Respect for Mountains and Rivers

2

A few days later, the new semester at He Zhong School was about to commence. Jian Xing was reminded by her grandma to apply sunscreen before she even left the house. It was really not necessary that day as it was just a simple registration and orientation day, but seeing how excited her grandma was, Jian Xing couldn't stand to disappoint her.

Taking her grandma's advice seriously, she diligently applied a layer of sunscreen. She spent the morning helping Jian Rulu at home and decided to head to school only in the afternoon, around three.

On registration day, the notice board was usually swarmed in the morning, but at this time, there were only a few people lingering. The notice board displayed the class distribution—an allocation based on middle school test scores, with sixty-five students assigned to each class.

He Zhong School categorized their classes into three types: Ambition, Transition, and Normal. The Ambition classes were filled with exemplary students who scored well in middle school. Generally, those who managed to enter the Ambition classes were ranked at the top of the entire county in their middle school tests.

As the name implied, Transition classes were for students transitioning from one stage to another. The school would form three classes with the 120 students who ranked right after those in the Ambition classes. The rest of the students would be allocated to the Normal classes.

Jian Xing was stellar during her middle school years, but upon reaching high school, she realized everyone was just as exemplary. After pouring in three years of hard work, she barely made it to the tail of the Transition class.

"Jian Xing!" Someone taps her shoulder.

Jian Xing turns around and sees Xu Lu, the English class representative from the next class over in junior high. They used to share the same English teacher and had some interactions.

Seeing Jian Xing, one of the few classmates who got into Hezhong High School, Xu Lu is quite excited. "What a coincidence!"

"It really is." Jian Xing replies.

Jian Xing has always been a reserved person, so Xu Lu doesn't feel alienated by her indifferent response. Xu Lu takes the initiative to ask, "Which class are you in? Our scores in the middle school entrance exams were quite close, aren't we in the same class?"

Jian Xing only checked her own class when she looked at the class division table earlier, she hadn't seen others. She replies, "I'm in class three."

Xu Lu's eyes widen with surprise, "Really? I am too!"

Jian Xing is also somewhat surprised, she allows a hint of emotion to show, "That's really a coincidence."

Perhaps the serial coincidences make them feel a kind of fate between them. Any minor barriers that existed between the two disappear instantly. Xu Lu directly hooks her arm around Jian Xing's, "That's great, we can eat lunch together today."

"Huh?" Jian Xing asks. "Aren't you going home?"

"Do you not know?" Xu Lu asks. "In high school, we have evening self-study sessions. It starts tonight."

Jian Xing is surprised at missing such important news, she asks, "Has this already been announced?"

"Yes," Xu Lu points to a spot and says, "The notice is posted over there: all first-year students are to have regular evening self-study sessions starting today. It's still daylight saving time now, so it starts at 6:50."

But...

"Isn't it not even four o'clock yet?" Jian Xing is puzzled.

Xu Lu exclaims, "Don't you want to explore the nearby food spots? I haven't eaten at the school cafeteria yet, so I'm excited!"

Jian Xing doesn't quite understand this kind of excitement but agrees by nodding her head.

Hezhong High School is one of the key provincial-level schools in He county, and its architecture and layout are almost an exact copy of Peking University.

As new entrants to this campus, Jian Xing and Xu Lu diligently tour the school.

As they pass Zhuanyuan Pavilion, Xu Lu lets go of Jian Xing and folds her hands in front of Zhuanyuan Lake, with a pious face. She mumbles quietly, "I hope I can be granted my wish and get into a key university."

After sincerely saying this three times, Xu Lu prods Jian Xing to join her.

Feeling helpless, Jian Xing responds, "This is useless. We'd be better off spending this time on a few more questions."

Xu Lu immediately collapses, "Don't say anymore, I feel so pressured."

Jian Xing smiles and suggests, "Let's go to the bookstore. The school has a Xinhua Bookstore."

"Really? That's great!"

Xu Lu is so excited she doesn't even question why Jian Xing, who has just entered the school less than an hour ago, would know about the bookstore.

Instead of taking the original route, the two decided to cross a bridge over the lake. As they were walking to the center of the bridge, they looked down and saw a few boys squatting at the other end of the bridge.

These boys, dressed in blue and white uniforms from Hezhong High School with '2008' printed on the back, are sophomores.

Xu Lu, who had always idealized key high schools, was disappointed to see students here who weren't well-behaved.

Perhaps it's because their gaze was too direct, attracting the attention of the group of boys.

Xu Lu, feeling a bit scared, whispers to Jian Xing, "Should we go back?"

Xu Lu had assumed that Jian Xing would be even more frightened - in her mind, Jian Xing seemed to have no particularly good friends.

Moreover, their middle school was a private one, with not many high-achieving students. Most of them were either from rural areas with no registered residency in the city or were forced to transfer because of troubles in their public schools. Few were willing to abide by the rules set by the head teacher.

However, Jian Xing had always abided by the rules for those three years.

She was the model child in everyone's eyes.

And obedient children should stay away from the bad students.

Yet, to Xu Lu's surprise, Jian Xing says, "It's fine, I know them."

"Jian Xin said something that suggests familiarity, but her expression was as cold as a stranger's. Xu Lu could not determine whether Jian Xin really knew the person or was simply telling a fib, but the fact that she herself did not know the person was true, so she could only cling to Jian Xin and passed by with a forced calm.

As they walked past the bridge, she sneakily glanced at the one leaning against the tree. She only dared to look at him. Because among the three, he had the gentlest appearance. He even had an air of a good student. Suddenly, this person opened his mouth and called out Jian Xin in an neither loud nor soft voice.

