Chapter 9: Physics, P.E., and a Puzzling Glance

The first class of the afternoon was Physics. Due to the new college entrance examination system, all nine subjects were taught together before the official streaming. This “three plus one plus two” model, which marked the beginning of class division, would only commence in about half a year. I suspected that Huang Beifeng would undoubtedly pursue History, meaning she had strategically abandoned Physics as a subject. Consequently, during Physics class, just like the morning’s lesson, she was completely disengaged. She was either doodling in her textbook or scribbling something in a small notebook. To be honest, I was quite curious about what she was writing, but it was class time, so I decided to dismiss the thought.

As I diligently shifted my focus back to the lecture, I suddenly felt a faint gaze settle upon me. Before I could instinctively turn towards the source of the stare, it swiftly darted away.

‘Who on earth was staring at me?’

‘It couldn’t be those boys who wrote me love letters, could it?’

However, after surveying the boys in the classroom, I noticed they were all listening intently. Perhaps it was their inherent inclination towards the sciences, but these boys were all fixated on the blue text displayed on the whiteboard, showing no signs of distraction whatsoever.

‘It seemed they either genuinely loved Physics, or perhaps, they were compelled to study it?’

‘If it wasn’t a boy, then could it be a girl? Oh, right, weren’t there two girls who wrote me love letters? Could it be one of them?’

After a moment of careful thought, I recalled that Can Ye’s seat was behind mine, and the gaze I’d felt had clearly come from the side. Therefore, it couldn’t have been her. ‘In that case, it was most likely Tang Xiao Rou.’

Upon reflection, Tang Xiao Rou’s seat should be to my left. Given that two boys sat between us, she would have had ample time to avert her gaze when I had previously glanced in that direction.

‘Was that truly it?’

I couldn’t be certain, so I cautiously cast a glance in her direction. True to her name, she indeed looked like an authentic loli.

‘As for me, I definitely didn’t count. While my figure might resemble that of a loli, I was a boy, after all. So there was no way I was a loli.’

The moment my gaze landed on her, Tang Xiao Rou’s body suddenly trembled. After a fleeting, evasive glance at me, she raised a hand to tightly cover her slightly flushed cheeks.

‘Wait, I didn’t do anything! Why are you blushing?’

‘It seemed she really had been staring at me just now.’

However, just as I was about to properly observe this authentic loli, I suddenly heard someone call my name.

“Student Luo Ye, could you please explain this problem to the class?”

‘Hiss! No way, talk about a grand opening! The very first question and they called on me. This was either incredibly lucky or a total disaster.’

Fortunately, my foundational knowledge remained. The instant I stood up, my gaze swept across the problem on the blackboard, and my mind began to race. After only a few seconds of deliberation, I provided the answer.

“That was an excellent answer, please sit down. Students, you should all learn from Student Luo Ye. However, Student Luo Ye, please remember not to get distracted in class.”

‘Hiss! So I was still noticed, huh? That was a close call, though. Good thing I answered it, otherwise, who knows what kind of predicament I would have been in.’

Breathing a slight sigh of relief, I realized it was time to fully concentrate on the lesson. ‘Phew, that really scared me just now. From now on, I definitely shouldn’t get distracted. If my foundation hadn’t been solid, I would have made a complete fool of myself.’

Once my attention was fully focused, I suddenly noticed how quickly time flew by. In an instant, the class was over.

‘I truly felt a sense of incompleteness. It seemed my inclinations were still rooted in the sciences.’

Glancing at the schedule, the next class appeared to be physical education.

‘Wait, P.E. class?’

Apparently, before P.E. class at this school, students had to change into specialized athletic wear. To accommodate this, the school had set up two changing rooms, each capable of holding students from several classes at once.

‘But which one should I go to?!’

‘If I went to the boys’ changing room, I’d probably be exposed immediately. But if I went to the girls’ side, wouldn’t I be mistaken for a pervert?’

‘Hiss! No way, I’m not going, I’m not going to P.E. class!’

‘Oh, right, I just started school today, so I don’t have my own sports uniform. That means I don’t have to go, right?’

However, just as I was formulating an excuse to skip P.E., Huang Beifeng suddenly grabbed my arm.

“Come on, let’s go change.”

‘Hold on, you already know I’m a boy, yet you’re still so casually pulling me along? Don’t you have any sense of self-preservation?’

“Um, I don’t have a sports uniform, so could you help me ask for leave?”

“Oh, you don’t? Then I’ll lend you one.”

‘Hey, don’t give me such divine assistance! Can’t you see I don’t want to go? You’re practically pushing me into a fiery pit!’

“Forget it, it’s not good to wear someone else’s,” I said weakly, glancing at her, hoping she would understand my implication.

“You’re not… doing this because you’re afraid to change with the girls, are you?”

‘Damn it, she actually hit the nail on the head! Was I really that obvious?’

“N-n-no way!”

‘Wait, what am I saying? What did I just say?’

Seeing the sly smile playing on Huang Beifeng’s lips, I knew I had truly misspoken.

“So, you’re admitting that you harbor ill intentions and want to change clothes with the girls? You pervert!”

‘Hey, hey, don’t misunderstand, okay? I wasn’t thinking anything like that!’

Blushing slightly, I shot her a look. “N-no way!”

Observing my reaction, Huang Beifeng suddenly burst out laughing.

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop teasing you. Honestly, it’s just changing clothes with girls, what’s there to be scared of? Besides, looking at you, no one would ever mistake you for a boy. If you don’t act a little more normally, people will eventually start to get suspicious.”

While her words might be true, it still felt utterly inappropriate for a boy like me to go into the girls’ changing room and change clothes with them.