The sun blazed fiercely, and the cicadas' cries pierced the sky.

A classroom on the second floor of Xuri Middle School.

Chen Mingxu stood on the podium, holding a teaching protractor and lecturing. His upper body was drenched in sweat.

The air was so hot it felt like it was about to bubble. The ceiling fan whirred loudly, sending out a blast of what seemed like scorching air.

The students below also looked drowsy.

He couldn't help but feel a little irritable.

"Look at the blackboard," Chen Mingxu said, noticing the student in the third row's state. He frowned slightly and tapped the blackboard harder with his ruler. "Do you hear me! Look at the blackboard!"

Several students who were about to fall asleep suddenly jolted awake, widening their drowsy eyes and forcing themselves to look at the blackboard.

Sheng seemed not to have heard, still lowering his head, drawing with a pencil on paper. With a beautiful and harmless face, because he was still young, there was still some childishness, which made him even more lovable.

Poised and composed, with a serene and gentle demeanor, she appears to be the kind of student teachers adore.

Treating the teacher at the podium as if they were air.

Chen Mingxu's brows furrowed even deeper, and he continued to mutter, "Angle one equals angle two, angle three equals 108 degrees—"

The problem is almost finished, but there's no sign of him lifting his head. Chen Mingxu, who had been holding back his anger for half a day, suddenly snapped and slammed the protractor on the table.

The plastic ruler and wooden table collided, producing a loud bang.

The sound startled the entire class into simultaneous shivers. The following roar made the atmosphere even more tense.

"San Zhi!"

When Sangzhi was called out, she looked up at Chen Mingxu for two seconds. Then she put down the pen in her hand and stood up of her own accord.

Chen Mingxu suppressed his anger and said, "What did I just say?"

Sangzhi glanced at the diagram on the blackboard and said calmly, "Angle four equals 72 degrees."

Used to being a model student at all times, Chen Mingxu wasn't fooled this time. He took a ruler and tapped the desk, coldly saying, "I haven't said that yet!"

"...".

<>

Chen Mingxu retorted, “What do you want me to do?”

Sanzhi pondered for a few seconds, guessing: "You don't know how?"

Chen Mingxu: "..."

"Then you and I get up, are you letting me teach you?"

Chen Mingxu: “?”

"I understand," Sang Zhi nodded, looking at the blackboard. "Because angle one equals angle two, therefore AB is parallel to CD. Parallel lines have supplementary same-side angles—"

Chen Mingxu could no longer bear it: "You're so capable, why don't you take my teacher position?"

Being interrupted, Sang Zhi's expression became a little dazed. She opened her mouth, hesitated for a few seconds before saying in a doubtful tone, "But I can't steal your job, can I?"

... "

The scene was silent for a few seconds, then the whole class burst into laughter.

Chen Mingxu flared up, "Shut up! Quiet down!"

Even half-grown children still wore smiles, the classroom was as lively as a marketplace, and in the back row, some youngsters were giggling and egging each other on.

"Teacher, I think that's possible! Let Sang Zhi lead our class!"

"So, can we not write homework anymore then?"

"Can I just not come to school!"

Chen Mingxu roared, "Shut up!"

"You little brat." Chen Mingxu looked at Sang Zhi again, his breathing getting heavier. He tried to keep himself from losing control, but he was eventually driven mad by anger and roared, "Bring your parents over tomorrow!!!"

The school bell rang.

Chen Mingxu walked out of the classroom with a grim face and without looking back.

It happened to be the last class, and most of the students had packed up their things and were leaving in groups.

"How did you get on Chen's bad side again?" Friend Yin Zhen rushed over as soon as she heard the commotion. "You know he likes to invite parents, whether there's a reason or not? Your mom has already come twice this month, and it's only halfway through!"

Sandy shoved the notebook on the table into her bag and zipped it shut. "I don't even know what I did to upset him."

Yin Zhenru widened her eyes: "You don't know?"

Sangzhi's expression was agitated, muttering: "Didn't I already answer?"

"Aren't you looking for a beating with that answer?" Yin Zhen laughed, "What do you mean I can't take your job? Don't even get me started on him, I want to beat you up too."

