Chapter 103: What Brings Me Joy and Sorrow

“Y-Yes—yes, exactly! That’s right! Whether corporal punishment relates to physical fitness, just look at Song Mingcheng—he ran for over three hours and yet is still full of energy! Little Song, you’re truly a promising young man,” Teacher Liu Qing praised warmly.

Song Mingcheng smiled modestly. “Teacher, you flatter me. You’re the real man here—running for three hours like it’s nothing. Clearly, I still need to train more.” He covered his mouth and let out a big yawn.

“Indeed, the sharpness of a sword comes from honing, and the fragrance of plum blossoms arises from bitter cold. You really understand a teacher’s intentions,” Liu Qing said proudly. Then suddenly, he furrowed his brows and sneezed loudly, followed by several more sneezes in quick succession. Frowning, he finally calmed down, sniffed hard, and awkwardly grabbed a roll of tissue from Director Tang’s desk, hurriedly wiping his runny nose and tears. He touched his forehead, then suddenly exclaimed in alarm, “Oh no, I have a fever! Director, I need to take a day off!”

Director Tang gave him a wry smile. “Go get an injection quickly. Don’t let tomorrow’s class be disrupted.”

“Thank you, teacher!” Liu Qing grinned mischievously.

He glanced back at the beautiful Yang, who still looked displeased. Grinning, he playfully tugged her arm. “Teacher Yang, don’t hold a grudge against me. Let’s not be angry. Hurry back to class—don’t miss your lessons!” He affectionately nudged her out.

Director Tang shook his head with a smile.

Seeing that matter was settled, Song Mingcheng thought it was time for him to leave.

“Wait,” Teacher Chen gestured for him to sit beside him. He nodded and obediently took a seat.

“I want to know your thoughts on students dating,” Chen asked gently.

Song Mingcheng raised his long eyebrows, stretched, and smiled. “As for students who are dating, I have no comment. Personally, it’s not on my agenda yet. You know I’m a very methodical person, and my main goal right now is studying. I don’t want to waste precious time on those immature girls. In the future, I want a girl who won’t cause me trouble—someone who can hold her own in social settings and the kitchen, who’s capable in every way: able to fend off hackers, scale walls, drive a nice car, afford a good house, outwit a mistress, and handle street thugs. Height and appearance matter too; ideally, she’d be above average in looks, someone who won’t embarrass me when we go out. Height strictly between 1.62 and 1.65 meters—too short looks awkward, too tall is unnecessary. In short, my standards are quite high, so I’m focusing now on improving myself to match such a woman. I’m in no rush.”

Director Tang snorted coldly, dismissing his long speech with disdain.

Teacher Chen’s face darkened.

After such a lengthy explanation, Song Mingcheng felt tired and leaned over, resting his head on Chen’s desk with his eyes half-closed.

“So, what’s your relationship with Dong Yanyan?” Chen’s expression grew serious as he asked patiently.

“Dong Yanyan? Just a regular classmate. First of all, she doesn’t meet my height criteria, and her temper isn’t great—she cries often,” Song Mingcheng said lazily, turning his head aside. “But she’s a rare girl who can really talk to me. Our thoughts are on the same level, though our IQs differ. You know, boys are naturally smarter than girls.”

Hearing this, Teacher Ma was displeased. “Song Mingcheng, I remember in the midterms, the top two in math and physics were girls, and you were third, right?”

Song Mingcheng smiled. “A gentleman always yields—that’s a virtue.”

“As your Chinese teacher, I think Dong Yanyan is smarter than you. Firstly, her Chinese grades surpass yours. Secondly, your language logic is lacking. IQ differences aren’t just one-dimensional; at least her imagination is richer than yours,” Teacher Ma said with a smile.

“That’s exactly why I admire her. She knows how to play to her strengths and hide her weaknesses. She’s the kind of girl who can write a story just by staring at a wall. Honestly, studying our field might not suit her; she’d be better off in the humanities,” Song Mingcheng said with a grin.

Teacher Ma nodded. “You actually have some insight.”

“Teacher, I’m sleepy. I want to go back and rest,” Song Mingcheng rested his head on his arm, tilting it as he mumbled.

Chen glanced awkwardly at Director Tang, then back at Song Mingcheng.

Director Tang gave Song Mingcheng a sharp look, eyes flashing a hint of severity.

“Song Mingcheng, get up! Is that how you talk to your teachers?” Director Tang scolded sternly.

Half-asleep, Song Mingcheng was startled awake by the sharp tone. He quickly wiped his mouth, stood up straight, lowered his gaze respectfully, but his right fingers habitually tapped lightly on the desk.

