When Hua Jie entered the high school division office, Liao Shanshan was already standing in front of the homeroom teacher.
Being pampered all her life, the young lady did not possess the timidity that other ordinary children might feel when facing a teacher. Liao Shanshan was indignantly snitching to the teacher, with full confidence:
“Teacher Liang, Jing Nian is always bullying Hua Jie! He even took her eraser—”
Hua Jie pursed her lips. Although she was no longer a child, staying home painting all day did not make her an adult adept at interacting with others.
Looking at Liao Shanshan’s assertiveness, she felt envious.
She walked up to Teacher Liang’s desk and stood shoulder to shoulder with Liao Shanshan.
Liang Ping was analyzing the situation as she listened to Liao Shanshan’s animated description. Seeing Hua Jie approaching, she turned her head to look at the person involved.
Hua Jie pulled Liao Shanshan’s hand.
Miss Liao thought Hua Jie wanted to downplay the situation, still indignant and wanting to defend her.
But suddenly, Hua Jie took the lead and said:
“Teacher Liang, I would like to change my seat.”
“.…” Liao Shanshan was stunned. She had thought that the restrained and reticent Hua Jie would choose to keep the peace, but she had never expected the other to take such a straightforward approach.
Liang Ping was also surprised. Children of this age tend to be excitable and emotional. She thought Hua Jie would cry and complain, but instead, she didn’t show any signs of venting her emotions and directly proposed a solution.
This mode of conversation didn’t resemble talking to a child, but rather like that of an adult who understands that others won’t empathize with you—
Skip the emotional part, and get straight to the point.
The setting sun behind cast its light across the girl’s cheeks, prompting Liang Ping to take a closer look at this female student.
She noticed that Hua Jie’s demeanor was different from other girls; despite having a youthful face, her gaze was exceptionally serene.
Less naive, but with a hint more wisdom and composure.
At that moment, the girl stood upright, still somewhat reserved, yet her expression was resolute.
Liang Ping couldn’t help but think: Hua Jie seemed to know exactly what she wanted. This seriousness and clarity, even she, as a teacher, couldn’t help but be influenced, unconsciously sweeping away the superficiality she had shown when dealing with Liao Shanshan earlier, becoming a bit more serious.
Without waiting for Teacher Liang to say anything, Hua Jie took the initiative to explain her idea:
“Teacher, Jing Nian is always bullying me, which really affects my normal studies.”
“Also, sitting in the fourth row, I find it a bit hard to see the blackboard clearly; it might be pseudo-myopia. If I could sit closer to the front, I’m sure it would help.”
“Now that everyone’s seats are filled, it must be difficult for you to ask someone in the first row to switch with me.”
“So, teacher, could I sit in that honorable seat by the window, parallel to the lectern?”
“I saw a new desk there this morning; I could move another one and sit beside it.”
“Teacher, I am willing to clean the blackboard for a term.”
Her tone was earnest and sincere, her round, clear black and white eyes gazing at Liang Ping like a little animal.
Hua Jie was clear and courteous in her speech.
Her well-thought-out, reasonable approach was rare for a child of her age.
Liao Shanshan, who was standing by, was shocked; she had just knocked and come in, starting to babble complaints without ever thinking about a solution.
She hadn’t even considered how the teacher might react to her accusations.
Now, Hua Jie had quickly and clearly arranged everything with a few words, practically doing the teacher’s job for her.
Looking back at her own behavior, it was nothing but blind bravery, rash!
Ashamed of herself.
Suddenly, in Liao Shanshan’s heart, the image of this new classmate, who was exceptionally skilled in painting, grew even more impressive.
Liao Shanshan’s eyes showed admiration, as a tiny seed of adoration took root in her chest.
Liang Ping’s mouth curved into a smile unconsciously as she picked up the water glass from the table and took a sip with deliberate slowness.
As Hu Jie and Liao Shanshan anxiously awaited the answer, she, their homeroom teacher, finally regained the initiative.
Seeing the unease flickering in Hu Jie’s eyes, Liang Ping said leisurely, “Your art teacher told me this morning how good you are at painting, it would be a pity not to pursue it.”
Faced with the homeroom teacher suddenly changing the topic, Hu Jie clenched her fists, her mind racing with potential responses while still worried about how to persuade her teacher should her suggestion be rejected.
