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To the students, the school rules were like a cage. No matter how dissatisfied they were, they had no power to resist. Most parents hoped their children would study hard, harder, hardest; boarding at school was fine, since teachers would be there to keep them in line.

"The arrangements for day students and boarders will officially begin after the Lantern Festival." The homeroom teacher cleared her throat, picked up a booklet again, and said with a smile, "Last semester, our class ranked first in overall grades for the year, with several especially outstanding students. I hope everyone will keep striving this semester. Now I'll announce the new class cadre list. I determined every position based on each person's performance last semester. Of course, everyone has the right to object. Those who object may raise their hands and tell me why; I will seriously consider it. There are forty-nine students in our class. If more than half object, everyone may hold another election."

The students nodded at this. Teacher Ma said, "First, our class's Student Council representative: Chen Wanwan. Chen Wanwan, go to the meeting room on the second floor of the office building at one this afternoon to attend the student representative meeting. The upperclassmen will tell you what you need to do then."

Chen Wanwan stood and nodded, her face calm and unreadable.

Yu Cong said excitedly, "Wanwan, you're amazing! I heard each class only gets one student representative."

Chen Wanwan said modestly, "I don't know anything about the Student Council. I don't know if I can handle it."

"You definitely can. From now on, you'll represent Class Two, Year One in school. Wanwan, you have to work hard."

"No matter what, I'll do my best." Chen Wanwan sighed, though Yu Cong's words had left her heart soaring.

Teacher Ma continued, "Next are the flag bearers. Everyone knows that the school raises the flag every Monday. There are two flag raisers and four flag guards. Now it's time for a new generation of flag bearers. Teacher Zhang from the Publicity Department has personally chosen two boys from our class: Su Yan and Liang Kui. You two should find Teacher Zhang at noon. After school resumes on the fifteenth, you'll officially raise the flag."

"What?" Liang Kui sprang to his feet in shock, staring at Teacher Ma in disbelief. "Why me?"

It was clearly a glorious honor, but to Liang Kui, it was a bolt from the blue! He could not accept becoming a flag bearer... It was not that he looked down on flag bearers; it was simply too abrupt. He did not think of himself as a good student, so how could he do something like that? Just imagining himself, Liang Kui, in uniform, carrying the Five-Starred Red Flag and marching forward in a solemn, proper goose-step made his head ache. He feared restraints and rules most of all. If he had been willing to wrong himself, why would he have left prosperous City A for C City? He would have entered military school with his brothers long ago.

Teacher Ma's eyes widened. "What? This is something countless students dream of, and you're not willing?"

"No, no... I'm not that outstanding, really. Teacher Ma, you need to keep your eyes open and see me clearly." Liang Kui stared at Teacher Ma with sparkling eyes. Teacher Ma's eyes sparkled as she said, "Liang Kui, don't belittle yourself. You have to believe that you can do it. You're cheerful, get along well with your classmates, and have excellent grades. That alone qualifies you. Besides, you have the height required of a flag bearer. Teacher Zhang personally chose you and Su Yan. Such an honor does not come often; the other classes want it but cannot have it. Don't you all agree?"

"Yes! Liang Kui, just go for it! Flag bearers are so cool!" A group of students loudly cheered Liang Kui on. He practically wanted to cough up blood. Chen Wanwan smiled sweetly and winked at him, silently saying, "Do a good job!"

Liang Kui accepted his fate as a flag bearer with a mix of tears and laughter. For some reason, he felt an inexplicable nervousness and pressure at that moment.

Su Yan remained calm, but his deskmate Chen Yan softly said, "Congratulations."

"Thank you." Su Yan smiled faintly and rubbed his temple with his fingers. He recalled his previous life. Back then, Liang Kui had also been chosen as a flag bearer and had objected, but Su Yan could not remember what he had said. Around the time school resumed after the New Year, Su Yan, who had spent the Spring Festival alone, had become even gloomier than he had been the previous semester.

Now, Su Yan could not help wondering whether he might have been selected as a flag bearer in his previous life if he had not had that kind of personality. He soon shook his head, thinking probably not. His current height was due to the space; in his previous life, he had not been one hundred and eighty centimeters tall.

A flag bearer, together with Liang Kui—Su Yan felt his head hurt even more.

"Class monitor, Lin Qiang." Teacher Ma said, "Lin Qiang has excellent grades and performed very well as class monitor last semester. Does anyone object?"

The whole class looked at one another. Chen Wanwan raised her hand without hesitation. "I object."

"Tell us your reason."

Chen Wanwan spoke bluntly. "I think Lin Qiang's grades are outstanding, but his ability to manage things is not strong. He lacks authority. Some students are not afraid of Class Monitor Lin Qiang at all. There have been plenty of cases of delayed homework, copied homework, and excuses for being late or leaving early. There are people in class more suitable than Lin Qiang."

"Then recommend someone."

"...Yu Cong is more suitable than Lin Qiang." Chen Wanwan said the name against her will, somewhat petulantly. Being selected as a student representative could no longer make her happy. She felt Teacher Ma had toyed with her. With the status of student representative, she could not possibly become class monitor. Student representatives were busy and could not also serve as class monitor. Yet during the New Year, she had specifically dragged her father along to pay Teacher Ma a New Year's visit, intending to curry favor with her. She wanted to be class monitor—not deputy class monitor, but the actual class monitor. But now Teacher Ma had given her a student representative position that seemed to carry more status than being the head of a class. Chen Wanwan clenched the hem of her clothes.