Director Tang scrutinized him and asked seriously, “Don’t try to dodge. Several people have seen you and Dong Yanyan coming back from off-campus together early in the morning. How do you explain that? This is a school. Don’t think your good grades let you break the rules and ruin the school’s reputation.”

“The mood feels off today. So that’s the problem,” Song Mingcheng smiled calmly. “Teacher, it’s true that Dong Yanyan and I often walk back together in the morning. She delivers newspapers before dawn every day. I think it’s unsafe for a girl to be out in the dark alone, so I accompany her. The station manager and her colleagues can vouch for this; our classmates all know. Teacher, you know I’m quiet and kind. I don’t brag about good deeds, so it’s understandable you didn’t know.”

Director Tang slapped his head, his expression softening quickly as he laughed with realization. “I forgot about that! She even delivered newspapers here this morning. I overlooked her early work schedule and thought she was out all night. What a blunder—I almost wronged the poor girl.”

“Thank you for understanding, teacher,” Song Mingcheng said humbly. “Dong Yanyan seems carefree but she’s actually strong-willed. If this had been misunderstood, she would have cried for sure. She’s too sensible and stubborn—can’t lift heavy things, can’t shoulder burdens, and her mind isn’t too sharp either. Yet she tries hard to work and save money for her tuition, claiming to fight for her dreams. Sometimes I worry she’ll exhaust herself halfway. But every time I see her so determined and happy, I’m moved. Her popularity isn’t without reason; around her, you feel that uplifting spirit.” He was almost touched himself—a truly inspiring young woman, though sadly her energy was misplaced, trapped in the throes of romance.

“I think Dong Yanyan is pretty good too,” Teacher Ma smiled at Chen. “She has a strong sense of pride. I usually don’t dare to scold her—her eyes well up immediately. She studies hard as well.”

Chen nodded with a smile and checked his watch. “You should go back now. There’s another class this morning. Try to attend if you can.”

“Thanks, teacher! I’m off!” Song Mingcheng stretched comfortably, fixed his hair, and walked out. Class is class—it’s not like they’re teaching him!

* * *

Dong Yanyan returned to the classroom and began packing her things. Lin Feng approached with a puzzled look and asked with concern, “Yanyan, what are you doing?”

Dong Yanyan looked up and smiled. “Lin Feng, I want to switch to the front row. Can anyone swap seats with me?”

Lin Feng breathed a sigh of relief and grinned. “Easy.” Then he called out to Liu Ying in the second row, “Liu Ying, you’re tall—can you switch seats with Dong Yanyan?”

Liu Ying looked between Lin Feng and Dong Yanyan, then laughed. “Sure! Old Five, you come here.” She started packing her books.

Dong Yanyan happily moved her things and sat next to Leng Yue.

Leng Yue teased with a smile, “Old Three just abandoned me like that.”

Dong Yanyan lifted her chin and smiled. “Sister, she’s gone, but I’m here now! From now on, I’m sticking with you!”

“Great! Let me borrow your physics homework!” Leng Yue stretched out her hand without shame.

Looking at the eager little hand, Dong Yanyan finally understood why her grades weren’t good—she was spoiled by her third sister!

* * *

Song Mingcheng returned to the classroom, pulled out a chair, and sat down. He was about to tease Dong Yanyan when he noticed his desk mate had changed! He froze for a moment, then laughed. “This is much better. Liu Ying, lend me your Chinese notes—I just got roasted by the Chinese teacher.”

With the notes in hand, he searched for Dong Yanyan’s seat. From the corner of his eye, he saw Lin Feng glancing at him deliberately and gave him a sharp glare when no one was looking.

Lin Feng ignored it, wearing an innocent smile.

* * *

In dorm 510, Li Zhe and Zhang Dawei lay in bed wearing thermal underwear, disheveled and sluggish. Ren Jiaxuan and He Jingxuan sat side by side on Qiu Huanyu’s bed, receiving IV drips, fiddling with the syringes while weakly singing Zhou Huajian’s “Let Me Be Happy, Let Me Be Sad.”

Sweet sat on the opposite bed, peeling fruit for them.

“Love’s end is like spilled water that cannot be retrieved, love and hate go on endlessly; only when it’s too late to hold on do we recall your tenderness, your care, your comfort, adding to my sorrow, waiting endlessly through the night, tears flowing alone, so wishing to say I truly love you, so wishing to say I’m sorry to you, you weep as the love ends, impossible to renew, impossible to awaken again~~”

“Stop! Stop! Jiaxuan, save your voice! You two can’t sleep and now you’re keeping everyone else up?!” Zhang Dawei shouted in frustration, clutching his pillow fiercely under the covers.

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