24: I want to be a salted fish

In the classroom of Class 5, the teacher with curly hair and glasses for cultural subjects stood on the platform, holding the book "Common Species of Beasts in the Wilderness," and earnestly taught students about the characteristics and basic cultivation experiences of plant-type Beasts.

"Most plant-type Beasts are similar to ordinary plants. They need sunlight, temperature, water... and they will root themselves in the soil, absorb carbon dioxide, and release oxygen."

"These Beasts are generally mild, especially in the one-star danger level wilderness forests and secret realms, where 90% of the plant-type Beasts are of the zero-tier. So, they basically won't actively attack... unless someone in your group has something delicious on them, such as precious materials. Otherwise, even if you step on their branches, they often won't bother to move."

"But when you students go to the wilderness forest, don't intentionally trample on them, or if you see their fruits looking pretty and insist on picking one to taste."

The cultural subjects female teacher held a red chalk in her hand, scribbling quickly on the blackboard, and added a sarcastic comment, "In case you get counterattacked and beaten or poisoned directly, don't say that I taught your Beast class!"

"For example, let's talk about the 72nd page we are going to cover next, the zero-tier Black Umbrella Comb Mushroom Beast. They are a type of plant-type Beast similar to mushrooms on Earth. If you encounter them in the wild, what you should do is detour... because as long as you step on one, you will be surrounded, and they will release spore skills desperately, using spores to absorb your life force..."

The cultural subjects teacher on the podium spoke seriously, and the students below were taking notes while nodding attentively from time to time.

Just like high school students on Earth, Blue Star high school students also need to study Chinese, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology. Especially Blue Star history and the constantly updated Blue Star geography map due to the fusion with the Crack Wilderness are the focal points of their studies.

However, subjects like English, politics, art, music, etc., have been completely replaced by physical education and Beast-related courses. Even the two evening self-study sessions on Earth have evolved into two Beast-related courses and one evening self-study session.

In this situation, high school students not only do not reject evening self-study but even look forward to it every day.

Song Yu sat in her seat, chin resting on her left hand, with a serious and solemn expression. Her eyes were slightly squinted, eyebrows furrowed, as if she had already immersed herself in the ocean of knowledge, carefully listening to every word the cultural subjects teacher said. Occasionally, when the teacher emphasized important points, she would nod in agreement.

However...

Facing Song Yu, who seemed to be studying earnestly, her desk mate, Zhou Ting, couldn't help but furrow her brows.

She looked up at Song Yu, who was nodding again with a serious expression, then glanced down at the "Common Species of Beasts in the Wilderness" placed on the desk by the other party, with the pages clearly showing - Page 1.

Zhou Ting's expression was blank: "..."

This time, Zhou Ting was 100% sure that her desk mate truly possessed the skill of sleeping with her eyes open!

Recalling that it had been a whole week since the initial Beast distribution day, it seemed that Song Yu had been opening this book, "Common Species of Beasts in the Wilderness," and flipping to page 1 all along.

Zhou Ting's eyelid twitched.

Well, others might read one page of a book in a day, but she didn't expect her desk mate to read one page for a whole week.

Zhou Ting was distressed. Even if your Contract Beast Space level is low and the initial Beast aptitude is poor, can't you, Song Yu, at least not give up on yourself?

Even if you really want to give up, it's been a week. Can't you study seriously by now?

Most importantly, Zhou Ting found that except for her, it seemed that no one in the whole class knew about Song Yu sleeping with her eyes open. There were even two occasions when the cultural subjects teacher praised Song Yu for listening attentively after class.

Zhou Ting: "..."

Zhou Ting: I have a lot of complaints to express, but for a moment, I don't know what to say.

Zhou Ting even began to suspect that on the day of the initial Beast distribution, Song Yu was eating during class not because of low blood sugar but because she was greedy.

This can't go on with my desk mate like this. She's beautiful, comes from a good family, speaks nicely, and should study hard to get into a good university next year!

So...

When the cultural subjects teacher turned away, Zhou Ting reached over while she was writing on the blackboard, grabbed Song Yu's right hand, and shook it frantically.

Zhou Ting, hating iron for not becoming steel: "Wake up, wake up! How can you sleep in class when the teacher is teaching?!"

Zhou Ting: "What if you encounter danger in the wilderness in the future? Wake up and pay attention in class!"

Song Yu was shaken awake, and as soon as she opened her eyes, her body movements were much faster than the speed of her brain's reaction.

Before she could figure out what Zhou Ting was saying, her mouth had already started speaking on her behalf, "I wasn't sleeping~"

Just waking up from a dream, Song Yu's voice was still a bit hoarse, but after she realized it, she immediately adjusted her expression, lowered her voice, and said seriously, "I was just a little mentally exhausted just now, a bit distracted. I still had my eyes open. How can you say I was sleeping in class?"