Xu Lu felt guilty, as if a thorn was in her back, and she stopped. Holding tightly onto Jian Xin's arm, Jian Xin felt a bit of pain, patted Xu Lu reassuringly and said: 'It's fine.' She turned her head towards the side, 'Is there something?'

The one squatting by the river opened his mouth first, 'Yo? Jia Ming, do you know her?' The one sitting on the stone, having tossed his cigarette, looked at her curiously, 'A junior? Qin Jia Ming, you're really good at keeping secrets. When did you get to know her?'

Qin Jia Ming gave a chuckle and straightened up, approaching Jian Xin. He first looked at Xu Lu amiably, before asking Jian Xin, 'Which class are you in?' Jian Xin replied, 'Class 3.' 'A transition class?' Qin Jia Ming asked. Jian Xin nodded. Qin Jiaming also nodded, 'Impressive.' Jian Xin smiled faintly.

After a brief silence, Qin Jia Ming asked again, 'Are you going home later?' Jian Xin replied, 'No, I have plans with my classmates.' Qin Jia Ming glanced at Xu Lu and nodded understandingly, saying, 'Alright, we'll chat another day.' Jian Xin agreed. When she turned around Jian Xin glanced at the a neatly folded blue checkered umbrella placed next to the guy on the stone.

It was a common one that could easily be found on the racks of a supermarket. Despite that, she couldn't resist turning her head for a better look. He seemed to be quite outgoing, as he caught Jian Xin's gaze, he raised his arm and waved, 'Goodbye, junior.' Jian Xin retracted her gaze and nodded slightly. Just as she was about to walk away, footsteps suddenly resounded from behind her.

The one who had been sitting on the stone stood up and shouted, 'This!' The footsteps from behind her became closer, accompanied by a man's calm voice, 'I've seen it.' Jian Xin's movements faltered slightly. Xu Lu, who had been eager to leave, had not heard the person approaching them. Afraid her hesitation was too apparent, Jian Xin could only follow Xu Lu.

They'd only walked two steps when Qin Jia Ming spoke again, 'Jian Xin.' Jian Xin immediately turned around, 'Hmm?' She reacted quickly, as if truly curious about why Qin Jia Ming had called her. In that instant as she turned around, her gaze involuntarily lingered at the riverside for a moment, only for a moment, before she nonchalantly retracted her gaze.

She tried to act as if nothing was amiss, but in reality, her heart was pounding so hard she thought it would burst and her ears were burning hot. Afraid that Qin Jia Ming would notice something, she took the initiative to ask, 'What...' Sudden panic made her voice tense and she choked, coughing a couple of times before finally managing to get the discomfort under control.

Her vision was blurred by a physiological fog causing her discomfort to magnify and make her more anxious. She wanted nothing more than to run away. Qin Jia Ming patted her back a couple of times, 'Are you okay?' Jian Xin waved her hand, her voice a bit hoarse, 'I'm fine.' 'As long as you're alright. I'll introduce you to someone,' Qin Jia Ming said, 'He's in the same grade.'

Upon hearing his words, the one who had previously been squatting by the river sighed dramatically, 'These days, even making friends has become a matter of class, how the world has fallen!'

Qin Jiaming laughed and cursed, 'Get lost.' 'Hehe, junior, I am Wu Dan. Call me Egg Brother when you see me. But I am not a part of any transition class or Hongzhi class,' Wu Dan turned to the stone, 'Now, there's a good student over there.'"

Jian Xin blinked. Finally, it made sense for her to look over.

The boy was heading right towards the stone to pick up his umbrella, but upon realizing he was being watched, he straightened up and looked right at Jian Xin.

It was still hot and bright at four or five in the afternoon in summer. The shimmering lake behind him made Jian Xin's eyes burn.

Jian Xin swallowed her feelings and didn't blink or say anything.

The boy made the first move, nodding slightly as a greeting.

Qin Jiaming introduced him: "Xu Zhengqing."

"And this is Jian Xin from class three."

Xu Zhengqing had big hands. His not-so-small umbrella looked a bit like a miniature toy in his hands. He stood straight and said, "I'm from class one."

It wasn't just about academic performance. Temperamentally, Xu Zhengqing was the polar opposite of Wu Dan and his friends.

He was in a simple white hoodie. Despite still being in his teenage years, he already had handsome features, a face that parents would love and admire.

On standing straight, it was conspicuous that he was well over one meter eighty tall.

Higher than Qin Jiaming.

Qin Jiaming looked at Xu Zhengqing surprisingly, "Why aren't you in the experimental class?"

"I didn't go," Xu Zhengqing replied half-joking, "I couldn't handle the rigorous training."

The one who was sitting on the stone stood up, walked a few steps over to Xu Zhengqing, and slung an arm around his shoulders, saying to Qin Jiaming: "Have you ever seen our big bro Xu being so cool?"

Xu Zhengqing gave him a mild nudge with his elbow and chuckled.

"Hey, show some respect to your seniors."

Wu Dan couldn't stand it, he hit with the willow branch and scolded: "Jiang Ze, can't you have some shame?"

Jiang Ze: "Where am I shameless? Aren't I his senior? I'm not just his senior, but for the rest of his life, I'll always be his senior!"

"Don't make such grandiose declarations," Qin Jiaming teased Jiang Ze and continued speaking with Xu Zhengqing, "so you and Jian Xin are in the same building, what a coincidence."

Xu Zhengqing seemed to understand the implications of Qin Jiaming's words, he glanced at Jian Xin again and nodded towards her.

At that moment, a breeze blew, lifting Jian Xin's ponytail. Warmness spread over her neck, she felt a sudden tingling sensation across her body, afterward she tried to smile stiffly at Xu Zhengqing.

Xu Zhengqing left after picking up his umbrella and saying goodbye to them.

He did not linger around like Jian Xin and Xu Lu, instead, he turned and walked back the way he had come.