Chapter 8: Class  

In the blink of an eye, the day of military training arrived.  

The faint morning light gently roused Lin Yumo from her dreams as the alarm chimed at 7 o’clock.  

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she rose softly and made her way to the bathroom.  

The sound of running water filled the air as she cupped her hands and splashed her face. In the mirror, the girl’s relaxed brows and lips curled into a faint, unconscious smile—a quiet anticipation for the new day ahead.  

Stepping into the walk-in closet, her gaze fell upon the neatly folded military training uniform.  

Her fingertips brushed lightly over the coarse fabric, memories of sweating under the scorching sun in this very outfit in her past life flooding her mind.  

Taking a deep breath, she slowly slipped into the uniform, the fabric clinging to her body—now toned from summer yoga sessions and nourished by her magical ability.  

Standing before the full-length mirror, the reflection revealed a girl with skin like polished jade, glowing with a natural radiance. The subtle curves of her youthful figure were accentuated by her poised posture, lending her an air of grace and composure.  

She combed her cascading black hair with practiced ease, weaving it into a side ponytail. As she donned the military cap, her bright eyes beneath the brim sparkled with eager anticipation.  

At this hour, Father Lin and Mother Lin were still asleep, while Wu Ma had already laid out a steaming breakfast on the table.  

Lin Yumo approached the table, lifting a cup of jasmine milk to her lips. The rich creaminess intertwined with the delicate floral fragrance, and she proceeded to enjoy her meal methodically.  

After breakfast, Uncle Wu was already waiting by the door. The car rolled slowly out of the estate, and along the way, she caught glimpses of classmates pedaling their bicycles toward the school.  

Though the Lin residence was close to the school, Father Lin and Mother Lin had insisted Uncle Wu drive her to familiarize her with the route. This thoughtful gesture warmed her heart.  

The entrance of A City No. 1 High School was already a sea of green.  

As Lin Yumo stepped out of the car, the bustling crowd at the gate made her hold her breath for a fleeting moment.  

Young, curious glances darted her way, some lingering briefly before retreating. A few students who seemed to know each other paused at the sight of her, nudging one another before breaking into hushed, giggling whispers.  

Lin Yumo merely smiled softly, her expression gentle and composed, as if long accustomed to such attention.  

Following the signs, she arrived at the door of Class 7, Grade 10. The moment she pushed it open, the noisy classroom fell into a brief hush.  

Some of the chattering students, mistaking her for the homeroom teacher, immediately quieted and turned toward the door—only to find a refined young girl standing there instead.  

The silence lasted only a moment before the clamor resumed.  

Lin Yumo had tensed slightly under the sudden focus of so many eyes, but the feeling passed quickly. Scanning the room, she noted that about half the class had arrived. Her gaze settled on a cute girl with twin ponytails.  

The girl’s bright eyes brimmed with curiosity and friendliness, and Lin Yumo returned her smile, walking over to take a seat beside her.  

“You’re so pretty—I spotted you the moment you walked in!” Song Xingran beamed, her eyes crinkling into crescents.  

Lin Yumo was swept up by her enthusiasm, memories of her past life rushing back like a tide. Back then, she had sat alone in the last row, weighed down by the disappointment of failed exams.  

The girl’s voice was as clear as wind chimes. “I’m Song Xingran! You have this… uh…”

“Jasmine?” Lin Yumo instinctively responded, then froze.  

She suddenly realized that this lingering hidden fragrance might be a new discovery brought by the pattern.  

Song Xingran suddenly leaned in, her nose almost brushing against Yumo’s cheek. “Yes! Just like jasmine after the rain!”  

She eagerly grabbed Yumo’s wrist but gasped softly upon contact. “Why is your skin as cool as jade?”  

The corners of Yumo’s lips curled up as she whispered, “Thank you.”  

Song Xingran drew closer again, her warm breath brushing against Yumo’s ear.  

Yumo lowered her gaze with a faint smile, tilting her fair earlobe forward as strands of her hair swayed gently with the movement. “Little Jasmine—can I call you that?”  

Song Xingran’s voice dripped with honey-like sweetness, her tone rising tentatively at the end.  

Yumo’s eyelashes fluttered.  

Her lips curved into a gentle smile. “Of course.”  

Before she could finish, Song Xingran had already excitedly clutched her wrist, crumpling the fabric of her military training uniform in her palm.  

“Little Jasmine, listen!” The girl’s sparkling eyes curved into crescents.  

“I know someone else as beautiful as you!” She deliberately lowered her voice but couldn’t hide her excitement.  

“His name is Chi Miao—he moved up from First Middle School’s junior division!” When she said his name, Song Xingran unconsciously straightened her back as if introducing some rare treasure.  

Yumo’s fingers, adjusting her military cap, paused slightly. That name was like a drop of ink, abruptly falling into the calm lake of her heart.  

“He was this year’s top scorer in the high school entrance exams!” Song Xingran’s eyes gleamed as she gestured animatedly.  

“I heard the principal personally awarded him a scholarship. He looks like he walked straight out of a manga…” She suddenly lowered her voice, leaning in conspiratorially.  

“The kind who seems cold and untouchable but actually makes you want to make him cry!”  

“*Cough*—” Yumo choked on the bold words.  

Song Xingran suddenly fell silent, her cheeks flushing pink. “Ah, anyway, he’s just so captivating!”  

How could she not know him? Yumo’s fingertips unconsciously brushed against the cuff of her military uniform, but her heartbeat lost its rhythm in her chest.  

Memories surged like a tide.  

She recalled that noisy afternoon filled with cicadas, when she had hidden in the corridor after failing a physics test.  

The figure holding a basketball gradually overlapped with Song Xingran’s description.  

Sunlight filtering through the gaps in the plane tree leaves, the dancing light spots on the boy’s hair, and his careless smile as he turned—all of it had been the reason for her sleepless nights.  

Afterward, Yumo had quietly kept tabs on him, knowing he was academically brilliant, from a good family, and had a pleasant personality.  

She remembered pretending to pass by his classroom between classes, her gaze skimming over the confession wall plastered with countless notes, bitterness and envy churning inside her.  

Those passionate words, those brave girls—all reminders of her own timidity.  

Now, Song Xingran’s description was like a key, unlocking both the sweetness and regret in her memories.  

Still, Chi Miao had also been her motivation. Whenever she felt down, she would sneak glances at secretly taken photos of him on the confession wall, silently watching him until the college entrance exams ended. He was admitted to University A as the provincial top scorer, and they drifted apart.  

“Little Jasmine? Why are you spacing out?” Song Xingran waved her fingers in front of Yumo’s eyes.

Lin Yumo snapped back to reality, her fingertips lightly pressing against her burning earlobes as she lowered her gaze to conceal the turbulent emotions in her eyes.  

“It’s nothing, I was just thinking… how wonderful it is to meet someone so remarkable.”  

Her voice was soft, carrying a sigh only she could hear.