Inside the stationery store.

“That’ll be one hundred seventy-three yuan and fifty cents. Cash or mobile payment?”

“Mobile.”

“Then please scan this.”

Shen Xingruo scanned the code and entered the payment amount. However, her fingers were icy cold, and there was no response during the fingerprint verification. After spending some time at the checkout counter, she finally settled the bill and pushed open the glass door.

A gust of wind rushed into her collar, making her feel wet and cold. The figure under the tree was nowhere to be seen.

The words echoed in her mind like a spell, and even now, her thoughts couldn’t focus. Absentmindedly dragging her suitcase, she headed towards Shuxiang Road where Mingli was located.

Shuxiang Road was a narrow and long one-way street lined with evergreen camphor trees on both sides. On the right side of the road was the Mingli campus, where the school playground and basketball court could be seen through the gaps in the fence. On the left were some shops and Mingli’s dormitories.

It was only when she got closer that Shen Xingruo realized that Mingli’s dormitory building was not inside the school but across the street.

With the arrangements made by Lu Shan earlier, the transfer process wasn’t too complicated. In the office of the High School Class Two Politics Group, Shen Xingruo met the new homeroom teacher.

The new homeroom teacher was named Wang Youfu, who looked to be in his forties or fifties, not very tall, and a bit chubby, with a kind and approachable demeanor. He moved a bit slowly and took five minutes to find the forms. He also spoke slowly, never letting go of the thermos, “Don’t worry, here at Mingli, we’re not inferior to Huize No.1 Middle School.”

Shen Xingruo flipped through the stationery she had just bought. …Why were they all pencils?

“I graduated from South City Normal University back then, you know. At that time, it was all state-assigned placements, you understand? I went to Huize first after graduation. Huize No.1 Middle School was a school for children of migrant workers at that time. The faculty and teaching were quite ordinary, and the salary was low. It was only in the past twenty or thirty years, with the support of the Huize government, that it developed quickly.”

Shen Xingruo found a black water-based pen on the desk and began filling out the form. “I’m quite familiar with Huize No.1 Middle School. The current principal there, Shen Zhibo, was assigned to Huize No.1 with me. We used to live in the staff dorms together, and he was next door to me. Can you believe someone with his level of incompetence is now the principal…”

Shen Xingruo: “…”

“The situation at Mingli is different. It has some background. It was founded during the Republic of China era, called the Provincial Higher Secondary School at that time. Over the years, it has produced many academicians and leaders.”

As she filled out the form, Shen Xingruo made a few “Hmm” sounds.

Wang Youfu, unsure if he missed something, held onto his thermos for a while, muttering to himself, “The salary is also high.”

Shen Xingruo’s hand holding the pen paused for a moment. After finishing the form, Wang Youfu took Shen Xingruo to the office at the west end of the corridor.

After completing the procedures, she obtained a form required for enrollment.

Wang Youfu seemed to have some free time and even gestured as if he were going to take her to get school uniforms and dormitory supplies.

Shen Xingruo politely declined, knowing that if she let this homeroom teacher lead the way, she might not even have time for dinner tonight.

After leaving the office, Shen Xingruo first went to the library to collect her school uniform and then proceeded to the dormitory.

The dormitory area at Mingli included connected male and female dormitory buildings arranged in a U-shaped structure, a row of faculty dormitories, and a cafeteria.

When Shen Xingruo arrived at Room 403 on the fourth floor, the door was wide open.

“Jingjing, just wait a moment! I’ll be done copying it soon!” A girl in a pink hoodie was fervently writing at the desk.

“I’m just wearing a coat, take your time writing, it’s okay,” someone responded, their voice seeming to come from the bathroom.

The girl sitting by the door was curling her bangs with a curling iron. Suddenly remembering something, she leaned back and shouted in the direction of the bathroom, “Hey? Ajing, did Wang Youfu say we have to submit the social practice form? I forgot to get it stamped.”

