Chapter Two: Fate Is So Inexplicably Wonderful

“Son, get up quickly, isn’t today the day to report for school?”
“Mmm... uh~” I yawned, stretched my arms, and opened my somewhat sleepy eyes.
“Mom, what time is it?”
“Eight thirty.” Ren Xue replied with a fierce tone.
I immediately jolted awake, attempted to spring up like a carp, failed, then tried again and got up, quickly pulling on my clothes, ready to dash out.
“So impatient, as if you’re rushing to be reincarnated? Eat breakfast first.”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh, Mother, it’s already eight thirty, and they require us to report by nine.”
I saw my mom’s lips curl into a slight smile. She motioned with her mouth for me to look at the clock on the wall.
I raised my head quickly and saw—uh, it was seven thirty.
“You tricked me again.” I spread my hands in resignation; this wasn’t the first time I’d been deceived.
“Look at other people’s children, they get up early, and then look at you, always sleeping in.” Ren Xue’s face was full of disappointment.
“Mother, you’re right. I’ll eat breakfast quickly and go to school, study hard, and strive to improve every day.” After all these years, I deeply understood that talking back at this moment meant getting bombarded. One must know when to advance and retreat.
After breakfast, I picked up my admission letter and strolled toward City No. 3 High School.
When filling out my choices, I’d considered that No. 3 was close to home, so I chose it. No. 1 High School was far away.
Of course, the real reason was that I couldn’t get into No. 1 or No. 2 High School anyway.
Personally, I believe studying is important, but it’s not everything. A little dabbling is enough; the rest of the time is best spent doing what you’re good at and learning what you want to learn.
When I arrived at the school gate, it was eight twenty. The gate wouldn’t open until eight thirty. A dense crowd waited outside.
“Come on, students in front, please make way for the teachers.” The uncle from the security booth called out, and a young girl with delicate features squeezed in from the crowd.
“She’s so beautiful—if only she were my teacher.” I muttered to myself.
Seeing such a pretty lady, I felt a little moved, but that was as far as it went. Nothing would come of it. It’s nice just to have someone pleasant to look at now and then.
Soon the school gate opened. I followed the flow of people inside, looked around, and finally found my class—Class 33 on the third floor of Building Three.
I sat directly in the last row. Having matured early, at sixteen I was already about one meter seventy-five, so sitting in front would block others. Besides, sitting in the back meant more freedom, so I unapologetically took the seat by the window in the last row.
Students trickled into the classroom, but since I hadn’t slept well last night, I drifted off under the warm sunlight.
“Hey, buddy, stop sleeping, the teacher’s here.” A voice beside me woke me up.
I opened my eyes and looked toward the podium.
“Hm?” I was instantly alert—the teacher on the podium was the same young woman from the school gate.
All traces of sleep vanished. Fate, how wonderfully mysterious.

“Hello, students. My name is Liu Xiaojie, and I’ll be your homeroom teacher from now on. I hope we can get along well.” Liu Xiaojie finished and bowed.
“This moment deserves applause.” I said, starting to clap.
The other students responded, and applause thundered through the classroom.
Liu Xiaojie glanced at me, perhaps smiled, though I might have imagined it.
“Alright, everyone, quiet down.” Liu Xiaojie clapped her hands and raised her voice.
Knowing she’d be our teacher for the next three years, the students cooperated and settled down.
“Everyone has met me, but I haven’t met all of you. Would anyone like to introduce themselves first? Whoever goes first, the teacher will remember you.” Liu Xiaojie encouraged us.
I looked around—many in the front seemed eager but shy, while those in the back feared being remembered by the teacher. An awkward silence filled the room.
“Anyone willing to introduce themselves?” Liu Xiaojie pressed on.
But there was no effect.
I liked this pretty teacher, so it seemed I’d have to break the ice.
“Me!” I raised my hand.
Seeing someone volunteer, Liu Xiaojie visibly relaxed—I caught that.
Now I was certain: she was just starting her career. Experienced teachers wouldn’t be this nervous.
“Let’s give this student a round of applause for his self-introduction, shall we?” Liu Xiaojie said, clapping.
With everyone clapping, I walked up to the podium.
“Hello everyone, my name is Yan Ruyu. I’m rather lazy—if I can lie down, I won’t sit; if I can sit, I won’t stand. Please take care of me.” I spoke, then wrote my name on the blackboard, saving further explanation.
“Hahaha!”
“Hehe!”
...
My humorous style made the class laugh and lightened the atmosphere.
“Hello everyone, I’m Li Kexin. I love singing and dancing, play a bit of guzheng, and hope to improve together with you.” A slightly plump, fair-faced girl with a ponytail smiled at us.
“Wow, that’s impressive!”
“Yeah, yeah.”
...
“Hello everyone, I’m Kang Qiaoyue. I love sports, especially basketball. If you like playing, remember to bring me along.” A girl in sportswear with a boyish haircut waved to the crowd.
I nodded at Kang Qiaoyue on the podium—she seemed easygoing.

...
Soon, everyone finished their introductions. Some gave details, some only said their names—such is life.
“Ms. Liu, maybe you could leave your phone number? It’d be handy if we need to contact you urgently.” The crew-cut boy in front of me, who’d woken me earlier, spoke up.
His name was Ma Liang. He’d apparently won a prize in the city’s middle school running competition.
Ma Liang’s suggestion caught many people’s attention; clearly, he wasn’t the only one with that idea.
“Yes, Teacher, please leave your contact info.” Others chimed in.
I had the same thought, but I didn’t want to give a bad impression to the teacher I admired, so I didn’t join in.
“Alright, since everyone insists, I’ll leave my number—but don’t call unless it’s important.”
Naturally, we wouldn’t argue with Liu Xiaojie’s request, and no one would call without reason anyway.
Once everyone had written down her number, Liu Xiaojie picked up the eraser and wiped both her phone number and my name from the blackboard.
“Just now I heard Yan Ruyu say he’s very lazy. Well, to help you fix that bad habit, you’ll be the class monitor. The rest of the class committee appointments are your responsibility. I want to see the list before school ends today.”
Liu Xiaojie finished speaking, and my head, just ready to rest, felt heavy.
“Teacher, maybe let someone else be monitor? Shouldn’t we follow the principles of fairness and let those who want to compete for monitor do so?” I quickly thought of a way to escape.
Being lazy, I really had no interest in dealing with trivial tasks.
The class agreed; some eager to be committee members perked up.
Liu Xiaojie noticed the mood but didn’t mind.
“I had everyone introduce themselves to see who’d step up first, who had the courage. If you want to be our monitor, you must have guts and resolve. Since you were first, the position is yours.”
After Liu Xiaojie spoke, the restless students quieted. After all, none of them had dared to go first during introductions—that was an undeniable fact.
Now, none had the courage or qualifications to compete for monitor.
“Uh, well...” I wanted to refuse but couldn’t think how—headache.
“Of course, you can choose not to be monitor,” Liu Xiaojie said gently.
“Really?” I was surprised, somehow sensing it wouldn’t be so simple.
Liu Xiaojie’s lips curled up slightly. “As long as you transfer to another class, you don’t have to be monitor. I’m very democratic—I won’t force you.”
I could only roll my eyes. I knew it wouldn’t be simple.
No choice, in the end I agreed, and thus became the honored monitor of Class 33, Grade One.