The m sun was rising, casting a warm glow over the campus, and a cool breeze blew gently.

  On Mondays, there was a fg-raising ceremony followed by a m assembly. School leaders and student cil representatives would summarize the learning and activities of the previous week.

  From the moment Zhuang Zi'ang arrived at the assembly grounds, his eyes sed the various css formations, searg for Little Butterfly.

  He was sorely disappointed.

  Little Butterfly, which css are you in?

  He had long wao ask Su Yudiel this question directly but figured she was deliberately cealing it, probably food reason. When she was ready to tell him, she would.

  His mind was elsewhere, so he didn't hear a single word from the speakers oage. It wasn't until the assembly ehat he learned from Li Huangxuan that Css 9 had not received the excellence award for the css.

  This was the first time sihe start of the semester.

  "It's just a symbolic award, like gold stars for kids in kindergarten. No big deal, right?" Zhuang Zi'ang said with a smile.

  "Normally, it wouldn't be, but this is Xie Wenyong's first week as the new css president, and look at his face, he looks so bitter." Li Huangxuan couldn't hide his schadenfreude; he had never liked Xie Wenyong.

  As the top academic css, Css 9 sistently ra the top of the grade in academics, discipline, and hygiehe excellence award had hung in the er of their without moving.

  Zhuang Zi'ang used to be the css president and the former head of the student cil's disciplinary ittee, so people generally gave him some faow that Xie Wenyong was the css president, he was repeatedly rebuffed when trying to unicate with the student cil.

  Nobody respected him.

  Many students in Css 9 had a strong sense of collective honor and valued the excellence award. As soon as the assembly ehey started grumbling about Xie Wenyong.

  "I told you, if you 't stand the heat, get out of the kit."

  "When Zhuang Zi'ang was css president, did we ever lose the excellence award?"

  "Why did Zhuang Zi'ang quit such a good position?"

  ...

  Hearing these ents made Xie Wenyong feel like he had swallowed a fly. Why did everyohink he wasn't even worthy to shine Zhuang Zi'ang's shoes?

  The fourth period in the m was the css meeting. With the monthly exams starting the day, there were a few things to prepare.

  As soon as the bell rang, Xie Wenyong strode to the podium and rapped the desk loudly with the board eraser.

  "Everyone, quiet down. As your css president, I e the exam room setup."

  He really liked to emphasize the words "css president."

  However, few students paid him any attention. Some were doing their homework, some were chatting, and some were dozing off.

  Xie Wenyong forced himself to tinue for a while but realized no one was listening. He angrily smmed the desk again.

  "Are you even listening to me?"

  Li Huangxuaed sarcastically, "You've been rambling for half a day without saying anything important. Who would want to listen?"

  Xie Wenyong said angrily, "Zhuang Zi'ang used to talk a lot too, why were you happy to listen to him?"

  "Simple, I respected Zhuang Zi'ang as css president, but I don't respect you," Li Huangxuan shot back.

  "Why? What am I g pared to him?"

  "Could he get first p the entire grade? you?"

  That was a checkmate.

  Xie Wenyong's face turned red and then pale. He had coveted the position of css president for so long, but before he could even warm the seat, he was faced with a mountain of trivial problems.

  When Zhuang Zi'ang was css president, nobody noticed anything. It was only noeople realized how much he had quietly done for the css.

  Lin Mushi turned around and said, "Zhuang Zi'ang, you were doing such a good job as css president. Why did you quit?"

  Zhuang Zi'ang gnced up slightly. "I was tired. I didn't want to do it anymore."

  This perfunctory answer didn't satisfy Lin Mushi. She could never have imagihat the real reason was that Zhuang Zi'ang would likely o take frequent leaves of absen the near future, and he simply wouldn't have the energy to fulfill the duties of css president.

  More and more students turheir attention to Zhuang Zi'ang.

  "Zhuang Zi'ang, you're the most suitable person to be css president. We all respect you."

  "Yeah, you've been css president for two years. You should see it through to the end."

  "Zhuang Zi'ang, I support you. Do you have any difficulties? Tell us, and we'll help you solve them together."

  "You've helped everyone so mu the past. You 't just shoulder your burdens alone when you're in trouble."

  ...

  In Css 9, Zhuang Zi'ang was like an anchor. Every time there was an exam, he would domihe grade rankings, pulling up the css average.

  Despite his brilliance, he was never arrogant. When cssmates asked him for help with their studies, he always answered patiently and thhly.

  As css president, he led the css in sports meets, school anniversary performances, and creating bckboard dispys, always achieving excelles. When cssmates faced personal hardships or health issues, they could always t on his care and support.

  His strength and selflessness had, at times, made people fet that he was just an ordinary teenager, with his own share of sadness and pain.

  Only a few close friends like Li Huangxuahat his family situation was far worse than most. In the past week, Zhuang Zi'ang's frequent absences had made his cssmates suspect that he was fag some serious trouble.

  Uhe expet gazes of his cssmates, Zhuang Zi'ang slowly stood up.

  Looking at the familiar faces of his cssmates, tears welled up in his eyes.

  "Thank you all for your . I'm fine, really."

  "Resigning as css president was a decision I made after careful sideration. I'm truly sorry that I 't serve you all until graduation."

  "The new css president will tio tribute to the css. Please give him your full support and cooperation, and give him some time to adjust."

  By the end, his voice was choked with emotion.

  I'm sorry, my dear cssmates.

  I may not be able to graduate with you.

  Li Huangxuan smmed his fist on the desk. "Zhuang Zi'ang, what's wrong with you? Why are you getting all choked up?"

  Zhuang Zi'ang pressed his hand on Li Huangxuan's shoulder. "Don't ask. You'll find out soon enough."

  The mood in the became heavy. Although they didn't know what was happening, they could feel Zhuang Zi'ang's sadness.

  Xie Wenyong stood awkwardly on the podium. He had always been peting with Zhuang Zi'ang, but now Zhuang Zi'ang was actually helping him out. Perhaps it's because of this that I'll never be able to match up to him, he thought. His character and magnanimity were worlds apart.

  "What's going on? Your css is the loudest in the whole building!" Zhang Zhiyuan appeared at the door, uttering a cssic teacher's line.

  "Mr. Zhang, we're having a css meeting. We want Zhuang Zi'ang to be the css president again," Lin Mushi said boldly, standing up.

  Her words were echoed by everyone.

  "Yes, Mr. Zhang, we don't want Zhuang Zi'ang tn."

  "He's the only oh enough prestige among all the students."

  "Is Zhuang Zi'ang fag some family issues? We all help him."

  ...

  Hearing the students' cmor, Zhang Zhiyua a lump in his throat. He waved his hand, signaling for everyoo quiet down.

  "Zhuang Zi'ang's resignation was a decision he made after careful sideration. We should respect his choice."

  "Although he is no lohe css president, no one will fet his tributions to the css over the past two years."

  "In the days to e, please tio resped care for him as you always have."

  After saying this, Zhang Zhiyuan turned and rushed out of the , wiping away a tear. Thankfully, he mao hold back his tears and didn't break down in front of the css.