Chapter 70 - 66: It Turns Out I Already Hold a Special Place in the Class Leader’s Heart

"Do you think Wang Yuezhi performs poorly like you in exams? The math we’re learning now feels pretty easy, it shouldn’t be that bad, right?" Chen Yu Ying was a bit puzzled. Mostly because Wang Yuezhi’s grades aren’t much worse than hers, and it’s not like they’re competition questions, just regular homework questions. How could they be difficult for him? "Should I go ask him what’s wrong?" "Caring for classmates is the right thing to do," Lin Li nodded, then suddenly shouted, "Wang Yuezhi, are you okay?" "I’m fine! Don’t bother me!!" "Class rep, he’s fine, shouting loudly that he’s fine, which means he’s definitely fine, more than just fine." Lin Li reported back to Chen Yu Ying. Chen Yu Ying: "..." Something feels off. "Also, class rep, although my grades aren’t great, your description of ’burn books and bury scholars’ was a bit too much. At the end of last term, I ranked in the 400s of my grade. You’re insulting not just me but also the 200 students who ranked behind me! Class rep, please apologize to me." Lin Li defended himself. Nansang Middle School’s first-year students are split into 20 classes with a total of nearly 700 students. Ranking in the 400s is indeed somewhere in the lower middle. "Alright, alright~ I’m sorry." Chen Yu Ying apologized with a smile. As for Wang Yuezhi, since he said he’s fine, then he’s fine. Mainly because Wang Yuezhi’s sudden act of throwing his homework was too abrupt and without any warning. It felt like he was just emotionally unstable, something he should handle by himself. The apology sounded so gentle, Lin Li found it very comforting, even more so than when friends invited him to game together on a rainy weekend night outside. The class rep doesn’t seem like a little fairy at all; she easily apologizes to a man, which left Lin Li feeling not disappointed at all. "Alright, let’s get back to the autumn outing plan. Although you’re not the real king of ’Autumn Exploring’~Lin Li, I still want to know, from your personal perspective, what do you think of my plan? Any suggestions for improvements?" Chen Yu Ying asked, chuckling in the middle. The ’Autumn Exploring’ king, Lin Li, picked up Chen Yu Ying’s plan, carefully read it, and then nodded seriously: "Although I’m not an expert in this area, I’d like to share my views, but after carefully reviewing your guide and thinking for a long time, I honestly don’t know how to respond—Just like I said at the beginning, I’m not an expert in this area." Chen Yu Ying: "..." But before Chen Yu Ying could pout in dissatisfaction, Lin Li laughed and replied: "Class rep, I don’t really travel, and I’m clueless about guides. Your travel plan looks interesting to me, and I can definitely agree to it. But I don’t think you’d want that as an answer, so if I have to suggest something, I’d say don’t make the schedule too tight. I have no interest in ’commando-style’ tours. I go out to play, not to punch in, but to relax—just my personal opinion." "You’re right; I’ll remove one sightseeing spot, so there’s more time to slot into other activities," Chen Yu Ying said, slightly frowning, while pinching her chin and looking at her plan, then picked up a pen and started making changes. "How about now, isn’t this much better?" "Yes, yes." Lin Li nodded. "Then if my autumn outing plan gets selected, will you go?" Chen Yu Ying asked again. "Of course, class rep, do you need my vote?" Lin Li considered this possibility and said, "Don’t worry, when the time comes my vote will definitely go to your dormitory. I’m not that close with Bai Bufan and the others; just surface friends. I’ve been annoyed with them for a long time." "Indeed, I need your help with something, but not this vote," Chen Yu Ying hesitated slightly before speaking: "Here’s the thing. The girls actually don’t have much in mind, so they’ve fully entrusted me with this. Plus Zhuo Yongfei and a few of the boys didn’t find any issues, so it should be more than half of the class. After voting tomorrow, this can be our class’s plan." Lin Li nodded. No need for his vote indeed. Being a professional sidekick, he knew that when the other person’s words were obviously not finished, all he needed to do was use body language to show he was listening, without interrupting with words like ’and then?’. "However, Zhuo Yongfei told me he asked some of the other boys for their opinions, and they’re quite resistant to the idea of staying overnight outside during the autumn outing," Chen Yu Ying continued. "Because many of them are indifferent to the outing itself—but this is on the premise that the outing only takes the designated one day. I asked the teacher what happens if we choose not to go on the outing. Teacher Xue said that those not going on the outing can’t go home early or stay in the dormitory. On Friday, all students not going on the autumn outing will have classrooms and teachers arranged by the school for self-study. And my plan would take up Saturday, which is normally a day they return home. So I worry many boys might choose to stay on campus for self-study and then go home ’normally’ on Friday." The autumn outing, being an activity with personal expenses, naturally isn’t and can’t be mandatory. Students have the choice to go or not, and the school’s arrangement for self-study is a normal ’measure’ since it’s considered a team-building activity promoting overall student development. They certainly hope everyone can participate. Without such an arrangement, a bunch of people might not go straight home, resulting in sparse photos on the school’s public account and admission materials, with only three to four students per class, making it look like the students are taking the teachers on an outing, giving an impression of a reversed hierarchy. Principal Wang might as well choose to put up a photo of him as the [Anti-Vice Pioneer], which would be more dignifying. "Oh—" Lin Li nodded, chiming in: "So, class rep, you’re worried that Bai Bufan and the others, seeing that our class’s