Ring ring ring... As soon as the alarm clock on the bedside pointed to seven o'clock, it rang right on time. The pink blanket squirmed for a moment, and a slender, fair hand reached out, grabbed the alarm clock, and threw it at the wall.
However, the alarm clock didn't stop its noisy ringing. Still blaring ring ring ring, it annoyed her so much that she couldn't take it anymore. She sat up, rubbing her eyes and muttering, "So annoying, it's broad daylight and I still can't sleep..."
A woman's voice came from outside: "Lian'er, if you don't get up now, you'll be late. Today is your first day transferring to the new school. If you're late, just think about how you're going to face those who are looking forward to meeting you."
The woman's words gave the girl under the covers a jolt. She finally remembered that today was her first day at the new school. She grabbed her long hair with both hands and yawned, "How could I forget something so important? Let me think, class starts at 7:40, and I set the alarm for 7 last night... huh? Where's the alarm clock?"
Just as Chu Lian finished speaking, she realized the alarm clock was gone. Looking around, she finally found the now-silent alarm clock in a corner by the wall. She checked the time: "7:10..."
Realizing something was wrong, Chu Lian groggily calculated the time: "Washing up takes 10 minutes, eating takes 10 minutes, commuting takes 10 minutes, and class starts at..." As she counted, she realized no matter how fast she moved, the result would be the same: "I'll be late... I'll be late... I'll be late..."
Knowing she couldn't afford to laze around any longer, she quickly got up, took off her nightdress, changed into the school uniform that had been delivered a few days ago, clumsily packed her school bag, and dashed into the bathroom to wash up.
In the living room downstairs, a young couple sat across from each other, watching her hurried figure on the second floor. They exchanged a glance and couldn't help but laugh.
After laughing for a while, the man said, "See? Lian'er really is like a younger you. Already this old, and still so scatterbrained. It's really worrisome."
Hearing this, the woman rolled her eyes at him in mock annoyance. "You have the nerve to say that? Weren't you the one who just told me not to wake her? And when was I ever scatterbrained when I was young? I just didn't care about certain things! If I took things seriously, I could handle anything."
"That was my mistake—you weren't scatterbrained..." the man coughed and said, "I was just worried she'd be too excited to fall asleep last night. That's why I wanted her to sleep a little longer. Otherwise, she'd have no energy for class later."
Hearing this, the woman chuckled softly. As she stood to get breakfast, she said, "You'll spoil her like this. She's already in seventh grade, she should know what she needs to know by now, really."
Just as the two were chatting, Chu Lian came out of the bathroom, glanced at the time, and immediately ran from the second floor to the first. As her skirt fluttered, the girl's silhouette was as light as willow fluff, truly eye-catching.
Seeing her like this, the woman's eyes lit up and she praised, "As expected, my Lian'er is the cutest. Come here, let Mommy give you a hug..." As she spoke, she turned and stretched out her arms to hug Chu Lian.
At thirteen, she was considered short among her peers, standing at just under 1.4 meters tall.
Her body was small, limbs slender, and her delicate features looked like they were sculpted from fine art.
The seemingly frail girl looked like a gust of wind could blow her over, evoking a desire to hold and protect her.
Perhaps from rushing too much and tiring herself out, her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and she was slightly out of breath.
A strand of long hair draped past her ear to the front, twirling lightly around her finger.
Her cherry-colored lips were slightly pursed. She seemed reluctant to speak—perhaps due to a habit of silence, or maybe she simply didn't enjoy social interaction.
The outfit she wore was a newly designed school uniform, as exquisite as something out of an illustration.
The top was blue and white, and the skirt was solid blue—paired with pure white socks that stopped just above the knees, leaving a tempting absolute territory between the hem and the socks.
This kind of outfit, paired with her petite figure, really made her look like someone who had stepped out of a manga—adorable and playful, instantly evoking a sense of affection.
Seeing her mom lunging over, Chu Lian hesitated for a moment but still gently stepped aside, letting her mom pounce into thin air. She then sat down in her seat and began eating breakfast.
Her mom wasn't upset about missing the hug, just bit her lower lip and glared at the man who was secretly laughing, then walked back to her seat and watched Chu Lian eat. The two of them weren't in a hurry; it was still early for work. But they weren't sure how Chu Lian planned to handle being late.
After quietly finishing her breakfast, Chu Lian finally spoke: "I remembered right after I washed my face—I can call Wang Tingsi to take me to school, so don't worry about me being late."
Hearing her words, the couple exchanged a glance. It seemed they could read each other's thoughts: "That boy again... Looks like he's getting used again by Lian'er. Even if he doesn't know what she's been through, he should at least understand that she inherently dislikes males. The fact that he still tries to get close to her... well, that takes guts."
Of course, they wouldn't say any of this out loud. They knew well how strongly Chu Lian rejected males—saying anything would only make things awkward.
Watching her eat, the father put down his newspaper, hesitated, then spoke to Chu Lian: "Lian'er, because of the sudden increase in work, your mom and I will be very busy soon. We won't be home much, so you need to adapt to school life quickly and make some friends. With Chu Chu not at home either, if we're both gone too, you'll feel lonely living alone. So..."
