Xu Qing

Jiangnan Base City, Yian District No. 3 High School.

Senior Class 6.

At the front of the classroom, a bespectacled middle-aged teacher was explaining a problem while the students listened attentively.

The college entrance exam was just a month away. The moment that would decide their fates was fast approaching.

But in the back row, one student had zoned out.

No, to be precise, he was dozing off—or, to put it more nicely, fishing.

The teacher had noticed long ago, but still pretended not to see, as if he had grown used to it.

"All right, that's all for today's problems. Use the rest of the time to review on your own," the teacher said.

After finishing the lesson, he stepped down from the podium and walked straight toward the student who was dozing.

He stopped in front of him. Instead of looking angry, the teacher smiled. "Xu Qing, it's time to eat."

"Huh? It's time to eat?" The student gave a sudden jolt, then shot to his feet.

In an instant, the whole class looked over at him. Seeing his dazed expression, they burst out laughing.

This wasn't the first time the class had seen this happen. They laughed every time.

The student who'd been woken up slowly came around. Once he realized what was going on, he glanced guiltily at the teacher beside him and muttered, "You're so mean, sir. How many times have you done this now?"

The student was very pretty, with big, bright almond-shaped eyes, a small face, fair skin tinged with pink, and delicate features that gave him a cute look.

But he had a head of short, jet-black hair and wore boys' clothes: a pure white, short-sleeved shirt with a stand-up collar. He was fairly tall, a little over 170 centimeters.

Clearly, he was a boy.

"Xu Qing, even if you're among the top three in your grade, there's only a month left until the college entrance exam. Can't you take it a little more seriously?" The teacher looked at him, both amused and exasperated.

When it came to academics, Xu Qing was beyond reproach. He was in the top three in his grade every single time.

What was even stranger was that no matter how difficult the tests were, he always scored exactly 700 points—not one more, not one less. He was practically a miracle student.

But this miracle student had a bad habit: he loved dozing off, and he did it right in the middle of class, just like the students who did poorly.

And yet he still scored 700 every time. Wasn't that strange?

"Why should I be nervous?" Xu Qing looked at the teacher and blinked, his eyes clear and innocent.

The teacher was at a loss for words. He just wanted Xu Qing to feel a little more pressure.

After all, the college entrance exam was almost here, and the whole class was getting nervous. Xu Qing was the only one acting as usual. It just didn't seem right.

But even though he thought so, he felt awkward saying it out loud.

Xu Qing's grades really did speak for themselves. He was in the top three every time, and that was impressive enough.

With grades like his, he could get into any of Huaxia's top universities without breaking a sweat.

"Look, the teacher's stumped by Xu Qing again. It's like this every time, and he never gets tired of it. He must enjoy messing with him," some students whispered to one another.

"That's the power of a top student. He humblebrags without even trying. I'm impressed."

"Yeah. It's just a shame Xu Qing isn't actually a girl. If he were, that'd be great."

"Heh heh, bro, I know what you mean..."

Ring, ring!

Just then, the bell rang.

Defeated by Xu Qing's innocent gaze, the teacher shook his head with an amused smile. "All right, class dismissed."

The students gradually left their seats and filed out of the classroom.

"Xiao Qing." A few girls came over. The one leading them was very pretty, with shoulder-length hair and the refined air of a well-bred young lady.

"Sister Xin." Xu Qing rubbed his eyes, then seemed to realize something and awkwardly fidgeted with his fingers.

Seeing his embarrassed expression, Xu Xin smiled. "You really are something. Even your teachers don't know what to do with you."

In the entire class, Xu Qing was the only one who dared act so casually around all his subject teachers. The others would have been sent to the office and lectured long ago.

"Xu Xin, your little brother is so adorably clueless, and yet he always places in the top three," a few of the girls beside her teased.

"Xu Xin, senior year's almost over, and the college entrance exam is coming up. Why not let your little brother be my boyfriend? We might not get to see him again afterward," said a pretty girl with glasses.

Xu Xin shot her a look. "No way. Xiao Qing's still young; he doesn't understand this stuff. Besides, you know the exam's coming up soon. Shouldn't you be studying and getting ready instead of thinking about dating?"

"I just can't bear to let him go. Your brother gets 700 every time. I'll never get another chance once we graduate. At least let me fulfill my wish now," the girl with glasses said, looking at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing was very good-looking. Though he was a boy with feminine features, plenty of girls didn't even think of him as a boy. But some girls were especially fond of that type, and the girl with glasses was one of them.

He also got good grades and had a nice personality. He was just a little absent-minded, often spacing out for no reason, and plenty of girls found that quite cute.

Add to that the fact that he was a top student, and quite a lot of girls at school liked him. Plenty of others felt nothing for him, while very few disliked him.

And it wasn't just the girls. Most of the boys liked him too.

It was just that Xu Xin kept a close eye on Xu Qing and wouldn't let him date other girls. She said he was still young and didn't understand that sort of thing.

Otherwise, one of the girls who knew Xu Xin well would have tried to date him.

"Still no. Forget it," Xu Xin refused firmly. They were just looking to fool around, and that was too irresponsible.

Seeing that Xu Xin wouldn't budge, the girls could only sigh. She kept her little brother far too close, leaving them no chance at all.

"Xiao Qing, let's go," Xu Xin called.

She had an older brother who was several years her senior, but no younger siblings.

When she was six, her elders found her a few playmates her age. Xu Qing was one of them.

In the end, Xu Qing was the only one of those playmates who stayed by her side. He was a few months younger than her, so she treated him like her little brother and doted on him.

"Oh." Xu Qing nodded, gathered his schoolbag, and followed her out of the classroom.

When they reached the school gate, Xu Qing and Xu Xin parted ways with the other girls.

Seeing them walking together, hardly anyone would mistake them for a couple. Xu Qing's looks and slender build made it easy to think he was a girl dressed in boys' clothes.

Even people who knew them understood that they were like brother and sister.

As they walked along the roadside, Xu Qing seemed a little distracted, though he did at least manage not to walk into anything.

Xu Xin was used to seeing him walk around as if he were lost in thought. He'd been like that since he was little, looking as if he were pondering the meaning of life—or as if he weren't thinking about anything at all.

How to put it? If she had to compare him to some unusual animal, it would be a capybara.

Yes, a capybara. He was only really interested in food.

That was why the teacher used that particular phrase to wake him in class. It worked every time.