Just as you thought, Yu Zixiao didn't show up for the next week, and your life gradually returned to its usual calm.
Early in the morning, just as you sat at your desk, Xiao Feng burst into the classroom like he hit the jackpot, shouting at everyone: "Hey Weiba, I have two big news items here, anyone want to hear?"
No one paid him any mind.
"It's about our class, you know?"
Still, no one paid him any attention.
"Damn it, I won't say it then!"
Xiao Feng dejectedly walked back to his seat.
Indeed, as the college entrance exam approached, everyone's attention naturally shifted to their studies, leaving little mental energy for anything else. This confirmed your thoughts—many people put too much value on their own reputation. Honestly, even if you rule the roost normally, once you're gone, everything is the same. The Earth keeps spinning, and even those who usually circle around you will find new targets.
