Acquiring Knowledge

"Let NA represent the value of Avogadro's constant. Using the reaction 8N... to detect chlorine gas leaks..." The chemistry teacher explained the problem on the projector when suddenly, his gaze seemed to catch something. Adjusting his glasses, he flicked a piece of chalk like a bullet—landing perfectly on a girl's forehead. "Ow."

"Tang Keke, is my class so boring that it puts you to sleep?" The teacher picked up another piece of chalk and tapped it against the blackboard.

Tang Keke rubbed her forehead and stood up, scratching her head sheepishly.

"What's the answer to this question?"

"Uh..."

"Then find someone to answer for you. Otherwise, you'll stand for the rest of the class," the teacher continued. "Even though getting into Yinshan Academy through internal promotion is much easier than passing the college entrance exam from outside, that’s no excuse for slacking off."

"Underestimate the fourth-year advancement exam, and you might just get expelled!"

Tang Keke didn’t dare talk back and just shrunk her head.

At that moment, the teacher noticed Bai Yuyou beside Tang Keke slowly raising her hand. He asked, "Bai Yuyou, are you going to answer for her?"

The girl nodded lightly.

"Which option is it? Get it wrong, and you’ll stand too."

"..." Bai Yuyou’s lips moved slightly.

"Too quiet. Can’t hear you."

Hearing this, Bai Yuyou lowered her eyes and reached into her desk drawer. A few seconds later, to everyone’s shock, she pulled out a megaphone.

The amplified voice, accompanied by electronic static, left the teacher speechless. He glanced at Bai Yuyou, who stood expressionless with the microphone as if ready to speak again, then at Tang Keke, who was covering her head. "Alright, sit down. Sleep in the hallway next time."

"Okay."

Once seated, Tang Keke turned to Bai Yuyou excitedly. "Yuyou, thank you!"

Bai Yuyou thought for a moment and whispered, "Not saving... would’ve been fine."

"Huh? Why?"

"Because..." Before she could finish, the bell rang. Tang Keke blinked, then seemed to understand as Bai Yuyou fell silent.

After the teacher left, many students immediately slumped onto their desks to catch up on sleep. It wasn’t just Tang Keke—plenty of them were drowsy, looking like they might collapse any second.

Even so,

This was the age when most people slept the fastest and most soundly. Many adults later found themselves trapped in nights where they wanted to sleep but couldn’t bring themselves to.

As if time was never truly theirs.

"I’m kinda hungry. Yuyou, wanna grab a snack from the store?" Tang Keke asked.

Bai Yuyou, however, stared at Tang Keke’s backpack. After a moment, she suddenly reached out and gave it a squeeze.

"Wh-what are you doing?!" Tang Keke froze, hugging herself and twisting away, her face full of disbelief.

Bai Yuyou remained calm, her gaze dropping to her palm as she murmured, "Scary..."

"Don’t just randomly grope and then call it scary!" Tang Keke groaned.

Bai Yuyou added, "Ye Shuang... likes big backpacks."

"How do you know that?"

Bai Yuyou didn’t answer, but she had occasionally noticed Ye Shuang’s gaze lingering on Tang Keke’s backpack.

"Brother’s a guy, so it’s normal..." Tang Keke’s eyes drifted downward. "You’re not flat anyway, and you’re not small. What’s there to worry about?"

Bai Yuyou whispered, "He doesn’t touch."

"Brother’s not a creep, of course he wouldn’t just randomly grope you!" Tang Keke sighed. Then, eyeing her own backpack, she asked, "Brother likes big backpacks?"

"Yeah."

"Alright, alright, come with me to get snacks. I’m starving." Tang Keke grabbed Bai Yuyou’s hand, and the two walked side by side toward the store.

After passing through the hallway, they came across a warning sign blocking one of the paths.

[Cleaning in progress—floor wet, please detour]

"Detour..." Bai Yuyou pointed.

Tang Keke waved it off. "It’s fine, we’ll just be careful not to slip."

But before she could finish, a janitor carrying a mop bucket stepped out. "Don’t walk here—it’s slippery!"

"Fine." Tang Keke reluctantly pulled her foot back.

The store was next to the cafeteria. Going down to the first floor and walking over would mean taking a longer detour—so long that they might not make it back before the next bell. But if they took the overhead walkways upstairs, they could get there much faster.

"Let’s just take the overhead walkway upstairs," Tang Keke decided.

"Okay."

Though slightly longer, the upstairs walkway was still better than circling around downstairs.

But as they reached the upper floor, the sounds from a nearby classroom made them pause.

Tang Keke’s eyes widened as she pointed. "Yuyou, someone’s..."

Bai Yuyou tilted her head, confused. "Someone’s...?"

"Come here." Tang Keke, suddenly looking mischievous, tiptoed to the classroom’s back door with Bai Yuyou in tow. She cracked it open just enough to peek inside—

"Know what that is?" she whispered after a moment.

Bai Yuyou studied the scene before hesitantly answering, "Samurai duel...?"

"The girl’s getting beaten up..."

"Dummy!" Tang Keke was about to explain when the creak of the door caught someone’s attention. A panicked voice rang out—"Who’s there?!"

"Run!"

Tang Keke grabbed Bai Yuyou and bolted.

They didn’t stop until they reached the lower floor.

"Why... run?" Bai Yuyou asked softly.

"Ugh, stumbling onto something like that is embarrassing for everyone," Tang Keke said, sounding worldly. "Privacy, okay? Privacy."

Bai Yuyou tilted her head.

"Hmm... looks like you need some education. Otherwise, you won’t even know how to make babies later." Tang Keke patted Bai Yuyou’s shoulder. "But first, buy me snacks."

"Okay..."

...

Lunch break arrived.

In the infirmary, Ye Shuang set down his medical book as usual, stretched, and headed to the cafeteria to meet Bai Yuyou and the others.

The school nurse job was easy—even relaxing enough to let him keep an eye on Bai Yuyou. So far, Ye Shuang was satisfied. He just wished certain troublemakers would tone it down a bit.

After waiting at the entrance for a while, he soon spotted Tang Keke and Bai Yuyou approaching. Their looks alone drew plenty of attention—though they were completely different types, they were both eye-catching.

"Brother!"

"Ye Shuang..."

Seeing them, Ye Shuang smiled. "Let’s eat."

But then, Bai Yuyou tugged at his sleeve. "Ye Shuang..."

"Hm?" He turned. "What’s up?"

"Let’s go make a baby first," the girl said.

Ye Shuang: "..."

…Huh? ↗