Chapter 6

Qiao Siyue.

Yan Wan’s fiancé, a betrothal arranged by her grandfathers. If the eldest grandchildren from both families happened to be a boy and a girl, they would be betrothed.

Qiao Siyue is two years older than Yan Wan and is currently attending university in H City.

When Yan Wan was sixteen, Qiao Siyue proposed to her at his coming-of-age ceremony. Both families were happy with the arrangement, so an engagement ceremony was held, making them officially betrothed.

When Uncle Zheng mentioned this, he was very cautious, as if afraid Yan Ning might think too much about it.

Because, if there hadn’t been the mistaken exchange, it should have been Yan Ning who was engaged to Qiao Siyue. Yan Ning didn’t have many thoughts about it, she didn’t know Qiao Siyue and had no interest in childhood engagements.

She didn’t expect Yan Wan to bring it up herself. She put down her chopsticks and, as she stood up, said, “Okay, I’m looking forward to it.”

Although she said “looking forward to it,” her tone carried no excitement.

Yan Wan watched Yan Ning’s indifferent back, her fingers tightening.

“Master.”

The system’s voice echoed in her mind. Yan Wan lowered her head and communicated with the system, “What’s the situation?”

“It’s all arranged. It will be spread tomorrow.”

“Mm.” Yan Wan’s mood lifted slightly.

—

Yan Ning went upstairs, washed up, and sat at her desk to start her homework for the day. It took her twenty minutes to finish the assignments for three subjects excluding language and math.

The homework was no challenge for her. During her five years on M20, she had never stopped learning. Even though the content of the subjects was different, her learning ability was unaffected.

Thinking about how she would have to work hard for the 3 million later and might not have time for studying, she sat back down, deciding to review all the seventh-grade subjects.

At eleven o’clock at night, Yan Ning packed her bag and went to bed on time, ready to sleep.

The next morning, Yan Ning arrived at school early, not with Yan Wan or Yan Yu.

There was no particular reason for it, she simply enjoyed this peaceful and leisurely life, so she didn’t want her mood to be ruined from the start of the day.

When she arrived in the classroom, there were very few people present.

However, her deskmate, Zhou Ye, was already sitting at his desk, flipping through his English book to look at vocabulary words. She pulled out her chair and sat down. He glanced at her in surprise.

One glance, then another.

“What’s wrong?” Yan Ning asked.

He shook his head without saying anything.

For the next twenty minutes, students gradually entered the classroom, and everyone looked at Yan Ning either intentionally or unintentionally.

She met their gaze, and they quickly looked away, pretending nothing had happened.

What’s going on?

Yan Ning was puzzled. “Why is everyone staring at me?”

She grabbed a classmate walking by, who happened to be Shi Lei, sitting diagonally in front of her.

Shi Lei struggled a bit, but when he couldn’t break free, he stopped and looked at her face with curiosity, scanning it twice. “Are you really seventeen?”

Yan Ning let go of him. “So it’s because of that.”

Shi Lei stood still, waiting for her to answer.

“Yeah, really. What’s the problem?” As she spoke, the whole class suddenly fell silent. Although no one turned around, everyone was listening carefully, showing more curiosity than when she first arrived yesterday.

“Then why are you only in seventh grade?” Shi Lei swallowed, continuing to ask.

“More than that, I’m more curious how you all know my age?”

“It spread on the school forum.”

“What forum?”

Shi Lei took out his phone, quickly tapping a few times, then handed it to Yan Ning.

The post read: “【Minghua’s Super Tool】 A super beautiful girl who can rival the school’s top beauty was spotted in the cafeteria today. Many brothers privately messaged for her location this afternoon (by the way, your speed surprised the tool, if you were this active in class, that’d be great). After investigation, this beauty is seventeen years old and in seventh grade, class 5 at Minghua Middle School. Those who like her can find her in class 5!”

Scrolling down, there were already a number of replies:

【Seventeen, seventh grade? Are you kidding me? 】

【Is she really a beauty? Could be a retard, I’m scared, I’m scared!】

【Originally, I heard she was very pretty, secretly wanted to get to know her. But seventeen and in seventh grade… never mind…】  

【What trash is being compared to the school beauty? I feel sorry for Wanwan, my wife.】  

【Taking my Wanwan wife away. What dumb beauty, whoever wants her, take her. Seventeen, seventh grade, that’s hilarious!】  

【Front row, confessing to my Wanwan wife. Don’t let any trash come and copy her style!】  

—

Quickly scrolling through, almost all the posts were fans of Yan Wan, and Yan Ning could truly feel Yan Wan’s popularity in Minghua. She continued to scroll down and saw the only post that raised a question, but it was quickly answered by the original poster:

【Universe Superhero Qingjiang: Could there be some misunderstanding? I saw that girl in the cafeteria, she’s really pretty, the kind you can’t forget after one glance. She looks like a high school student, seventh grade seems impossible, right?】  

【Minghua Super Tool: I’ve checked thoroughly, she really is in seventh grade, class 5.】  

【Universe Superhero Qingjiang: Alright, even so, I think maybe she has some hidden reasons. It’s not good to laugh at a girl about something like this, right?】  

After “Universe Superhero Qingjiang” posted this, many other comments followed, and this time the focus turned to “Qingjiang.” Many people started criticizing him.  

Yan Ning glanced at it casually, then handed the phone back to Shi Lei.  

