Chapter 16

Jin Yuchuan’s brows knit with a flicker of impatience; his dark eyes swept across the room, his profile sharp and cold.

Terrified, Ling Qiao immediately shut his mouth and buried his head in his food. Though the ingredients were not yet cooked, he pretended to be busy tending to the pot.

Jin Yuchuan, rendered speechless, pointed at him and introduced him to Ye Chunxi, "From now on, he will follow you whenever you go out to ensure your protection."

Ye Chunxi froze for a moment. "Him? Protecting me?"

Wasn't he on excellent terms with her brother? Yet, looking at him now, he seemed more like a subordinate.

Jin Yuchuan nodded. "He is highly skilled. With him protecting you, I can rest easy."

Learning that this was a special arrangement made by her brother, Ye Chunxi felt a secret delight.

Housekeeper Kong walked over. "Young Master, everything is ready. Why not eat a little before you go?"

Jin Yuchuan caught a whiff of the air and found the pungent aroma quite disagreeable. Suddenly, his sleeve was tugged. He lowered his gaze to see Ye Chunxi gently pinching the hem of his garment, swaying it ever so slightly.

"Brother, your health is important. Please stay and eat a little before heading to work."

Her voice was sweet and obedient, a stark contrast to her naturally aloof temperament, yet it was surprisingly pleasant to hear. Jin Yuchuan wordlessly withdrew his hand and looked away.

"Very well."

He sat down beside Ye Chunxi, and a servant promptly brought him a bowl and chopsticks. Jin Yuchuan did not eat much; after just a few bites, he departed.

Ye Chunxi stood before the pavilion to see him off, the sound of Ling Qiao clicking his tongue reaching her ears.

"Your words carry real weight, little sister. You actually managed to make Master Jin condescend to eat something he finds repulsive."

She gazed at Jin Yuchuan’s retreating figure, her eyelashes lowered, lost in thought. As Ling Qiao’s teasing continued, Ye Chunxi paused in her motions of swirling tripe in the pot and glanced at Jin Yuchuan. He possessed such a cold, detached air that one would instinctively assume he wouldn’t touch such food.

Jin Yuchuan cast a faint glance at Ling Qiao. That single look was enough to make Ling Qiao settle down and bury his head in his meal. Watching this, Ye Chunxi marveled for the umpteenth time at the sheer sense of oppression he exuded.

When Jin Yuchuan looked over, she did not panic, meeting his gaze directly. Less than two seconds later, remembering the tripe still in the pot, she hurriedly lifted her chopsticks to retrieve it.

"I have arranged for you to attend Hengde High School. Prepare yourself; you start in three days," the man said, his expression indifferent.

School?

Hearing this, Ye Chunxi’s first reaction was confusion. Still, given her age, she should indeed be in high school.

"In three days, go directly to the second-year elite class to report. Housekeeper Kong will handle the paperwork for you."

Ling Qiao’s eyes widened. "You’re putting her directly into the elite class?!"

What was Hengde High School? It was the finest high school in Jin City, having held a top-five national ranking for years. The elite class possessed the best resources in the entire grade and was a training ground specifically for Beijing University. Getting into that class was essentially having one foot inside the university gates.

Could Jin Yuchuan just arrange that? Wasn't the competition in the elite class fierce, with thousands vying for fifty spots? Even if Ye Chunxi was a prodigy who had become a celebrated divine doctor at seventeen, judging by the timeline of her alias, Bai Lan, she had been out of school for over a year. Could she keep up in the elite class?

Ling Qiao couldn't help but worry. Jin Yuchuan, however, treated it as a trivial matter. "If she doesn't rank in the top fifty during the monthly exam, she can simply leave the elite class."

Ling Qiao was speechless. *You truly aren't worried about the backlash she'll face when she gets in.* So many people broke their necks trying to get into that class, and if Ye Chunxi just waltzed in, the students there would be the first to reject her.

Ye Chunxi remained calm, seemingly unaware of the gravity of the situation. She took a sip of iced cola, saw a piece of lamb perfectly cooked in the pot, and turned to Jin Yuchuan.

"Would Brother like to try some?"

Jin Yuchuan had already finished his meal, but the spicy, savory aroma teased his senses. His throat moved, and he gave a faint nod. "Mm."

Ye Chunxi placed the piece of lamb she had retrieved into the bowl before Jin Yuchuan.

***

Three days later. Hengde High School.

Ye Chunxi arrived in the afternoon. It was class time, so the campus was quiet, save for a few classes having physical education on the sports field. With her schoolbag strap over one shoulder, she followed Housekeeper Kong, walking unhurriedly toward the interior of the campus.

Passing by the bustling sports field, she glanced over. Her eyes landed on the students in their blue-and-white uniforms. The thought that she would soon have to wear one filled her with an inexplicable sense of resistance.

A few scattered students loitering nearby noticed Ye Chunxi and froze.

The girl wore simple trousers and a top. Her legs were long and straight, and her ponytail was tied high, looking clean and sharp. Every step she took carried an imposing presence, making people hesitant to approach.

The admission matters had already been arranged by Jin Yuchuan. Housekeeper Kong led her directly to the homeroom teacher of the elite class—a woman surnamed Lin, who appeared to be in her thirties.

Teacher Lin looked at Ye Chunxi and frowned. The elite class was always comprised of the top students of each grade, and Teacher Lin was firmly opposed to the idea of a transfer student being inserted into the class. The fifty spots were fixed; Ye Chunxi’s arrival meant that the student ranked fiftieth would be forced into the experimental class. The principal had specifically instructed her to pay attention to this transfer student, which only served to make Teacher Lin more resentful.

However, since this student had powerful backing, there was nothing she could do. If Ye Chunxi could rank in the top fifty in the next monthly exam, she would have no complaints. If not, she could just get out of the elite class. If someone wasn't up to the task, they shouldn't occupy such high-quality resources.

Suppressing her impatience, Teacher Lin pointed to the textbooks and uniform on the desk. "Take these and follow me to the classroom."

There were many textbooks for the second year of high school. Ye Chunxi took her bag off her shoulder, but it was nearly full after packing only half of them. She zipped it up, slung it on, and prepared to carry the rest, but Housekeeper Kong stepped in.

"Miss Ye, let me handle these."

There were too many books, so Ye Chunxi didn't refuse. She picked up the uniform and prepared to follow Teacher Lin, only to see the teacher scan her up and down with a look of disdain. "Can't you carry them yourself?"

The old man beside her looked to be in his forties, and yet she was letting him carry her things? Was this the breeding of a wealthy family?

Housekeeper Kong frowned upon hearing this. He glanced at Ye Chunxi, but seeing that she was unbothered, he said nothing.

It was currently a break between classes, but the elite class remained full. The students who left only did so to use the restroom or fetch water, returning quickly. Except for one seat. That seat was in the most inconspicuous corner of the classroom, right next to the back door, with a trash can behind it. Students passing by the back row couldn't help but notice it.

"Did Han Qiao really transfer to the experimental class?"

"Her things are all gone; it must be true."

"I heard there’s a transfer student. Her family background is quite formidable; she was arranged to join our class the moment she came to Hengde."

"Is having money so great? If I were her, I’d be too embarrassed to stay in the elite class."