"Heh." Xi Siyan chuckled. "Old Xiang, do you see? There's someone here who refuses to cooperate." 　　Chen Mo then realized that it was normal for high school students not to use cell phones. 　　He convinced himself, 'You're just a high school student now, you have to attend classes, take exams, and, well, you'll have to go through the college entrance exam all over again.' Before this daunting fact could elicit any more speechlessness, he heard Xiang Shenglong say, 'Chen Mo doesn't have to hand it in for now.' 　　He said to Chen Mo in a warm tone, "You can stay at school for a couple of days to get used to it. If you don't feel comfortable, you can call your family if you want to. As long as you don't bring your phone into the classroom, you can hand it in next week." 　　Xi Siyan immediately scoffed, "You're talking like you're trying to fool a child." 　　"Thank you, Teacher Xiang." Chen Mo spoke at the same time as him, "No need to contact your family. I can't sleep at night without checking my phone. I'll adjust in a couple of days." 　　Xiang Shenglong: "...That electronic product is addictive, so you should play with it less." 　　While Chen Mo found it amusing, he was also somewhat distracted. After spending two days at the Yang family's house, he had truly forgotten that the reason he found his high school life so difficult to adapt to was not only because of social scum like Li Rui and countless rumors, but also because of the constant caution and attention from all his teachers. 　　Most people aren't as straightforward as Director Lai, which makes them even more uncomfortable. 　　Yuhuai Village is indeed a poor and remote area, but it's not so remote that even a dirt road can't reach it. It's true that the school he attended from childhood was a Hope Primary School built with donations from wealthy people, but at least his junior high and first year of high school were in the county. 　　He had used a mobile phone, although it was a button phone. 　　He knew which way the amusement park gates faced, and that the skating rink gatekeeper would open the gate for you in the middle of the night for ten yuan. He even knew that the only two bars in the county town had part-time workers who could earn several hundred yuan a night. 　　Not to mention Chen Mo today. 　　How could he tell his homeroom teacher, with whom he would spend the next two years, that he couldn't be a model student? In his past life, he barely lived up to those titles because studying was his only way out for the first seventeen years. Later, he focused solely on improving his grades because of anger and resentment, to the point that he didn't even recognize everyone in his class. His impression of his homeroom teacher was merely that of a young teacher who was quite good at getting along with students. 　　But now he neither wants to compete with Yang Shule nor needs to prove anything through his achievements. 　　He even asked a question that sounded completely nonsensical to Xiang Shenglong: "Teacher Xiang, is the experimental class a flexible class system?" 　　"No, that's not true." Although Xiang Shenglong felt that this was a fact that everyone knew, he still said seriously, "It used to be, but it was canceled last year. You don't need to feel too much pressure, the class won't easily change people." 　　Chen Mo: "...Yes, thank you, teacher. I'm actually not under any pressure." 　　Unfortunately, the dream of being removed from the experimental class ultimately came to nothing. 　　After leaving the office together with Xi Siyan, Chen Mo went back to the classroom, while Xi Siyan went to another office building. 　　As they parted, Chen Mo called out to him. 　　Xi Siyan asked, puzzled, "Is something the matter?" 　　Chen Mo asked, "Which floor is Class 1 of Grade 11 on?" 　　"Are you kidding me?" 　　Chen Mo raised his hands, "I swear to God, I'm asking seriously." 　　"Do you still have a conscience?" Xi Siyan stared at him for two seconds, as if confirming something, and finally said, "Turn left on the second floor." 　　Chen Mo nodded to indicate that he understood, "Thank you, class monitor. You're a good person." 　　Xi Siyan turned around and said, "When you're calling me a good person, you can smile even more fakely." 　　When Chen Mo found the classroom of Class 1, Grade 11, the bell had just rung to end the morning self-study session, and the classroom was noisy. 　　Some people went to get water, some played around, but since it was the top class, most of them were still engrossed in reading and doing exercises. 　　When Chen Mo entered the classroom, the room suddenly became much quieter. 　　Qi Li's deskmate looked at the swollen bump on his forehead, which was bluish-purple and quite frightening. 　　"Why didn't I see you talking to Yang Shule today?" My deskmate was genuinely puzzled. 　　Yang Shule's seat was in the third row from the middle, a typical good student's seat. He had missed a full two weeks of classes. Even though he had heard about what happened over the weekend, when he entered the school, his seat was still surrounded by many students who were trying to comfort him. 　　But today, Qi Li, who is usually Yang Shule's best friend, sat in his seat and showed no intention of going over. 　　Upon hearing this, Qi Li pulled out a book and said indifferently, "I just don't want to go. Why should I have to go?" 　　My deskmate muttered to himself, "I was just asking, why are you being so mean?" 　　"What's it to you?!" His deskmate was also taken aback by his sudden outburst, and his voice was so loud that everyone looked over. 　　Including Yang Shule. 　　"Shule, what's wrong with Qi Li today?" 　　"Yeah, it's weird." 　　Someone looked at the person who had just come in from the door and said, "What could have happened? He was beaten up like that by Chen Mo, it would be strange if he was in a good mood." 　　Yang Shule remained seated. 　　As Chen Mo entered through the door, he looked around the classroom as if searching for something. Only after being reminded by a student in the front row did he walk towards his seat. 　　That spot was next to the podium, a single, unique spot. 　　Others might not know, but Yang Shule knew that the teacher considered that seat a sign of special treatment, but it also meant he would be the most easily noticed. He'd been making his presence felt at home these past few days; could he really be so indifferent now that he was in that position? 　　Unfortunately, Chen Mo neither sat down calmly nor seemed uneasy. 　　He moved the table away. 　　Chen Mo knew that many people were watching him, but so what? Thinking back to those two months in his previous life when he felt like he was being watched by thorns, he wasn't crazy; he was still sitting here. 　　He moved the table to the very back of the row closest to the window and slammed it down. 　　A cacophony of discussion immediately erupted around them. 　　"What was he doing? Did he ask the teacher to change it?" 　　"Who knows? It just makes him seem special. He can hit someone and not even flinch. It would be easy for him to get into our class by paying money. What's a little seat change?"

Chapter 20