Although He Li deserved to die and Su Cui had killed him herself, the subsequent developments did not bring her relief. Instead, a bone-chilling cold lingered in her heart.
On the newspaper full of articles, the game of interests was so clear to Su Cui.
She had to be more cautious.
Su Cui thought to herself, folding the newspapers she had read and setting them aside.
*
He Li's death sparked long-lasting discussions in Su Baixue's class as well.
Su Baixue mainly listened and didn't express opinions.
Until one day, when Qi Ji was discussing the cultural festival activities with her, she heard him mention it casually.
"Hey, Su Baixue, have you heard about the drug dealer at our school?"
Su Baixue: "?"
"You must never touch drugs. If someone secretly pushes anything on you, don't accept it. Also, if someone asks you to scan some QR code, be careful not to scan it casually, and..."
Su Baixue's mouth opened slightly, looking at Qi Ji in surprise.
Qi Ji rambled on for a while, finally saying, "If you feel someone is suspicious or scared, you can tell me... Last time during the planning, didn't I give you my phone number? You can call me."
Seeing Qi Ji's reddened neck, his immature features under his black-rimmed glasses, and his nervous expression, Su Baixue vaguely realized for the first time—
The class monitor seemed to care about her?
This was the first time in Su Baixue's teenage life that she clearly received pure kindness and concern from a peer of the opposite sex. She felt a bit at a loss and didn't know how to respond.
In the end, after Qi Ji finished speaking, she looked away from him a little flustered and whispered, "Mm, thanks."
*
When the cultural festival began, the campus flowers were in full bloom. An indescribable breeze brushed against them, so comforting.
Messy birds chirped on the branches. Shao Li munched on an apple, complaining that her succulents had died from too much sunlight.
Tian Ling was still busy chasing stars—Wei Yun's frequent scandals left her no mind to target Su Baixue.
Chen Baozhu showed off her new sneakers and necklace...
The second half of freshman year passed quickly between studies and fun.
In the original harmonious novel, the most troublesome characters during high school, Zhao Pengfei and He Li, had already been dealt with by Su Cui. The remaining minor villains couldn't cause much stir. The thugs, after being caught using drugs, were forced by their families to drop out and go to rehab.
Su Baixue's campus life safely settled into a normal routine.
Studying, having fun, minor conflicts, friends... She experienced the best period of life like a normal high school girl.
After He Li's case simmered down for a while, it gradually faded from memory.
When classes were divided in sophomore year, Shao Li, through steady academic progress, successfully entered the experimental class. To Su Baixue's surprise, Tian Ling's grades had exploded at the end of freshman year, and she also entered the experimental class—though she was last.
The homeroom teacher of the experimental class appointed Qi Ji as class monitor and Su Baixue as academic committee member.
After two cycles of seasons, Su Baixue took the college entrance exam on a bright morning.