"I've actually been reborn?"

Xiao Shan opened his eyes in a daze.

His arms were still resting on the desk in a sleeping position, but his head slowly moved, his gaze incredulously surveyed the students around him, the ceiling fan on the classroom roof, the blackboard full of words, and the plump and graceful female class teacher.

His eyes widened in disbelief:

"Isn't this before the college entrance examination in 2001? Did I really return to my high school days?"

Xiao Shan's face was filled with disbelief. He remembered that he began to speculate in the stock market right after high school, was immersed in it for over a decade, and made tens of millions of wealth. However, due to a sudden market crash, his amplified leveraged funds got wiped out, and the wealth accumulated over many years evaporated in an instant.

He didn't want to die at that time, he just wanted to quickly numb himself, so he drank a bottle of Erguotou

Chinese liquor

.

This was the first time he drank liquor in his life, because he was allergic to alcohol.

As a result, he was reborn.

"Hehe, thanks to that bottle of Erguotou, it gave me a chance to rebuild my glory... eh, wait, isn't it 2001?"

Xiao Shan's expression froze instantly. He was somewhat caught between laughter and tears:

"I've actually been reborn at the peak of the boom market? What follows is a horrific four-year continuous downturn."

He had initially thought that providence had looked upon him favorably by giving him a second chance, but now it seemed like providence was just playing a joke on him.

But this frustration was only a fleeting moment in his heart. His eyes brightened once again.

Isn’t this the year when various internet giants began to stake out their turf?

Even though there's no chance of a stock market boom, we could always invest in the internet!

In this era where bigwigs of the internet world are finding their path through trial and error, only the individual truly knows right direction of development!

Just like a gambling table, he knows everyone’s hands.

Wow, don't be such an ace!

Xiaoshan's gaze gradually becomes as bright as stars, and he suddenly becomes extremely confident. The more he thinks about it, the happier he gets, and he practically dances in excitement.

"Bang!" he slammed his fist on the table, startling his classmates.

Xiaoshan was startled himself, quickly picked up an English book, and pretended it wasn’t him.

Yet, all of his classmates turned their heads in unison, looking directly at him.

The expressions of the boys and girls were varied; some were surprised, some derived joy from his mishap, some were interested, after all, the atmosphere of preparing for college entrance exams was too tense, anyone would seize the chance to relax a bit.

Only the class belle, Zou Ling, gave Xiaoshan a scornful and disdainful glance before turning back to her book.

Xiaoshan’s desk mate and best friend, Ding Yuan, clutched his chest nervously, "Oh my God, isn’t it just you confessed to Zou Ling and got rejected? I'll treat you to barbeque tonight, please calm down."

Hardly had he stopped speaking when a thunderous voice came from the podium: "Xiaoshan! Stand up now!”

The class teacher's name is Anran, a name that sounds gentle, befitting a well-bred lady, but she is in fact as fierce as a lion, and according to a consensus among all the students, she is already in her menopause despite being unmarried and less than thirty.

Clack, clack, clack, Anran stormed over to Xiaoshan's desk, wearing high heels, and looking furious.

"Bam!" The blackboard eraser hit the desk hard.

Xiao Shan silently stood up, his demeanor calm and serene, not humble, not overbearing, fearless, and regretless.

His gaze casually swept over the nearest part of An Ran, inadvertently swallowing, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart, "Thirty-five years old, but with eighteen-year-old hormone rush. It was not like this before the rebirth."

An Ran, however, froze. She couldn't see the fear from Xiao Shan's expression that he used to have after making a mistake. His calmness even made her doubt, "Is he carrying nuclear weapons behind his waist?"

She even vaguely felt that the person she was facing was not an eighteen-year-old student, but a middle-aged man experienced in the ways of the world.

But in the next moment, she snapped back to reality.

She knew her authority had been challenged; her piercing scream immediately echoed throughout the classroom:

"Xiao Shan! Have you thought things through? You're not studying, so you won't let others study either? Fine then, pack up your books and get out! You're expelled!"

The mouths of all the classmates suddenly gaped open; the whole classroom fell into a dead silence.

Who would have thought that the class teacher would be so resolute?

There were only ten days left until the college entrance examination.

Wasn't this a bit too harsh?

Ding Yuan was so shocked that her face turned pale. She cautiously kicked Xiao Shan under the table, signaling him to plead quickly; there was still room for redemption.

However, Xiao Shan was not in the habit of begging for mercy.

But he also understood that at this moment, he absolutely could not confront the class teacher.

His reaction caught everyone off guard. Without any hesitation, he calmly took out his backpack, packed up the books on the desk, slung the bag over his shoulder, and then passed An Ran, heading towards the classroom door.

His expression was calm, just like a lone student leaving school with a hint of loneliness and solitude, he coolly left the classroom.

The whole class was dumbfounded, was this the Xiao Shan they knew?

Why did he feel so unfamiliar?

Expulsion, such a terrifying word, for students, it equals to losing everything.

Yet the Xiao Shan in front of them didn't weep, nor did he curse heaven and earth or abandon himself. He seemed more like breaking out of his shell, flying toward the blue sky.