Sānzhì softly snorted: "Then you're just like him, unreasonable."

"Hey, seriously," Yin Zhenru said. "Why don't you listen to class? And you always get caught."

"Don't you think bald people talking sounds like hypnosis?" Sang Zhi slung her backpack over her shoulder and yawned. "If I really listened, without finding something to do, I would definitely fall asleep."

"...

" Please provide the text you'd like me to translate. I can help with that! ?

There is some truth to that.

"I wonder what Yin Zhenru was thinking about. I noticed a few boys standing at the school gate, so I changed the subject and said, 'By the way, are you going to the bookstore?'"

Sangzhi glanced. "What are you going to do?"

Yin Zhenru explained: "Fu Zhengchu asked you out, along with several guys from Class Six. Let's go together."

"Where are we going?"

"As I was thinking," Yin Zhenru said, "buying the Empress Dowager?"

"...."

What is the Empress Dowager?

Sang Zhi fell silent for a few seconds: "Queen Wang?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Are you going or not?"

Sangzhi: "No."

"Why?" Yin Zhenru lightly bumped his shoulder, ambiguously. "Fu Zhengchu is still handsome, you know."

Two people walked out of the classroom side by side.

Hearing this, Sang Zhi's god was a little speechless: "You should go to the hospital and have your eyes checked."

Yin Zhenru retorted, "What's wrong with my eyes? It's not just me who thinks he's handsome! Many people think so too."

Sang Zhi nodded and suggested again: "Then you can go in a group."

“...”

After finishing, Sang Zhi took out her phone from her schoolbag. She opened the SMS editing window and hesitated before sending a message to Sang Yan: "Brother, it's been so long since you've been home. When are you coming back? Can you come back tomorrow? I miss you so much TAT."

Yin Zhenru, as if not noticing her own action, said carelessly, "You're really not going?"

"No."

They were all waiting at the school gate...

"Go if you want to," Sang Zhi said absentmindedly. "I'm not feeling it today."

Yin Zhenru: "Oh, because of your parents? So what are you going to do? Maybe this time you could have your dad come instead?"

Sangzhi shook her head. "They're not coming."

"Huh? Why?"

Sangzhi was still staring at her phone, waiting for Sangyan's reply: "I won't tell them."

Yin Zhenru reminded, "But what if your parents don't come? Chen Tuotou will also call them."

"It's okay."

"I was about to call my older brother,"

A text message just came in.

Sangyan: {?

Sang Yan: 【No way.】

"...."

To the school gate.

Yin Zhenru bid farewell to Dao and then walked in front of Fu Zhengchu's group.

Fu Zhengchu's expression faded, staring at Sang Zhi's back, knowingly asking, "Sang Zhi isn't going?"

"Yin Zhen nodded, "I was scolded by the teacher and felt bad."

Fu Zhengchu's eyebrows jumped: "Caught by the parents again?"

Yin Zhenru: "Hmm."

“...”

This time the count is catching up to him.

What is this delinquent going to do with his face?!?!

Fu Zhengchu stood in place for two seconds, then suddenly raised his foot and walked toward the school.

Another boy, Liu Weiqi, hurriedly stopped him: "Hey! Where are you going? Didn't we say we were going to buy Wang Houxiong?"

Hearing this, Fu Zhengchu took a step back and smacked Liu Weiki on the head: "You should read more."

Liu Weiqi, in a reflex, covered his head with his hands: "?"

"He is the Empress's son, foolish."

"...".

On the other side.

Sang Zhi continued to send messages to Sang Yan — berating him for his senselessness, completely ignoring his thirteen-year-old sister who was still incapable of taking care of herself. She accused him of abandoning her and leaving her to fend for herself just so he could go to university.

I waited a while.

Sang Yan did not reply.

I waited a while longer.

Jue's reply is still pending.

Sangzhi had completely given up. As she sat on the bus heading home, she began to think about how she would tell her parents about taking a third leave from school this month.

How about that?

It is said that because he was too excellent, he was targeted by his teacher's jealousy and thus called home.

