On the morning of May 16th, there were still six days left until the Martial Arts Entrance Exam.
"Lucy."
"Lucy, time to wake up! Wake up and have breakfast with your brother."
Andrew Han squatted in the bedroom shared by his mother and Lucy Han, gently playing with his little sister's hair and brushing her delicate nose, urging her softly.
Smack.
Lucy stretched out her tiny hand and patted Andrew Han's arm.
"No, no... Brother... Lucy wants to sleep, I don't want to get up." She sleepily glanced at Andrew Han, dazed for a moment, then turned her little head away and continued to sleep with her back to him.
Andrew Han patiently urged her, "Come on, get up and have breakfast with your brother."
"Brother!"
"Lucy is angry now!"
Lucy sat up abruptly, her hair in disarray, glaring at Andrew Han with a pout.
Andrew Han laughed and scooped up his little sister, carrying her to the living room. "Early to bed means early to rise. You went to sleep so early last night, and you still want to stay in bed? You're almost four years old, you can't be lazy anymore."
"Hmph, bad brother."
Lucy nudged her brother's chin with her little head, reluctantly accepting the fact that she had to get up early.
The next moment.
Linda Chen came out carrying a simple breakfast, glanced at Andrew Han, and said with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "Why did you wake Lucy up? Hurry and eat, or you'll be late for school."
"Late is late, anyway, finals are almost here."
Andrew Han put on a fearless front, sitting leisurely in his chair, unmoving like a mountain.
Creak.
As the bedroom door swung open, a low, raspy cough sounded from behind: "Cough, cough."
Andrew Han turned around and saw his father, Wen Zhi Han, who was also up early. He quickly put on a serious face and declared, "What did I just say? That's right, absolutely no being late. Only going to school makes me happy. School is the source of happiness, it's..."
He couldn't keep it up.
Wen Zhi Han rolled his eyes, "You little rascal, hurry up and eat your breakfast. I'll drive you to school soon."
"Yes, sir, Father!"
Andrew Han clasped his hands in mock salute, handed his stubborn little sister Lucy to their mother, and wolfed down two fried eggs in big bites.
How he wished...
That these peaceful mornings could last a little longer, just a little longer.
......
At noon on May 16th, inside the classroom of Grade 12, Class 7.
Third row by the wall.
Andrew Han sat steadily at his desk. On the table in front of him lay an open geography textbook and a workbook of geography mistakes that had been buried in his desk for months.
"Monsoon climate."
"Terminator, longitude, latitude."
He muttered under his breath, flipping through his book while half-listening to Mr. Li Ming, the geography teacher, lecturing at the front of the room.
Gavin Bright sat next to him, his face blank and his eyes wide with disbelief.
The whole morning.
It had been an entire morning!
His deskmate Andrew Han seemed to have gone mad, actually studying for once and listening intently to every class. Had something rattled his soul?
"This makes no sense."
"He's a martial arts student, why is he studying? He already got his Martial Arts Entrance Exam admission ticket."
Gavin Bright pondered quietly.
Ring ring ring.
The lunch bell echoed through the school building.
Andrew Han tidied up his books and looked at Gavin Bright with a casual smile. "Where are you eating lunch today? I'll go with you."
"Huh?"
Gavin Bright shuddered, turned his head in surprise, and stared at Andrew Han.
At Riverdale Experimental High, students could choose to order lunch or go off campus to eat. But lately, Andrew Han hadn't even been in class, let alone joined anyone for a meal.
......
On the street just outside the school's back gate.
A small restaurant advertising 'Authentic Spicy Hot Pot Skewers' was packed with Riverdale Experimental students, mostly juniors and seniors, while most freshmen chose to order lunch instead.