Compared to the sound of focused study from the honors class, Class 13 was mostly filled with students who’d gotten in by paying extra fees. The classroom was chaotic, with students moving around in small groups as if it were a bustling market.

The homeroom teacher, Mr. Huang, adjusted his glasses and looked at Su Wan with a puzzled expression.

“Are you the new transfer student?”

Su Wan: “?”

The class quieted down at his words, and everyone looked toward the doorway.

There stood a girl with shoulder-length black hair, a pretty face, fair and fresh, wearing the school uniform neatly and carrying a black backpack. She blinked her big eyes in response to the question.

She looked exactly like a model student who’d get perfect scores in every subject.

The model student’s voice was clear and crisp, her pronunciation precise.

“Teacher, I’m Su Wan.”

Mr. Huang: “?”

The entire class: “?”

Their expressions looked as if they’d seen a ghost in broad daylight.

Mr. Huang leaned back in shock, taking a closer look. It really was Su Wan.

No wonder he was so startled. Su Wan’s demeanor, voice, and clothing were worlds apart from her usual self. The brand-new uniform added to the difference; if he weren’t familiar with the Su family, he might have thought a twin had come in her place.

After all, she’d never once called him “teacher.”

Mr. Huang, his heart still pounding, waved his hand shakily, “Go ahead, take your seat.”

Su Wan looked around and found the familiar figure of Shen Tingyan.

While the class was buzzing with whispers about Su Wan’s arrival, Shen Tingyan sat by the window, reading quietly, with a calm expression that seemed far too mature for his age.

Shen Tingyan sat in the very last row, and Su Wan’s seat was in the second-to-last row against the wall—a prime spot, warm in winter and cool in summer, perfect for napping. No wonder the original Su Wan disliked Shen Tingyan but hadn’t moved her seat.

—Of course, it was also possible she stayed there to conveniently annoy him.

“Is that really Su Wan?”

“She looks a lot better than before…”

“But then you think of her personality, and no amount of cuteness could save her…”

A few whispered comments floated around, but soon blended into the morning reading. Su Wan wasn’t interested in how they talked about her. She ignored everything around her and took out her book to study.

As they say:

Spring sleep arrives unawares; best to study early in the day.

The wind and rain may come by night, but if it fails—then back to sleep!

Su Wan made up this little ditty, cheering herself up and putting her focus on studying, fighting off her sleepiness.

Time passed, little by little.

Sitting in the back row, Shen Tingyan propped his chin on his hand, reading. His eyes lifted slightly, catching a glimpse of Su Wan in the row ahead.

She was reading diligently, her little head bobbing along.

It was normal to have a burst of enthusiasm, but for her to stay focused for a whole period—that was unusual for someone like Su Wan.

What was she up to? Just putting on a show?

Shen Tingyan looked away indifferently. Anyway, it was best if it had nothing to do with him.

Students went in pairs and trios to the cafeteria to grab breakfast. Chang Xiaozhen followed Su Wan, complaining about the upcoming experiment she didn’t understand. Occasionally, passing students greeted Chang Xiaozhen and cast amazed, curious glances at Su Wan.

Chang Xiaozhen was used to it. “Yep, this is Su Wan.”

Their reactions were all the same: they’d pause, look Su Wan up and down, and then their faces would light up with surprise.

Su Wan suddenly felt like she was a monkey on display, the way everyone stared.

After bidding farewell to a few old friends, Su Wan exhaled, only then hearing her sidekick ask, “Were you joking about what you said yesterday?”

“Of course not.”