Or perhaps, what happened in class caused a misunderstanding with the teacher, leading to a crisis in his career;

Or maybe, it's too hot outside, the teacher is bored, and just wants to invite parents over for some tea...

Sang Zhi anxiously rubbed her temples.

It doesn't seem to be working very well.

As soon as I looked up, I realized I had arrived.

Sangzhi got out of the car and walked slowly towards home.

Upon entering the house and seeing the scene, Sangzhi's scalp felt numb, making it even harder to speak.

Just then, Mother Li Ping's voice came from the kitchen: "Jiji is back?"

That's just a diminutive name.

Sangzhi responded with a sound and slowly put on her shoes. Because she was preoccupied with her thoughts, she didn't notice that there was a pair of unfamiliar running shoes on the shoe rack.

Li Ping called out again, "Zhi Zhi, come here for a moment. Help mommy with something."

Sangzhi was still thinking about how to confess, and vaguely replied, "What?"

"Take this fruit plate to your brother's room, would you?" Li Ping came out of the kitchen and said, "Your brother is back—"

"Hmm... hmm?" Sang Zhi came to herself suddenly, her tone a bit higher. "Brother's back?"

"Yeah."

This unexpected development made Sang Zhi unable to believe it.

A wave of overwhelming surprise surged up in an instant. The usually cold and aloof Sang Yan, at this very moment, transformed into a warm and caring older brother figure in Sang Zhi's heart.

Li Ping was still speaking: "When you go in, be careful. Your brother brought—"

"Okay, okay!" Losing her patience, Sang Zhi took the fruit and ran to Sang Yan's room. "I know! I'll bring it to him right away!"

Li Ping's hand went empty, watching Sang Zhi's unusually hot back today, she wondered: "What's wrong with this child today..."

Thinking of not being scolded by his parents, Sang Zhi unconsciously curved her lips and pushed open Sang Yan's room door with force.

The room is spacious and bright, with plenty of sunlight streaming in.

A wave of warmth filled her nostrils. In an instant, the thick scent of tobacco came over her, a bit pungent, and Sang Zhi couldn't help but cough.

Frowning, she scanned the room.

A weak, slender man huddled on the couch beside his computer desk, staring down at his phone with his eyes cast low. He faced away, his figure shrouded in shadows. One hand rested against the side of the couch, his long fingers clutching a burning red cigarette.

The type and Sangyan are a bit similar.

But it was surprisingly strange.

Sang Zhi's footsteps stopped, she hesitated and blinked her eyes, the word "brother" didn't leave her lips.

The man looked up.

At this moment, she also saw his appearance clearly and inexplicably held her breath.

His gaze was cold and distant, his features sharp and defined. A faint, barely perceptible smile played on his lips, giving him an air of gentleness that remained just out of reach.

lightly raised peach blossom eyes, shallow brown irises. Brows furrowed, with a hint of allure.

They are completely different from his dark eyes.

I thought I would see my brother, but instead I saw a stranger. My brother is nowhere to be found.

For a moment, Sang Zhi's mind went blank, unsure how to react.

The scene seemed to freeze.

Both stood still, without any superfluous action.

Not long after.

The man lowered his eyes again, slowly extinguished his cigarette, and appeared listless. He didn't seem inclined to speak, instead opening the window for ventilation in silence.

Looking at his actions, Sang Zhi was at a loss for words and called out.

"...Brother?"

Hearing this address, the man paused, raising an eyebrow. He stared at Sang Zhi, unwavering, his peach blossom eyes holding a warmth that was tinged with playfulness. Then, he curved his lips and responded in a teasing tone.

"Hmm?"

"..."

This response was like a bolt of lightning striking Sangzhi's head.

Those unclear things, in this instant, were sketched out by imaginative thoughts, leaving clear traces.

It's been several months since I last saw my brother.

When we meet again, it will be like this.

I couldn't believe it, I was completely stunned. After half a day, I finally managed to stammer out one word: "You, you..."

.

Sang Zhi swallowed hard, then spoke carefully: "Did you get plastic surgery?"

"...

"

(Editor in charge：apothecary diaries light novel)