The classroom door was open, and many students were seated inside. The teacher at the podium was rambling on about topics unrelated to the lesson.
"Report," Fu Chengwei and Ning Wei stood at the doorway, fully reverting to the role of students.
The teacher shot Fu Chengwei an displeased look and pointed to the wall clock. "Look at the time, both of you. Several minutes have passed since the bell rang, and you're just arriving. Are you even paying attention to your studies!"
Fu Chengwei tried to argue, "Teacher, we went to the restroom?"
The teacher was still not letting them off the hook. "What, is the school restroom for both genders? You knew she went to the restroom."
The teacher's words were sarcastic and lacked any sense of professionalism.
At that moment, Song Zhi walked by and bailed them out. "Teacher, I apologize. After class, I asked them to do something for me, which delayed their time."
Song Zhi was good-looking, so the female teacher couldn't say much more.
"I'll let you off today on Teacher Song's account. Come in quickly," the female teacher gave Song Zhi ample face.
Song Zhi stood at the door, smiling and waving at the female teacher. "Then I won't disturb your class."
After Song Zhi had walked away, the female teacher retracted her gaze. The students below were filled with curiosity, watching the spectacle. The female teacher directly threw her book onto the desk, and the dust that was kicked up unfortunate the students in the front row.
"What are you looking at? Your minds aren't on your studies!"
Someone quietly grumbled, "I wonder who it is whose eyes are practically glued to Teacher Song!"
This voice was very soft, so the female teacher didn't hear it at all, or else she would have further delayed the class.
Ning Wei and Fu Chengwei were not spared either. The teacher ordered them to clean the restrooms at the end of the corridor after school.
Fu Chengwei fully embraced his role as a mischievous student. Upon hearing that they had to clean toilets, he immediately let out a "Ah!" of protest.
Unfortunately, his protest was invalid. The female teacher completely ignored him, even telling him to move his desk to the back row, to sit alone, under the pretense of not disturbing the other students.
Some students wore expressions of schadenfreude, while a small number showed sympathy.
Ning Wei's seat was in the middle of the classroom. Beside her sat a female classmate with a ponytail. From the moment Ning Wei entered, this female classmate hadn't spared her a single glance.
This is interesting. Ning Wei observed her with curiosity for several moments, not hiding her gaze at all. Yet, this female classmate simply refused to turn her head.
Upon entering this classroom, Ning Wei felt an extreme sense of oddity.
An odd female teacher who didn't hide her feelings when seeing a young, handsome male teacher.
Odd students who seemed to enjoy watching their classmates get punished.
Fu Chengwei, seated in the last row, was clearly the worst student in the class. He was determined to remain a delinquent student, even falling asleep during class.
The teacher, however, didn't seem to care what he was doing, as long as he wasn't disturbing others.
During class, the students were divided into two extremes. Those who were very serious sat at the very front, listening attentively to the teacher's lengthy lectures, occasionally getting sprayed by a droplet of saliva from the teacher's excited exclamations.
The underachievers were at the back. They clearly lacked interest in studying, either sleeping or reading novels.
However, surprisingly, whatever they were doing, it didn't seem to affect anyone else.
Ning Wei glanced at her deskmate and also began to take diligent notes.
Time passed quickly, and the morning was over.
The female teacher was the homeroom teacher of Class 2, Grade 1. When school let out for lunch, she did not forget to specifically remind Ning Wei and Fu Chengwei at the doorway, "You are not allowed to eat until the toilets are clean. After you're done, come to the office and call me. I will personally inspect it."
This teacher's perversity was truly appalling.
Ning Wei and Fu Chengwei took their mops and buckets and entered the male and female restrooms, respectively. There were ten individual cubicles, each with its door closed.
Fu Chengwei next door was already having fun. Ning Wei could guess how much fun he was having outside, even through the wall.
Ning Wei directly tossed her dark mop into the sink to wash it clean, then opened each door and began to mop the floor.
The floor was very dirty, with mud, bloodstains, and even a blackish-red liquid.
Considering how lavishly this school was decorated, it was unexpected for the restrooms to be so filthy. It didn't seem like something students would do.
There was too much dirt, and the sink was blocked. Ning Wei directly took a plunger from beside the drain and used it on the sink.
And surprisingly, it worked quite well.
Under Ning Wei's efforts, the restroom was finally clean.
Fu Chengwei, who was next door, was waiting for Ning Wei at the entrance right on time. The two went to call the teacher for inspection.
This female teacher was extremely picky. She found fault with this spot and that spot, claiming they weren't clean enough. It wasn't until the cafeteria was closed that she finally let them go.
Fu Chengwei touched his stomach, looking at Ning Wei with a hint of grievance. "I'm so hungry. Let's steal food from the cafeteria."
Ning Wei glanced at him. "If you're not afraid of encountering ghosts, then go ahead."
Fu Chengwei was so carefree here precisely because there were no ghosts yet.
After Ning Wei's reminder, he didn't dare to mention being hungry anymore.
Clutching his stomach, he dejectedly returned to the dormitory with Ning Wei.
The school regulations stated that school ended precisely at twelve o'clock. Students had to be back in their dormitories by one o'clock to rest and had to leave their dormitories by two o'clock.
The two of them entered the dormitory just in the nick of time and were stopped by the dormitory auntie at the entrance. Upon learning that they had been punished by the teacher to clean the toilets, she revealed a hint of subtle heartache before letting them go upstairs to rest.
Information about which dormitory they were assigned to was obtained from a set of keys found in their pockets.
Ning Wei looked at the key and murmured softly, "404. It seems I have a special connection with the number 4."
Upon opening the dormitory door, their roommates were already in bed resting.
Ning Wei found her bed and, after confirming the bedding was clean, lay down.
When it was time to wake up, the dormitory auntie would go from door to door, knocking to rouse the students, ensuring they wouldn't be late for afternoon classes.
After everyone woke up, Ning Wei got a clear look at her roommates.
They were all from the same class. One of them was her deskmate, and the others were students who sat in front of, behind, or beside her. She wondered if this arrangement was deliberate.
Everyone was very listless. After tidying up, they left the room.
Ning Wei followed behind. Along the way, she saw hardly any students laughing or chatting, which was very different from her impression of a school.
Everyone walked their own path, very quietly.
After leaving the dormitory, male students could be seen.
The boys were the same. There was no youthful exuberance about them. Boys usually loved playing basketball, but not a single one was seen carrying a basketball.