The vague fondness for the transfer student was ultimately just like looking at flowers through the mist.
Shen Yao didn’t charge towards the windmill as Cheng Cheng had suggested.
He thought this ambiguous emotion would eventually fade with time, but fate had other plans, and Shen Yao’s life quietly underwent a drastic change at a random moment.
On this day, Shen Yao was resting his head on his desk after class, pretending to nap, when he heard students’ discussions from the corridor.
Since Qiao Yunxue had transferred in a week ago, she had become the hot topic of the school, and the gossip surrounding her never ceased.
There were two reasons.
First was her behavior at school.
She didn’t seem like she was here to study, but more like she was on vacation.
Every day, after arriving at school, she ignored classes, didn’t do homework, just hung her backpack on the seat, put on headphones, and played with a game console as if no one else existed.
Unlike the Japanese machine in Shen Yao’s house, which could only play Tetris and Submarine Battle, Qiao Yunxue’s handheld had a large screen filled with dazzling colors.
Predictably, but understandably, the teachers didn’t scold her either.
Most of the time, they simply acted as if she didn’t exist.
Besides her complete lack of academic motivation, she barely interacted with classmates.
She played games during class, slept at her desk when tired, and left with her bag right after school, as if living in her own world.
Naturally, such a unique Qiao Yunxue became the subject of endless gossip.
Of course, the main reason was still Qiao Yunxue’s background.
As some busybodies exercised their skills, her background was gradually dug up.
Her wealthy father, who ran earthwork and freight businesses, was actually the least significant part of her story.
Rumor had it Qiao Yunxue had transferred schools seven times already, never staying more than half a month, sometimes only three days, before being advised to leave due to “certain issues.”
In some people’s words, Qiao Yunxue was a problem student among problem students.
Shen Yao’s ears twitched, picking up every word from the corridor.
“Did you know? Qiao Xue has a mental illness… they say it’s delusional disorder, that’s why other schools expelled her!”
“Mental illness? Now that you mention it, she does act pretty weird.”
“Exactly. Her dad couldn’t take it anymore, so he sent her back to his hometown to go to school here.”
“What is she hallucinating about?”
“How should I know… I just heard it from my cousin’s friend’s younger brother.”
Mental illness?
Shen Yao tilted his head slightly, peeking through a narrow gap at Qiao Yunxue, who was sitting in the back row playing games alone.
Her skin was fair and delicate, her red hair was strikingly beautiful—could someone this lovely really be mentally ill?
Heaven was too “fair.”
At that moment, the homeroom teacher walked in and called out, “Shen Yao, come out for a moment.”
The classmates looked at Shen Yao with surprise and pity.
For students, being singled out by the homeroom teacher was never a good thing.
Shen Yao responded and quickly stood up, walking to the teacher.
The teacher handed him a stack of handouts.
“Shen Yao, could you do me a favor and print fifty copies of these for the next Public Lesson?”
Shen Yao was the Study Committee Member in the class, so the teacher called his name.
Shen Yao let out a sigh of relief, flipping through the handouts casually.
“I’ll go print them at the office.”
The teacher stopped him.
“Wait, the school’s printers are all broken and under repair. The technician probably won’t arrive until tomorrow.”
Shen Yao was stunned.
Their school only had three printers, one for each grade.
Print Shops seemed to exist only in the city center… Was the teacher asking him to go all the way to the city’s Print Shop?
The teacher continued, “I checked—Qiao Yunxue’s family has a copier at home too. I just spoke with Qiao Sir on the phone. After school, go to the Qiao Family on your way home and print fifty handouts. Bring them tomorrow morning. Thank you, Shen Yao.”
Shen Yao stared at the teacher’s back, not quite processing what had happened.
Was he really being asked to go to Qiao Yunxue’s house?
He turned to look at Qiao Yunxue in the corner, isolated from the rest of the class, feeling both excitement and anxiety.
Shen Yao suppressed the restless thoughts of adolescence and returned to his seat.
Lunch time.
Shen Yao carried his meal tray and heard Cheng Cheng calling, “Come on, Shen Yao, sit here, come.”
He followed the voice and saw Cheng Cheng sitting with her girlfriends, while across from her were three upperclassmen boys.
Shen Yao immediately understood her intentions, and naturally sat beside Cheng Cheng with his tray.
“Why are you here so early today?”
