Chapter 3: The Memorial Ceremony

Dzung the Nerd jumped in shock. If he were a cat, he would have leaped two or three meters into the air out of sheer fright.

"N-No! Nothing! I think… I think I've got all the information I need! I'm heading back to class. Bye!"

Like a flash of lightning, Dzung the Nerd bolted toward the 11B section, nearly tripping over several plastic chairs along the way.

Vuong flopped down onto an empty chair beside Nam. His cold, menacing aura faded as suddenly as it had appeared, as if it had never existed in the first place.

"That's great! If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask me directly, okay?"

Vuong called out to Dzung the Nerd's retreating figure, then flashed a dazzling smile, revealing a set of perfectly white teeth. A mischievous glint flickered in his eyes.

"How are you holding up today, bro?"

Nam was still thinking of an answer when a commotion erupted from the next row of classes.

Someone had fainted.

The sun blazed mercilessly, and there wasn't a single cloud in the sky. Even though it was only 7:30 AM, the temperature had already climbed to 37–38°C.

Despite the heat, Nhan Hoa High School insisted on holding the weekly assembly outdoors, as scheduled. However, instead of the usual musical performances, today's event was a memorial ceremony for Hoang Anh Tuan.

A heavy cloud of grief loomed over the 10th-grade students. Many female students, unable to control their emotions, began sobbing quietly as the school's brass band played a funeral march.

When the solemn melody ended, the band retreated backstage, and several students stepped forward to share their memories of Hoang Anh Tuan, making the ceremony even more heart-wrenching.

The combination of sorrow, scorching heat, and the suffocating crowd was too much for Nguyen Xuyen Chi, a student from class 11C—she suddenly collapsed on the spot.

"Hey! Everyone, step back and give her some air! And you two tall guys over there—where's your chivalry? Carry the girl to the infirmary, now!"

The booming, authoritative voice of the P.E. teacher, Nguyen Tung Bach, rang out across the assembly ground.

He was pointing directly at Nam and Vuong.

Although Nam was only 1m78, which was 10 cm shorter than Vuong, he still stood taller than most of the male students around them.

"Sorry, sir, I'll have to decline. I'll leave this to you instead!"

Vuong's blunt refusal made Nam's eyes widen in shock. At Nam's old school, no student would have dared speak to a teacher like that, not even to someone as young and easygoing as Mr. Bach.

"But I'm not allowed to touch female students."

"Well, I don't like touching female students either. Hmm, maybe I should file a petition to the school requesting longer skirts for the girls."

Vuong had perfectly pinpointed the real issue that was making both him and Nam uncomfortable.

"Are you insane, Vuong? I forbid you from submitting that petition!"

"Oh? So that's why you're not allowed to touch female students, huh?"

Seeing that the two of them were too busy arguing instead of actually helping, Nam ran off to fetch a stretcher from the infirmary. With great care, he and Vuong lifted Chi onto the stretcher, making sure her uniform stayed in place.

The moment they set Chi down in the infirmary, Vuong vanished.

So the most sought-after boy in school was actually shy around girls?

Chi stirred slightly on the bed, a tear still clinging to her eyelashes. It seemed that she, too, had been one of Hoang Anh Tuan's admirers.

Inside the infirmary, nurse Nguyen Thu Trang carefully checked Chi's temperature before grumbling at her.

"I've told you before—you need to take your medicine on time. At this rate, even if you do, your body won't react fast enough. I'll have to give you an injection. Nam, step outside for a moment."

"No! I don't want a shot!"

Chi whimpered in panic, clutching onto Nam's arm as he turned to leave.

"If you don't take the shot, you'll turn into an ugly monster. Do you want that?"

Nurse Trang resorted to a childish scare tactic, and it worked. Chi reluctantly agreed, but kept a death grip on Nam's arm.

As the needle pierced her arm, Chi let out a wail—while at the same time, Nam winced in pain as her nails dug deep into his flesh. It was unclear who was suffering more. Unlike Chi, who was free to cry out, Nam had to silently endure the pain.

Only when the entire injection had been administered did Chi release Nam's arm and slowly drift off to sleep. Nam glanced down—his arm was now covered in deep red nail marks, though at least they hadn't drawn blood.

Girls… were truly terrifying creatures.