Chapter 1 Long Time No See
It was the end of summer, and at nine in the morning the sunlight enveloped the earth in warmth, the heat hovering over the bare and uncovered playground.
Today, the senior year at Dongzhi No. 1 High School began classes ahead of schedule.
Shen Chaoxi felt a bit dizzy early in the morning, changed into her white and blue uniform, and stood at the end of the line.
She was tall and slender, with skin too pale, her features delicately beautiful with a hint of enchantment. She did not wish to become the focus among the many students below, and always kept her eyes downcast.
"Hey! Do you see that tall, thin girl in the back row of class nine... tsk tsk, with that look, even the school beauty has to step aside!"
"I can't see her face clearly, but her skin is really white!"
...
Even so, the nearby whispers still made their way to her ears.
Last school year, Principal Han's humorous and witty remarks from the lectern, temporarily set up against a tall ginkgo tree, elicited soft laughter from time to time.
"...In all of Shangjing City, our Dongzhi No. 1 High School has a hundred-year history, from elementary to the transition to high school. In the past ten years, the university entrance exam admission rate has consistently held first place!..."
This Principal Han, who talked eloquently, was over fifty but had a head full of silver hair. He had recruited Shen Chaoxi here just one week before the school started.
That day, Uncle Yao Yuan, holding big and small packages of gifts, brought the well-behaved and cleverly dressed Shen Chaoxi, in a black and white striped shirt and washed-out jeans, who kept her head lowered and followed behind, into the faculty housing complex of the school.
"Uncle Han, I know it's tough to get into Dongzhi No. 1, but we had no choice, my mom's in the hospital, and the little sister has had a change of circumstances at home. The child is truly pitiful, and she's willing to work hard; otherwise, even with thick skin, I wouldn't dare ask you to make an exception!"
Uncle Yao Yuan humbled himself, and Principal Han was inevitably moved.
Seeing an old colleague in his late years fallen into such a dire predicament, he couldn't bear not to lend a hand!
"...The class she is assigned to is a bit special, but as long as she's willing to work hard, she can get into a good university no matter where she studies!"
A special class?
Shen Chaoxi vaguely remembered these words, but she hadn't understood what this "special" meant until now.
There were originally eight senior classes set up according to academic performance, from one to eight.
Class nine was specially recruited!
Shen Chaoxi raised her eyes slightly, looking towards the troops standing in a unique and crooked stance.
A class of nineteen people, all in white and blue uniforms—the only signs of their status lay at their feet.
Aside from her, even the least of them wore limited edition domestic brand-name sports shoes.
The specially recruited class nine consisted entirely of children from wealthy families!
As time passed, the sunlight cast white halos across the ground, and the heat continued to rise. The students standing on the playground began to show signs of restlessness, especially class nine, which had formed a serpentine line!
Shen Chaoxi's thick lashes cast downwards, covering her slightly upturned eyes. She appeared well-behaved but was on the verge of falling asleep.
Suddenly, the bare back of her hand felt a cool touch, like a friction between skins; Shen Chaoxi fluttered her lashes and shifted her feet to one side.
Within a second, her bare leg felt fabric brush against it, carrying a ticklish sensation.
Shen Chaoxi's closed eyes opened slightly to a slit.
What caught her gaze were the pale white, high-quality casual trousers beside her, and the ultra-clean custom leather shoes partly hidden beneath the trouser cuffs.
Lifting her lashes a little higher, she followed the sharp crease of the trousers upwards, to a body-hugging, loose-fit sports shirt made of the same high-quality fabric.
The left hand tucked into the pocket, with the wrist extending to the entire arm, the skin cold and white, firm, and shapely, with the wristwatch's blue light glistening faintly.
This person was surrounded by a faint scent of wood and grass—not overpowering but refreshing.
When that clear-cut, extraordinarily handsome face came into view, Shen Chaoxi's breathing paused for a half-beat!
Unexpectedly, she saw him here again!
This was their third meeting!
Feeling the astonished gaze coming from beside him, the man slightly turned his face, his deep and cold black eyes meeting the gaze.
In the depths of those cold eyes was a trace of a roguish smile. His thin lips slightly curved up, tilting his chin with a charm that bewitched all onlookers.
A low and indifferent voice arose by Shen Chaoxi's ear.
"Long time no see!"
Shen Chaoxi felt the warmth around her suddenly fade away.
Looking at him for a few seconds was already her limit.
As her gaze shifted away, the principal's speech in the center of the stage was drawing to a close.
"Next, let me introduce to everyone with great honor a new teacher who has joined the senior year. He is Teacher Shang Jianghan. Teacher Shang will be taking over physical education classes for classes six and nine and will also assume the role of senior year Discipline Director. Let us welcome him with a warm round of applause!"
The principal's overly enthusiastic introduction seemed to only elicit a sparse smattering of applause.
"This year our senior class has hired seven or eight senior teachers, and they were just mentioned in passing. Is a PE teacher really worth all this fuss? Such a grand introduction!"
"Exactly, he's probably another untouchable from a powerful connection!"
"Ha! As if it matters whether senior year even has PE. The only reason they appointed him must be to give him an easy job, besides..."
The disdain in the murmurs abruptly ceased the moment Shang Jianghan stood at the podium.
Shang Jianghan strode onto the stage with a relaxed and expansive posture, his hands in his pockets, ascending step by step as if a king walked within an aura of light.
"Damn!"
"Oh my god!"
"He's so handsome... right!"
"Hey! Stop embarrassing yourself, wipe that drool off your face!"
At that moment, a student shouted out a welcome to Teacher Shang, and the previously sparse claps suddenly thundered across the entire school campus.
**
After the mobilization meeting ended, and new semester textbooks had been collected back in the classroom, many students had gradually proceeded to the cafeteria for lunch.
Shen Chaoxi was not in a hurry. She chose a seat in the last row, straightened her books, sat down, and began writing an application on a piece of white paper.
Ten minutes later, she knocked on the door of the Discipline Office in the administrative building, carrying her commuting application.
A striking yellow metal sign was affixed to the upper right corner of the lead-colored solid wood door, with the words "Discipline Office" shining brightly, clearly a newly made sign.
"Come in!"
Upon hearing the response, Shen Chaoxi opened the door and walked in.
Expecting a standard teaching office, she had glanced at the exterior and thought it must be quite spacious, but what she saw upon entering was altogether different.
This was not merely an office filled with files and various books and equipment; it was undeniably a luxurious CEO's office!
High-end office furniture, state-of-the-art equipment, and that series of seemingly expensive black leather sofas, together with an antique tea station entertainment area.
Bewildered by the interior layout, Shen Chaoxi temporarily forgot about the figure leaning against the door, seated on the black leather office chair.
Shang Jianghan turned around, his clear brow slightly raised, his playful black eyes scrutinizing the girl dressed as a student standing at the door.
She was around 170 centimeters tall, slender yet well-figured. The white and blue summer school uniform seemed overly fitted on her, accentuating her slim waist and showcasing the length of her legs with the skirt that ended just above the knee.
Looking upwards, a V-neck t-shirt framed her neck, and the distinct collarbones peeked through at the center.
The girl retracted her inquisitive gaze only to meet those captivating eyes as she turned around.