Chapter 2: The Transfer Student

The boy didn’t answer again, just gave her a faint glance before turning and walking away.

After turning around, in the night, the boy suddenly curled his lips into a smile. “Hah, interesting!”

Watching the boy’s retreating figure, Xu Yannuo narrowed her eyes slightly. After observing for a while and seeing the boy walk far away, she also turned and left.

It didn’t matter even if she saw him. After all, they didn’t know each other, and there wouldn’t be any intersection between them in the future.

On Monday’s flag-raising ceremony, Xu Yannuo got up very early. After washing up and having breakfast, she tied her hair into a cute bun. Being petite, she looked very well-behaved. Then, dressed in her school uniform and carrying her backpack, she headed out. Of course, even if it wasn’t Monday, she left home early every day.

Her grandmother’s house was very close to the school, just two blocks away, passing through a market along the way. She strolled leisurely, enjoying the lively scene. On Monday mornings, there were more cars, more pedestrians, and even the breakfast stalls had longer queues than on other days.

As she reached the school gate, many students were already streaming in. The usual Monday routine was to head to the classroom first, drop off their backpacks, and then come out again when it was time for the flag-raising ceremony. Those who arrived late had to stand on the playground with their backpacks still on—half an hour of flag-raising under the banner of “quality education,” leaving their shoulders nearly numb from the weight.

When Xu Yannuo entered the classroom with small steps, more than half of the classmates had already arrived. Unlike previous Mondays, today the classroom wasn’t just slightly lively—it was exceptionally bustling. Almost no one was quietly studying on their own; everyone was whispering excitedly about something. Generally, this kind of situation meant some big news had happened.

At the time, everyone was discussing the appearance of the school bully, but unfortunately, no one could describe it clearly. The reason was simple: there were no photos of the school bully, as no one dared to secretly take pictures of them. Moreover, it was said that even if the school bully hadn’t taken a leave of absence, they were elusive, rarely attending school.

It’s understandable—after all, a school bully isn’t someone ordinary people can just casually meet.

Xu Yannuo returned to her seat, obediently put down her backpack, and seeing that there was still time, she took out the “Five-Year College Entrance Exam, Three-Year Simulation” workbook and began to focus on solving problems.

The faint voices of two girls chatting in the front row drifted over, “Did you hear about Zhang Yao from Class Three being bullied and extorted by a few senior boys last Tuesday?”

“But I heard those guys got beaten up a few days ago, and it was pretty bad.”

“Really? Who did it? That’s so bold!”

“Shh, keep it down. I don’t know who it was, but it definitely wasn’t someone from our school. Who in our school would dare? They wouldn’t want to stick around if they did.”

“Could it be that school bully from No. 2 High?”

Xu Yannuo, sitting in the back row, was engrossed in solving problems and didn’t catch a word of what the two in front were saying. One of the girls, Zhang Qi, turned around and gently tapped Xu Yannuo’s desk, whispering, “Nuo Nuo, do you know who beat up those senior-year troublemakers?”

Seeing Xu Yannuo looking utterly confused as she lifted her head dazedly from her workbook, another girl, Zhao Ying, chimed in, “How would she know if you don’t even know? Nuonuo isn’t into gossip, and don’t scare her—she’s timid.” After saying this, she turned to Xu Yannuo, “It’s okay, Nuonuo, we were just chatting. Don’t be scared, alright? Focus on your studies, and lend us your homework after school.”

With that, the two girls turned back to continue their gossip.

“Did you hear about another thing? Our class is getting a new transfer student today. They came to complete the transfer procedures last Friday, and I heard they’re starting classes today.”

Zhang Qi wasn’t particularly interested in this piece of gossip. “What’s the big deal? At a top school like ours, we get seven or eight transfer students every month.”

Zhao Ying slapped the table, “This one’s different, this one’s especially handsome. I saw him when I went to Teacher Hua’s (our homeroom teacher) office last Friday. Rumor has it he’s a top student. Our principal specifically recruited him from another school.”

Just as Zhao Ying was speaking, a loud “bang bang” sound of a triangle ruler hitting the doorframe came from the classroom’s back door. “Quiet, all of you! Is this study time? Yours is the only class making noise on the entire floor.”

Instantly, the entire class fell silent. Everyone began rummaging through their backpacks for their workbooks in unison, pretending to study. Homeroom teacher Li Linghua walked in holding her triangular ruler. When she reached Xu Yannuo’s side, she noticed the girl’s pale face—still startled by the loud knock on the door frame earlier. Seeing the half-completed “Five-Three” workbook on Xu’s desk, Teacher Li softened her tone with a gentle reassurance, “Don’t be scared. I was scolding them, not you.”

Then, she swept her gaze across the seated students. “Look at Xu Yannuo—she started working quietly as soon as she arrived. Now look at yourselves, never stopping your chatter. Gossiping won’t get you into Tsinghua or Peking University! Alright, line up downstairs—it’s flag-raising time.”

Just after being scolded, this was the most self-conscious highlight moment for the entire class. All the students immediately moved in perfect unison, quietly lowering their heads and lining up to exit the classroom and head downstairs to the playground to form their ranks.

After the flag-raising ceremony, Hua Jie (Flower Sister) went back to the office first and didn’t return to the classroom with the students. By the time she was gone, the classroom had already started buzzing with noise again. That was until Hua Jie, with her dark expression, reappeared at the classroom door. A sharp-eyed student spotted her and let out a frightened “Ah!” Soon, the whole class saw her, and in an instant, silence fell.

Standing at the door, Hua Jie glared, and no one dared to look up. “Go on, keep shouting! Full of energy, aren’t you? Today’s homework is doubled, and P.E. class this afternoon is canceled.”

After that, Hua Jie ignored the mournful faces of the entire class and strode in with full authority, her high heels clicking sharply. Behind her followed a slender, tall boy whose pale complexion almost blended into the white walls of the classroom.

Next, the girls in the class involuntarily widened their eyes and let out soft, breathy exclamations—”So handsome.”—while the atmosphere faintly carried the boys’ dismissive reactions to it.

Among them, the most complex expression belonged to Xu Yannuo.

Because this boy was none other than the fair-faced young man who had witnessed her secret at the alley entrance last week. Though he wore gold-rimmed glasses today, Xu Yannuo couldn’t possibly mistake him—it was definitely him.

Xu Yannuo stared warily at the boy on the podium.

That night had been dark, with no streetlights in the alley. He probably hadn’t gotten a clear look at her. Even if he had, several days had passed—just one brief encounter—so his memory of her face should have faded by now.