Everyone’s attention was on the core subjects. Some students were naturally good at politics, some didn’t pay it much attention, and some just reviewed their notes during their study time, unwilling to waste time on extra lessons, not wanting to use their time on something so trivial.

Looking at the political science teacher and Qiao ahead, I mustered up the courage to follow them. I tugged at the teacher’s sleeve and said, “Teacher, I also want to attend the extra lessons. I didn’t quite understand what you taught in class.”

The man in formal attire tucked the pointer and books under his arm, adjusted his cuffs, and casually glanced at me. His eyes passed over Qiao, and he raised his thick, dark eyebrows, nodding in agreement.

Just as I took a step forward, Qiao unexpectedly grabbed my arm. This was the first time we had physical contact. He stared blankly at the sky outside the tall building and murmured a few words to me.

He asked me to go to Class 1 to buy bread and milk for the schoole beauty He said that Xiaoxiao didn’t eat in the afternoon because she was dieting. When he returned from the extra lessons, I could settle the money with him, and he would help me with my studies.

Qiao would help me with my studies?! Oh my god! He never helped other girls with their studies, except for the school beauty.

I held my racing heart, hesitated for a moment, and politely declined. Then, with a smile, I asked the political science teacher, “Teacher, may I go?”

Before the teacher could speak, Qiao’s eyes turned sharp. He took a step forward, blocking me with his body, and lowered his voice, saying, “You can’t go!” When he realized his tone had been too harsh, he quickly softened it. “If you go, you won’t understand it as well as I do. It’s better if I teach you, and you can help me keep an eye on Xiaoxiao. Isn’t that a win-win situation?”

Qiao was so strange… this feeling had been lingering for a while now. Did he and the political science teacher have selfish intentions when it came to their studies? Seeing Qiao’s firm attitude, I reluctantly agreed. Before I left, he casually handed me some pocket change. The money for the bread and milk was clearly more than needed, and when I tried to give it back to him, he absently said, “The extra is for running errands.” I nodded and took the change to buy bread and milk for the class flower.

This was my first time being up close to her, and all I could think was, “She’s really beautiful!” If she were to act in a TV drama, she could easily overshadow a crowd of beautiful actresses.

The class flower looked troubled. She poked at the soft bread and fresh milk, resting her chin in frustration. With a subtle raise of her perfectly shaped eyebrows, she casually asked me, “Hey, you’re in the same class as Qiao, right? I don’t believe his grades would drop, is he just pretending?”

I shook my head and said, “I don’t know.” The class flower then slumped over her desk, pouting. From her muttering, I gathered that their recent relationship seemed to be somewhat unstable.

After buying the bread for the class flower, I nervously made my way to the teachers’ dormitory. Passing by the cold iron gate and walking into the damp corridor, I heard an unusual, faint sound. It was very soft, strange, and stifling, so subtle that it required keen listening to catch.

For a moment, the sound seemed to disappear. Once I reached the teachers’ dormitory, I realized I hadn’t asked where the political science teacher’s room was. So, I gave up and turned around to leave the stifling dormitory.

My footsteps echoed slightly in the long corridor. As I walked, I suddenly turned my head… The faint light cast shadows on the wall, the iron gate of the dormitory was slightly rusted, and everything felt ancient, like a deserted house. The dark corridor seemed like a gaping mouth, like it could devour people, like it could devour children… I had been afraid of the dark since I was little… It was too dark here, I needed to leave quickly…

Finally escaping the teachers’ dormitory, I gasped for air, holding my chest as I looked up at the sky. The twilight sky seemed to be covered in a shadow, mixed with light rain, with eerie streaks of crimson showing through the gray clouds.

The heavy clouds hung low, pressing down on the city, seeming as if they were about to crush it. The sky, like a huge blood-soaked mouth, seemed to be dripping thick saliva, as if it were about to fall down and devour people.