final plan is yours, will choose not to go?" "Yes, for many of us, this is the first and last chance for everyone to go on a trip together. After reclassifying next term, there might be only a few familiar faces in each class," Chen Yu Ying nodded. Nansang Middle School, located in Zhejiang Province, adopts the New Gaokao education system. The class division isn’t based on arts and sciences but offers students significant autonomy by allowing them to choose three out of seven subjects. Aside from the basic three arts and three sciences subjects, there’s also a [Technology] course that includes general technology and information technology. Students only need to select three out of seven subjects as their Gaokao test subjects. Regarding the different scoring challenges of each subject, the testing subjects use a point distribution system. Based on the exam ranking within the province, scores are distributed: top rank scores 100, second rank 97, third rank 94, and so on. It’s said to be the most liberal college entrance examination system of Tokyo University, unique to Zhejiang Province. In other places, the new college entrance examination typically adopts the 3+1+2 method—choosing between physics and history is mandatory. However, after class divisions, there are only twenty classes, so some relatively niche combinations, such as physics, chemistry, plus politics—this combination of the most liberal arts and the most science subjects—may have choosers, but it’s basically impossible to form a class. Such students either choose moving classes or opt for the top twenty combinations that are more popular in their year group. But after all, there are twenty classes, so by the time of class division, it’s basically a case of everyone going their separate ways. It’s almost impossible to have more than ten students choose the same class unless it’s a competition class. That’s why Chen Yu Ying said so. The class monitor is quite sentimental, visibly showing some disappointment when saying this. Lin Li reached out and patted Chen Yu Ying on the shoulder, comforting her: "Don’t worry, class monitor. One call as class monitor, a lifetime class monitor. Even if we aren’t in the same class in the future, you’ll always be my class monitor. If you need anything later on, just call me, and I’ll provide all support except for physical help! I’m really looking forward to my new class monitor!" Chen Yu Ying was just about to feel touched, but the feeling dissipated. She chuckled and held it back, looking at Lin Li with a slightly resentful gaze. ~~Let your new class monitor~~Let your new class monitor~~ Class 4 of Year 1 is really a place full of pranksters. However, the little prankster that Chen Yu Ying transformed into is much cuter than the resentful ghosts Ding Sihan and Koukou turned into. Lin Li didn’t have the slightest intention to exorcise or run away. But her silent staring was indeed unbearable, and Lin Li surrendered. He raised his right arm at 45 degrees, fingers together pointing forward: "I have only one class monitor in my heart! Loyalty! Honesty!" Chen Yu Ying, looking helpless, pressed down Lin Li’s hand which would subconsciously become a soap if seen by a Jew, and spoke again: "Hmph, who cares if you’re looking forward to your new class monitor. So, this is our Class 4 of Year 1’s only chance to go out and have fun together. I hope we can get as many people as possible to come. If many people are unwilling to come, I’d rather change the plan." "So, class monitor, do you mean you want me to persuade Bai Bufan and the others?" Lin Li had roughly understood Chen Yu Ying’s meaning, so he asked proactively. "Yes! Bai Bufan and the others... Zhuo Yongfei doesn’t have much say with them and can’t persuade them, but you can. If your group doesn’t come, the class outing would lack a lot of excitement, and the atmosphere would be hard to maintain. You guys are really important." What Chen Yu Ying said was indeed true. If Lin Li and Bai Bufan didn’t go, the outing might be less noisy and annoying, but there would certainly be fewer interesting and funny things. However, Lin Li just shook his head and laughed: "Class monitor, do you not understand the thin skin of fifteen or sixteen-year-old boys? Just your earlier speech, combined with your voice and appearance, do you really not understand how lethal it is? As long as you personally tell them those words, I can guarantee that 90% of them will salute as if injected with chicken blood, saying, ’Thank you, class monitor, for your appreciation. We will ensure we complete the task.’" A fellow from Xiling immediately stood at attention. Hearing this, Chen Yu Ying lowered her head slightly, her voice noticeably lower than usual, with her ears turning a bit red: "But you don’t understand the thin skin of fifteen or sixteen-year-old girls. I can only say such things in front of you, because I know your perviness! How could I say it to each of them? If I seriously said it and met the 10% who ruthlessly refuse, I wouldn’t know what to do." She could only say it in front of Lin Li. This special status was very gratifying. So Lin Li chuckled. The only problem was that his special status seemed to be a bit skewed. "Class monitor, can you explain what’s meant by knowing my perviness?" The non-chuckling Lin Li asked with a serious face. Chen Yu Ying raised her head, her clear eyes staring at Lin Li, then she blinked. Silence speaks louder than words. ——Does this even need an explanation? That’s probably what Chen Yu Ying wanted to convey. But seeing Lin Li’s expression not improving, still serious, even to the point where Chen Yu Ying was a bit frightened inside. She started to regret making this joke, just about to apologize when she heard Lin Li begin to emphasize: "You forgot to add a ’good’ before that." "Eh?" "I’m a good pervert. You said it yourself, class monitor. This is very important. I absolutely won’t allow you to remove this prefix!" "...I’m sorry." After being stunned for a little while, Chen Yu Ying responded, with a smile flashing in her clear eyes.