Haide High School had always emphasized a balance between work and rest, at least in the current principal’s philosophy.
Study hard when it’s time to study, and play to the fullest when it’s time to play.
Not only did they organize visits to various museums and cultural centers, along with spring and autumn outings, but after monthly exams there were also rich in-school film screenings, art festivals, various sports competitions, and at year-end, a New Year’s gala.
This teaching model was relatively rare in high schools focused on college admissions. Quite a few parents criticized it.
But in the end, those complaints fizzled out. After all, this newly established high school was truly solid in faculty and infrastructure.
With a little over a month until final exams, Principal Zhou was thinking of letting the students unwind a bit.
“This principal… our final exams this time are city-wide unified.” The dean of students was kept behind after the morning assembly. Upon hearing this, Principal Zhou’s budding idea dimmed considerably.
“For this unified exam, does our school have a shot at pushing for the top?”
When Jiang Cheng had transferred back home to recuperate, he had sighed in regret for quite a while. That was a rare talent they’d fought hard to recruit—one who could aim for valedictorian.
“At the moment, No. 1 High still has a clear advantage. Mingli and the affiliated high school are neck-and-neck with us.”
The dean recalled the data from the last unified exam, but back then Jiang Cheng hadn’t been there.
And now, after all the twists and turns, Jiang Cheng still wasn’t there.
“How’s the new student?”
Once the college entrance exams were over, this year’s sophomores would become the next batch of seniors. Principal Zhou occasionally kept an eye on the experimental class.
The Jiang Cheng his niece often mentioned had naturally caught his attention too.
In their most recent monthly exam, Jiang Cheng had completely taken over what would have been Jiang Cheng’s spot, dominating the top rank.
“An outstanding student. This time, Haide has gained another great asset.”
“Good. Then… we won’t hold any big events. We can arrange for the students to watch a performance. Let’s set it for Friday afternoon. The school participated in that stage play festival earlier, and I still have some tickets.”
“Reward them to the students who ranked high in the monthly exam?”
“Yes, voluntary basis. If they don’t want to go, it can pass to the next in line. Actually, let’s do this… part as rewards, the other part randomly drawn from students on campus.”
“Alright, I’ll notify the homeroom teachers soon.”
Principal Zhou nodded in satisfaction.
After the dean left, he reviewed some more materials. Just as he was about to pull up next week’s calendar, Zhou Qingying burst in.
“You don’t even knock.” Principal Zhou looked at her helplessly and closed the notebook beside him.
“This is urgent. Where are those tickets from before? The ones for the festival.” Zhou Qingying sat across from him and casually opened a bottle of water on the desk to drink.
Since arriving at school, she’d been rehearsing nonstop and hadn’t rested much. Now, with a free moment, she immediately ran to the principal’s office.
This Friday was the festival, and she wanted to invite Jiang Cheng and Chen Ting to watch.
“Tickets? Those aren’t for you.”
Principal Zhou leaned back leisurely, hands folded over his round belly, index finger tapping his hand intermittently.
“But I’m a performer this time. I should at least have the right to decide on two tickets, right? I first asked the teacher directing our performance, but she’s already given out all her tickets.”
Zhou Qingying figured her uncle must still have some and hurried over.
“I just had Teacher Sun take those tickets away. I don’t have any here.”
“Ah… who are you giving them to?”
“Who else? Of course, as rewards for the students.” Principal Zhou looked at his niece, somewhat speechless.
“Monthly exam rewards?”
“And some randomly selected.”
Zhou Qingying recalled Chen Ting’s ranking, asked about the number of tickets, and left with a satisfied grin.
“You’re saving them for your two best friends, aren’t you?”
Principal Zhou’s eyes screamed *I knew it*.
“What else? Chengcheng and Tingting only know how to do practice papers. We barely chat anymore.” Zhou Qingying was a bit depressed.
She planned to take the arts route and test for a performance major. In the second half of the year, she’d leave school for exams, and during summer break, she’d have intensive training.
Most of the time the three of them could spend together was on campus.
Days they could share as memories were even rarer.
“Then you don’t need to worry. They’re both outstanding students. You should learn more from them usually.”
“I know~” Zhou Qingying didn’t want to hear nagging and left first.
She headed back to the classroom and ran into Jiang Cheng and Chen Ting at the door. Each was hugging a huge stack of workbooks.
“Hey, Yingying, quick quick quick! Help me carry some.”
Zhou Qingying ignored Chen Ting’s plea and directly took over half of Jiang Cheng’s stack.
