Chapter 24: An Unusual Conversation

One afternoon, after math class, the class teacher Su Ming didn’t leave as usual. Instead, she approached Lin Duo and said, ‘Lin, could you help me move some things in my office?

‘This kind of task is usually assigned to male students, but Lin Duo didn’t think much of it and followed her obediently.

Su Ming led Lin Duo to a copying room, ensuring no one was inside before closing the door. Her expression turned serious. ‘Lin, someone reported that you and Wang Linshu are in a relationship. Is that true?

‘Lin Duo was startled and quickly shook her head. ‘Absolutely not! Wang Linshu and I are just regular friends!’

‘Really?’ Su Ming’s gaze held a hint of authority.

‘Really!’ Lin Duo nodded vigorously. ‘I’ve never liked any boy, and I wouldn’t be in a relationship with anyone.’

Su Ming looked deeply into Lin Duo’s eyes, seeming to believe her to some extent, but she continued, ‘Even if you don’t have such thoughts, what about Wang Linshu? A girl as pretty as you never lacks admirers. It’s said that Fang Yuwen from Class 3 confessed to you, but you turned him down.’

Lin Duo was surprised to learn that the teacher, who usually stayed in the office, knew so much about school gossip. She quickly denied it. ‘Wang Linshu and I only interact regarding studies. He has never made any inappropriate remarks or actions, and he’s focused on his studies right now.’

Hearing this, Su Ming seemed to relax. ‘That’s good. Both you and Wang Linshu have shown significant improvement in your grades this semester. I hope you can maintain this momentum. Also, Lin Duo, if you have any problems in life or studies, feel free to talk to me. In my eyes, you’ve always been a diligent and well-behaved student.’

‘Thank you, Teacher,’ Lin Duo thought to herself with relief.

Su Ming then placed a stack of papers on the copier and quickly made copies. ‘Lin Duo, could you distribute these to the class and tell them to complete them before the next math class?’

Upon returning to the classroom, Lin Duo handed out the test papers. Wang Linshu curiously asked, ‘Did Teacher Su say anything to you?’

‘No, she just encouraged me to study hard.’ Lin Duo blinked her big eyes. ‘By the way, I don’t understand a problem in my studies. Can you explain it to me?…’

In the second semester of the third year, exams became more frequent. Besides the monthly and semester exams, there were frequent subject-specific tests. If a student performed well, the teacher would praise them. If they did poorly, they would receive a warning.

Since Lin Duo had excellent grades and was consistently in the top 5 of the class, she often received verbal praise from various teachers. As a result, her status in the class improved significantly, as most students naturally respected high-performing peers. Additionally, Lin Duo was always kind, patiently explaining problems to those who asked, which gradually increased her popularity. During breaks, students would chat with her, and during physical education classes, girls would often invite her to play.

In late March, shortly after the first monthly exam of the new semester, the school arranged for all third-year students to take a health check-up at the hospital via bus.

During the health check-up, female students underwent an additional measurement: chest circumference. Each class of girls was taken to a sealed room without windows, where they were measured by a female doctor. Lin Duo had been worried about being discovered, but her concerns were unfounded. Due to long-term medication, her upper body was indistinguishable from that of her peers, although her chest was slightly smaller. The doctor recorded ‘6 cm’ on the health form and called the next student.

Lin Duo used this opportunity to observe the development of her classmates’ chests. Most were around an A cup, with a few reaching a B cup. Notably, a usually low-key, slightly overweight classmate had reached a C cup, which was quite large for their age. Lin Duo looked at her own small breasts with affection, wondering when they might grow larger.

The other tests were routine, such as height, weight, vision, and blood pressure. Lin Duo’s height remained at 157 cm, making her one of the shorter girls in the class, which made her a bit sad. However, her weight was under 80 pounds, which many girls in her class envied.

During the blood test, a girl in front of Lin Duo expressed her fear of the procedure. A nearby boy joked, ‘Girls see blood all the time, so why are you afraid now?’

‘You jerk!’ the girl retorted angrily, trying to hit him, but he quickly dodged.

Lin Duo looked confused. ‘Why are girls so used to seeing blood?’

The girl in front of her, noticing Lin Duo’s genuine confusion, leaned in and whispered, ‘It’s that time of the month. These boys are just being strange.’

Lin Duo understood and blushed slightly, but also felt a touch of sadness. After all, she wasn’t a real girl and wouldn’t experience menstruation. To avoid her foster parents’ suspicions, Lin Duo would sometimes throw used sanitary pads in the trash, which felt deceitful.

After the health check-up, it was time for the physical fitness test. Although physical education scores made up only a small portion of the overall middle school exam score, every point mattered. For Lin Duo, the most challenging part was the 800-meter run. Her endurance was poor, and she pushed herself too hard, vomiting afterward. Other girls supported her to the bathroom to recover. However, Lin Duo excelled in flexibility and jumping height, achieving near-perfect scores. In the end, she scored 27 out of 30 in physical education, which was quite good compared to her classmates.

As April arrived, the middle school exam approached, with less than 80 days remaining. Students spent their days doing practice problems, and the classroom atmosphere became increasingly tense due to the warm weather. During the mid-term exam in mid-April, Lin Duo ranked 30th in the year, qualifying her to aim for the prestigious South Logic High School. Wang Linshu, despite his rapid progress, only reached 51st, which frustrated him.

Shortly after the mid-term results were announced, it was time to submit college applications. Lin Duo filled in ‘South Logic High School’ as her first choice, followed by a district key school, and then about seven other high schools based on previous admission standards. Wang Linshu’s top three choices were the same as Lin Duo’s.

Class teacher Su Ming took the time to speak privately with Wang Linshu. ‘With your current ranking, it might be difficult to get into South Logic High School. You should consider other options.’

‘It’s okay, I have a backup plan,’ Wang Linshu replied confidently.

‘But you can only choose one district key school, and with your current scores, you could aim for a different district key school with lower admission requirements,’ Su Ming advised seriously. ‘I’ve seen your hard work this year, and it would be a shame if you ended up in a district key school.’

Wang Linshu shook his head firmly. ‘Teacher, I’ve discussed this with my family, and they support my decision.’

Su Ming sighed softly. ‘In that case, I won’t say more. By the way, three students in our class are aiming for South Logic High School: you, Lin Duo, and Pei Zhezhi.’

Wang Linshu remained silent.

‘Sometimes, a romantic relationship can be a motivation for studies,’ Su Ming added calmly. ‘Well, that’s all. You can return to the classroom now.’