Zou Ling, the class beauty, was staring blankly at Xiao Shan's retreating figure, and a feeling of indescribable disturbance surged in her heart.

Then came a wave of confusion, why had she always underestimated him?

At this moment, An Ran's anger had indeed dissipated.

But it felt as if her punch had hit the air and she was so uncomfortable that she wanted to vomit blood.

This bastard, he'd rather be expelled than admit his mistakes through tears?

But to ruin a student's future over such a small thing?

An Ran felt something was wrong, ignoring her own dignity, she dashed out of the classroom, chased after Xiao Shan down the hallway, and ordered in a low voice:

"Stop right there!"

Xiao Shan sighed inwardly, An Ran might have a hot temper, but deep down she was kind.

He turned around calmly, staring directly at Anran, "May I ask what other instructions the teacher has?"

"So you're just giving up on your studies, how will you explain this to your parents when you go home?" Anran asked sternly.

Xiao Shan responded with a self-deprecating smile, "Teacher, I don't want to quit either. If you're willing to give me another chance, I'd like to go back and continue learning. But—"

Suddenly, he looked entirely sincere and softened his tone, "We are all students and do not have the stress-resistance of adults. The pressure you give us is too heavy, so heavy that every one of us is on the verge of breaking down. Trust me, if this continues, something unpleasant will happen. I sincerely advise you, teacher, to give each student an opportunity to relieve their stress."

Listening to him speak, it seemed like Xiao Shan smashed the desk because the pressure was too high, which softened Anran's heart.

However, hearing his last sentence, she looked baffled and asked with surprise, "What did you say? Give everyone a chance to relieve their stress?"

"Yes. If you could give each student a hug, I'm certain it would be a hundred times more effective than constant stress. I can assure you that everyone's high school performance would at least improve by ten points!"

Xiao Shan's tone was resolute, he even waved his hand to emphasize his point.

Hearing what he said, Anran felt as if a herd of imaginary grass-mud horses were galloping across her heart. Where is this conversation going?!

Did his act of smashing the desk became a virtue now, demanding a hug?

Does he want to extend welfare to the whole class by asking for a hug for every student?

Anran's gaze turned dangerous, her eyes locked onto Xiao Shan, as if trying to discern a hint of malice or fear from his gaze.

But in Xiaoshan's eyes, there was not a trace of malicious intent, nor a hint of fear, just firmness and sincerity.

They seemed to freeze there, just staring at each other for a full minute.

The look in Anran's eyes gradually softened.

She began to ask herself, "Am I putting too much pressure on my students?"

She remembered the great family pressure she bore, the loneliness and depression when she came to Ninghai alone.

Since becoming a class teacher, she had devoted every single minute to her work, forgetting the students' tolerance.

Yes, they are still young, just 18 years old.

At this thought, she finally decided to give Xiaoshan a gentle hug.

But just as she moved her arm, she withdrew again, she had never hugged a boy before and wasn't accustomed to it.

But just then, Xiaoshan suddenly opened his arms and wrapped Anran in his embrace!

Anran was taken aback, her cheeks flushed involuntarily, "Shouldn't I be the one to initiate the hug?"

Just as she was about to push Xiaoshan away, she heard Xiaoshan's soft voice in her ear,

"Teacher, I can get full marks in English in this college entrance examination."

After saying that, Xiaoshan let go of Anran, smiled, and said, "Thank you, teacher. I'm going back to class now."

Then, he turned around and went back to the classroom.

"This bastard! Why is he hugging so tight?"

An Ran finally cursed quietly after a moment.

In the classroom, there was previously a fervent discussion like a bubbling pot, but as soon as Xiao Shan re-entered the classroom, it instantly fell silent.

Everyone understood - Xiao Shan was the victor.

Xiao Shan was still impassive, disregarding his classmates’ gazes, and had even less interest in looking at Zou Ling.

He simply returned to his seat, took out his book, and began to study.

Ding Yuan came close with an admiring expression, whispering, "Boss, I admit defeat, from now, you are my boss."

Xiao Shan flashed a faint smile, "You said you're treating me to barbecued skewers tonight."

"Absolutely, it's a must." Ding Yuan's chubby face was full of smiles, and a bit flattery.

After a while, An Ran calmly entered the classroom.

All the students immediately withdrew their gazes back to An Ran, they all suspected that the teacher might still have some measures up her sleeve, she would not just let Xiao Shan have his way.

An Ran calmly glanced at the students and slowly said:

"Everyone, while the college entrance examination is crucial, high school should not only leave you nightmares. I guess I was putting too much pressure on you; I apologize."

All the students' mouths unconsciously dropped open, like fish out of water.

What's going on here?

Did Xiao Shan win too convincingly?

Even the usually domineering An Ran is apologizing to the whole class?

But that was just the beginning. An Ran's next words sent shockwaves throughout the school:

"Everyone, stand up. Boys turn to the right, girls turn to the left... well done. Now, hug your desk-mate. Let you both remember this rare connection, remember your high school years, and remember these moments that are worth reminiscing for a lifetime…"