Outcast High No. 1 · Under One Person · Conversa

At the first meal of the new semester in the cafeteria, Zhang Chulan already regretted it.\n\nHe didn't regret coming to the school; he regretted sitting next to Feng Baobao.\n\n"That braised pork ball in your bowl," Feng Baobao stared at his plate, her tone as serious as a pre-battle analysis, "Are you going to eat it or not?"\n\n"I haven't even—"\n\n"Then eat faster. If you can't finish it, give it to me."\n\nZhang Chulan looked down at the rice he had only just started, silently picking up his pace. Across from him, Wang Ye was slumped on the table with a cup of tea in front of him, eyes half-closed, unsure if he was meditating or just hadn't woken up yet.\n\n"Wang Ye, aren't you eating?"\n\n"The cafeteria is too far," Wang Ye said without even opening his eyes.\n\n"...Aren't you in the cafeteria right now?"\n\nWang Ye fell silent for three seconds, as if realizing this for the first time, then slowly sat up and sighed at his teacup. He still didn't go to get food.\n\nBeside them, Feng Xingtong returned with his third tray of the day. It wasn't for himself—he pushed a plate of braised pork in front of Feng Baobao, his movements as practiced as a restaurant waiter. "Sister Bao, this plate is for you."\n\nFeng Baobao looked up at him and nodded. This nod contained multiple meanings: recognition, gratitude, and "you can keep doing this next time." Feng Xingtong sat down happily, as if he had just completed a glorious mission.\n\nZhuge Qing sat down elegantly with his tray, holding his chopsticks as if demonstrating the etiquette of the Wuhou Sect. He glanced at the distribution of people at the table and smiled. "This table is truly full of talent."\n\n"Are you talking about talent, or a disaster?" Zhang Lingyu sat down next to him, his white clothes so clean they formed a sharp contrast with the greasy smell of the cafeteria. He began to eat his bowl of plain noodles expressionlessly, every bite precisely the same size.\n\n"Lingyu," Zhang Chulan couldn't help but speak up, "have you considered adding some meat?"\n\n"One who practices the Way—"\n\n"I know, I know, pure heart and few desires." Zhang Chulan raised his hands in surrender.\n\nJust then, a commotion broke out at the other end of the cafeteria. A figure in a flashy shirt with long golden hair tied in a low ponytail sauntered through the crowd with a tray, a vacuum zone automatically forming wherever he went. Wang Zhenqiu placed his tray next to Zhang Chulan, smiling brightly.\n\n"Zhang Chulan, what electives did you pick this semester?"\n\n"I haven't picked yet..."\n\n"That's perfect, I've picked for you. Join me for dance class." Wang Zhenqiu rested his chin on one hand, his red eyes full of mischief. "You're so stiff, you need to develop your body."\n\n"When was I stiff—wait, how did you pick for me??"\n\nWang Zhenqiu blinked, didn't answer, and began to elegantly put food into his mouth, wearing an expression that said, "This question is too boring, I refuse to answer."\n\nZhang Chulan hadn't had time to press further when a muffled bang came from a corner of the cafeteria, followed by a familiar "This is theoretically feasible" and a puff of white smoke. Ma Xianhong poked his head out of the smoke, the bandage on his forehead half-crooked, holding a small sparking device.\n\n"It's fine! It's controlled!" he shouted in all directions.\n\nThe cafeteria lady's movement in grabbing her spatula was faster than Teacher Hei Guan'er during a practical combat class.\n\nWang Ye finally opened his eyes, glanced in that direction, and closed them again.\n\n"Not bad," he commented. "Less smoke than last time."\n\n"When was last time?" Zhang Chulan asked.\n\n"End of last semester. He modified the microwave."\n\nLu Linglong passed by holding a stack of club recruitment posters, nearly knocked over by the aftermath of the cafeteria lady's charge. She steadied her things, looked at the source of the white smoke, then at Zhuge Qing and Zhang Lingyu eating elegantly at the table, and finally landed her gaze on Feng Baobao—who, while Zhang Chulan was distracted by the commotion, had already swiped the remaining pork ball from his plate and was chewing expressionlessly.\n\nLu Linglong decided not to ask anything and continued to put up posters.\n\nFeng Xingtong pulled a pack of wet wipes from his bag and handed them to the smoke-covered Zhang Chulan, his movements fluid as if carrying emergency supplies was a mandatory skill he'd learned since childhood. Zhang Chulan took the wipe, wiped his face, looked at his empty plate, and then at Feng Baobao's satisfied expression.\n\n"Where's my pork ball?"\n\n"You weren't eating it just now," Feng Baobao said righteously.\n\n"I turned my head for a second!"\n\n"That just means you weren't focused enough."\n\nZhang Chulan opened his mouth, only to find he couldn't even argue back.\n\nWang Zhenqiu laughed out loud, Zhuge Qing's smile widened by half a millimeter, and Zhang Lingyu continued eating his noodles expressionlessly, though his chopsticks paused for a second. Wang Ye lay on the table, the corner of his mouth curling at an angle no one could see.\n\nThe first day of the new semester for the second-year students. The bustle of the cafeteria, the explosions in the corner, and the philosophical debate triggered by a pork ball all reminded Zhang Chulan of one thing—\n\nIn this school, there isn't a single normal person. Including himself.\n\n<choice_group>\n <choice id=\"1\">Change the subject</choice>\n <choice id=\"2\">Observe the current details</choice>\n <choice id=\"3\">Advance the current plot</choice>\n</choice_group>