“Don’t you have anything to say?” Shi Lei thought Yan Ning would be angry, embarrassed, self-conscious, or maybe even cry, but she was very calm, her face showing no change. After handing the phone back to him, she sat down and started organizing her desk, then took out her English book to study vocabulary.  

“Uh… well… it’s the truth, I don’t have much to say,” Yan Ning said without looking up.  

What’s going on? Why does it feel like… she’s… kind of cool?  

Shi Lei grabbed the strap of his backpack, frowning and feeling a bit confused.  

When he first met Yan Ning yesterday, he thought the transfer student was incredibly stunning. There was something uniquely fresh about her, something he couldn’t quite place, that made her stand out, which is why he couldn’t help but glance at her.  

But when he found out she was seventeen, the image of Yan Ning in his mind shattered completely.  

Seventeen and still in seventh grade? That’s just lame.  

Who is still in seventh grade at seventeen?  

If he were in this situation, he’d rather not go to school than lose face like this.  

But Yan Ning’s indifferent attitude made him feel like… she was kind of cool?  

No, no, no, I can’t think like that.  

No matter how he looked at it, this was the shame of their class, Class 5. He couldn’t waver so easily.

After the morning self-study session, Qiao Yingxue turned to speak to Yan Ning, and the corridor suddenly became noisy, followed by the sound of people teasing.

Yan Ning turned her head to see what was going on.

Qiao Yingxue grabbed her arm. “Ningning, did you turn in your homework?”

“Ah, I almost forgot,” Yan Ning said, lowering her head and pulling her homework out of her desk. She stood up and was about to go to the front row to hand it in.

“I’ll do it for you,” Qiao Yingxue said, taking Yan Ning’s homework and walking to the front to give it to the class monitor in the first row.

Yan Ning didn’t pay much attention and turned her head again to check out the commotion in the hallway. Just then, Zhao Xiaolu suddenly appeared in front of her. “Yan Ning, let me show you the pressed flower bookmark I made.”

Yan Ning looked down. Zhao Xiaolu was holding several rectangular cardboard bookmarks with different colored dried flowers pressed on them. Although they were flattened and had lost moisture, making them less vibrant than fresh flowers, the petals and leaf patterns were clear, and the slightly yellowed look had a beauty that came with the passage of time.

“Wow, they’re so cute.”

Seeing that Yan Ning liked them, Zhao Xiaolu gave her a blue pressed flower bookmark. After Qiao Yingxue finished handing in the homework, she came back and joined their conversation. The break passed just like that.

Just before the second period started, Yan Ning stood up to go to the bathroom. It had been too crowded when the bell rang, and she didn’t like going out at that time.

After she came out of the bathroom and was washing her hands at the sink, she overheard someone talking about her.

“Did you guys see her? The transfer student in Class 5, seventh grade.”

“No, there were too many people in the hallway. We couldn’t get in.”

“I heard she’s really pretty. A lot of senior students came to see her, but I think they’re just here to watch the joke.”

“Seventeen years old, it’s really a bit funny. Doesn’t she feel embarrassed about it?”

—

Yan Ning finished washing her hands and calmly walked out. In the hallway, she ran into Qiao Yingxue and Zhao Xiaolu, who were rushing by.

“Ningning, are you okay?” Qiao Yingxue asked.

“I’m fine.”

“Then let’s go back,” Qiao Yingxue said, pulling Yan Ning’s hand, while Zhao Xiaolu walked beside them.

Yan Ning paused for a moment.

“What’s wrong?” Zhao Xiaolu asked.

“I’m fine.” Yan Ning smiled faintly and followed them back to the classroom.

During lunch break, Qiao Yingxue and Zhao Xiaolu dragged their feet and didn’t want to go to the cafeteria.

Qiao Yingxue suggested, “Ningning, how about we eat outside? There’s a place with really delicious noodles. I’ll treat you and Xiaolu.”

“How can I let you treat? But I’m getting tired of the cafeteria too. It wouldn’t hurt to eat out once in a while,” Zhao Xiaolu said.

“Do you really want to eat outside?”

“Really.” The two nodded eagerly.

“Alright, then let’s go,” Yan Ning said with a smile, standing up.

The place Qiao Yingxue recommended was indeed great—good ambiance and tasty food.

Yan Ning ate quickly. After putting down her chopsticks, she made an excuse to go to the bathroom. She went to the cashier to pay, as she couldn’t let the younger girls treat her to a meal.

“Hey, hey, hey, isn’t that the transfer student from Class 5, the beautiful girl?” A malicious voice suddenly came from behind.

“Where? Where’s the transfer student beauty?” another voice exaggerated, and several people eating in the restaurant turned to look. “Oh—let me introduce, this beautiful lady is a new student at Minghua, seventeen years old, and in seventh grade!”

Laughter started to echo around. Yan Ning stood there without moving.

“Let me tell you another joke. This lady just arrived and is comparing herself to the school beauty. I almost laughed myself to death when I heard that. When I found out she’s seventeen and still in seventh grade, I stayed calm.” The young man who spoke first added.

“Who does she think she is, comparing herself to the school beauty? Hahaha, that’s hilarious.”

Yan Ning paid the bill and turned around. Her gaze swept over the young men who were talking. One of them was tall and thin like a bamboo stick, his face covered in pimples. The other was slightly shorter and chubbier, with an ordinary face. Both of them were laughing so hard they were almost falling over, as if they had said something extremely funny.

When they saw Yan Ning’s calm face, the two of them clearly froze for a moment.