Chapter 8.1|How did you make it?

From an unspecified day, Xu Zhiyi, Meng Yin, Lin Xipei, Xing Xiuze, and Nie Hai formed the "Eating Group" and together raided the cafeteria every day.

"Meng Yin, my dear classmate," Lin Xipei placed the largest piece of fried egg from her own plate into Yin's bowl, smiling mischievously as she asked, "Next week is the seven-day National Day holiday, do you have any plans?"

"Studying at the library."

The group eating together was taken aback by this statement, except for the individuals involved and Xu Zhiyi. 

Xipei twitched her mouth in disbelief, "Yin, are you serious?"

With such a wonderful holiday, meant to be a time of leisure, what did she just hear? Her classmate behind her mentioned spending the seven-day National Day holiday in the library.

Yin pushed a meatball into Xipei's mouth and explained, "My dear English class representative, we have monthly exams right after the National Day holiday."

Glancing at Zhiyi quietly eating at the table opposite, Xipei redirected the question, seizing the opportunity, "Xu Zhiyi, what about you? Any plans for the National Day holiday?"

Xu Zhiyi showed no sign of the typical joy expected from a contemporary high school student about to have a break, casually responding as if discussing the weather, "Studying."

Xiuze was drinking soup, and choked at this, causing his seaweed and egg soup to mix with his saliva back into the bowl. Nonetheless, this did not stop him from gazing at Zhiyi in astonishment.

While others may not know Zhiyi's true nature, Xiuze did. Xu Zhiyi always knew what he wanted, what he liked, and was willing to invest time and effort in his interests. He never believed that being tense during relaxation time would substantially improve learning efficiency and grades.

Indeed, you might hear about Zhiyi's holiday travel plans from others, but never that his holiday arrangement would involve "studying." This did not align with Zhiyi's persona, or with the school culture.

Wait, he did once find joy in studying at the library during a holiday.

Xing Xiuze looked at Zhiyi, his thoughts clearing up.

This person isn't going to study!

Upon hearing Zhiyi's response, Xipei and Hai, although not as dramatically as Xiuze, were momentarily unsure if the delectable flavours on their tongues should slide down their throats.

Only Yin was unsurprised by Zhiyi's answer.

"Are you both going crazy?" Xipei sighed sadly as she swallowed her food, feeling aggrieved. She thought that Bro Yi might provide a breakthrough, but it turned out to be a dead end.

 "If I don't work harder, I'll be left behind," Zhiyi casually remarked, almost causing Yin to choke on her food, while the other three onlookers seemed amused. 

Xipei was momentarily speechless, only able to pass the large chicken leg from her plate to Yin, sniffing as she comforted Yin and herself, saying, "Yin, you are the hope of our entire village. Eat more so you can surpass our classmate Xu Zhiyi." Her expression in saying this was as if she could have written "I feel so wronged right now, come and comfort me" on her face.

Yin could only laugh and cry, asking, "Our entire village?" 

"Yes..." Xipei said confidently, "Just our entire Class 2 of Grade 12." 

"Xu Zhiyi, how come I didn't know you had offended the entire class behind the scenes~" "As I love studying too much." 

Lin Xipei, Xing Zexiu, Nie Hai: "..." Are you sure this is Xu Zhiyi? 

During the lunch break, there was a new reply in the "Fine Posts" section. 

@PeppaPigisnotpink: originally wanted to indirectly ask a guy about the arrangements for the National Day, but he told me "study" and even said it was because of "loving to study." For a moment, I didn't know whether to be sad... 

In class, Mr. Wang came with a notification about the school sports meeting in mid-October. In short, before the National Day holiday, we need to finalize the personnel for each project and submit it to the Political and Educational Office. It wasn't a difficult task, but what surprised Yin was that everyone wanted her to be the guide for Class 2 of Grade 12 at the sports opening ceremony. 

Yin had never been a guide before, and she couldn't understand why everyone was so enthusiastic and unanimously elected her as the guide. Xipei's explanation was, "The school sports meeting is a collective event, and everyone wants you to experience the sense of unity in Class 2 of Grade 12." 

After evening self-study, Xipei lay on the windowsill, took out her phone, zoomed in on the camera, and captured the elongated silhouettes of the two people walking towards the school gate under the street lamp. 

This was the 24th day she had seen Zhiyi and Yin heading towards the school gate. She exited the camera, logged into the forum, went into her saved posts, and then backed out again, deciding it was better to keep this photo private for now.