Chu Lian's heart skipped a beat. She was a little surprised by the sudden news, but didn't feel too concerned. A quiet, solitary life was the one that suited her best.
Well, at least, it used to suit the old her.
So, before he could finish, she replied, "Got it. Transferring schools isn't a big deal. I'll adjust quickly, don't worry about me."
Her mom added, "Nothing you want to say to Mom?"
"Take care of your own matters and take care of yourselves, don't worry about me. You already know—I don't really like hanging out with guys, but I'm pretty popular among girls. Besides, I do have a bit of a reputation, so they wouldn't dare bully me."
"Even though that kind of status isn't much in a world-famous school like this, at least there's nothing to worry about. So you two can focus on your work without concern..."
While speaking, Chu Lian finished her breakfast, tidied up, made sure she didn't forget anything, then slung on her school bag, walked to the entrance, and changed into her little leather boots. "If there's nothing else, I'll head out now. Bye." With that, she gave a little stomp with her boots, waved, and opened the door.
Behind her, the young couple exchanged a slightly bitter look but said nothing. Just as she was about to leave, her mom finally said, "Lian'er, be careful on the road."
From outside, Chu Lian replied, "Mm, I will."
After saying goodbye to her parents, Chu Lian waited at the door for a while, then saw a luxury sedan slowly pull up nearby. A car window rolled down, revealing the cheerful face of a teenage boy.
Seeing the beautiful girl walk out from the house, he almost had the urge to tease her on the spot.
But before he could say anything, Chu Lian gave him a fierce glare, making him immediately shut his mouth.
Knowing she was angry, he didn't dare act up. He had a way with everyone—except for this girl who once saved his life. With her, he had no way to fight back.
Just as he was about to get out of the car to open the door for her, he caught sight of Chu Lian's silhouette.
Chu Lian had no intention of sitting next to him. She walked to the opposite side and chose the seat farthest away from him, clearly not wanting to be close.
If it weren't for not wanting to trouble her parents, and the fact that she wasn't old enough to drive, she wouldn't even consider getting into the car of a boy who clearly had ulterior motives toward her.
Seeing her act this way, Wang Tingsi was helpless. He couldn't exactly force her to sit next to him, could he? If he angered her, she might never speak to him again. And if that happened, who could he even complain to?
Feeling frustrated, the boy sat alone in one row and told the driver to start driving. He sat there, occasionally glancing outside the window, but unable to resist looking at Chu Lian again and again.
But Chu Lian kept her head down, playing with her phone, completely ignoring him, leaving him with a sense of powerlessness. "Am I really that annoying? She'd rather look at her phone than spare me a glance. Ever since she found out I knew her address, she's never given me a pleasant expression. Looks like that really crossed a line for her. I'll need to be more careful in the future. But… they say she treats all guys coldly and is completely different with girls. I wonder if that means..."
As his thoughts drifted further, he didn't dare continue. If Chu Lian really was like that, then he'd have no chance at all. Though, given the current situation, it already seemed hopeless.
While Wang Tingsi sat there anxious and uneasy, he didn't realize what Chu Lian was thinking: "Saved him once, but in the end, I'm the one being bothered. I really need to think carefully before helping anyone again. If another one shows up, I'll have to run. Girls are definitely cuter—guys who cling so hard are just plain annoying."
Their destination was Sudi High School, a private school that included both middle and high school levels.
The school's founder, Liu Jiancheng, was the richest man in Sucheng. He established this non-elite school so that students who learned and grew here would feel gratitude toward his company.
Then, when the time came for them to enter the workforce, his company would be their first choice. This was especially important for the company's long-term development.
Of course, this backstory isn't to highlight the school's origin, but to explain that it isn't a so-called elite school, nor a traditional institution solely focused on academics.
Because its founding purpose was to cultivate real talent—not just bookworms—the atmosphere here was very liberal, and there were countless clubs and activities.
But don't mistake its free-spirited culture as being undisciplined. Despite the relaxed environment, students didn't skip class or avoid homework.
Out of the fewer than 3,000 students enrolled, every citywide exam ranked at least three or four of them in the top ten of each grade. In truth, this was a school of top-tier students.
The entry requirements were extremely high. Besides excellent academic scores, applicants had to possess at least one certified talent to be accepted.
And today, the school welcomed a new transfer student—an unprecedented bundle of trouble, someone who would stir the entire school out of its stillness.
Of course, regardless of the circumstances, the arrival of such a girl should count as a good thing.
In Class 1 of the seventh grade today, the students were no longer absorbed in their studies as usual. Everyone wore an eager expression, because among the new transfers, several well-known students would be joining their class.
The titles of "genius" had already spread across the country, so even these students—who were considered elite themselves—couldn't suppress their excitement and curiosity.
In the spacious classroom, two girls sitting by the window whispered to each other. One of them, a short-haired girl, clasped her hands together with a dreamy look and said, "I heard Wang Tingsi is one of the new transfers too. He's moving here from his old school and is supposedly joining our class. I'm so happy! Do you know? That role he played—the Ninth Prince of Jin—he looked so handsome..."