“When I went to see him today, he didn’t mention collecting it, but you’d better get it stamped just in case. He might start collecting them in a few days.”

“The school is annoying. Who goes to do social practice during the New Year? It’s all just formalities!” The girl with the curling iron seemed annoyed and threw the mirror onto the table.

Taking advantage of the lull in conversation, Shen Xingruo knocked on the door.

Ajing, who had just come out of the bathroom, and the girl in the pink hoodie, both turned to look at the door.

“Hello, I’m Shen Xingruo, and I’ll be living here from now on.”

There was a moment of silence in the air.

The three roommates stared at Shen Xingruo for about ten seconds, exchanging looks of confusion and blankness.

“Oh… you’re the new transfer student, right?” The girl who had just come out of the bathroom realized, “I heard Mr. Wang mention it today, almost forgot.”

She hurried forward to welcome the new roommate who had suddenly appeared at the door, apologizing as she introduced herself, “Hello, I’m Zhāi Jiājìng.”

The other two still hadn’t come to their senses, their faces expressing disbelief at the fact that a transfer student had come to their class.

Once Zhāi Jiājìng led Shen Xingruo into the room, the girl in the pink hoodie reluctantly shook off her stunned expression and adjusted her glasses. “Um, hello, I’m Shí Qìn.”

Then came another voice from behind, “Listen.”

Shen Xingruo turned to look.

“Her name is Lǐ Tīng, Tīngzi Lǐ.” Zhāi Jiājìng quickly explained.

Oh, got it.

Shen Xingruo nodded.

While most people might feel awkward in a new environment and with unfamiliar people, Shen Xingruo was not like most people. If anyone was going to feel awkward, it would be the others.

She quietly made her bed and organized her desk.

The three roommates were each engrossed in their activities, yet they couldn’t help stealing glances at her from time to time.

The corner of the blanket stubbornly refused to lay flat, sticking up defiantly, much like the arrogant attitude of that insufferably conceited one from the Lu family who knew nothing of manners.

Shen Xingruo stood for a few seconds, contemplating, then grabbed a stack of books and pressed them firmly on top.

Zhao Jiajing hesitated, then asked, “Um… do you need any help?”

Shen Xingruo instinctively wanted to refuse, but as the words reached her lips, they transformed into a “Thank you.”

It was strange, Shen Xingruo seemed to have a certain allure, standing there with her cool demeanor, making people involuntarily drawn to her.

Within minutes, Shi Qin also set aside her winter vacation homework and took the initiative to help tidy up her desk.

Li Ting didn’t bother to approach, engrossed in her phone, though her eyes occasionally flickered towards the opposite side.

With the assistance of Zhao Jiajing and Shi Qin, Shen Xingruo finally managed to tame the stubborn corner of her blanket.

Just as she straightened up, Pei Yue’s call came in.

Glancing at the caller ID, she stepped out.

Shi Qin leaned her head out to look outside, making sure Shen Xingruo was out of earshot before turning back and sighing, “Shen Xingruo is so stunning! I was completely mesmerized when she walked in earlier!”

Zhao Jiajing chimed in, “She has such a great temperament, like someone who dances.”

Shi Qin agreed, “Exactly! She has this incredibly unique vibe! So ethereal!”

Li Ting scoffed, seemingly uninterested, “You’re exaggerating. I still think Chen Zhu from Class Three is prettier.”

“She’s way prettier than Chen Zhu, come on! I don’t find Chen Zhu appealing at all.” Shi Qin had transformed into a little fan of Shen Xingruo, “Ahhh Jiajing! Should we ask her to join us for dinner? She seems a bit aloof!”

Zhao Jiajing suggested, “Let’s ask her when she gets back.”

Li Ting sighed, adjusted her newly styled bangs, grabbed her bag, and stood up. “I’m heading out.”

Shen Xingruo finished her call and bumped into Li Ting at the staircase.

They exchanged a brief nod, both staying silent.