“Still not considering working towards applying for an art major?” Liang Ping asked again.
Hu Jie turned to look at Liao Shanshan, who was making faces and nodding, mouthing the words ‘Yes, go for it.’
At that moment, she no longer despised painting itself; she was even consciously searching for the purest joy that painting brought her.
But to sit for the art college entrance exam?
No, she had decided, as a reborn individual, she wanted to aim for Tsinghua University!!!
She did not want to view painting as a mere job to make a living, but rather wanted to keep this hobby in a pristine sanctuary, carefully nurturing this passion.
“I’d like to think it over some more,” she said.
If she voiced her true thoughts, she was sure to be mocked.
She wanted to silently work hard until her goal was not so far out of reach, then mention it to others.
And now, there was no need to make a definite statement, especially since students preparing to apply for art schools could skip self-study and go to the studio to paint instead.
There was something appealing about regularly painting in the studio, and Hu Jie planned to seriously make a time schedule before deciding.
Liang Ping smiled slightly; not outright rejecting meant there was room for negotiation.
A student whose grades were only good enough for a junior college might have the chance to attend an undergraduate art school if they were an art student.
If Hu Jie pursued art, it could improve her class’s college acceptance rate.
“After school, move the empty desks and chairs at the back to the front near the window, to the seats of honor,” said the teacher, “The empty set is for the new transfer student, and you’ll be desk mates with him. Make sure to get along well.”
“…” When the teacher shifted the topic to painting, Hu Jie thought she had hit a snag, but suddenly, her wish was granted, and she was surprised and excited.
Before she could react, Liao Shanshan was already thanking the teacher repeatedly, “Thank you, teacher! Thank you!”
“Thank you, teacher,” echoed Hu Jie, her face flushed.
“Right, you don’t need to clean the blackboard either, just focus on your studies,” said Liang Ping.
“I will study hard,” Hu Jie nodded earnestly, her expression resolute.
“This time, your performance wasn’t very good.”
“I will definitely do better in the midterm exams,” Hu Jie’s eyes sparkled with determination.
Seeing that she didn’t seem to be just saying it for the sake of conversation, Liang Ping suddenly asked, “Can you pass all your subjects in the midterms?”
“Yes!” Hu Jie declared decisively.
“…” Didn’t she even think before saying ‘yes’?
Liang Ping’s lips curled and then flattened again:
“In that case… if you don’t pass all subjects, will you move back two rows?”
“Okay.” Hu Jie agreed without a second’s hesitation.
“!” Liao Shanshan didn’t even have time to stop her.
“…” Liang Ping was also taken aback, but quickly masked her surprise with an encouraging smile, “Alright, then work hard. You two can go back now, and call Jing Nian over here.”
“Thank you, teacher,” Hu Jie thanked her again, and left side by side with Shanshan.
After the children left, the chemistry teacher sitting nearby said to Liang Ping:
“She scored 19 in chemistry. Can she really improve to pass in half a term? How did she do in math?”
Liang Ping glanced at the entrance test score sheet, where only English was a passing score, and shook her head with a smile:
“I didn’t really expect her to pass, just motivating her a bit. Having a goal to work towards is good; as long as she improves, that’s fine.”
“I doubt it,” the chemistry teacher snorted. With over a decade of teaching experience, she had never held unrealistic expectations for such students.
Focusing on such students was less effective than concentrating on those with mid to high levels for improving the class’s overall college acceptance rate.
She looked at Liang Ping and couldn’t help thinking: She must be a new graduate, overly naive.
Liang Ping didn’t say much else, her mind replaying the image of Hu Jie’s clear and beautiful eyes. Her fingers tapped on the report card, and she sighed softly.
…
…
“Apparently, the new transfer student was infamous for bullying his desk mate in middle school. He was known to have thrown his desk mate’s chair out the window, hit them on the back of the head daily, and struck their face and hands with an iron ruler, among other things.”
“It might be better to sit with Jing Nian instead.”
“Yeah, the new desk mate sounds like a real nightmare! Poor Hu Jie.”
As the morning light brightened, the early arriving students opened the windows to air out the room and couldn’t help but gossip about the two new desk sets placed near the window.
