The campus broadcast music echoed across the entire school.
Monday’s flag-raising ceremony was one of the few collective activities left at Jiangshui No.1 High School.
Back in the first semester of senior year, Lu Yu’s grade still did morning exercises after second period. But by the second semester, exercises were canceled—replaced with in-class self-study.
So for seniors, Monday wasn’t just the school’s only group event; it was also the sole day they had to wear uniforms.
“Let’s go, Brother Lu.”
Ren Jie handed in his homework right at the deadline.
Being a science student had its perks: copying assignments meant fewer words, done in a flash.
If it were pre-streaming liberal arts homework from freshman year? With that word count… Ren Jie would’ve thrown in the towel instantly.
“Wait.”
Lu Yu nearly buried his head in the desk drawer. His poor, flat backpack lay turned inside out on the chair.
Ren Jie hovered by the desk, ears tuned to the speakers’ increasingly urgent tune, anxiety tightening his chest.
“You didn’t forget your uniform, did you?”
“Might be true,” Lu Yu murmured, setting the empty bag down.
Ever since the uniform-theft incident in class, he’d taken his uniform home every Friday.
Worn only once a week, it rarely got washed—but he’d still bring it back unchanged each Monday.
If it wasn’t in his bag now, someone must’ve taken it out.
Or maybe Lin Beixing had washed it.
“What do we do?! No uniform at the ceremony—you’ll stick out like a sore thumb! If the Discipline Committee catches you, they’ll dock class points!”
“And our homeroom teacher’ll probably spit blood from rage!!”
Ren Jie was sweating bullets for him, but Lu Yu, seated calmly, showed zero panic.
Classic case of the emperor staying cool while the eunuch panics.
“Then I won’t go.”
“What?!!!”
“No uniform means no getting caught. Those inspection squads check discipline, not headcount. Perfect chance to nap alone in class.”
Lu Yu pictured the empty classroom. Peaceful. Quiet. He liked that.
“…Bro, you’re seriously giving up on yourself!”
The broadcast music neared its end. As the final note faded, the ceremony officially began.
Ren Jie stopped waiting.
Skipping the ceremony might slip past the Discipline Committee—but not the homeroom teacher.
Lu Yu feared no teacher. Ren Jie? Terrified of everyone.
“I’m heading down, Brother Lu… Hide in the restroom! Hygiene Committee might inspect classroom cleanliness—I don’t want you caught red-handed!”
He was already darting toward the back door as he spoke.
Lu Yu waved him off.
Snapping back, Lu Yu reached for his phone to check in-game rewards.
Just as his fingers brushed the screen—
*Tap-tap-tap—*
Light, hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway.
Jiangshui No.1 High’s uniform was standard blue-and-white tracksuit fare—bland, forgettable. Lu Yu had roasted it mercilessly upon enrollment.
Loose cuts made every student’s silhouette nearly identical.
Yet amid the sea of conformity, one girl ran *against* the current.
Her high ponytail swayed with a crimson ribbon. Same uniform, same school—but on her, it held quiet charm.
Gentle eyes flickered with urgency. *Tap-tap-tap.* She stopped before Lu Yu.
“…I forgot to tell you. Auntie washed your uniform yesterday. It’s hanging on the clothesline outside.”
Lin Beixing’s breath came slightly quick. Her tracksuit zipper was pulled tight to the collar. In the summer heat, the long pants hugged her slender legs.
Lu Yu knew girls often wore skirts underneath, pulling uniform pants over them just for Monday compliance.
His gaze lifted politely away.
“It’s fine. I won’t go down,” Lu Yu said evenly.
“No. Hygiene Committee’s inspecting today. You’re coming with me, Lu Yu.”
She didn’t wait for refusal—grabbed his arm.
But this was Lu Yu in *his* body, not hers. Her slender arm couldn’t budge him.
“No uniform? Going down’s suicide.”
“Wear mine. Take my jacket.”
Urgency sharpened her voice. *Zzzip.* She yanked the zipper down, shrugged off the jacket.
Beneath: her usual violet-blue short sleeves. Bow removed, top button undone to blend with tracksuit style.
A soft floral scent washed over Lu Yu.
His heartbeat skipped.
“Class Monitor Lin, you’ll get caught without your uniform too.”
“I *am* wearing it! Pants count. And homeroom teacher won’t hassle me…”
“He won’t hassle *me* either.”
“That’s not ‘won’t hassle’—it’s ‘can’t do anything about you’…”
Awkwardness prickled Lin Beixing’s skin. Especially under Lu Yu’s lazy, assessing gaze. Heat bloomed on her cheeks.
She casually wiped her face with her wrist and tossed the jacket at him.
“Put it on. My fault—I forgot to remind you.”
The jacket, sweet with her scent, landed on his head. He caught it.
“This small size won’t fit me…”
“Tracksuits are loose. Just pull it on.”
“…Oh.”
He slipped it on. Tight across the shoulders, comically short—it barely covered his own shirt.
He didn’t ask what *she’d* do.
He didn’t know if the teacher would scold her.
But as a chronic latecomer/early-leaver, Lu Yu knew this music intimately.
Less than ten seconds left.
Sixth-floor classroom.
No time.
True to prediction—the moment Lu Yu (in the straining jacket) and Lin Beixing stepped into the hall, the assembly music cut off.
Next beat: the flag-raising march swelled.
“The flag-raising ceremony now begins…”
As the stirring national anthem rose, Lin Beixing’s steps faltered.