...Isn't that so?

Even if she was discovered, Song Yu wouldn't admit to sleeping.

At least until she was economically independent, she had to pretend to be a well-behaved child in front of her parents.

So.

Song Yu blinked her eyes, and the emotions in her eyes had already been prepared. She slightly turned her head, leaving Zhou Ting with a slightly shy cheek, and said with guilt and embarrassment, "No, no. Actually, these days, I've been looking at the first page because I couldn't remember it even after looking at it for several days..."

"Moreover, who sleeps with their eyes open? Right?"

"Mainly because this book, 'Common Species of Beasts in the Wilderness,' is too important. I want to memorize the whole book."

Song Yu sighed sadly, "But even though I've been memorizing for several class sessions, I still couldn't memorize the first page... Speaking of which, my memory used to be okay, at least at the level of an ordinary person. But ever since I had a high fever last month, my mind has often been in a daze..."

Song Yu pretended to be dejected, lowering her head and speaking with a mournful expression, "Zhou Ting, do you know what's going on with me? And these days, when I go to school and go home, I always feel like I've forgotten a lot of things. Even when I meet classmates, I can't remember their identities immediately, slower than usual by two beats."

The girl had delicate features, with soft cheeks complemented by slightly curled long hair, expressing sadness, a furrowed brow, and a sense of dejection...

Immediately, it made Zhou Ting feel as if she were back in her childhood, experiencing the heartache and sorrow her parents described when Snow White ate the poisoned apple.

Zhou Ting: "???"

No, this shouldn't be happening! Why am I feeling this way?

Most importantly, who would believe such nonsense?!

How could anyone spend a week on one page and still not remember it?! 

But Zhou Ting's mouth had its own thoughts, and like the pouring of beans from a bamboo tube, it uttered another voice from the depths of Zhou Ting's heart.

"The content of this book, 'Common Species of Beasts in the Wilderness,' is indeed a bit extensive, making it not easy to memorize..."

"But considering your situation, it's very likely due to psychological trauma leading to cognitive impairment and memory decline,"

Zhou Ting spoke with seriousness and sincerity, advising, "I've heard that in such situations, you must maintain good mental and physical well-being. Exercise regularly, sleep and wake up early to enhance your physical fitness. Only when the mental stress is reduced and completely released can you truly solve this problem."

Ah, indeed...

It seems that her desk mate has been under too much pressure over the years.

Although the other party belongs to a wealthy family and seems to live a carefree, affluent life, the pressure is not something an ordinary person can bear.

Children from ordinary families, with a low Beast Taming Space level, would at most become ordinary people like their parents.

But for children from wealthy families, especially those like the Song family, where grandparents and parents are professional Beast Tamers, the pressure is even greater.

Oh, she forgot, there's also that damn Zhou Wenchang, a guy who dares not continue living in the first-level main city and only dares to act recklessly in their third-level city.

Zhou Ting suddenly stopped, remembering the upcoming physical education class.

Zhou Ting patted Song Yu on the shoulder, encouraging her, "Song Yu, I remember you always ranked in the top five in the class in the physical education tests. The next class is a physical battle, and I remember our class is going to compete with Class 2 and Class 3... You must make Zhou Wenchang regret it!"

Song Yu stiffened: "??"

Was that Zhou Wenchang she heard? The ex-boyfriend of the original body?

"I heard a few days ago that he contracted a high-aptitude Beast with a rating of 91, feeling very proud. We must suppress his morale during the physical battle class! You have to give it your all and break two of his ribs. Let him know that women are not to be trifled with!"

"Cough... cough, cough!"

Song Yu widened her eyes, almost choked by the saliva. She hammered her chest hard, trying to alleviate the shock brought by this explosive news.

Break two of his ribs? Wasn't it supposed to be the other way around?

Even though a Healing Beast was helping with recovery now, it still hurt... 

Besides, as a peace-loving Earth youth, although she had done fight scenes in movies, they were all pre-rehearsed, and she had never truly battled with anyone.

Zhou Ting didn't know what Song Yu was thinking at the moment and continued to pat her shoulder, encouraging her, "Song Yu, don't be afraid! Although that pretty boy was the first in Class 2's physical battle class last semester, our school isn't like the elite schools. There's no distinction between elite and regular classes... So his strength is similar to our class's first, Zheng Qin. I remember you had a good exchange with Zheng Qin at the end of last semester!"

Zhou Ting: "He bullies you, and you can't let him off easily. In the next class, I'll suggest to the teacher to have you two in the same group!"

"???" Song Yu's expression froze; she was dumbfounded.

No, this can't be happening.




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