On the first day of school, the campus of Wenjing Academy was bustling with activity, welcome banners fluttering in the wind, crowds of people jostling and chattering—it was lively and noisy.
At the entrance, rows of tables were set up, each with a large umbrella for shade, allowing new students to register by class.
Then the teachers would tell them where their classroom was, and the students would go in on their own to find seats.
Since Wu Chun was the principal’s daughter, she didn’t need to register.
She entered with Zheng Yang and said, “Yangyang, save me a seat in the classroom. I have to go see my dad.”
She was about to leave when Zheng Yang quickly asked, “Where do you want to sit? By the window or…”
“Just next to you!”
Zheng Yang smiled, found the registration table for Class 3, Grade 10, and handed over her admission letter and medical report.
A refined male teacher in glasses sat behind the table.
A senior volunteer beside him introduced Zheng Yang: “This is your homeroom teacher, Mr. Li.”
Zheng Yang nodded, looking at Mr. Li, who seemed to be in his early thirties.
A mischievous thought crossed her mind: ‘Hmph, little bro!’
But she still bowed politely and said, “Hello, Mr. Li!”
Mr. Li looked at the girl in her plain sportswear and greeted her warmly, “Welcome, new student! What’s your name?”
“Zheng Yang… oh, Zheng Yangyang.”
“Mhm, Student Zheng Yangyang…”
Mr. Li pointed at the sign-in sheet.
“Please sign here.”
‘Wow, are all teachers at a prestigious school this polite?’
Zheng Yang was used to the bossy attitudes of her previous teachers and superiors, so this was a pleasant surprise.
Zheng Yang signed her name.
Mr. Li picked up the sheet, glanced at it, then looked up at her and smiled, “Your handwriting is very mature, very strong—and of course, very pretty, just like you!”
“Wow, teacher, don’t say that! I can’t handle compliments!”
Zheng Yang covered her mouth and laughed.
“Hehe. Our classroom is in the main teaching building, on the first floor, turn left at the hall, third room. Go find a seat, and I’ll be back when I’m done here.”
“Okay, thanks, Mr. Li!”
Mr. Li watched Zheng Yang walk away—the cheap sportswear, the simple ponytail, the big black backpack…
He had taught at Wenjing Academy for a few years.
The students here were almost all from wealthy or influential families, especially the cute and pretty girls, who were all pampered like little princesses.
He rarely saw anyone as… plain as her.
Plus, her politeness and handwriting clearly showed strict upbringing and training.
Mr. Li decided that no matter her family background, she must be a strong, intelligent, and beautiful girl inside.
“Zheng Yangyang, I’ll remember you…”
The students who registered later were also polite, but none left as deep an impression on Mr. Li as Zheng Yang had.
What he didn’t expect was that this Zheng Yangyang would deepen that impression almost every single time.
Class 3, Grade 10 had a total of 35 students, all present.
Zheng Yang and Wu Chun sat in the third row by the window, holding hands, listening to their homeroom teacher introduce himself:
“Good morning, class. My name is Li Chuandao, and I’m your homeroom teacher…”
Wu Chun and Zheng Yang whispered to each other while squeezing each other’s soft little hands.
Mr. Li could see them clearly from the front.
“Next, I’d like students to come up to the podium and introduce yourselves…”
“Huh? We have to introduce ourselves?”
Zheng Yang ducked her head and whispered to Wu Chun.
Before Wu Chun could respond, Mr. Li fixed his gaze on Zheng Yang’s direction.
“Third row by the window, the girl who’s ducking down! You first!”
“Ah, teacher’s calling you!”
Wu Chun quickly nudged the slow-reacting Zheng Yang.
“What? Shouldn’t it start from the first row?”
Zheng Yang grimaced and turned to look at Mr. Li.
Mr. Li pushed up his glasses and nodded, then faced the class.
“Come on, everyone, give her a round of applause!”
Laughter and applause erupted together.
Somehow, Zheng Yang felt her old soul’s energy kick in.
She stood up hesitantly and shuffled slowly to the podium.
‘Oh, come on! They’re just a bunch of kids, even the teacher is a little bro.
What’s there to be nervous about!’
She tried to convince herself, but when she looked up, 35 pairs of eyes were all staring at her.
Her legs refused to obey, trembling behind the lectern.
‘Has my 38-year-old cultivation really failed? Do I have to start training again from age 15?’
After that doubt flashed through her mind, she had no choice but to swallow her saliva and open her little mouth:
“Hello everyone, my name is Zheng Yang, female, age 15…”
The moment she said that, the whole class burst out laughing.
Zheng Yang realized belatedly that this was a high school classroom—no need to state gender and age…
Mr. Li couldn’t hold it in either.
He covered his glasses with his hand and laughed, “Are you at a talent show, or did a cop catch you and you’re reporting your info?”
More laughter.
Zheng Yang obediently stood with her head down, her lips moving, her mind racing: ‘What should I say… what else can I say?’
Mr. Li sensed the awkward girl’s predicament and prompted, “Tell us which middle school you graduated from, what you like to do, your hobbies, and your favorite subject.”
‘This… I didn’t go to middle school. It’s not good to lie. Looks like Mr. Li doesn’t know my background yet. I’ll just talk about hobbies…’
“I… I usually like doing chores…”
“HAHAHAHA! Doing chores!”
A few boys led the laughter, and the whole class joined in.
Mr. Li raised his hands to quiet everyone.
“What’s wrong with doing chores? That’s a sign of family responsibility! What are you laughing at? The louder you laugh, the less you do chores!”
That was like a mass silence spell from Mr. Li. No one wanted to admit they didn’t do chores, so they immediately shut up.
Zheng Yang shot Mr. Li a grateful look, then tried to sneak back to her seat.
But Mr. Li asked again, “Which middle school did you graduate from?”
‘Sigh, Mr. Li, why are you so persistent? There are still over thirty classmates behind me. Why won’t you let me go? Middle school… how do I explain? Even if I mention my old one, that school was merged. Should I say I didn’t go to middle school and studied on my own for the exams?’
Zheng Yang scratched her head.
“I… I forgot…”
“Pfft!”
How could anyone forget which middle school they went to?
Even the girls couldn’t help it this time, but out of respect for Mr. Li, they silently snorted out laughs instead of laughing out loud.
However, a clear, disdainful “Hmph” reached Zheng Yang’s ears.
She followed the sound and saw a pretty girl with long, loose hair.
When their eyes met, the girl looked away.
But Zheng Yang’s life experience wasn’t for nothing—she could clearly read the expression on that girl’s face:
“What’s with the act? Either you’re too embarrassed about your country middle school, or you’re just trying to grab attention.”
Mr. Li had never in all his years heard of a student forgetting their own middle school.
He also heard that sharp, dismissive sound.
But he didn’t think Zheng Yang was lying on purpose; maybe she had some difficulty.
“Alright, you can go down. After all that talk, everyone only remembers your name is Zheng Yang…”
Mr. Li waved his right hand and looked at the roster in his left.
“No, you didn’t even say your name right. It’s Zheng Yangyang, two ‘yangs.’ You left one out.”
High school freshmen didn’t have very high humor thresholds, and Mr. Li’s joke sparked another round of laughter.
Zheng Yang returned to her seat, saw Wu Chun’s face already red from holding back laughter, and felt so embarrassed she buried her face in her arms, giggling quietly.
‘Who would have thought I’d make such a fool of myself just during introductions… How hard is this going to be from now on…’
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