the second. Our class has 40 students, so we’ll be split into two buses.”
Bald Liu wrote the bus license plate numbers on the blackboard.
“Everyone, remember the license plate numbers so you don’t get on the wrong bus. Seating is limited.”
“For ease of communication, we won’t be collecting phones today. Remember to check the class group chat regularly; all the latest news will be posted there.”
This announcement sparked a cheer throughout the class, forcing Bald Liu to rap on the desk to restore order.
“One more thing: the arrangements for the preliminary exam are out. It’s scheduled for tomorrow, right here at school. I’ll send the details to the class group chat shortly, so make sure you don’t go to the wrong examination room!”
“Oh, and the preliminary exam will be invigilated by teachers from the Education Bureau. You’ll need your ID card to enter the examination room, so don’t forget it. If your ID card isn’t with you at school, come see me later for a temporary identification certificate.”
“We depart at nine o’clock, so you have half an hour. Everyone, please rest in your seats for now,” Bald Liu added.
The students in the class were buzzing with excitement, whispering amongst themselves from the very beginning, unsure whether it was due to the two days off from classes or the impending Tianshan University admissions exam.
Huang Xiu, however, knew his own excitement stemmed, in all likelihood, from the upcoming physical examination.
He simultaneously hoped the physical would reveal his uniqueness, explaining the essence of his transformation, yet also dreaded it truly detecting any differences.
These two conflicting emotions intertwined within him, leaving him agitated, exhilarated, and yet somewhat uneasy.
His heart felt as if it had become an ant’s nest, both numb and itching.
Glancing at Shi Lei, who sat to his right, Huang Xiu noticed he wore an utterly indifferent expression, secretly playing on his phone without a trace of anxiety.
‘As expected, Malphite (TL Note: A character from the game League of Legends, known for being a tank) remains unperturbed,’ Huang Xiu mused.
Gazing at the boisterous students below, Bald Liu, uncharacteristically, did not reiterate classroom discipline.
He understood that these two days marked their first significant crossroads in life.
Perhaps some lives would be forever altered, perhaps not.
Regardless, it would be a valuable lesson—especially once they witnessed the victors.
Fang Miaoging’s fingers were intertwined on her desk, her two thumbs unconsciously rubbing against each other.
Her pearly teeth repeatedly gnawed at her lower lip, tearing at the delicate skin around its edges.
Bits of skin were torn away and swallowed.
It wasn’t until her deskmate and best friend, Yuan Ting, tapped her shoulder that she belatedly turned to look.
“It’s nine o’clock; time to go,” Yuan Ting reminded her.
“Let’s go, let’s go!” Even though the bus seats were prepared for the exact number of students, she rushed downstairs as if a moment’s delay would leave her without a seat.
Outside the No. 1 High School gate, six buses were parked vertically, though only two had occupants—all from Class 4.
Fang Miaoging pulled her best friend’s hand, chose the less crowded bus, and picked a window seat in the back row.
She settled comfortably, dutifully fastening her seatbelt, then turned her head, intending to say something to Yuan Ting.
Instead, she saw two boys board through the back door, chatting and laughing as they walked all the way to the rear, then sat in the seats directly behind and to their right.
The boy leading them had fair, delicate skin, his eyes and brows exuding the unique youthful charm of a teenager.
Fang Miaoging couldn’t help but steal another glance. ‘Brother Xiu’s skin… is it really that good?’
His skin was even fairer and more delicate than her own; had he been using some special facial cleanser for maintenance?
This minor puzzle, however, was quickly cast aside as the bus drew closer to the Municipal People’s Hospital.
The bus rounded its final bend, slowly entering the hospital grounds beneath the raised barrier.
*Screech!
Accompanied by the screech of brakes and a gentle sway, the bus came to a steady halt behind the vehicle in front—they had arrived at the hospital.
The passengers spilled out from both the front and rear doors, like fish leaping from water.
Squinting as he surveyed the “Outpatient Department” sign adorning the building, Huang Xiu took a deep breath.
The physical examination had begun!