The first day at the provincial key high school saw Wen Ying smoothly reunite with her friends.
Li Mengjiao, having competed in the Super Girl contest a year early and clinching runner-up in the Rong City division, was a change. Unchanged, she remained a student in Class 16.
Wang Shuang advanced from first to second year effortlessly, oblivious to the danger Wen Ying knew he’d narrowly escaped—a near miss that could’ve barred him from high school forever.
Xie Qian, transferring to the provincial key school six months early, became Wen Ying’s classmate.
These changes, so far, were positive.
Unknown to all, the greatest change was Wen Ying herself.
Gazing at the familiar yet unfamiliar faces in the classroom, Wen Ying felt a surge of emotion.
It took her 15 years to transform, shedding her insecure, dim past self. Sitting in Class 16’s classroom again, she felt unburdened: just a bunch of naive teens—what was there to fear?
Wen Ying, the self-proclaimed academic struggler, had matured—mostly by growing thicker skin and embracing her “struggler” status.
In the new class, the spotlight didn’t fall on Wen Ying, the sly reborn soul, but on the fresh-from-competition runner-up Li Mengjiao and Xie Qian, whose looks made hearts race.
After the first class, Li Mengjiao rushed to Wen Ying.
“You’re a genius! Yesterday, the organizers called my mom. The rules changed—each division’s runner-up can go to Hunan for the annual finals. They didn’t detail the format, but I bet it’s like you said.”
How did Wen Ying guess?
With the same two eyes, one nose, and one mouth, how were people so different?
Li Mengjiao now revered Wen Ying as a mental guru.
If her own brain wasn’t sharp, she’d follow the smart one’s lead—no shame in that. Having such a clever friend proved her own worth.
Wen Ying congratulated her repeatedly. Li Mengjiao, after late-night talks with her parents, agreed: she could compete in Hunan, but signing a contract was off-limits, even if tempted with the annual championship. Her parents wouldn’t budge.
As a minor, with guardians opposed, Li Mengjiao couldn’t sign, no matter her whims.
Wen Ying wholeheartedly supported this.
“Go for it! Prep your best songs, storm the finals, and show the nation your talent!”
Li Mengjiao laughed at the vivid picture Wen Ying painted.
Exactly what she dreamed!
During the second class break, Xie Qian approached Wen Ying, handing her a sketch. “Check it. If it’s off, I’ll revise.”
It was a renovation design for “Shrimp King,” discussed over the phone. Words couldn’t match the sketch’s clarity. Noticing Xie Qian’s red-rimmed eyes, Wen Ying suspected he’d pulled an all-nighter.
“No need to rush.”
“I didn’t. Drew it in Beijing, forgot to give it to you the other day,” Xie Qian said casually.
Wen Ying wasn’t convinced.
No late-night drawing, yet red eyes?
A delightful misunderstanding—Wen Ying would never guess Xie Qian’s eyes were red from gaming all night.
Class 16’s two most notable students both sought out Wen Ying, making classmates eye her curiously. Wait—if Li Mengjiao and Xie Qian knew Wen Ying, didn’t they know each other?
Li Mengjiao, having risen from the school’s junior section, had old classmates in Class 16. They quizzed her about Xie Qian’s background. She laughed at their infatuation.
“Didn’t he introduce himself? Transferred from Beijing, not a Rong City native!”
Her junior classmates weren’t satisfied. “That’s too vague. Don’t you think he’s handsome?”
“Of course!” Li Mengjiao nodded.
At first meeting, she thought Xie Qian was stunning.
And then… nothing. She envied his flawless skin and felt intimidated by his academic aura, instinctively keeping her distance.
The night before, she’d been touched, thinking Xie Qian returned to Rong City to support her.
Learning he’d transferred and watched her competition in passing, her gratitude was misplaced.
Focused on selecting songs for Hunan, as Wen Ying advised, Li Mengjiao was distracted responding to classmates’ questions about Xie Qian.
Why hadn’t she noticed how shallow some girls were?
She was busy building a career. Xie Qian’s looks couldn’t feed her—what was there to discuss?
“If you’re curious, ask Wen Ying. She’s closer to Xie Qian. We’re just casual friends.”
But they’d just met Wen Ying!
To learn about Xie Qian, they’d need to befriend Wen Ying first?
Why not approach Xie Qian directly? They had the desire but lacked the courage—a common sentiment among the girls.
Wen Ying suddenly found herself popular. At lunch in the cafeteria, girls asked to join her table.
This never happened in her past life.
Had losing ten pounds unleashed her reborn charisma, drawing girls to her oversized uniform pants?
Wen Ying, the former lawyer, was baffled by the attention until a girl shyly mentioned Xie Qian’s name. She nearly teared up.
The nostalgic vibe of fandom!
It wasn’t her charisma but shared admiration for Xie Qian, pulling them together like magnets.
The lone fan club leader had found her future members. Wen Ying grinned. “You all like Xie Qian? Don’t be shy. He’s got stunning looks, brains, and a great personality. I like him too, so I get your feelings!”
Xie Qian, at the classroom door, hesitated to enter.
Wen Ying’s “like” wasn’t the kind he’d assume.
What girl, liking a guy, would pitch him to other girls like a product?
What was Wen Ying, the hamster, up to?
Her passionate spiel made Xie Qian wonder if he’d paid her for promotion.
—
While Wen Ying enthusiastically rallied Xie Qian’s fanbase, Zhao Dong, with his sister Zhao Qian back from Beijing, tried to enroll her at the provincial key school but was rebuffed.
“Sorry, Zhao Qian’s records are in Beijing. Admitting her violates policy. Please follow proper transfer procedures,” the school said politely but firmly.
Zhao Dong, sharp, sensed something amiss.
Was it Xie Qian, blocking Zhao Qian from being his schoolmate?
Zhao Qian, leaving the admissions office, flushed with anger. “Brother, how could Xie Qian be so petty? I don’t believe he’s that small-minded. Someone must be stirring trouble!”
