Chapter 1: Transferring Schools

“You’re transferring schools?”

“Yes.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, a fist came hurtling toward her, but Qiao Xi didn’t even blink. The fist didn’t land on her face, but slammed into the wall behind her instead.

“Why?” Gu Heng asked coldly, ignoring his scraped hand.

“You don’t need to know,” Qiao Xi replied indifferently.

Gu Heng stared at her for two seconds, then turned and walked out.

“How did it go, Gu?” Several people waiting outside gathered around him.

“Qiu Qiu, Ning Yi, you’ll transfer schools with Qiao Xi,” Gu Heng said in a low voice.

“Alright.”

“No.”

Their voices overlapped, but Dan Qiu Qiu agreed readily, while Duanmu Ning Yi refused flatly.

Gu Heng turned his gaze on Duanmu Ning Yi, his eyes darkening.

“There’s no need,” Qiao Xi walked over, her expression calm.

Everyone looked at her, each with their own thoughts.

Gu Heng’s handsome face was tense as he turned and left in anger.

As Qiao Xi watched him walk away and was about to look elsewhere, a motorcycle approached.

Braking sharply, Leng Xinmeng swung down from the bike with effortless cool and strode straight toward Qiao Xi. Suddenly, she threw a punch. Qiao Xi sidestepped, and Leng Xinmeng spun around, her elbow aiming for Qiao Xi’s forehead. Qiao Xi raised her arm to block, and as Leng Xinmeng swept a leg toward her, Qiao Xi seized the chance to press down on Leng Xinmeng’s shoulder and vaulted away.

“Beautiful!” Dan Qiu Qiu couldn’t help but exclaim.

But Leng Xinmeng quickly grabbed Qiao Xi’s wrist, closing in fast. In that instant, Qiao Xi moved to the side, dodging an over-the-shoulder throw and catching Leng Xinmeng’s hand instead. Leng Xinmeng, however, hooked her leg around Qiao Xi’s, forcing them both into a half-crouch on the ground, locked in a tense stalemate.

“Why!” Leng Xinmeng demanded, her tone fiery.

“There’s no reason,” Qiao Xi replied, still looking calm.

Clearly dissatisfied with this answer, Leng Xinmeng frowned and turned to the others.

“Where’s Gu Heng?”

“He just left,” Dan Qiu Qiu answered.

“That bastard!” Leng Xinmeng muttered, letting go of Qiao Xi.

“Once I’m gone, you’ll be the boss.”

“Who wants that?”

“As you wish.” Qiao Xi turned and walked away.

–––––

It was not yet time for class, and the art studio was empty except for Ou Ya.

Through the window, several red maples glowed brilliantly. A gentle breeze sent a few leaves drifting down.

His movements with the brush were elegant, each stroke bringing the painting on the easel closer to completion.

Glancing outside again, he saw a hand catch a falling maple leaf. Only then did Ou Ya notice someone had walked beneath the tree, head slightly lowered, as if contemplating the leaf in their palm.

Suddenly, someone burst into the art studio. “Vice president, Ji Niansheng is about to get into another fight.”

Ou Ya didn’t even look up, calmly continuing his painting. “Take a picture and give it to the president later.”

“Um…” The boy hesitated, looking troubled.

Ou Ya turned to him, his tone unchanged. “Go on.”

“Alright.” The boy nodded and ran out.

Ou Ya returned to his painting. Now, a striking profile had appeared in the unfinished work.

“These are your textbooks and school uniform. You’ll have math, Chinese, and physics this morning. I’ll take you to your class in a moment,” the teacher explained simply.

Qiao Xi put the textbooks and uniform into her backpack, keeping only the books she needed immediately in her arms.

Following the teacher to Class Three, Grade Two, her expression remained serene.

“Today, we have a new student joining us—Qiao Xi. I hope you’ll all get along with her,” the teacher announced to the class before turning to Qiao Xi. “For now, you can sit in the second-to-last seat in the second row.”