C3 Magic Cube

Her expression was a mirror image of Gao Mu's earlier one.

Qing, with a beaming smile, ran toward a young man standing beside a BMW 320.

His attire was quite intriguing. Due to the summer heat, he donned a snug-fitting tank top and tight pants, complemented by a pair of athletic shoes. Gao Mu instantly pegged him as a troublemaker.

Upon seeing Qing, the young man's eyes gleamed with lecherous intent. Clearly, he was smitten with her.

"Let's grab a bite to eat, then catch a movie," the young man suggested to Qing.

Qing nodded in agreement.

Had Gao Mu been in the vicinity, he would have noticed that the movie tickets the young man purchased were identical to his own.

Qing's slight surprise at the tickets gave way to a charming expression. "I absolutely adore animated films. I never pegged you as a fan too. You've kept a touch of innocence," she remarked.

Gao Mu would have been repulsed had he overheard the conversation.

The young man, as if struck by a thought, glanced in Gao Mu's direction and inquired, "Who was that guy who was bothering you earlier?"

With a coy laugh, Qing glanced back at Gao Mu and replied, "Oh, he's just a classmate. He might have a crush on me."

A playful smirk crossed the young man's face.

Ultimately, Qing climbed into the young man's BMW.

"She's not right for you," a soft voice from behind startled Gao Mu.

Turning, he found himself face-to-face with Soong Yingqiu, her gaze flickering with an unusual light.

Gao Mu watched the BMW drive away and sighed, "Indeed, she's not the one for me."

With that, he headed home.

His family's apartment was not too far from the school.

After a half-hour walk, Gao Mu arrived at an old residential building that stood out starkly among the newer ones.

By the time he got home, his parents had already left for work.

The financial situation of Gao Mu's family was marginally better than that of Soong Yingqiu's. His parents, both factory workers, earned just enough to get by.

While they never burdened Gao Mu with their struggles, he was acutely aware that he represented their hopes for a brighter future.

Gao Mu returned to his room and collapsed onto his bed.

"Ah, this is bliss," Gao Mu sighed contentedly.

He was aware, however, that this feeling of comfort would be fleeting, lasting only a few minutes at best. After all, he had a pile of unfinished papers waiting for him.

He was not naturally gifted or particularly bright, which meant he had to work harder than his peers.

Despite his efforts, Gao Mu realized that no matter how much he tried, he couldn't keep pace with them.

He had come to the bitter conclusion that in the face of innate talent, hard work seemed like a cruel joke.

"I really wish I could just lie here until tomorrow afternoon."

But that was nothing more than a wishful thought.

After a brief rest, Gao Mu rose from the bed, resigned to the inevitable task of tackling his homework.

That's when he noticed something unexpected on his desk—a Magic Cube.

"When did I get this?" he wondered.

The Magic Cube looked utterly ordinary.

"Well, I might as well take a moment to unwind before diving into my homework," Gao Mu decided, reaching for the Magic Cube.

But as soon as he took hold of it, the Magic Cube inexplicably took flight.