Love Me in Another Universe

Chapter 2. Let's Play Basketball Together (Part 1)

September 14, 1993, Tuesday. In Class 6 of June One at Xiaoda Middle School, the English subject class representative, Guan Xuchen, was leading the morning English reading session from the podium.

"Please open your books and turn to page 12," Guan Xuchen deftly instructed his fellow students in English to open their English textbooks to the specified page, then asked them to follow him in reading the sentences aloud: "Please read after me. 'The boys are playing basketball on the playground.'"

The entire class read after him loudly, "The boys are playing basketball on the playground."

Sitting in the last row, Gao Xinglang followed the others in reading aloud, but his gaze on Guan Xuchen at the podium was filled with resentment. He thought angrily, "You, I saved you, but you got me write a letter of self-criticism. And you didn't even know my name. And you didn't even know we're classmates! What's so great about being the English class representative!"

The more Gao Xinglang thought about it, the angrier he became. He slammed his English textbook onto the desk with a thud. The whole class was startled and stopped reading aloud, turning to look at Gao Xinglang.

Guan Xuchen, standing at the podium, also put down his book. He looked at Gao Xinglang and asked with concern, "Gao Xinglang, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, there was just a cockroach on my desk!" Gao Xinglang replied curtly.

The class erupted into laughter.

Guan Xuchen offered a faint smile, then said, "Alright, alright, quiet please. Let's continue."

The students resumed their loud reading of the English text with Guan Xuchen.

Gao Xinglang also picked up his book again, continuing to read along with the rest of the class. As he read, he glanced at Guan Xuchen at the podium, feeling less angry when he recalled how Guan was able to say his name.

After the first class, during the break, Gao Xinglang went to the Discipline Office, found Mr. Liu, and with a dejected air, handed over the letter of self-criticism he had spent an hour crafting the night before, saying, "Mr. Liu, here is my letter of self-criticism. Please take a look."

Mr. Liu took the letter with a serious face. After reading it carefully, his stern expression gradually eased, and then he looked up and said, "Gao Xinglang, it seems you have indeed realized your mistake. Actually, Guan Xuchen came over to explain what happened this morning. He said those students from Junior Three were bullying him, and you threw the basketball to save him, right?"

Hearing that Guan Xuchen had come to the Discipline Office early in the morning to explain, Gao Xinglang was somewhat surprised, but he merely hummed in acknowledgment, saying nothing more.

"Gao Xinglang, your courage to act in the face of injustice is commendable, but you must also consider your capabilities and be strategic." Mr. Liu spoke earnestly, "At that time, Guan Xuchen was not in immediate danger. Although those Junior Three students were in the wrong, they were not criminals, so you shouldn't have just thrown a basketball at them. You could have used other methods to dissuade them, or like those girls, sought help from a teacher. Do you understand?"

"I understand. I'm sorry, Sir," Gao Xinglang said with his head down.

"Alright, don't be disheartened. In fact, your willingness to help when you see something unfair is praiseworthy." Mr. Liu stood up, patted Gao Xinglang on the arm, and then smiled, saying, "Keep a heart of justice, and you will surely become a remarkable man in future. Alright, go back to class."