The other girl, who had long hair, was clearly also a fan of Wang Tingsi. Hearing the short-haired girl's comment, she smiled happily and said, "I heard that too! But my favorite role of his is when he played the young Jia Baoyu. That charming noble son look—he was just so good-looking!"
"Yeah! Whether it was the Ninth Prince of Jin or young Jia Baoyu, he portrayed both with his own style and captured the essence of the characters. One was suave and elegant, the other handsome and refined. It was just too attractive..." "Exactly, exactly! And then there's also when he played..." The two girls whispered and occasionally covered their mouths as they laughed, clearly overjoyed.
Of course, they weren't the only ones chatting about the transfer students. Another group of boys, gathered together, were also talking about new students—but unlike the girls, they were discussing two different ones.
"I really want to meet that rumored genius literature girl. I've seen her in photos—she's absolutely adorable, and so talented. Maybe she'll become the most famous representative of our school's literature department. Then we'd be considered her classmates..." A few boys who were looking forward to the transfers gathered together, their excitement no less than the girls'. The comment came from a slightly chubby boy wearing glasses—clearly a fan of Chu Lian.
But after hearing the chubby boy's words, another boy with a buzz cut frowned and disagreed: "Compared to Chu Lian, I like Cai Ya better. That so-called genius literature girl, all she can do is write. No matter how famous she gets, she's still not as well-known as Cai Ya."
He was a fan of another girl named Cai Ya, so it was only natural for him to refute the other's opinion. "I think Cai Ya is way more amazing. She's gorgeous, even performed on the Spring Festival Gala this year. Among new singers, she's the most outstanding. And I heard that even though she comes from a prestigious family, she has a great personality and never looks down on others. Now that's a real goddess, someone truly worth admiring."
Being contradicted, the chubby boy wanted to say something. But seeing the others agreeing with the buzz-cut boy, he gave up arguing and just shrank back a little, silently listening to them talk about Cai Ya's accomplishments.
Of course, everyone who could get into this school had their own pride. So although many students were talking about the transfers, there were still quite a few who focused seriously on their studies.
Before long, the school bell rang, and all the students returned to their seats and took out their books for morning reading. A delicate-looking female teacher wearing white-rimmed glasses and high heels walked in, slapped her lesson plan on the desk, and cleared her throat before saying, "Start your morning reading. When class officially begins, I'll bring the new students over. You all better behave and make a good impression."
With that, the teacher turned and left, and the students began reading aloud on their own.
At that moment, Chu Lian entered the teachers' office with her backpack. She saw a few other students also carrying backpacks standing nearby. She silently counted—six boys, five girls. Including herself and Wang Tingsi behind her, there were thirteen new students.
Somehow, all the transfer students had ended up arriving at the same time. It seemed like the school administration had something different in mind.
But it didn't matter. What Chu Lian knew was that another chapter of her middle school life was beginning. Fortunately, unlike that death-defying elementary school student who never graduated, she was only starting over once. In that sense, she was pretty lucky, wasn't she?
Thinking that, she sighed inwardly. But this time, things would definitely be different.
While she was observing the others, they were also looking at her. Unlike her quick glance with no further interest, the others had heard bits and pieces about her before, and a few had even seen her photo. Now, seeing her in person, curiosity was inevitable.
After watching for a while, they realized that aside from being exceptionally pretty, there wasn't anything particularly special about her. So eventually, they lost interest and looked away.
Only one girl with slightly wavy hair and Wang Tingsi were still quietly observing her. The former was curious about who could possibly be on par with herself, while the latter was simply admiring her cuteness.
Chu Lian, who was already used to being stared at, paid no attention to the people around her. She simply stood there quietly and soon drifted into her own world, dulling her awareness of everything around her.
In simpler terms, she was spacing out.
The new students waited here for quite some time before the female teacher with the white-rimmed glasses finally walked in.
She counted the students and, seeing everyone was present, nodded and said, "Mm. You're either excellent students transferring from other schools, or prodigies just starting middle school. Compared to your peers, you're more outstanding and more mature. So when it comes to school rules and how to behave, I believe you're already aware. I won't repeat them here. Of course, if you have questions, feel free to ask me."
She checked her watch. The hands pointed to exactly 8:10, the end of morning reading, so she said, "Now I'll take you to your respective classes. Remember, don't wander around before you're familiar with the place. This school is big—you might get lost."
Her words snapped Chu Lian out of her daze. Seeing the others already following, she stepped outside with light footsteps. Speaking of which, what was that faint fluttering feeling just now? Was it... anticipation for this new school life?
She shook her head. Whatever. No matter what, she was going to relive her school days all over again—might as well enjoy it.
Out of the thirteen students, only five ended up going to Class 1: herself, the girl with slightly wavy long hair, Wang Tingsi, and two boys who looked very quiet.
The moment the teacher led them into the classroom, the previously noisy room fell completely silent.
It was a sign of respect for the new students, and also anticipation for their new classmates. These new transfers were so exceptional—they had been waiting a long time for this...