Chapter 9: Taking Office as Class Monitor
Night was falling. Chen Zelin, the homeroom teacher of Class 3, Grade 1, took the opinion forms out of his bag, then grabbed some scrap paper and a fresh form to start deciding on the class committee members.
At Mingde, the class committee structure consisted of seven positions: Class Monitor, Vice Monitor, Study Committee Member, Discipline Committee Member, Sports Committee Member, Publicity Committee Member, and Activities Committee Member.
Class 3 only had 22 students in total, so the committee would make up nearly one-third of the class.
Chen Zelin didn’t rush to choose the Class Monitor. He started with the less influential positions first.
For Activities Committee, there were two self-nominations—clearly some students wanted to use the excuse of buying class supplies to sneak out and have fun. Chen Zelin wrote both their names down for now.
For Publicity Committee, the role at Mingde also doubled as the school’s Literature & Arts Committee member. Only one student had volunteered, so naturally that student would get it.
For Sports Committee, one student, Song Yi, had signed up. If he remembered correctly, Song Yi was the tallest boy in class and also practiced sanda. That was decided.
For Discipline Committee, no one had signed up. Chen wasn’t surprised—discipline work was thankless and annoying, so of course no one wanted it. He set it aside for now.
For Study Committee, only Yu Xin had applied. Chen had a good impression of this student who aimed to get into Beijing University, so he confirmed her immediately.
For Vice Monitor, Qin Yue had applied—but Chen noticed he had written a condition: “If Gu Qinghuan is Class Monitor, I’ll be Vice Monitor.” His recommendation for Class Monitor was also Gu Qinghuan, with the reasoning: “Pretty good.” Was this a joke?
Since no one had volunteered to be Class Monitor, Chen began checking the recommendations for that role on the forms.
One glance—and he froze.
Not believing it, he flipped through every form from start to finish and was stunned: aside from Gu Qinghuan herself, every single student had recommended her.
Some wrote reasons like “cheerful personality, poised demeanor.” Others said, “good organizational skills and broad knowledge.” Song Yi’s was the most absurd: “I’ll do whatever she says.”
Yu Xin had written a whole paragraph, but it was basically “good” repeated in every sentence.
Even Jiang Chuchu had recommended Gu Qinghuan, with the reason… “She’s the most suitable”? Since when did they have a domineering CEO in class?
Chen Zelin let out a breath, put down the forms, leaned back in his chair, clasped his hands over his stomach, and peacefully closed his eyes.
Some homeroom teachers might look alive, but in truth, they’ve been dead inside for a while.
Even if the forms weren’t the whole truth, they still reflected part of the students’ personalities—and from what Chen saw, he was sure he wouldn’t have an easy three years ahead.
He sat up straight and decisively chose Gu Qinghuan as Class Monitor.
The will of the people! The choice of the masses! Who else could it be?
The Activities Committee position would go to the other self-nominee. Vice Monitor would be Qin Yue—one girl and one boy, and Qin Yue could manage the boys.
Now only the Discipline Committee was left undecided. Chen Zelin decided to discuss it with the new Monitor and Vice Monitor tomorrow to see if they had suggestions.
The next day, when Gu Qinghuan was called into the office with Qin Yue and told she was being made Class Monitor, she was completely stunned.
“Huh?” Gu Qinghuan pointed to herself. “Me? Class Monitor?”
Qin Yue turned his head away, trying to stifle his laughter.
“Yes, this was the unanimous choice of your classmates,” Chen Zelin said as he handed her the forms, speaking slowly. “Getting everyone’s recommendation on the very first day of school is proof enough of your ability.”
Gu Qinghuan flipped through the forms noisily.
“Poised demeanor”? The treat money was from Jiang Chuchu, not her!
“Organizational skills”? You mean pooling orders for takeout?
“Broad knowledge”? Surely they didn’t mean she’d eaten through every snack shop on the delivery apps?
Yu Xin’s entry she could accept, but Qin Yue’s and Jiang Chuchu’s? What were those supposed to mean?
Expression blank, Gu Qinghuan handed the forms back and carefully said, “Mr. Chen, look at me—grades, talent, physical fitness, all so-so… No, wait, my only talent is snapping my fingers.”
