It was a stroke of luck that Li Yundong stepped in to help her out. Li Yundong chuckled, “What hero?”
Cheng Cheng, seeing Feng Na’s ears flush crimson, knew she was flustered. She immediately handed over the notebook she was clutching and grinned, “Oh, great hero, sign this! I’m officially becoming your number two die-hard fan!”
Li Yundong took the notebook and glanced at it, laughing, “You’re bringing me your economics textbook for an autograph? Not very sincere!”
Cheng Cheng stuck out her tongue and giggled, “It’s fine, just sign here!”
Li Yundong didn't push back as he might have before. He smiled, picked up a pen, and signed his name on the flyleaf. Feng Na, meanwhile, watched his every move with unwavering attention. She felt this young man had suddenly matured so much, yet simultaneously become a stranger.
As Li Yundong handed the signed textbook back to Cheng Cheng, Feng Na suddenly snatched it, rolled the book into a tight cylinder, and thrust it close to Li Yundong’s mouth, saying with mock seriousness, “Classmate Li Yundong, what exactly were you thinking when you performed that rescue?”
Li Yundong was speechless with laughter, “What was I thinking? Nothing at all!”
Feng Na playfully smacked Li Yundong with the textbook, feigning anger, “As the hero of Tiannan University, how could you be thinking of nothing? Answer properly!”
Though Li Yundong had suddenly matured and gained composure from the major incident, his essential nature hadn't changed. Seeing Feng Na’s antics, he deliberately stiffened his face and said with utmost seriousness, “In that moment, I thought of my motherland, I thought of the Party, I thought of the people…”
Before he could finish, Feng Na and Cheng Cheng couldn't hold their composure and burst into peals of laughter.
Feng Na, still laughing, said to Li Yundong, “Thank heavens, you’re still the guy I know!”
Li Yundong touched his cheek and smiled, “Have I changed that much?”
Feng Na looked at him earnestly, “From the first moment I met you, you’ve changed so much, and so quickly! But, I still prefer seeing you the way you used to be—frank, open, laughing whenever you felt like it.”
Li Yundong laughed heartily, “Am I not like that now?”
They chatted and laughed until it was almost time for class. Seeing that Feng Na and Cheng Cheng showed no signs of leaving, Li Yundong asked curiously, “Aren’t you guys going to class today?”
Feng Na knew in her heart that Li Yundong needed to leave for his class, and she should too, but though her mind wanted to go, her feet and rear felt rooted to the spot; she couldn't budge.
Cheng Cheng once again smoothed things over, “We have a self-study session today. We’re reviewing old material from our sophomore year! It’s good to revisit the old to gain new insights!”
Li Yundong smiled, “Really? But I think Feng Na, you have the demeanor of a journalist. You might consider that line of work later!”
Hearing this, Feng Na’s face lit up with surprise, “Really? You think so too? I’ve actually considered it!”
Li Yundong looked at Feng Na very seriously and said matter-of-factly, “I was just being polite, don’t take it seriously!”
Feng Na’s face instantly fell, “How mean! You tricked me!”
Li Yundong laughed out loud, “Who told you to trick me first?”
While they were speaking, the class bell rang, and the last few students hurried through the classroom door.
The first to enter was Ding Nan. This tall, beautiful girl, clicking in her high heels, entered the classroom dressed as fashionably and sexily as ever, as if nothing had happened to her recently. However, when Ding Nan spotted Li Yundong in the room, she paused, a slight smile touching her lips, and nodded towards him.
Cheng Cheng, sitting next to Li Yundong, nudged him with her elbow and sighed dramatically, “It’s over, you have another rival for your affections!”
Li Yundong noticed that Ding Nan hadn't entered with Zhou Qin this time, which struck him as odd. “Where’s Zhou Qin? Aren’t they usually inseparable?”
Speaking of the devil, Zhou Qin entered the classroom not long after Ding Nan.
