The homeroom teacher sipped his tea, leisurely watching the students on the playground. So much had happened this year, but with two aces like Jiang Shiyi and Xie Sili in the class, his bonus was surely secured.
But what surprised him the most was actually Ji Zhaoxi.
When he first saw that she had tested into the school from a middle school he'd never even heard of, he was a bit worried, afraid she wouldn't be able to keep up.
Unexpectedly, although she was at the bottom of the class in her first year, she shot right up in her second year. He liked hardworking kids.
The school anniversary was approaching, and he had to make sure every student in the class participated.
Although some students might be unwilling, when they grew old and looked back at these photos and videos, they would surely thank him, their homeroom teacher.
In the classroom.
The students below listened with little interest as the homeroom teacher enthusiastically discussed the school anniversary activities.
"This time, every student in our class must participate. We'll perform a play. I've already decided on the script—Snow White!"
The homeroom teacher announced his decision with great fervor.
The classroom fell silent for a moment before quickly erupting into noise.
"Snow White?! Even elementary school students don't perform that anymore!"
"No way, teacher! That's way too childish."
"We refuse! We oppose! We disagree!"
The homeroom teacher signaled for them to quiet down and cleared his throat. "Objection overruled."
The class erupted into another wave of groans.
Afraid the students might pull some nonsense later, the teacher had even printed out the scripts in advance.
"After class, everyone can come choose the role they want."
As soon as class ended, all the students gathered around Jiang Shiyi.
The most popular roles were the ones without lines, like trees, rocks, wild boars, followed by roles with fewer lines like the dwarfs.
In the end, only the main characters were left unchosen.
Xu Kezhi sat right behind Jiang Shiyi. She moved quickly and snatched the role of the wild boar. Her part would be over as soon as the hunter 'killed' her with one stroke.
"Shiyi, why don't you play Snow White? No one else wants that role anyway," Xu Kezhi said with gleeful schadenfreude.
Jiang Shiyi replied helplessly, "If no other classmates want it, then I'll do it."
Cheers erupted around her.
"I want to play the princess too."
A voice tinged with a hint of resentment came through.
Her deskmate choked up and looked at the jealous Ji Zhaoxi beside her. "Then go tell the class monitor. No one wants to be the princess anyway."
Ji Zhaoxi fell silent.
Her deskmate didn't push further. If Jiang Shiyi was going to play the princess, Ji Zhaoxi would definitely find a way to take the role later.
The main roles were still being adjusted. Ji Zhaoxi kept a close eye on the changes to the cast list. For now, she was assigned a dwarf role.
School A recently welcomed a transfer student, and he made quite an entrance.
Ji Zhaoxi heard he was some young master from a prominent family, though she couldn't remember which one. There were many students from well-off families at School A; she had never seen so many young ladies and gentlemen in her life.
Jiang Shiyi seemed very close to this transfer student. He was often seen coming to their classroom to look for her.
Sometimes, Ji Zhaoxi would see them getting out of a car together.
Rumors about the two spread like wildfire—childhood sweethearts, arranged marriage from childhood, rekindled romance after a breakup—there were all sorts of stories.
Ji Zhaoxi didn't know which one was true, but she knew it was time for her scene.
Finally, one day after the boy parted ways with Jiang Shiyi, Ji Zhaoxi decisively followed him.
The boy was stopped. He looked at Ji Zhaoxi in front of him and raised an eyebrow.
Wasn't this the girl from last time at the Xie residence...
Ji Zhaoxi felt a bit puzzled by his gaze but still put on her signature expression, looking at him with an honest face.
"Classmate, I know you might not believe me, but I still want to tell you, Jiang Shiyi isn't as simple as she seems."
The boy didn't continue on that topic. He stroked his chin, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "Hey, do you like Xie Sili?"
Ji Zhaoxi: ?
What does Xie Sili have to do with this?
She decisively ignored the question and continued with her mission. "I know falling for Jiang Shiyi is a normal thing. She really is a good person, but I still want to remind you, everything she does is for her own reputation."
The boy's curiosity grew stronger. "Last time, did Xie Sili take you upstairs? What's your relationship? I've never seen him be so considerate before."
Ji Zhaoxi was taken aback. "I'm not speaking ill of Jiang Shiyi. I just think you're a decent person, so I don't want you to be deceived."
The boy nodded thoughtfully. "I heard Xie Sili confessed to you and you rejected him. Is that true or false?"
Ji Zhaoxi: ...
She really couldn't continue this conversation with him.
"Um, I'm talking about Jiang Shiyi right now," Ji Zhaoxi reminded him tactfully.
The boy nodded. "I know. I'm talking about Xie Sili right now."
He paused, the amusement in his eyes almost overflowing. "How about this: you answer my questions, and I'll answer yours."
"I only have two questions. First, has Xie Sili ever confessed to you? Second, do you like Xie Sili?"
Ji Zhaoxi was already growing impatient but forced herself to appear patient.
"Classmate Xie Sili has never confessed to me, and I do not like Classmate Xie Sili."
"Oh~" The boy drew out the sound, smiling as he looked behind her. "So Classmate Xie Sili is so unpopular."
Ji Zhaoxi suddenly sensed something was wrong. She stiffened and turned to look.
Xie Sili stood quietly not far from her. He was backlit, making his facial expression unclear.
Cars were backed up at the school gate, horns honking intermittently.
Inside the car, it was quiet, with only the occasional sound of pages turning.
Jian Yufeng yawned, leaning lazily against the seat. "That girl you took to the Xie residence last time, she came to see me."
Jiang Shiyi's hand paused.
Jian Yufeng's eyes held a trace of amusement. "She came to badmouth you."
Jiang Shiyi spoke calmly. "What did she say?"
"Ah." Jian Yufeng frowned, recalling Ji Zhaoxi's words. "Something about you not being simple and that I should stay away from you."
"Didn't think anyone could dislike you. I thought everyone liked you," Jian Yufeng teased her.
Jiang Shiyi's expression remained unchanged. "From now on, whatever she says to you, you have to tell me."
Jian Yufeng raised an eyebrow. "My memory isn't that good. You might as well go ask her directly. You're in the same class anyway."
These two were really something.
Jiang Shiyi silently looked at the words on the page. She didn't know what Ji Zhaoxi was trying to do.
Why was she still so focused on her? Did she care about who was around her?
She had stopped paying attention to Ji Zhaoxi's affairs, yet Ji Zhaoxi kept making her presence known around her, both openly and subtly.
There was simply no avoiding it.
