Love Me in Another Universe

Chapter 26. A Special Birthday (Part 2)

Gao Xinglang and Guan Xuchen made their way to the tranquil corner in the southeast of the campus. They found the stone engraved with the words "Botanical Garden", and followed the path beside it into the quaint little garden.

It was the weekend, and with school almost over, there was no one else in the botanical garden.

"Wow, it's been a while since I was here last time. The botanical garden has become so much more beautiful!" Guan Xuchen looked at the blooming flowers and marveled. He then walked to the center of the garden and, pointed at the small pond and said to Gao Xinglang, "Lang, look, those goldfish and turtles have grown so much!"

Gao Xinglang felt as though he was seeing that lively kitten again. He walked over to the small pond and looked inside it, then pointed at one of the turtles and said to Guan Xuchen, "Soupy, look, that turtle seems to be nodding its head at you, as if it's saying to you, 'Soupy, Soupy, happy birthday'."

"It really does seem like it..." Guan Xuchen looked at the turtle and laughed out loud.

They spent about ten minutes in the botanical garden before leaving. They planned to head back to the classroom to collect their schoolbags for the end of the school day.

"I hope next year we'll have two days off every week like the rest of the country, so we can have one more Saturday to play," Gao Xinglang said as they walked.

"But next school year we'll be in our final year of junior high, and studies will become much more intense," Guan Xuchen remarked thoughtfully.

"Yeah..." a trace of worry swept across Gao Xinglang's face, but he quickly resumed his easygoing demeanor, "Anyway, we still have a few months before we are in Junior Three. We'll figure it out when the time comes."

Before they reached the door of Class 6, Junior Two, they heard a stern female voice from within the classroom, "You are Junior Two students now. Why can't you have some self-discipline?"

Guan Xuchen became flustered, "Oh no, is Miss Wang back?"

Gao Xinglang shook his head and said, "Miss Wang went on a date with her boyfriend. How would she be back so soon?"

The two approached the classroom door and, upon closer look, realized it was the head teacher of Class 8, Ms. Li (pron.: lee).

"Self-study sessions are for studying, not for running out to play..." Ms. Li was standing in front of the podium, speaking sternly. Spotting Gao Xinglang and Guan Xuchen at the door, she glared at them and asked, "Where have you been? Did you also run out to play?"

"We..." just when Guan Xuchen began, Gao Xinglang quickly interjected, "We went to the restroom."

"Liar!" "I've been here for almost 20 minutes." "Even if you happened to leave just before I arrived, did it take 20 minutes for your restroom break?" Ms. Li's tone grew harsher as she turned to Cheng Xianchu, who was sitting beside the podium, and asked, "When did they go out?"

"It was - - it was last class..." Cheng Xianchu saw Gao Xinglang frantically winking at him, so he corrected himself, "It was - - it was this class, I think..."

"Was it last class or this one?" Ms. Li pressed.

"This class, I think. Cheng Xianchu's voice grew faint, "I was just so focused on my homework, and I didn't pay attention..."

"You, as the class monitor, you should know better." After reprimanding Cheng Xianchu, Ms. Li redirected her attention to Gao Xinglang and Guan Xuchen, "What are your names?"

Gao Xinglang responded crisply, "Gao Xinglang."

Guan Xuchen, on the other hand, stammered, "I - - my name is Guan Xuchen..."