Bian Ying encountered Yu Tonglin as she entered the school, and they walked into the classroom together, faintly hearing their classmates’ discussions. Both glanced unconsciously towards the newly added prestigious seats by the window.
Yu Tonglin’s expression turned sour, and without pausing, he attempted to move past.
But Bian Ying seized the opportunity to speak softly:
“Why didn’t Hu Jie ask to switch seats to be next to you? I’ve heard the new guy in our class is pretty scary. She’d rather sit with some unknown delinquent than—”
She stopped herself, her gaze shifting to Yu Tonglin, catching his displeased expression before she pressed her lips together and sighed.
“It’s none of my business.” Yu Tonglin’s temper was building, his slender face tensed due to his recent growth spurt.
“Don’t be mad at her,” Bian Ying coaxed, tilting her head.
Yu Tonglin’s expression lightened slightly, and after exchanging a few more words, they both returned to their seats.
Sitting down, Bian Ying propped her cheek in her hand and glanced at the very front of the classroom, a particularly unique spot—
That was always reserved for the most troublesome students in the class.
Because when the teacher entered, their immediate view was of the student sitting there.
During lectures, the teacher’s first sight was also of the position closest to the podium.
Placing a poor student there was entirely for the teacher’s convenience to monitor and discipline.
The ‘seat of honor’ was truly a mocking misnomer.
That spot was far from honorable, she thought disdainfully.
Especially considering the transfer student rumored to be Hu Jie’s new desk mate, who had a thoroughly bad reputation.
Bian Ying smirked, her expression scornful.
…
Yet, Hu Jie felt a sense of pride and accomplishment.
Since her rebirth, changing seats was the first ‘big thing’ she had managed to do!
That morning, as she washed her face, she touched her eyebrows and eyes in the mirror—
Her brow bones were more prominent than her eyes, and although her large eyes were not as deep-set as those of Westerners, they also lay in a gentle valley.
When she opened her eyes, her eyelashes cast shadows on the black and white pool of her eyes, making them appear vivid and spirited without any distortion.
Her eyelashes, still damp from washing her face, caught the bathroom light and sparkled like a galaxy, twinkling like a small animal in the soft light of a rainy night.
Her eyes, clear and bright, nestled comfortably in their sockets. Touching them with her palm, she could feel their snug, cozy position.
They would no longer be distorted or bulge from wearing nearsighted glasses—
She was determined to protect them carefully.
With the joy she had just harvested, she rode on the back of her neighbor’s bike to school, wrapped in a scarf, her face beaming with smiles.
Bian Hong noticed that the little girl seemed happier every day on her way to school.
She really loved going to school.
…
As Hu Jie stepped through the classroom door, her good mood suddenly froze.
She saw Jing Nian leap from the podium and land on her new desk.
Her desk was still neatly arranged with notebooks and books.
The mischievous boy crouched on her desk laughing, leaving two footprints before he stood up.
A male classmate beside him seemed to be persuading him, but he snorted and jumped back to the floor from Hu Jie’s desk, turning to face Hu Jie who was standing at the door. He paused, his face momentarily showing an awkward expression before quickly twisting into a scowl, showing a menacing demeanor.
The classroom, which had been buzzing with excitement, fell silent, all eyes on the girl standing motionless at the door.
How would she react?
Throw a fit?
Run to the teacher’s office to complain?
Sit back down in tears, pretending nothing happened?
As the classroom tensed up with Hu Jie’s silence, the students began to speculate about her possible reactions, when suddenly, she moved.
Hu Jie tossed her backpack onto a nearby desk, stepped over to the sink next to the podium, and grabbed a half-full wash basin. With bold strides, she walked towards Jing Nian’s seat.
Every gaze followed her, and gasps of shock began to echo around the room.
Jing Nian hadn’t realized what she was about to do until she poured the entire half basin of water over his desk and its contents.
“What are you doing?” Jing Nian yelled, rushing to his desk, only to see his books and the contents of his desk drawer soaked.
He stared in disbelief, looking up at Hu Jie.
The girl’s short hair was slightly messy, her face marked with anger, and her eyes blazed with flames. In her right hand, she held an iron basin, seemingly ready to swing it in a decisive battle against him at any moment.
She stood there with a fierce demeanor, as if she were a lone warrior capable of holding off thousands at a pass.