Li Ting seemed indifferent towards her.

Well, that was understandable, considering Shen Xingruo’s clash with Lu Xingyan from the Lu family.

In the evening, Shen Xingruo, Shi Qin, and Zhai Jiajing had dinner together.

Shi Qin was quite the chatterbox, talking non-stop throughout the meal. Even as they walked back to the dormitory along the campus outskirts, her mouth didn’t cease, covering topics ranging from the living conditions in Mingli Dormitory to the scandal of the former grade leader having an affair with the senior English teacher and getting caught red-handed.

The night breeze carried the laughter and footsteps from inside the school grounds over the protective fence.

“…You wouldn’t believe it! He always had this serious demeanor, like a seasoned party cadre, but he ended up getting involved with the English teacher! Back in freshman year, he used to pick on our class all the time, lecturing us during morning exercises. If it weren’t for this guy in our class…” Shi Qin glanced casually toward the basketball court and suddenly paused, “Hey? Isn’t that Lu Xingyan?”

Zhai Jiajing looked up.

Shi Qin craned her neck, peering through the railing gaps, “It is!”

“Xingruo, see that guy in the black T-shirt dribbling the ball? That’s him,” Shi Qin pointed him out to Shen Xingruo, “Remember when our grade leader accused our class of not exercising properly, and after the lecture, he confronted the grade leader? Our classmates got all riled up, throwing their uniforms around, and demanding the grade leader demonstrate first. It almost escalated into a fight with the PE teacher who came to support the grade leader!”

Shen Xingruo imagined the scene of the chickens pecking at each other but didn’t say anything, nor did she show much expression.

“After that incident, the grade leader realized our class wasn’t to be messed with. Oh, and Lu Xingyan… that guy, he’s also in Class One. He’s quite famous in our school. I was in the same class as him in freshman year, and back then, many girls liked him.”

Shen Xingruo asked, “What about you?”

Shi Qin replied, “Me? He’s not my type.”

Shen Xingruo glanced at her.

Although wearing glasses, she had a sharp gaze.

Shi Qin continued, “Last semester when we moved to Build Two, some freshmen from Class One would come over and pretend to pass by our classroom. It was ridiculous. If they just wanted to see a handsome guy, fine, but they always had to use the restroom too, making us wait in line during breaks!”

Zhai Jiajing remained silent for a while, then suddenly asked, “Xingruo, do you want to go inside the school and take a look?”

“No need—”

Before Shen Xingruo could finish, there was a sudden “bang” beside her!

The basketball bounced off her arm, soared three feet high, bounced a few times, and then rolled under a tree, playing dead.

Both Zhai Jiajing and Shi Qin were startled!

Xu Chengzhou exclaimed, “Damn, you threw the ball outside the school! Did you take a blue pill or something?”

Lu Xingyan didn’t respond, he adjusted his headband, panting, and looked outside the protective fence.

The figure outside seemed familiar.

A guy squinted and asked, “Did it just drop under the tree?”

The sky was dimming, and the basketball court’s floodlights provided ample illumination from the outside, making it clear to see in, but rather blurry when looking out.

Someone quickly chimed in, “Seems like it. There are a few girls over there. Just ask them to throw it in.”

So, the guys waved towards the outer school wall, shouting, “Hey, ladies! Can you help us out? Throw the ball in!”

Zhai Jiajing instinctively went to pick up the basketball under the tree.

The gaps in the protective fence were too narrow to fit the ball through. She glanced at the height of the wall and hesitated, “How are we going to throw it over…”

Shi Qin suggested, “Just toss it up… oh well, you don’t seem like someone good at throwing. Give it to me, give it to me, I’ll do it.”

But before Shi Qin could reach out, Shen Xingruo took the ball from Zhai Jiajing’s hand and then simply tossed it—

Into the trash can.

Zhai Jiajing and Shi Qin were both stunned.

“This…”

“Let’s go.” Shen Xingruo’s expression remained unchanged.