Introductions

After gaokao had ended and the entire year three students had relaxed, the rest of summer vacation was spent swimmingly. Jiang Shen made it a point to laze around even further and refused to go out despite several protests from her friends.

When September hit and school had officially started, there was a huge ruckus at the front gate, prompting the other students to take a look.

Shi Fen came with the others, in exception to Jiang Shen who liked to come at the last minute.

"What do you think the commotion is about?" A beautiful tall girl curiously asked as she stood on her tippy toes to get a good view.

"Of course it's the transfer student!" another girl with a curvaceous figure exclaimed while she pulled out her phone for some gossip.

"What's the big deal about the transferee anyways? I'm sure that i'm much more handsome than he is," Cheng Muyi arrogantly said as he caressed his handsome face.

In response, he received a prompt elbow to his side. "You? Handsome? Where? How come I don't see it?" A small petite girl sneered.

Cheng Muyi wanted to cry out injustice but bitterly smiled. "Okay, I got too ahead of myself there. Sheng Sheng, don't be angry anymore!" he coaxed the petite girl, who only responded with a small harrumph and walked away.

Shi Fen and the gang walked with her, leaving Cheng Muyi behind. "Ah? Wait for me...!"

They went to the east gate where there were significantly less people and stopped beneath an oak tree for shade. The students were still crowding around the gate, which prompted the security guards to take action to stop incoming traffic.

Ju Sheng couldn't help but laugh at the spectacle. "If Shen was here, what'd you think her reaction would be."

"Ignorance is bliss!" Shi Fen said a matter of factly.

All of them looked at each other and nodded understandably. Jiang Shen was the type of person to ignore gossip and hype even if it was right in front of her.

At the front gate.

Yang Mu, who was dressed neatly in his uniform and a knitted vest on top, had a pale expression on his face when the guards managed to disperse the crowds. Although he wasn't harassed and no one went near him, the loud whispers and stares didn't go unnoticed by him.

Even when he studied abroad, he had never been subjected to such blatant curiosity and admiration. Being in his homeland suddenly felt unfamiliar.

But that was understandable. This period of time was when a boy would undergo drastic changes. Similar to when a girl changes eighteen times to womanhood.

While the crowd had dispersed, Mo Ran and Li Er took the chance to walk up to him.

"I guess I underestimated the transferee's reputation!" Mo Ran laughed. "It seems that there's going to be a new idol in school."

Yang Mu frowned. "Please don't say that. I have no interest being the center of attention."

"But the girl you're interested in is." Mo Ran tutted. At the same time another burst of whispers erupted in the crowd. "Speak of the devil."

By coincidence, Jiang Shen strode through the front gate with a beanie on her head and earphones plugged in. She looked pretty and refreshing, like a breathe of fresh air. Although she wasn't an outstanding beauty and couldn't be compared to the status of the flowers of the Institute, her reputation as the sole model student in the Liberal Arts Department was in no way inferior.

Oblivious to the stares around her, she approached a small group underneath the oak tree and greeted them intimately.

Yang Mu's gaze followed her figure, which was caught by Shi Fen who narrowed his eyes and glared at him.

He bitterly laughed. It wasn't like he had an ulterior motive. Even a mere glance made her friend angry. In addition to her popularity, how on earth was he going to approach her? Much less befriend her?

And as if sensing his thoughts, Mo Ran patted his shoulder comfortingly and said, "Don't worry too much about her reputation. You'll find it very easy to approach her. Didn't you pick Liberal Arts? Then you'll for sure be classmates with her."

"How did you know?"

"Because the school likes to classify the students. From the brightest to the... well, not so bright ones."

Despite the Hua Institute's lax allowance of students, there was still a need to groom potential talents, and so the hierarchy of classes was born. Made to spark competitiveness among the students. But in Mo Ran's opinion, it was just an excuse to separate the talented from the dull ones.

"No worries. The list of classes will naturally be displayed on the notice board outside each respective departments. If you're not sure you've made it to Class A, then go there."

Yang Mu nodded. Li Er and Mo Ran were from the ABM department so after informing him of other things to take note of, they left.

His strides were long and soon he reached the Liberal Arts Department. There were significantly less students around compared to the other departments and it even felt spacious when he considered the three story building.

Posted on the notice board were the list of classes. There were only four classes in the Liberal Arts Department, a stark contrast to the six in the others. And that was considering that the classes were packed with students. Here, the students were balanced.

"Are you thinking about how empty our department feels?"

A gentle voice rang beside him as he looked at her in surprise.

"Yes."

"That's because nobody here really wants to study the human arts. A whole lot of them are crowded at the ABM department. Mostly because the students here are young masters and mistresses from affluent families," Jiang Shen said a matter of factly.

"Why are you even here?" Surprisingly enough, Shi Fen was in the same department as the two of them. He developed an interest in linguistics as he grew up under the influence of his family's career.

Yang Mu felt the hostility and smiled helplessly. "I've had an interest in Philosophy since Year One."

Jiang Shen frowned at Shi Fen's hostility and punched his shoulder. "Stop being rude. What did he even do to you?"

Shi Fen's eyes darted at Yang Mu, as if he could see his plans. 'I know what you're trying to do. If you're thinking of taking advantage of Jiang Shen, i'll beat you up,' his eyes seemed to say.

Yang Mu calmly returned the look. 'I don't have any ulterior motives. I'm just curious,' he replied back.

Shi Fen narrowed his eyes and looked away. Crossing his arms he said, "Since we're going to be schoolmates from now on... I'm Shi Fen," he begrudgingly introduced himself.

"I'm Yang Mu," he greeted.

"Well, you already know me," Jiang Shen said.

Shi Fen's eyes widened. "How?"

"Oh, I didn't tell you?" Jiang Shen had let it slip her mind when she got home. She was too preoccupied organizing the rest of the groceries that she soon forgot about it. "We met at the supermarket during summer break."