Pfft! This time, not just Qin Yue but also teachers from other classes in the office burst out laughing.
Chen Zelin barely kept a straight face. “But everyone recommended you. That means you must have the ability to earn their trust and recognition.”
“That’s right,” Qin Yue chimed in. “I think Gu Qinghuan is perfect for Class Monitor!”
Gu Qinghuan wanted to step on his foot.
“Actually, there’s not much work,” Chen Zelin coaxed. “For big events, the teachers and other committee members will be involved. The most important thing is having the classmates’ support. If it doesn’t work out, we can always change later. How about trying it first?”
With things said this far, she couldn’t refuse without offending the teacher, so she reluctantly agreed.
Chen Zelin brightened. “Then Qin Yue will be Vice Monitor—your right-hand man.”
Gu Qinghuan turned to give Qin Yue a meaningful look: You’re in my hands now.
Qin Yue pretended not to notice her threat and puffed out his chest. “I’ll do a great job!”
“Other committee members are mostly set, except Discipline. Do you have any suggestions?” Chen Zelin asked.
“Jiang Chuchu,” Gu Qinghuan said without hesitation.
Qin Yue was startled, whipping his head around to stare at her.
Chen Zelin was also taken aback. “Why her?” he asked dryly.
“Realistically speaking, her family background is the strongest. With her handling discipline issues, even if people have objections, they won’t dare openly oppose her,” Gu Qinghuan said bluntly.
Chen Zelin thought: This girl really dares to speak her mind. “Any other reasons?”
“From the perspective of committee duties, she sets the best example,” Gu Qinghuan explained. “Even with her advantages, she doesn’t ignore rules. She arrives on time, dresses within school regulations, treats everyone equally, doesn’t disrupt class unity, and reflects on her own shortcomings.”
She summed up: “These sound ordinary, but given her background, the fact that she still does this shows she has strong self-discipline. Even if at first people only listen because of her status, over time they’ll see her qualities and follow her willingly. That’s what being Discipline Committee Member is about.”
Chen Zelin began to understand why everyone had chosen Gu Qinghuan as Class Monitor.
“I’ll check with Jiang Chuchu,” Chen nodded. “You two can go back.”
Back in the office, one of the teachers who had laughed earlier wheeled his chair over. “Hey, this new Monitor of yours—what’s her background? She talks like a pro and sees things so clearly.”
“No background. She’s just a student whose family paid for a spot this year,” Chen Zelin said, shaking his head. “But for her to evaluate Jiang Chuchu like that—it’s impressive.”
She said Jiang Chuchu’s self-restraint was admirable given her circumstances, but isn’t the reverse just as true? Despite their family disparity, she could still clearly see Jiang’s strengths and acknowledge them. That kind of mindset was rare.
Completely unaware that two teachers had just praised her, Gu Qinghuan returned to class only to desperately try to stop Qin Yue.
“Chuchu, let me tell you—Gu Qinghuan just recommended you to the homeroom teacher for Discipline Committee…” Qin Yue was leaning over Jiang Chuchu’s desk, refusing to shut up.
“Qin Yue, you big mouth!” Gu Qinghuan was mortified. Saying it to others was fine, but to the person herself? Too embarrassing!
Jiang Chuchu looked at her. “Is that what you said?”
“Mm…” Gu Qinghuan mumbled, staring at her shoes.
“And you’re the Class Monitor?” Jiang Chuchu pressed.
“Yes… Wait a second!” Gu Qinghuan’s head snapped up, teeth gritted. “I haven’t even asked you yet—why did you all nominate me as Monitor?!”
Jiang Chuchu turned away. “You nominated me for Discipline, I nominated you for Monitor. Fair, right?”
“If I have to do it, so do you,” Gu Qinghuan said fiercely.
“I wasn’t interested in Discipline before, but since someone praised me like that in front of the teacher, I guess I can reluctantly accept,” Jiang Chuchu said, arms crossed.
They stared at each other for a moment, then both broke into a smile.
“I’m the Vice Monitor, by the way~” Qin Yue raised his hand.
“Shut up!” Jiang Chuchu and Gu Qinghuan said in unison.
Is there really no romance for the protag? I want him and Qin Yue together!