You've All Done My Homework for Me!

The next part was much simpler. Fang Bai got the regular leave pass, and the principal personally arranged for him to be placed in Class 1 of the Retake Class, giving the homeroom teacher a heads-up.

The homeroom teacher for Class 1 of the Retake Class was a woman in her thirties named Zhan Feng, who taught English.

After the principal left her office, Zhan Feng sat in her chair with a cold expression, looking at Fang Bai, who stood before her with his hands clasped in front of his stomach like a well-behaved student, and said:

"Student Fang Bai, the principal told me not to interfere with you too much, that you can come and go freely from the school gate, and take leave as you please. I don't know what relationship or background you have with the principal, but I hope you'll study hard and get into a good university.

Our class is the top retake class. All the students scored above 470 on the college entrance exam, and a few even passed the Undergraduate Line.

You're joining the class a month late, so you'll have to work hard to catch up on the material you've missed."

If he'd joined her class normally, Zhan Feng wouldn't have had any objections, but she particularly disliked students who got special treatment from the school like this—free leave, even!

Free access in and out of the school gate!

This wasn't a student; it was a deity she had to host!

So, deep down, she already harbored some resentment toward Fang Bai.

"Thank you for your concern, Homeroom Teacher. I understand."

Hearing this, Fang Bai realized the principal hadn't fully explained the situation to his new homeroom teacher, leading to this misunderstanding.

Oh well, he couldn't be bothered to clarify. Maybe this was for the best.

"Mm, go pick up your review materials. I'll take you to the classroom and find you a seat."

Fang Bai acted like a model student in front of Zhan Feng. He was a bit wary of female teachers—if he wasn't careful, they'd nag him endlessly and give him a lecture on proper thinking.

It was afternoon class time. Fang Bai carried a stack of review materials several centimeters thick and followed Zhan Feng to Repeat Class One, the westernmost classroom on the first floor.

Zhan Feng knocked on the classroom door. The math teacher inside paused his lesson, walked over, and asked what was up.

"Teacher Li, there's a new repeating student. Arranged by the principal."

Zhan Feng's tone was flat as she addressed the math teacher, then turned to Fang Bai. "Fang Bai, introduce yourself to the classmates, then take the empty seat in the last row."

"Alright."

Following her gesture, he saw an empty seat in the back row.

He also glanced at the students, who were all looking at him. There were four double desks per row, eight rows total, with 63 students in the class—more boys than girls.

The desks were shabby, each piled high with books and materials, so much so that the shorter students were completely hidden behind them.

On the back wall of the classroom, a line of red characters read: "Since you chose to try again, you must strive with all your might."

Above the blackboard, another red line read: "One more point, infinite more hope."

The whole classroom was thick with an intense study atmosphere. Fang Bai could see the longing for university in their eyes, and it immediately infected him.

After taking it all in, he extended his left hand to Teacher Li, flashing an even brighter smile. "Hello, Teacher Li. If I have any questions in the future, I hope you'll guide me."

"Heh, happy to exchange ideas." Teacher Li paused for a moment before shaking his hand.

Fang Bai straightened his back and walked into the classroom. He stood at the podium, first setting down his materials, then swept his gaze across the students below.

The students below were also sizing up the handsome, stylishly dressed boy on stage, who seemed completely at ease. They saw him smile faintly and then speak in a clear voice:

"Hello, everyone. Sorry to take up a bit of your time. I'll give a brief self-introduction.

My name is Fang Bai—Fang as in 'upright,' Bai as in 'pine and cypress.' I'm an ordinary student from a rural village.

My parents hoped I'd live with integrity, be as unyielding as a pine, and never fear hardship.

This year's college entrance exam, like all of you, I was unlucky and failed. I couldn't accept it, so I wanted to return to the battlefield and fight again..."

As he spoke, Fang Bai wrote his name on the blackboard.

His pace was unhurried, his words clear, carrying a depth and confidence that made people listen involuntarily.

But as soon as he opened his mouth, both teachers and students were a bit surprised.

Zhan Feng, in particular, felt that Fang Bai was completely different from an ordinary student. She couldn't help but take another look at him.

The students below had never seen someone so articulate in a self-introduction. Most students stammered through theirs, and even the most talkative couldn't match Fang Bai's natural flow.

"In July, I went to work at a factory to earn tuition and fees, and I accidentally had three fingers cut off by a machine. I felt like the sky was falling."

Fang Bai calmly raised his right hand. The students in the front rows could clearly see the scars on the three middle fingers, especially the two girls in the front row, who covered their mouths after one glance and dared not look again.

He wasn't afraid of the teachers and students knowing about his severed fingers. Even if he didn't mention it, they'd find out soon enough and gossip about it, possibly spreading rumors he didn't want. It was better to bring it up himself and make it sound inspiring.

Both teachers and the entire class were stunned. They couldn't believe the student on stage had gone through such a terrible experience, and they couldn't help but sympathize.

Everyone fixed their eyes on Fang Bai as he continued: "I had a replantation surgery. The fingers were reattached, but they're still weak.

So I had to use my left hand and worked hard to write with it. Now I can write.

I just want to tell you all—the setbacks and failures of the past mean nothing!

In the coming months, I hope to work hard together with everyone and get into our dream universities next year."

After finishing, Fang Bai stepped down from the podium.

"Great!"

"Well said—the setbacks and failures of the past mean nothing!"

Many students in the audience immediately responded, moved by Fang Bai's inspiring story, and burst into enthusiastic applause. The other students joined in.

"Classmate Fang Bai spoke very well. An unexpected ordeal finally gave him the strength to stand up again. I hope everyone will study hard, strive to get into a good university, and fight for a bright future for yourselves."

Standing at the classroom door, Zhan Feng had no choice but to enter. She clapped once, then lowered her hand to signal the students to keep their voices down so as not to disturb other classes.

After speaking, she said to Fang Bai, "Fang Bai, go back to your seat. If you're not used to sitting in the back, we can adjust it next time we rearrange seats.

Teacher Li, sorry for interrupting your class."

She had originally planned to find time to have a talk with the repeating student about his mindset, unsure of what to say. Now it seemed Fang Bai had done that job for her, clarifying the purpose and meaning of the college entrance exam and establishing the right attitude.

She had thought Fang Bai had used connections to get in, but it turned out he had a different story—his schooling had been delayed, and his desire to freely leave the school gate was likely to recover his right hand.

Ah, she had really misunderstood him.

Since he wanted to leave campus anytime for treatment, she'd let him be.

"It's no trouble. Classmate Fang Bai has taught me a lesson too. Very impressive."

Teacher Li nodded with a smile. At first, he had felt it was a waste of his time, but after hearing Fang Bai's introduction and seeing the students filled with motivation, he figured the rest of the class would be smooth sailing.

Fang Bai, walking down from the podium, had no idea he had once again sparked the homeroom teacher's misunderstanding.

If he had known, he probably would have slapped his thigh and said, "I just wanted to get out of the school gate, that's all."