At this point, Zoe Young was already the organization committee member of the brigade, and Fiona James was the deputy brigade leader. The two of them had long been the backbone of the school, each with three stripes on their sleeves. The class committee members of Class Seven, first grade, had changed several times already. Emily Xavier had retreated again and again on the road to power—when the class committee was adjusted in third grade, Swallow was still the squad leader, but Zoe Young suddenly became the main class monitor. Claire Daniels, who was always a bit more mature than the other students and had good grades, emerged as a dark horse and became the vice monitor. Emily Xavier was the most disappointed—one radish per hole, but when there are too many radishes, there are no more holes left.

She ended up as one of the three study committee members. In front of Mr. Hughes, Emily Xavier would declare that she would “set a good example and actively cooperate with the class monitor’s work,” but she suddenly became much more restrained and was so enthusiastic toward Zoe Young that it was almost scary. Zachary Lewis once said, “Zoe, I think Emily Xavier is even happier to see you than to see her own mom.” Mr. Hughes dragged a brown cardboard box out from under the desk, cut open the clear tape with scissors, and said to the two of them, “This is an event organized by the Provincial Youth Office. The manufacturer sponsored sanitary pads, and they’re to be distributed free of charge to all the girls in grades five and six. You two figure out a way, two packs per person, and get them handed out today. Don’t leave them in my office taking up space. But remember, don’t let the boys know—avoid them.”

The two of them nodded, exchanged a glance, and Claire Daniels asked, “Teacher, how do we avoid the boys?” Eleven- or twelve-year-old boys were no longer as obedient as they were when they were little. Each one seemed ready to rebel, goofing around, lingering like flies that couldn’t be driven away—even dogs would dislike them. Mr. Hughes thought for a moment: “How about this, let’s have PE class this afternoon, send all the boys out, and keep the girls behind.” Zoe Young nodded, and the two of them dragged the box out of the classroom together. “Hey, Zoe, have you gotten that yet?”

“What?” “Oh come on, you know, that, that thing!”

Zoe Young looked at Claire Daniels in confusion, who kept pointing at the box, and finally realized, her cheeks turning slightly red: “Not yet... What about you?”

“Ha, half a year ago. So every time it happens, I feel super embarrassed. Do you remember last month, for a while, every time I went to the bathroom I made you stand in front of me as a door?”

“Ah, so you were changing…” Zoe Young suddenly understood and smiled a little awkwardly. At this age, some girls had already started their periods, while others hadn’t. To make things easier, the school had removed the little doors in front of each stall in the girls’ bathroom, which often led to one person using the toilet while a line of people waited behind, resulting in the awkward situation of the person squatting and the person at the front of the line staring at each other—when they were younger it didn’t matter, but as they got older, many girls would pull their good friends to stand where the wooden door used to be, facing away, to act as a privacy shield.

“When we get back to class, let’s kick the boys out right away.” Zoe Young nodded, “Okay, you guard the box and wait for me at the washroom. I’ll clear everyone out and then come get you.” She suddenly felt a rush of excitement, as if she were in danger and had to find a hidden place to transform like Bunny Moon—oh no, better to be Amy Waters, Bunny Moon is a bit silly, thought Zoe Young. “Claire Daniels and I have talked to the teacher, next period is PE.” The classmates, who had been bored and whispering, fell silent the moment Zoe Young entered, and when they heard the news, their eyes lit up. Zoe Young had been a class monitor for two years, but she was never the type to boss her classmates around just because the teacher liked her. Her little bit of cunning let her balance between classmates and teachers, and she often took advantage of opportunities to win everyone’s favor and support.

Harmless little lies, like when a classmate was caught talking in class and nervously awaited a scolding, only to hear Zoe Young say, “I tore up the list. Don’t talk again next time, okay?” Or like now, using the excuse of speaking up for everyone to win a round of cheers.