This stunningly beautiful girl walked in clutching her books. Her eyes scanned the empty seats. Upon seeing the hostile and challenging glare from Ding Nan, Zhou Qin’s gaze hesitated for a moment before she swept past, seemingly unconcerned. But when she saw Li Yundong, a complex look flashed in her eyes, and she quickly averted her gaze, finding a random seat.
The last person to enter was the professor for Ancient Chinese Literature. The teacher walked into the classroom, his gaze sweeping over the students, then delivered a statement so shocking it felt like thunder: “The final exams are approaching quickly; we only have a few classes left. Now, I will outline the key points for you.”
The classroom instantly erupted into chaos!
“Wow, Professor, no way! It’s just the finals? It’s only just passed June; we still have a month, right?”
“Yeah, do we really need to narrow down the focus this early?”
“Professor, just give us the exam questions directly!”
The Ancient Chinese Literature professor glared at the students below the lectern and said sternly, “There was a very serious incident of violence at the school recently, so the Academic Committee has decided to hold the final exams early—by mid-June at the latest. Therefore, you had better write down every word I say from now on, as it will directly affect your final grades and credits!”
Saying that, the Ancient Chinese Literature professor boomed, “Is Li Yundong present?”
Li Yundong—a name that carried immense weight at Tiannan University. Although the entire class knew this young man was their classmate, they all visibly flinched, feeling as if the name resonated like a gong. They collectively turned to look at Li Yundong.
Li Yundong raised one hand, composedly stating, “I am here, Professor.”
The Ancient Chinese Literature professor was an old man named Ma, wearing thick reading glasses perched on his nose. He slightly lowered his head, peered at Li Yundong over his spectacles, and said slowly, “Why is the great hero sitting so far in the back? Can you hear me clearly?”
A ripple of suppressed laughter went through the class.
Being teased by classmates was different from being teased by a professor. Li Yundong felt his cheeks burn, but he forced himself to reply stiffly, “I can hear you, Professor!”
Professor Ma nodded, “Good that you can hear. If you fail this course because you couldn't hear the instructions, you will become the first hero at Tiannan University to be advised to withdraw or be expelled because of poor grades and insufficient credits.”
Upon hearing this, Li Yundong could no longer maintain his composure. He stammered, “What? No way?”
Hearing this, the class monitor, Sun Li, sitting in the front row, turned around and looked at him with deep disappointment, saying, “Idiot, don't you know you’ve missed over fifty classes? You have eight subjects for the final exams this semester, but you only qualify for one; the other seven have had your exam eligibility revoked! Moreover, if you fail the remaining one, you’ll be docked credits for missing all subjects this semester. Then, even if you scored perfectly in every subject for the remaining two years, you still wouldn't graduate!”
Li Yundong nearly fainted, his eyes wide and fixed, unable to speak.
Seeing his expression, the students in the classroom burst into loud laughter. Some felt that the untouchable hero had suddenly walked down to earth, his ethereal image becoming suddenly real.
“Right, even Superman, no matter how awesome, still has to wear underwear—though he prefers wearing it outside! Even Lin Daiyu, as ethereal as she is, still has to eat grains, drink water, and use the restroom! No matter how great your power, you can’t instantly detach from this real society! You need housing, food, transportation, and you have to support that heavily pregnant Su Chan! Where isn't money needed?” Li Yundong’s face crumpled in anxiety, thinking to himself.
Just then, a male student from the row in front turned back and whispered, “Don’t worry, Boss. I’ll pass you notes during the exam!”
Li Yundong was immediately deeply touched. “Good brother! May I ask your surname?”
The young man had a look of anguish on his face, “Are you serious? You’ve been classmates with me for almost two years, and you still don't know my surname? Boss, you really are unique, aren’t you?”
Li Yundong gave an awkward laugh, “I was just keeping a low profile before!”
The young man smiled obsequiously, “It’s fine, Boss. My name is Zhang Qian—‘Zhang’ like Jacky Cheung, ‘Qian’ like Liu Qian. I’ve got your cheat sheets covered for the exam! But, could you maybe teach me your kung fu?”
Li Yundong froze, “Huh?”
