He went to Steven Martin's office. Steven Martin took out some ointment, squeezed out a bit, and applied it to the wound on his face. The cut on Eric Bennett's face was quite long, stretching from the corner of his mouth to his cheek. Although it was no longer bleeding, it still looked pretty scary.

While applying the medicine, Steven Martin said angrily, "You shouldn't hit someone in the face. Why does Daniel Cooper scratch people with his nails like a little girl?"

Eric Bennett hadn't expected Daniel Cooper to go for the face either, and to leave such a visible mark—it was pretty dumb.

"Such a good-looking face, you better not let it scar. Take good care of it." After finishing with his face, Steven Martin asked, "Anywhere else you're hurt?"

Eric Bennett lifted his shirt, revealing his slender waist. Steven Martin took one look and saw that his waist and abdomen were covered in bruises, here and there, making his fair skin look battered and unrecognizable. Steven Martin's heart skipped a beat. "Did Daniel Cooper do all this?"

Eric Bennett gave a soft "mm." Of course, he had hit back at Daniel Cooper just as hard, but only in places that hurt enough but wouldn't leave obvious marks.

Even if Daniel Cooper lifted his shirt, there wouldn't be any visible traces.

Steven Martin took a few deep breaths, switched to red medicine, and gently applied it to him.

Eric Bennett's body trembled slightly. Steven Martin asked, "Does it hurt a lot?"

Eric Bennett replied, "No, it doesn't."

Steven Martin glanced at him and made his movements even gentler.

After finishing with Eric Bennett, Steven Martin said, "The results from the discipline office should be out soon. Unless something unexpected happens, it'll be a major punishment—suspension and a written review. I'll take care of things in the dorm."

Eric Bennett said seriously, "Thank you, teacher."

Steven Martin considered his words and said, "At your age, your only job is to study. Leave everything else to the teachers. Understand?"

Eric Bennett said, "I know. Thank you, teacher."

After leaving Steven Martin's office, Eric Bennett went straight back to the dorm.

That night, Daniel Cooper didn't come back.

Matthew Turner said to Eric Bennett, "I heard Daniel Cooper was taken home by his parents."

Seeing that Eric Bennett didn't seem to care much, he changed the subject and asked, "Are you still in pain?"

Eric Bennett replied, "No, it doesn't hurt."

Matthew Turner smiled gently and said, "I didn't expect you to fight back against Daniel Cooper."

He paused, then added, "And you didn't even lose."

Eric Bennett's eyes flickered a little. "Just two losers pecking at each other."

Matthew Turner was a bit surprised when he heard that, and lowered his voice, "You actually know how to joke."

Eric Bennett glanced at him, his expression a bit odd. "I'm human too."

Why wouldn't I know how to joke?

Matthew Turner caught the unspoken meaning and squinted with a smile.

*

The results of the monthly exam came out. Eric Bennett was still ranked first in the grade.

Matthew Turner's results were also good—fifth in the grade.

Matthew Turner asked Eric Bennett, "The results are out. Want to go out and relax?"

Eric Bennett thought for a few seconds, then nodded. "There's a new set of x-gang papers out. I want to check them out."

Matthew Turner was taken aback. "Then let's go check them out together."

He hadn't expected "relaxing" to turn into a trip to the bookstore.

Matthew Turner was a bit helpless, but still accompanied Eric Bennett to the bookstore without complaint.

In the end, Eric Bennett returned with a full load.

Now there were only three people left in dorm 401. Daniel Cooper had moved to a dorm on the third floor, carrying a disciplinary record and a two-week suspension. During this time, the two of them basically wouldn't run into each other.

It did make things much quieter for Eric Bennett.

He sat by the bed organizing his books when a piece of paper, softened from being crumpled and then carefully folded, slipped out of an English dictionary and fell to the floor. Eric Bennett looked down, picked it up, and slowly unfolded it. On it was a name and a string of numbers.

Matthew Turner walked over carrying a washbasin, saw what he was looking at, and casually asked, "What are you looking at?"

Eric Bennett shook his head. "Nothing."

This time, though, he put the paper on the desk.

*

"Andrew Foster, are you kidding me?" As soon as Andrew Foster answered the phone, he heard Henry Clark's unsteady voice.

Andrew Foster was playing a game on his iPad as he said, "I'm starting a match, not joking."

"Be serious!" Henry Clark snapped. "If you're transferring schools, why didn't you tell me first?"

Andrew Foster said, "I forgot."

Bullshit, you forgot! Henry Clark said, "Did your dad agree?"

Andrew Foster said, "Yeah, he agreed. I'm his only son, so whatever I say goes."

Henry Clark was speechless.

After a while, he asked, "Where are you transferring to?"

Andrew Foster replied, "You don't know that school, so don't ask."

Henry Clark said, "I'm asking where you are! Don't brush me off!"

Andrew Foster had no choice but to answer, "Nanyang High School in City A. You've never heard of it, right?"

Henry Clark was stunned. "What kind of crappy school is that? Why are you so eager to go?"

Andrew Foster didn't answer.

"Wait, I remember now. Last time we went to City A, we met that classmate—wasn't he from that school?"