Cheng Cheng smiled, her eyes crinkling.
“People need food, or they get hungry.”
The three boys across the table, realizing Cheng Cheng wasn’t interested, awkwardly picked up their trays and moved elsewhere.
After they left, Shen Yao moved to their original seats, listening to Cheng Cheng’s complaints.
“These guys are so lame. I told them someone was sitting here, and they still didn’t believe me.”
Shen Yao glanced at her and then buried his head in his food.
Cheng Cheng was cute and well-built—you could tell even through the school uniform.
Her personality was bold, too, so of course boys liked her.
But unfortunately, she had the temperament of a boy, always talking about gathering beauties from around the world to form a grand harem in the future, which left Shen Yao both amused and speechless.
Noticing Shen Yao’s low mood, Cheng Cheng asked, “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you teasing me today?”
Shen Yao put down his spoon.
“I was just thinking…”
He explained the teacher’s request from earlier.
Who knew that after hearing it, Cheng Cheng would slap the table excitedly.
“Isn’t this a golden opportunity?”
Shen Yao frowned slightly, not liking the loud outburst during lunch.
“Can you eat quietly?”
Cheng Cheng coughed.
“Listen, isn’t this the perfect chance to be alone with Qiao Yunxue? Didn’t you say you fell for her at first sight last week…”
Shen Yao hurriedly covered her mouth.
“Keep it down!”
Which made those around them snicker.
Cheng Cheng lowered her voice.
“This is fate, fate! It’s destiny telling you to confess!”
Shen Yao grew irritated.
“Can you be serious?”
“I am being serious.”
No sooner had Cheng Cheng finished, her girlfriends cut in.
“I think… Shen Yao shouldn’t rush. Qiao Yunxue’s… reputation isn’t great.”
“Yeah, I heard she’s into drugs.”
“Wasn’t her family part of the mafia?”
“I heard she was mentally ill?”
“Maybe all three aren’t mutually exclusive.”
Listening to the girls chattering about Qiao Yunxue’s faults, Shen Yao’s irritation grew.
He knocked on the metal meal tray.
“Do you all like talking behind people’s backs that much?”
Cheng Cheng gave her friends a look, signaling them to stop gossiping.
She turned back to Shen Yao.
“Aren’t you curious to see what kind of person she really is?”
Shen Yao’s frown gradually relaxed.
True, he did want to know what kind of person Qiao Yunxue really was.
Was the girl he couldn’t stop thinking about really as bad as the rumors said?
He always wanted to believe Qiao Yunxue was different from everyone else, that she was special and unique, not someone who should be dragged down by ordinary gossip.
He shoveled a mouthful of rice.
“I get it. I’ll try after school today.”
With that, he carried his empty tray to the dishwashing area.
After he left, Cheng Cheng glared at her friends.
“See? You made Shen Yao angry by talking behind someone’s back.”
“But Qiao Yunxue really is strange… Cheng Cheng, if you know she’s not easy to get along with and has a bad reputation, why do you want Shen Yao to confess to her?”
Cheng Cheng looked a little flustered.
“Wouldn’t it be better for him to see the real side of the transfer student sooner? I’ll buy him a gift tomorrow to apologize.”
*
His aunt was away these days, so there was no one at home, saving Shen Yao the trouble of calling to ask permission.
When the school bell rang, Shen Yao waited until Qiao Yunxue left with her bag before following her.
The two of them walked one after the other to the first floor.
Qiao Yunxue took off her headphones and turned with a puzzled look.
“Why are you following me?”
This was the first full sentence Shen Yao had ever heard her say at school.
Usually, she just grunted in response to teachers and rarely spoke.
Shen Yao replied.
“The homeroom teacher asked me to go to your house to print the handouts. They already spoke to your family.”
Qiao Yunxue frowned slightly at the word “family” but said nothing, turning back toward the parking lot.
Seeing her silent consent, Shen Yao quickly followed.
After walking for a while, Qiao Yunxue suddenly spoke.
“I remember you. You’re the one who used my family’s car as a mirror in the parking lot.”
Shen Yao looked embarrassed.
“Actually, it was even earlier than that.”
“What?”
“That morning, your family’s car almost hit me.”
Qiao Yunxue shrugged indifferently.
“Don’t remember.”
That was all they said.
There was almost nothing for them to talk about.
Shen Yao felt the atmosphere was too awkward for any sort of confession.