“Class monitor, you’re the best!” A few boys in the back row were already hugging the soccer ball, ready to dash out the door. “But, all the girls stay for ten minutes, I have something to say.” The boys who had rushed to the door suddenly turned back: “Why?” “Why what? Go out and play, it’s none of your business.” “No way, you have to tell us why you’re kicking just the boys out! It can’t be anything good!” “If it’s not good, why aren’t you running off?!” The arts committee member was a feisty girl—ever since she’d been hit on the head with a soccer ball by the boys, she’d been at odds with them. “Oh, four-eyed frog is upset? I’m doing this for your own good, don’t you know what’s good for you?” Here we go again, these troublemakers. Zoe Young suppressed her impatience and waved her hand: “It’s about the arts festival, the girls need to prepare a group performance. If you keep talking, I’ll make you the lead dancer!”

Old habits die hard—she could make up stories on the spot. The boys immediately quieted down and quickly left the classroom. Zoe Young closed both the front and back doors and said softly, “Actually, today we’re handing out… sanitary pads.” Laughter broke out below, and Zoe Young quickly ran out to call Claire Daniels, and together they dragged the box inside.

The girls gathered around, each taking a pink and a blue pack—one for day, one for night. “Put them in your bags and hide them, don’t let the boys see,” Claire Daniels repeated several times, then they heard banging on the back door. “What do you mean, put them in your bags? Why can’t the boys see? What are you handing out? Open the door!!” Zoe Young panicked, and the girls scrambled to stuff the pads into the bottom of their bags. The banging was so loud that Claire Daniels had no choice but to open the door. “What do you want? Why are you banging on the door?” Claire Daniels had always been fiery—years later, on her twentieth birthday, Zoe Young gave her a piece of calligraphy she’d written herself. It read—“Born to be a queen.”

“If you’re not doing anything wrong, why are you afraid of someone banging on the door?” The ringleader, the soccer boy, was the most mischievous, Daniel Hughes. “What did we do wrong?” Claire Daniels felt a little guilty, so she could only raise her voice. “If you’ve got guts, show us what you just handed out!” Everyone’s face changed, and Zoe Young quickly ran down from the podium to stand between Daniel Hughes and Claire Daniels, trying to keep the peace—these two had always been arch-enemies, and this time would be no different. “You heard wrong…” Zoe Young started, but realized her words were totally unconvincing. “What are you arguing about? The other classes are still in session.”

The room instantly fell silent.

Andrew Lane stood calmly behind Daniel Hughes and the others, holding the scorebook for the discipline and hygiene competition. “Brigade leader!”

Daniel Hughes called out. Zoe Young turned her head away.

At the end of fourth grade, Andrew Lane kept his word and became the brigade leader. But as time passed, it was no longer such an important thing. “……”

Andrew Lane was very popular at school. In the brigade and class committee, which were dominated by girls, he was called the banner and pride of all the boys. Daniel Hughes and Andrew Lane had always been close, and this time, calling him “brigade leader” in a weird tone was actually using his title to put pressure on Zoe Young and the others.

Daniel Hughes explained the situation, and just as Claire Daniels was about to retort, Zoe Young pulled her back. “That’s right, the other classes are in session, let’s not argue. Anyway, everything that needed to be said has been said, let’s let the girls go out for PE too.” “That’s it?” Daniel Hughes threw the soccer ball on the ground, “Zoe Young, don’t think I don’t know—you’re the best at sleight of hand, you can’t fool me!” Zoe Young glanced up unintentionally and saw Andrew Lane leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, as if watching the show. In four years, they had become like strangers. Most of the time, Andrew Lane would just look at her like this, saying nothing, as if she were a not-so-funny joke. After a long standoff, he finally spoke, with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes: “You know, it’s a bit unfair to the boys, no wonder they’re upset. It’s not like you’re dividing up an inheritance, why all the secrecy? What is it, let me see too.” The boys all cheered. Whoever wins the people’s hearts wins the world—on this point, Zoe Young could never beat Andrew Lane. A sour feeling welled up inside her. Zoe Young ran back to the podium, took out two packs of blue night-use sanitary pads, and walked step by step to Andrew Lane. Zoe Young smiled and stuffed the pads into Andrew Lane’s hands. After four years, she finally said her first words to him: “Here you go, I hear this one’s for heavy flow.”

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2. Why Hormones Are Called Hormones

Fastest update of the latest chapter of Hello, Old Times!

Andrew Lane’s mouth was slightly open. He looked down at the soft blue package in his hand and suddenly felt it start to burn. What am I supposed to do with this thing?! But his tongue twisted, and when he spoke, it came out stammering: “I—how do you use this…”