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"It's true. If you don't believe me, wait until report card day and see for yourself. Wanwan, you'd better watch out, or your position as vice class monitor might get revoked." The unfamiliar girl warned Chen Wanwan maliciously.

"Hmph!" Chen Wanwan snorted and ran off angrily.

Yu Cong said worriedly, "Yuan Yuan, why did you have to upset her?"

"I did it on purpose. I can't stand her. My parents go on every day about how Wanwan is good at this and good at that, telling me to learn from her. When I said Wanwan was dating early, they didn't believe me. They insisted she was a hardworking good student and an outstanding class officer. So what if her grades are good? She even shamelessly said before that next semester she wanted to become the actual class monitor and get rid of the 'vice' part. Haha, I'm just afraid she won't even get to stay vice class monitor."

"Wanwan is so competitive. You two grew up together—don't you know her? It won't be good if things get ugly between you."

"I don't care. She called me big-breasted and brainless behind my back. As if she's the only one with brains and schemes. She acts fair on the surface, but behind the scenes she loves tattling the most. I heard that your class monitor, Lin Qiang, lost the class funds on New Year's Day, right?"

"Yeah. Later, he borrowed money from classmates to buy the things."

"Exactly. Wanwan told your homeroom teacher about it, indirectly saying Lin Qiang was careless and didn't deserve to be class monitor."

The noodle water in Lin Qiang's hands had already gone cold, but he did not move.

Su Yan comforted him. "It's nothing. Don't let it bother you."

Lin Qiang let out a breath. "What does she mean by that? When she and Liang Kui started dating early, she asked me to keep it secret. I kept my mouth shut and never told anyone. Yet she turned around and reported me."

"But lots of classmates already know they're dating. Maybe she misunderstood and thought you told on them."

"Bullshit. Those two were so clingy and so blatant. Did they think everyone else was blind? It was obvious. Why would I need to say anything?"

Lin Qiang returned to the classroom with his anger bottled up and glared fiercely at Chen Wanwan several times. But he could only hold it in. He truly did not dare lose his temper with Chen Wanwan. Her father was a high-ranking official, someone he could not afford to offend. Even Liang Kui right in front of him was someone he could not provoke.

Report card day came five days later. The sky had cleared after the snow, and the sun was rather dazzling.

Students returned to school one after another to see their grades, and parents came with them. A parent-teacher conference would be held on the day the grades were released.

The moment Su Yan arrived at the classroom that morning, the homeroom teacher called him away. The teacher sighed. "I called your father, but he said he was busy and didn't want to attend the parent-teacher conference. You... have you been communicating properly with your father?"

Su Yan's face tightened. "He never calls me."

"...You could try taking the initiative."

"Mr. Ma, you don't need to worry about it. I don't care whether they come to the parent-teacher conference." Su Yan turned and left.

Mr. Ma shook his head helplessly. Looking at the entire class's grade sheet, he said regretfully, "What a pity."

The classroom was especially noisy and crowded today. Students, some obedient, some shy, some chagrined, led their parents to find seats. The parents sat while the students stood.

Some of the parents already knew one another, and those who did not quickly became acquainted. They greeted each other cheerfully and talked about their children.

Among them, the parents of the class monitor and vice class monitor drew the most attention.

Lin Qiang's father was utterly unremarkable, but his son had brought him glory.

Chen Wanwan's mother looked like a wealthy lady. She was a plump woman with fair skin, decked out in gold and silver. Sitting among the crowd, she looked like a neighborhood committee director arriving for an inspection.

Chen Wanwan shyly nestled beside her mother, whispering to her in an unprecedentedly coquettish tone. One moment she pouted, the next she bit her lip.

Liang Kui sat on a desk at the very back of the classroom, propping up his head as he curiously surveyed the room. He thought high school in C City was really interesting. His parents were far away in City A. This time, the one attending the parent-teacher conference was his cousin, a third-year student at the C City Academy of Fine Arts.

"So this is what a parent-teacher conference is like." His cousin looked around curiously.

"Pfft, pretty interesting, right? It's my first time attending one too."

"Hehe, not bad. Which one is your girlfriend?"

"There, the one beside that fat auntie." Liang Kui pointed with his lips.

"She's quite pretty. She doesn't look like her mother."

"Luckily, she doesn't." Liang Kui exhaled.

"When are you going back to City A for the New Year?"

"Tomorrow or the day after. Once I get my report card, I can leave."

"Remember to buy some local specialties and bring gifts home for your parents. You're grown now. You should know to think about your parents. It's the thought that counts. No matter what you give them, they'll be happy. They'll think you've become sensible and grown up. That's more worthwhile than anything."

"You're so naggy. I know."

The homeroom teacher and Lin Qiang entered carrying a large stack of documents. The teacher said loudly, "Thank you, parents, for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend this parent-teacher conference. I, Ma En, on behalf of all the teachers and students of the school, welcome you!" The homeroom teacher began a lengthy speech...

An hour passed. Everyone had grown impatient from listening when the homeroom teacher finally stopped.

"All right, next we'll hand out the report cards and test papers. Class monitor, vice class monitor, and representatives for each subject, come up and help distribute them."

Su Yan went up to collect a thick stack of math papers and handed them out one by one according to the names.

Liang Kui suddenly asked curiously, "Why does it seem like Su Yan's parents aren't here?"

"Who's Su Yan?" His cousin asked curiously.