A nearby classmate saw the shameless threat, and a girl immediately turned around and reprimanded him righteously, “Zhang Qian, you disappoint me! How can you take advantage of someone’s predicament! Besides, how do you know how seating will be arranged for the exam? If they seat you in Teaching Building One, you have the guts to pass a note to Teaching Building Two, I’d like to see that!”
Li Yundong nodded vigorously and added fuel to the fire, scolding, “Exactly! Well said!”
This girl then turned to Li Yundong with a brilliant smile, her change in demeanor so swift it was astonishing. She giggled flirtatiously, “Handsome Li, if I’m seated next to you during the exam, I will definitely hand over my paper without asking for anything in return…”
Before she finished speaking, a girl next to her interjected with a snide tone, “…and your body, too.”
The first girl instantly turned red-faced and lunged to pinch and hit her neighbor.
The surrounding students burst into loud laughter.
Li Yundong felt a mix of amusement and exasperation, unsure what to say.
The teacher at the podium couldn't stand it anymore, coughed dryly, and tapped the blackboard with his chalk eraser, “Hey, are you performing a skit? Don’t you want to pass this course?”
Only then did the students settle down, sitting up straight, opening their textbooks, picking up their pens, and looking expectantly at the teacher for him to outline the main points.
Mr. Ma nodded with satisfaction and said, “Don’t worry, I won’t make it difficult for you this time. Outlining the key points is simple; I can explain it in just a few sentences!”
Li Yundong also opened his textbook, waiting for Mr. Ma to announce the crucial topics.
Feng Na whispered beside him, “Hey, have you really missed that many classes?”
Li Yundong shot her a look, “Can you stop bringing up things I’d rather not discuss?”
Feng Na glanced at Li Yundong with pity and sighed, “Cramming at the last minute, sigh! I probably won’t see you next semester, but don’t worry, I’ll miss you.”
Cheng Cheng chimed in from beside her, “We’ll erect a monument for you at the school!”
Feng Na pursed her lips and smiled, “Every year on this day, we’ll light incense for you.”
Cheng Cheng immediately followed up, “Whatever you want, we’ll burn it for you!”
Li Yundong flared up, “Hey, are you two performing a crosstalk routine? One more word, and I’m throwing you both out!”
Feng Na and Cheng Cheng exchanged a look and both chuckled. Feng Na consoled him, “Don't worry! Since the teacher said outlining the key points is simple and can be explained in a few sentences, it means the scope of the exam won’t be too broad. It should be easy to memorize and pass. We believe you’ll be fine!”
Li Yundong said sullenly, “That was the first sensible thing you’ve said!”
Mr. Ma on the podium said, “Everyone, please turn to the table of contents in your textbooks.”
The students exchanged confused glances. “Turn to the table of contents? We’ve never outlined key points this way before!”
Li Yundong opened the thick textbook and felt a headache coming on looking at the dense bold text. However, what Mr. Ma said eased his mind slightly. “The Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties period… please underline that.”
Li Yundong followed instructions and underlined the section in the table of contents. Then Mr. Ma said, “The Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, please underline that. That’s it!”
The entire class erupted in shock and excitement.
“Whoa, that’s it? Only these two chapters?”
“Damn, the content for this exam is so narrow; these questions will be easy to memorize!”
“Of course! And there aren't many key figures from that period, aside from the Seven Sages of Jian’an and Tao Yuanming, there’s hardly anyone else!”
“God, Jesus, Allah, Buddha! Truly, heaven has eyes! With such a narrow scope, we definitely have this exam in the bag!” Li Yundong sighed in relief that a disaster had been averted. Feng Na pointed at him and burst out laughing, “Feeling better now? With just this much material, you’re still afraid you can’t memorize it?”
Mr. Ma waited for the excited chatter among the students below to die down before slowly uttering a sentence that sent every student straight to hell: “The parts I asked you to underline are the parts that will not be tested. Everything else will be tested… Well, that’s all for the key points today. Study hard…”
With that, he rolled up his textbook on the podium and sauntered out.
The classroom fell into a dead silence; every student was collectively petrified.