Chapter 13: Class Officer Elections  

Song Xingran’s breath brushed past Lin Yumo’s ear, carrying the fresh sweetness of mint candy: “Little Jasmine, are you thinking of running for anything?”  

The girl’s fingers unconsciously fiddled with the buttons of her school uniform, her eyes filled with hesitation.  

Lin Yumo lowered her gaze, looking at the math key points highlighted with fluorescent markers in her notebook. Memories of opportunities she had missed in her past life due to timidity suddenly flashed through her mind.  

“Math Representative,” Lin Yumo’s voice was steady, yet carried an undeniable resolve.  

She recalled the sharp gaze behind the homeroom teacher’s glasses. Running for Math Representative now was both a challenge to herself and a step closer to her goal.  

“Are you sure?” Song Xingran bit the cap of her pen, doodling messy sketches on her scratch paper.  

“Math is Old Zhang’s class…” she suddenly lowered her voice, “I heard he can scold girls until they cry when he’s angry.”  

“I’m sure. I’ve already decided.”  

Lin Yumo turned her head, her gaze settling on Song Xingran’s conflicted expression. She knew the longing hidden in her friend’s heart.  

Song Xingran opened her mouth, then quickly closed it again. Her fingers tugged at the hem of her school uniform, wrinkling the fabric. “You’ve already made up your mind, but I still can’t decide whether to run for Class Committee Member or not.”  

Her fingertips traced the edge of the desk, her nails turning faintly white from the pressure.  

She lowered her lashes, her thick eyelashes casting a small shadow on her face. “Actually, Arts and Entertainment Representative doesn’t sound bad either…”  

Her voice grew quieter, the last few words almost swallowed.  

“Last time in middle school when I was a Class Officer,” Song Xingran suddenly looked up, her eyes flickering with uncertainty.  

“I messed up the New Year’s performance…” She twisted a strand of her hair around her finger. “The program order was printed wrong in the end. Though it turned out okay, still…”  

Lin Yumo turned fully to face her friend, meeting the shimmering mix of longing and timidity in her eyes.  

She reached out and gently smoothed the wrinkled fabric of Song Xingran’s uniform, her palm warmth seeping through the cloth. Her gaze was gentle yet firm. “It’s fine. Didn’t it turn out alright in the end? Just give it a try. Think of it as experience.”  

“After this exam,” Teacher Zhang suddenly turned around, a piece of chalk accurately hitting a dozing boy to wake him up.  

“We’ll rearrange the seating based on grades.”  

His meaningful gaze swept over a few giggling students. “Of course, Class Officer positions will also be reconsidered.”  

“Let’s begin now. First up, Li Xuanxuan!” Teacher Zhang’s voice cut through the classroom as the chalk struck the blackboard with a loud tap, startling the front-row students.  

Li Xuanxuan stood up briskly from her seat, her ponytail swaying with each step. She walked up to the podium with light, confident strides, her blue-and-white school uniform crisp under the sunlight.  

“Hello everyone, I’m Li Xuanxuan. I used to attend Red Leaf Middle School,” the girl’s voice was clear, brimming with innate confidence.  

“Having served as Class President during the two-week military training, I’m already familiar with the role. I hope to continue serving everyone!”  

As she bowed slightly, loose strands of hair fell over the back of her neck, revealing faint tan lines from the training. Scattered applause rose from the class.  

One by one, names were called. Some stumbled nervously, their faces flushing red on the podium; others delivered well-prepared speeches with dramatic flair, earning enthusiastic applause.

When Wang Changyu’s name was called, the scholarly-looking boy adjusted his glasses. His uniform collar was buttoned tightly, his Adam’s apple bobbing nervously beneath the stiff fabric. “I served as Study Representative for three consecutive years in middle school and organized over a dozen study group activities…” His voice grew steadier as he spoke, and his closing words—”Please believe in me”—earned quiet murmurs of approval from the girls in the front row.

“Next, Lin Yumo!”

The classroom erupted. Some whispered among themselves, others clapped excitedly, and a few even let out sharp whistles—until Teacher Zhang silenced them with a single glare.

As Lin Yumo stood, sunlight spilled over her head, softening the blue-and-white uniform into warm hues. She walked to the podium with the straight-backed poise of a young poplar tree.

“Hello everyone, I’m Lin Yumo.” Her soft voice carried an undercurrent of quiet confidence as she swept her gaze over the expectant and scrutinizing eyes in the room. “I attended B University’s affiliated middle school, scored full marks in math on the high school entrance exam, and served as Math Representative for three consecutive years.” A faint dimple appeared at the corner of her lips. “I believe my experience and enthusiasm will make me suited for this role.” Applause surged like a tide.

Before stepping up, Song Xingran clutched Lin Yumo’s hand nervously. Though her palms were damp with sweat, she gradually relaxed under her friend’s encouraging gaze.

“Hello everyone! I’m Song Xingran, from No. 1 Middle School’s junior division!” She took a deep breath, her voice trembling at first but growing firm. “Though I don’t have much experience as a Class Officer, I’ll pour 100% passion into planning every event!” In her excitement, her waving arm hiked up her uniform sleeve, revealing the words “Go for it!” scrawled in black ink on her wrist—a small detail that drew good-natured laughter and even louder applause.

When the results were announced, the afternoon sun slanted across the podium. Chalk dust drifted along its edges as Teacher Zhang adjusted his black-framed glasses, his gaze sweeping over the tense, breathless students. The room was so quiet that the rustling of camphor trees outside could be heard, and even the occasional rustle of a textbook page turning felt like a hammer blow to the heart.

“After vote counting,” Teacher Zhang’s voice suddenly rose, startling a drowsy boy in the back row upright, “Class President—Li Xuanxuan!” Cheers exploded instantly. Li Xuanxuan’s ponytail swung as she stood, marching to the podium with the crisp stride honed during military training. Her back was ramrod straight beneath her blue-and-white uniform, and even her fingertips carried a confident curve as she accepted the Letter of Appointment. Lin Yumo noticed her discreet victory sign under the desk.

Wang Changyu’s appointment as Study Representative drew a round of good-natured teasing. The bookish boy adjusted his glasses, his eyes brightening momentarily behind the lenses. He instinctively glanced toward Lin Yumo but quickly lowered his head when their eyes met halfway.

“Math Representative, Lin Yumo.”

At the sound of her name, Lin Yumo stood. A few muffled gasps came from the back—sunlight filtered through her loose hair, casting dappled light across her uniform.

Song Xingran’s appointment as Arts and Entertainment Representative was the most dramatic. When her name was called, she was still clutching Lin Yumo’s hand, her palm damp. The girl took a deep breath, as if expelling all her nerves. “Arts and Entertainment Representative—Song Xingran!”

She knocked over the stationery box when she jumped up, sending ballpoint pens rolling across the floor, drawing a wave of laughter from the classmates.  

Finally, Teacher Zhang’s voice carried a hint of admiration: “Sports Representative, Zhang Su!”  

The tall, wheat-skinned boy stood up from his seat.  

As he reached out to accept the Letter of Appointment, the defined muscles of his arm subtly outlined beneath his school uniform, eliciting a collective gasp from the audience. Some classmates whispered among themselves, “With that physique, he’s definitely varsity basketball material.”