Hua Jie was also worried that Jing Nian might actually rush over and start a fight with her—a skinny high school freshman girl couldn’t possibly win against a boy as tough as a leather monkey, also in his freshman year.
But she was more than a decade older than him in spirit and understood the importance of psychological warfare.
She had caught the shock and retreat in Jing Nian’s eyes, and so her aura grew even stronger—
As long as I’m not scared, the one who should be scared is someone else!
The classmates who had just walked in sensed the odd atmosphere, curiously watching while silently heading to their seats.
The entire room held its breath as if suffocating.
Miss Hua was too fierce!
It wasn’t until Hua Jie and Jing Nian were both taken by the homeroom teacher to stand in the hallway as punishment that the classroom erupted into intense discussion.
Just a few days into the school year, and such a conflict was already thrilling.
Liao Shanshan couldn’t help but exclaim, “Wow!”
Hua Jie was so fierce! So cool! So handsome!
Liang Ping had no choice but to return to the classroom with a stern face to maintain order, instructing the temporary class president to organize the morning reading before she left for the office.
Passing through the hallway, she glanced at the two students standing side by side against the wall by the door.
Jing Nian stood indignantly, his ears beet red, quickly averting his gaze from the homeroom teacher.
Hua Jie leaned against the wall, her lips pressed into a straight line. Although she appeared obedient with her eyes downcast, her demeanor was unmistakably stubborn, and her strikingly clear black and white eyes clearly displayed a ‘refuse to concede’ attitude.
“Stand still until the first period starts. If I catch anyone moving, they’ll stand through the second period too,” Liang Ping dropped her harsh words and walked away without looking back.
In the office, there was a new student waiting for her—another thorn in her side, truly a headache.
…
Morning reading ended, and the corridors filled with the neat recitation from various classes gradually quieted, replaced by whispered murmurs, the sounds of flipping through books, and light touches of desks and chairs.
Classes were about to start, with teachers already at the classroom doors, waiting for the bell to ring, ready to enter their daily posts with books and tools in hand.
Hua Jie stood with legs aching yet still stood straight like a slender, small poplar tree.
Her eyes lazily wandered outside the hallway window, observing people and the scenery without finding it boring.
It turns out that those who enter society really do miss their school days.
Especially someone like her, who has had a rough time since entering the workforce.
Reborn and carrying a longing for a beautiful new life, she now found everything she did to be heartfelt and joyful.
Thinking this, she glanced sideways at Jing Nian, who exuded a ‘keep out’ aura in his rage, and once again, she found spiritual pleasure.
Your anger and my calm, that is victory.
Just as she thought this, her gaze moved past Jing Nian’s face to the other end of the hallway.
She paused slightly in surprise.
The homeroom teacher, Liang Ping, was carrying teaching materials and walking alongside a tall young man with a slung backpack.
Hua Jie’s gaze fell on the young man.
It was Shen Mo.
The vividly youthful figure slowly merged with the image in her memory; lips red, teeth white, but with a fiercely mischievous demeanor.
His charming eyes and thick lashes, along with his impeccably beautiful features combined with his roguish aura, created a dangerously attractive charisma.
The sky in the deep autumn of the north was vast and high, the edges of the white clouds clear, forming thick clusters, swiftly sweeping across the azure sky.
The wind fluttered the red flags, the air was crisp and clear, and the sharp edges of the distant mountains became distinct.
Such a beautiful and stern autumn still couldn’t compare to the beauty of this youth.
He was Shen Mo.
The future notable figure of Jinsong High School, the biggest headache for school leaders and teachers due to his involvement in trouble and fights.
Yet, he was also a top student, even becoming the first arts scholar from the school to top the province in the national college entrance exams.
He was also the heartthrob of the entire school, with female students from various classes sneaking peeks during breaks, and receiving so many love letters that his hands would tire.
In her previous life, Hua Jie had also liked him, admiring him from afar for three years.
As Shen Mo approached down the hallway, like an avalanche before her, even the steadfastly punished Hua Jie blushed slightly.
Her world seemed to light up with this brilliant scenery, her heart beating slightly too fast.
So handsome.
Hua Jie thought.
And from now on, he would be her deskmate.
To his left was the heater and the window, and to his right was her. Every time he came and went, he had to pass by her seat.
The only regret was that their first meeting was under such circumstances—with her standing punished…