They arrived at the parking lot in silence.
Shen Yao saw the familiar Maybach and the white-haired driver standing by the luxury car.
“Young miss.”
Qiao Yunxue responded, climbed into the car, and after a moment, seeing Shen Yao hadn’t moved, frowned.
“What? Planning to walk to my house?”
Only then did Shen Yao, feeling a bit restrained, get into the car.
As soon as he sat down, he smelled a faint fragrance—not the usual leather or smoke.
He placed his heavy backpack on the floor, holding it steady with his shoe, barely sitting on the edge of the seat.
The old driver said nothing, just started the car in silence.
The Maybach drove smoothly, not too fast.
Shen Yao guessed that the person who almost hit him with the car last time probably wasn’t this old driver.
Qiao Yunxue looked at Shen Yao with curiosity, amused by how tense he was.
“What, never been in a car before?”
Shen Yao answered honestly.
“Never been in such an expensive one.”
Qiao Yunxue snorted in disdain.
From this short interaction, it was clear that Qiao Yunxue was not an easy person to get along with.
Shen Yao felt his internal filters for her were gradually crumbling.
“Your father…”
Before Shen Yao could finish, Qiao Yunxue cut him off coldly.
“He’s not home. You can print by yourself.”
“Then maybe I should wait for him. I’m afraid I’ll break the printer, and I can’t afford it.”
“He doesn’t come home even once a year. You might as well wait until next year.”
Qiao Yunxue sneered.
“So what if you break it? Like I’d make a poor kid like you pay.”
Shen Yao wasn’t exactly poor.
His family was ordinary for their district—but in front of Qiao Yunxue, being from an ordinary family and being poor was about the same.
Shen Yao felt a little disillusioned, and his emotions settled down.
After realizing Qiao Yunxue wasn’t the goddess he’d imagined, he relaxed and became less reserved.
The Maybach left the city and stopped at the garage of a villa in the suburbs.
Qiao Yunxue got out of the car without a word, not even looking at Shen Yao, and went inside.
Shen Yao hurried after her, carrying his heavy backpack.
Before leaving, he remembered to thank the old driver.
“Thank you, uncle.”
The old man paused, then nodded.
“You’re welcome.”
Stepping through the villa’s golden doors, Shen Yao saw a lavish interior with gleaming floors.
As soon as she entered, Qiao Yunxue threw her bag aside.
A woman dressed as a housekeeper quickly picked it up.
“Young miss, you shouldn’t toss your bag like that.”
Then, noticing the unfamiliar boy, the housekeeper smiled.
“Hello, hello, are you the young miss’s classmate? I’ll take your bag. Please have a seat, I’ll pour some tea. Do you drink coffee?”
Qiao Yunxue frowned.
“He’s just here to use our printer, why be so friendly?”
Shen Yao bowed slightly.
“No need, no need, I can carry it myself. Water is fine, thank you, Housekeeper.”
Qiao Yunxue snorted and went upstairs, looking displeased.
The housekeeper apologized to Shen Yao.
“Sorry, the young miss has been in a bad mood lately. I’m the housekeeper here, responsible for her daily life. Classmate, what’s your name?”
“Shen Yao.”
“Qiao Sir called earlier and mentioned you’d be using the printer. I’ll show you the way…”
The housekeeper warmly led Shen Yao to the study room on the second floor.
Inside, Shen Yao immediately spotted a computer and a copier beside it.
He set his bag on the chair and bent down to study the copier, trying to figure out how to use it.
This machine was too high-end, completely different from the cheap ones at school, and he needed to check it carefully.
The housekeeper brought a cup of black tea.
“Make yourself at home. I won’t disturb you. If you need anything, just call me. I’ll be downstairs, Shen Yao.”
“Alright, thank you, thank you.”
After the housekeeper left, Shen Yao finally let out a deep breath.
Ever since entering this villa, he felt like he’d stepped into another world—completely out of place.
Forget it.
He just wanted to finish the task and leave.
As for confessing to Qiao Yunxue, Shen Yao had already given up on that idea.
He glanced back and suddenly noticed a landline phone on the desk.
It was pink, spotless, and a brand name was engraved in English on the corner.
He had an odd feeling, as if he’d seen it somewhere before.
As he pondered, a chill ran through him, making his hair stand on end.
He snapped out of it, but couldn’t explain why.