Chapter 31: Bu Yang

The last member of their group to arrive was Wang Xuelai. She was also the last to arrive in the entire class. More precisely, she arrived right on time.

Seven-thirty on the dot, not a minute more, not a minute less, Shi Yue thought to herself. Wang Xuelai expressionlessly took out her textbook for the morning reading session. Although it was called “reading aloud,” Shi Yue didn’t hear a sound from her. It seemed she was just mouthing along with the rest of the class. However, her gaze was indeed fixed on the book, turning the page only when she finished reading it, not daydreaming or doing her own thing.

Lu Yansheng, who sat next to Shi Yue and usually dared not speak, read very loudly during the morning session, his voice blending perfectly into the cacophony. Bu Yang had the most standard pronunciation. Although her voice wasn’t loud, to Shi Yue, it sounded like an elegant news anchor mixed into the noise of a vegetable market… apparently, she really was a member of the school broadcasting station.

As for Shi Yue, she held her book and mumbled along with the class. When she reached points she hadn’t memorized yet, she would focus and read seriously; when she reached parts she had already mastered, she would secretly think about murder.

The short morning reading session ended quickly. The first class was Math, followed by a second consecutive Math period. Shi Yue had missed a week of classes. Before her absence, they hadn’t even finished set theory, but in the blink of an eye, coordinate axes were being drawn on the blackboard. Shi Yue stared blankly at the board like she was listening to an alien language, her brain feeling as heavy as lead.

What is this “monotonicity of functions” he’s talking about…

Fortunately, Bu Yang, who sat opposite Shi Yue, and Wang Xuelai next to her were both decent at Math. They helped explain what Shi Yue didn’t understand in class. After class, Bu Yang kindly helped Shi Yue catch up on the set theory she had missed, even dragging Wang Xuelai along to help. Wang Xuelai wasn’t particularly interested in helping others, but she didn’t refuse either, basically answering whatever was asked.

With their help, Shi Yue’s progress was indeed much faster. For the subsequent English, Chemistry, and History classes, Bu Yang led Wang Xuelai in helping Shi Yue fill in the gaps. She also carefully highlighted key points from previous lessons for Shi Yue to memorize first, suggesting she could fill in the extra details later and prioritize the essentials for exams.

During the lunch break, Bu Yang gave up her nap time to patiently summarize important points for each subject in a notebook for Shi Yue. She also took out her workbook and carefully selected representative problems. The tightly drawn lavender curtains isolated the noon classroom in a gray-black filter. Most students were sprawled on their desks, fast asleep. A few were burying their heads in problems or sneaking looks at novels. Bu Yang sat with her back straight, taking serious notes. Just before afternoon classes started, she handed the workbook and notebook to Shi Yue, whispering for her to prioritize the marked questions and memorize the key points she had extracted. Since Bu Yang hadn’t napped all noon, Shi Yue felt too embarrassed to sleep herself, so she forced herself to look like she was studying hard, at least to honor Bu Yang’s sincere efforts.

Holding the remedial plan Bu Yang had so wholeheartedly prepared, Shi Yue felt moved but also a trace of confusion. She couldn’t quite understand how Bu Yang could always be so enthusiastic toward others. No matter how much effort she put into helping, Shi Yue couldn’t offer much in return, at most treating her to a dry pot or barbecue meal… and even then, Bu Yang would probably fight to pay the bill.

Shi Yue stole a glance at Wang Xuelai and Lu Yansheng, who were sound asleep. Yesterday, when faced with danger, Lu Yansheng had been so scared by Qin Yong that he hid behind the girls. Today, while helping her study, Wang Xuelai was dragged along by Bu Yang, only passively answering questions; if Shi Yue didn’t ask, Wang Xuelai wouldn’t volunteer information she knew. Shi Yue couldn’t imagine either of them actively helping others.

Is this… a heart of pure gold?

There was a PE class in the afternoon. Shi Yue’s physical fitness was naturally beyond question, better than some boys with average constitutions. However, Shi Yue was usually a loner. During free periods, she could never find anyone to play with. Girls generally were a bit afraid of her, and while some boys wanted to hit on her, they were choked off by her cold personality. Over time, Shi Yue ended up running laps around the playground alone to pass the short free time.

But today was different.

“Shi Yue, want to play badminton?”

Bu Yang was standing with a few girls from the class. As soon as the teacher yelled “Dismissed,” she couldn’t wait to pull Shi Yue over to play with them.

The girls in the class didn’t know Shi Yue well, and their gazes fell upon her one by one. Shi Yue didn’t say much; since she was invited, she would play.

Time to give you a little Bullet Time shock.

“…Too invincible, right?”

After Shi Yue smashed twenty consecutive shots, several girls held their rackets, complaining that it was impossible to play. Bu Yang looked at Shi Yue apologetically and had to ask her to step out. However, she didn’t stay in the clique either; instead, she made an excuse to accompany Shi Yue and find something else to do.

Shi Yue and Bu Yang tossed their rackets back into the equipment bin and started walking around the playground. The girls who had been crushed by Shi Yue cast strange glances at her, remarking that her reaction speed was practically inhuman. But some looked at Shi Yue with a hint of admiration, seeming to see this rumored mysterious classmate in a new light.

Bu Yang walked two laps around the playground with Shi Yue. At first, Shi Yue didn’t have much to say, so Bu Yang started talking about herself. She mentioned how her parents moved the family from their hometown to Phoenix City when she was little. Her father worked a civilian job in the security forces for a few years. Later, due to his hard work and a bit of luck in being promoted by a superior, he rose rapidly through the ranks, eventually landing the position of Vice Training Commissioner of the Phoenix City Security Force. Along with another Vice Commissioner, he reported to Commander Zhang Qianhao. Bu Yang’s father had told her that Zhang Qianhao was from the imperial capital, Jinling, and had belonged to the Imperial Guard with a promising future. However, because of some offense, he was demoted to Phoenix City, replacing his old leader as Training Commissioner. So, this noble scion who should have been making waves in the capital was forced to stoop and lead them here.

“My dad said struggling isn’t easy. He struggled all his life to finally become a Vice Commissioner. It’s truly ‘no pain, no gain.’ My dad, though, doesn’t have much real power. Aside from clocking in for work, he just writes calligraphy, reads books, and plays with me every day~ Haha, you won’t believe it, but my dad is an officer, yet guess what gives him the biggest headache now? It’s that every time I have a question I don’t understand, I go to him. He has no clue but is too embarrassed to admit it, so he has to grit his teeth and relearn high school material. He feels like his old bones are falling apart! Hahaha~”

Saying this, Bu Yang couldn’t help but burst into bell-like laughter. She mentioned that her father often told her to study hard and get her diploma so he could pull strings to get her a job that wasn’t too busy but could support her. In his words, “If you can reach my level, my life will be complete.”

She also talked about her mother. Her mother was originally a housewife. When her father was working at the grassroots level, to supplement the family income, she went out to do part-time jobs—waitress, factory worker, copyist. Later, when her husband succeeded, she stayed home to accompany her child. Bu Yang spoke of her mother with deep affection, and Shi Yue could sense that Bu Yang’s mother must be a very gentle person.

Like her father, her mother often warned Bu Yang to study hard so she could work at her father’s unit in the future. “Whatever you do, don’t end up a laborer,” she would say. “Manual labor is hard work with no future. Be a person above others, not below them.”