“You’re something—only helping Chengcheng, favoring beauty over friendship!”
“Chengcheng is my good friend too. Besides, your arms could swing and kill two of me.”
“You’re talking about me? Have you gained weight lately? Your face looks rounder.”
“Don’t talk nonsense! I’m just puffy from lack of sleep!”
Zhou Qingying was most afraid of people saying she was fat. She had to control her weight now and wouldn’t dare eat extra snacks before training camp.
“That’s too bad. Since you’re dieting, you can’t eat randomly~” Chen Ting quickened her steps to Jiang Cheng’s side. “After school, let’s go to that new oden place. The owner’s supposedly some kind of immortal.”
“You’re bullying me…”
Zhou Qingying stood on Jiang Cheng’s other side, trying to pull her into her camp.
But from earlier until now, Jiang Cheng had been in a daze.
Noticing something off, the two stopped joking and grew concerned.
“Chengcheng, any troubles again?”
Chen Ting got excited whenever Jiang Cheng shared her worries. She found that Jiang Cheng in these moments had a soft, easy-to-tease vibe.
Ask one question, get one answer—completely different from her usual quiet self.
But… after hearing more, Chen Ting grew curious. Who exactly was this “elder” Jiang Cheng mentioned?
Piecing together the scattered clues, she could only sketch an image of someone older and quite caring.
In plain terms, a good person.
Chen Ting didn’t know why Jiang Cheng cared so much about them.
“It’s not a trouble.”
Jiang Cheng indeed wasn’t troubled. She was thinking about Wang Ziyue’s invitation.
This weekend, she was invited to her house—a novel experience for Jiang Cheng.
In elementary school, she had gone to classmates’ homes with adults, but back then she didn’t talk much and just sat alone.
In middle school, she had never been invited to anyone’s home.
The first time still made her nervous.
“Do you bring gifts when visiting someone’s house?”
“Buy some fruit? Depends on who it is. If I go to Yingying’s house, I bring nothing—I’ll even eat her snacks.”
“You’re always targeting me!” Zhou Qingying’s teeth itched with anger. The snacks she couldn’t bear to eat were all devoured by this girl.
“Chengcheng, are you going to someone’s house?”
“Mm… something like that.” Jiang Cheng was vague.
“Not a date, right?” Chen Ting carried the workbooks to the podium and sorted them into groups.
Jiang Cheng helped organize but didn’t answer Chen Ting.
After a pause, Zhou Qingying spoke first. She shot Chen Ting a glance. “I think you’re too focused on Chengcheng’s love life.”
Every three sentences.
Jiang Cheng was about to stop their increasingly off-track topic when she noticed Zhou Qingying’s strange expression.
“Yingying?”
“Ah… oh, I forgot to tell you both. This Friday, you’re coming to watch my performance. Teacher Ma should give you tickets.”
Zhou Qingying smiled, but Jiang Cheng felt the smile was forced.
She leaned in closer. Zhou Qingying’s face suddenly enlarged before her, and her breathing hitched.
“Have you not rested properly for too long?” Seeing color return to her face, Jiang Cheng relaxed.
“I have glucose—want a bottle?” Chen Ting pointed to her seat, ready to grab it.
“I’m really fine. I’m just tired from practicing too long. I’ll ask the directing teacher for a break soon.”
“Then rest well. Friday, we’re both coming to watch you! Don’t let us miss the leading lady~”
Chen Ting still grabbed a bottle of glucose and stuffed it into her hand.
Jiang Cheng watched her fingers tighten slightly, knuckles whitening.
After school, Jiang Cheng didn’t leave immediately. She studied in the classroom for a while until she saw Zhou Qingying return.
“Hey, you’re still here.” Zhou Qingying was surprised to see Jiang Cheng at this hour and beamed.
“Mm, I was waiting for you.” Jiang Cheng packed her notebook into her bag. “You seemed off this morning… I was wondering if you’re under too much pressure.”
Zhou Qingying froze, then quickly explained: “Really no! We’ve prepared this performance for so long. If anything, I was nervous only when I was first selected.”
“Is that so?” Jiang Cheng looked at her for a moment.
Just as Zhou Qingying could barely suppress the panic in her heart, Jiang Cheng suddenly said, “If you’re ever stressed, you can tell me and Tingting. I have to go home now. See you tomorrow.”
Jiang Cheng smiled and left, her tied ponytail swinging in an arc.
“See you tomorrow…”
Zhou Qingying watched her go, her raised hand lingering in the air.