What surprised Thomas Reed even more was that she had obediently and diligently studied for so long without feeling irritated at all... This was probably the most seriously she had studied since graduating from kindergarten.

"Wasted so much of your time, but at least it served some purpose." Thomas Reed folded the test paper and tucked it into her math book, unlike before when she would just stuff test papers at the bottom of her drawer as a book pad.

Henry Clark was helping her organize test papers for other subjects. Thomas Reed's test papers were always scattered everywhere, and after teaching her for a few classes, Henry Clark naturally took on the right to help her manage them. She shook her head at Thomas Reed's words, "It's not a waste of time."

Thomas Reed felt her deskmate was just comforting her. "If it's not a waste of time, then what is it? You already know all this stuff, but you still explain it to me again. Could you possibly gain anything extra from it?"

Henry Clark: "No, but if you feel happy doing something, then no matter how much time you spend, it's not a waste."

When she studied alone, she felt calm and content. But when Thomas Reed was with her, she felt happy. She didn't know why—maybe it was because Thomas Reed was more interesting than she was.

Thomas Reed couldn't understand: "What's so fun about teaching someone? Are you addicted to being a teacher?"

Henry Clark didn't answer, and instead pulled out her physics test paper: "Do you want to go over physics next?"

It was already break time; the bell had rung two or three minutes ago. Thomas Reed stood up: "Let me take a break and go to the bathroom, teacher. Let's talk about physics next time."

She put both hands in her school uniform pockets and walked away quickly. Her shoulder-length hair fluttered by her cheeks, and the half of her face facing the sunlight was bright and hazy. She walked alone past many laughing, indistinct classmates.

In autumn, Nanlin had more and more days of brilliant sunshine.

The ginkgo tree outside the window had turned its leaves yellow. During her study breaks, Henry Clark's favorite thing was to turn her head and look at this tree that was slowly turning golden. Its color was so dazzling that it especially caught her eye, as if she was born to be attracted to bright things.

Thomas Reed returned just as the bell for class rang. She sat back in her seat and suddenly put her hand in front of Henry Clark, shaking her sleeve.

A golden ginkgo leaf fell from her cuff, like a butterfly landing on the back of Henry Clark's hand, then sliding down next to her pen tip.

"I just picked up a really pretty leaf," Thomas Reed said casually. "Do you want it?"

Henry Clark turned her head to look at her. "Yes."

Chapter 10 Shoes

The autumn sports meet at Nanlin No. 1 High School was held not long after the midterm exams. The school's sports meet was quite large in scale, with both teachers and students participating every year, and quite a few parents coming to watch as well.

After the stressful midterm exams, such a sports meet saved some students who didn't get good grades, allowing them to quickly throw themselves into group activities and temporarily forget the harsh reality.

The PE class rep was a tall, slightly dark-skinned boy who loved playing basketball. Just a couple of days ago, he was still wailing about his terrible midterm results, but as soon as the homeroom teacher mentioned the sports meet, he perked up immediately. He tossed his exam results aside, came back to life on the spot, and went around the class with a printed list of events, urging everyone to sign up for competitions.

He was cheerful and a bit of a joker, well-liked in the class. Joking and pleading with everyone, he managed to assign almost all the events in just one day, even if it meant tricking or begging people. Every event had at least one participant, except for the girls' 3000-meter run, which no one was willing to do.

With no other choice, the PE rep went to a few girls he usually talked to, but they all shook their heads and refused.

"Hei Pi, are you trying to kill me? With my tiny frame, I can't even run 800 meters, let alone 3000. I'd drop dead on the spot!"

"I'll just do jump rope, I can't handle running, I can't run at all!"

"Don't look at me, I've already signed up for the 1500. There's no way I'm running 3000 too."

"Hei Pi, don't trick me. You've already roped me into high jump, and I can't even jump. I'll break my legs, let alone run!"

The girl sitting behind him glared and raised her book as if to hit him. The PE rep quickly grinned and dodged, slipping away to the group of girls at the back.

"Hey, Grace Carter, you guys haven't picked your events yet. At least one event per person, everyone has to choose."

The girls grumbled, "I just happen to have my period that day, my stomach hurts, can't I skip it?"

Hei Pi: "No way. If you really can't do it that day, you can ask for leave, but for now, just sign up. No one's picked the girls' 3000 meters yet—who's going to do it?"

"If the boys have a 3000-meter run, fine, but why do the girls have to do it too!"

"Yeah, I can't even finish 400 meters." In the end, each of them picked something—jump rope, shot put, and so on—but the 3000 meters was still left empty.

"Thomas Reed and Henry Clark haven't picked yet, right? Let Thomas Reed do it. Didn't they say she used to get into fights? If she can fight, she can definitely run. And Henry Clark, didn't she use to live in a remote mountain village and have to walk a long way to school? She can definitely run." Grace Carter's words had a subtle undertone, but the PE rep didn't notice. He was straightforward and, hearing this, his eyes lit up. "That's right, Henry Clark can definitely do it. She can handle hardship, unlike you pampered girls."

"You're the pampered one!"