They didn't linger in the teaching building for too long and returned to the classroom.
The English teacher didn't ask any further questions. Seeing that Xiang Qing was in good spirits, she let the two of them return to their seats.
As soon as she sat down, Xiang Qing started writing notes and handed them over:
" Zhang Zhaomu, the next class is history."
Zhang Zhaomu gave her a strange look. "I know."
"The history teacher seems to have a pretty good temper," Xiang Qing wrote. "Even if we're not here, he probably won't say anything, right?"
Zhang Zhaomu: "... No, you've become addicted to skipping classes?"
Xiang Qing immediately looked away and wrote, "No, it's just that I felt a little unsatisfied..."
Zhang Zhaomu was stunned for a moment. Wasn't this girl always focused on studying? The sudden change was so drastic. Could it be that she had suddenly adopted a different persona, just like him?
[Underachiever] persona and stuff...
However, it's more likely that this girl has opened a door to a new world for herself.
He suddenly felt a little guilty. As the saying goes, it's hard to learn well, but it's easy to go astray... She's a good student after all; he couldn't really let her go down the path of being a poor student, could he?
His instinct was to say that skipping class was not something to be praised and that he should study hard, but he felt that he had no right to advise others and would only appear hypocritical.
After thinking for a moment, he picked up his pen and wrote earnestly, "Skipping class isn't our goal; making ourselves happy is the most important thing, don't you think?"
Xiang Qing thought for a moment, "That makes sense."
"So, we don't necessarily have to use class time to do what we want; we can do it after class." Zhang Zhaomu patiently explained, "I don't want to affect your studies by frequently taking you to skip classes."
Xiang Qing was taken aback for a moment, then obediently said, "Okay, I won't skip class then."
Seeing the disappointment in her expression, Zhang Zhaomu felt a pang of sympathy and wrote, "I don't mean to completely ban this behavior. After all, skipping class is an essential part of high school life. It's just that we need to skip with purpose and plan, using the least important classes to gain the most interesting experiences—that's what makes a master of skipping class!"
The disappointment on Xiang Qing's face vanished instantly, her eyes lit up, and she repeated, "Skipping class... a master?"
"That's right!" Zhang Zhaomu raised his chin slightly. "I may not be very talented, but I'm definitely a master! Want to learn?"
"Yes!" Xiang Qing nodded vigorously.
"Then we need to study diligently first," Zhang Zhaomu said.
"Huh?" Xiang Qing was a little taken aback.
From a truant to a serious student, isn't that a bit too much of a leap?
Zhang Zhaomu countered, "Which class do you think is the least important?"
"Hmm..." Xiang Qing thought for a moment, "Physical education class?"
"We're already in our second year of high school, how can you still be so naive as to think there's such a thing as a physical education class? If a PE teacher can only hold one class a month, that's considered a sign of a physically strong PE teacher!" Zhang Zhaomu scoffed.
"Then... history class? Geography class?" Xiang Qing guessed softly.
"Whether it's Chinese, Math, English, or Politics, History, and Geography, these are all compulsory subjects in the college entrance examination. Missing even one class means missing out on a lot of knowledge points, so how can you say they are unimportant?"
"... Self-study period?"
"That doesn't really count as class. There aren't many people in our class for self-study anyway, so there's no point in skipping it."
Xiang Qing was completely confused, her face full of bewilderment. "What kind of class is that?"
Zhang Zhaomu revealed his true intentions, speaking earnestly, "In fact, all classes are important."
Xiang Qing pursed her lips, feeling that Zhang Zhaomu was playing tricks on her again.
Zhang Zhaomu smiled and, without keeping her in suspense, said, "However, all courses can also be unimportant."
"If your grades are good enough, you've already mastered the knowledge the teacher is going to cover in class, so what does it matter if you miss one or two classes?"
He then stated his conclusion. "Therefore, if we want to become masters of skipping class and do it in the most cost-effective way, we must first study hard."
Xiang Qing: "... That seems to make sense too."
She suddenly understood why Chen Zhenzhen always liked to criticize Zhang Zhaomu for saying things that were all nonsense.
His words seemed reasonable at first glance, but something just didn't feel right.
So, what were we originally going to talk about?
"I feel that my teachings today have touched your soul."
Zhang Zhaomu didn't give Xiang Qing much time to react, saying, "You might need some time to digest this, that's okay. Let's start studying first, I'll stay with you."
"Oh." Xiang Qing nodded blankly.
Forget it, thinking about Zhang Zhaomu is too tiring, I don't want to think about it anymore.
Although I don't like studying, studying with Zhang Zhaomu doesn't seem so bad.
She glanced at Zhang Zhaomu furtively and noticed that he had already turned to the vocabulary page in his English textbook, his lips moving slightly as he silently recited the words.
Just a moment ago I was chatting with myself, how did I suddenly switch into a state of focused study, oblivious to everything else?
"That's amazing..."
Xiang Qing was a little envious.
He's probably the kind of person people often talk about—someone who doesn't like studying, but can easily pick up the material once he gets serious. Those examples of students who suddenly wake up a few months before the college entrance exam and go from being a mediocre student to getting into a top university are basically all like that.
"But... why did Zhang Zhaomu suddenly realize his mistake?"
Xiang Qing recalled Zhang Zhaomu's answer about this matter that morning.
"Because of what I said to him before?"
She unconsciously clutched the hem of her school uniform, a strange emotion welling up inside her.
"Because... me?"
She couldn't help but steal another glance at Zhang Zhaomu, then quickly looked away, starting to panic.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
"Something must have happened to Zhang Zhaomu over the weekend that made her suddenly want to study hard!"
"I'm just an ordinary deskmate. Even if Zhang Zhaomu really changed for someone else, it wouldn't be me."
" Zhenzhen has a better relationship with him, and Zhenzhen is also an excellent student..."
Xiang Qing patted her cheeks. "I can't keep thinking like this!"
With that in mind, she finally began to focus her attention on the teacher's instruction on the podium.
I don't know why, but I actually felt like I could concentrate on the lesson more easily today.
"Studying is no fun at all, I hate studying, these knowledge points are so boring, I have no interest in them at all... But I have to work hard, only by working hard can I get into a good university, only then will Mom not be disappointed..."
The restlessness that used to bother me has vanished without a trace today.
Instead, a more peaceful state has emerged.
"He's working so hard, I can't fall behind. We need to study together... we need to study hard together!"
"Then become a master of skipping classes!"