Chapter 3  

Morning self-study ended, and He Yang went to the teachers’ office.  

As the Chinese class representative, she had the first period in Chinese. By this point, the senior year students had almost entirely entered the review phase, with most class time devoted to practice exams.  

She was carrying a stack of brand-new mock exam papers when, before even stepping out of the office, she heard the teachers exclaiming behind her:  

“Is He Cheng ranked first in the mock exams again?”  

“This test was taken jointly by several key high schools in the city. Among so many outstanding students, he still scored over ten points higher than the second place! This kid really has a bright future—not only is he academically brilliant, but he’s also well-behaved. It’s just that his physical condition is too poor. Otherwise, he would’ve been recommended for the city’s Math Olympiad competition. What a shame he had to take sick leave…”  

As He Yang walked back to the classroom, she racked her brain trying to recall this name.  

She couldn’t quite describe the feeling she had just then. It was as if she had been walking peacefully under clear skies when suddenly a fierce gust of wind knocked her flat on her back. That momentary shock and pain were eerily similar to what she felt upon hearing the name “He Cheng.”  

Actually, this wasn’t the first time she’d heard the name today.  

When Li Kexin mentioned it during morning self-study, her reaction hadn’t been as intense—just a faint, needle-like prick in her mind, which she had brushed off.  

…What on earth was going on?  

So, the first thing she did upon returning was ask Li Kexin about him.  

Yang Kui Number One High School had two elite classes: Class 1 for science and Class 2 for humanities. He Cheng was in Class 1.  

He was an outstanding student, consistently ranking first in the grade.  

Not only that, but his looks were flawless—his face so exquisitely crafted it seemed as if the Creator had shown him undue favor, making him unbelievably beautiful. Yang Kui was a small county town, and most people here were of modest means. But He Cheng was chauffeured to and from school and lived in the upscale Tianhe Grand Residence, making him the epitome of a “young master” in the eyes of the less privileged students.  

Yet he was reserved by nature, never flaunting his status. Or perhaps it was more accurate to say he carried an air of indifference, as if nothing could pique his interest. Whether it was classmates, teachers, or passing strangers, the first impression he gave was that he was hard to approach. At the same time, he was surprisingly accommodating—whether it was helping others or answering questions, he rarely refused.  

“…It’s contradictory.”  

That was how Li Kexin described him, before giving an example: “There’s this girl in his class—no idea which Mary Sue drama she learned it from—who kept asking him questions every day. Not just that, she’d also give him a bottle of milk daily. You’d think even a stone would warm up over time, but guess what?”  

He Yang played along, blinking curiously. “What happened?”  

“He Cheng didn’t even know her name! No matter how silly her questions were, he never mocked her—patiently answering every time. But he just wouldn’t remember her. Some say he’s face-blind, but I think it’s more like…”  

He Yang cut in, “He just doesn’t care about people!”  

“Exactly! That’s the vibe. It’s like she never even registered in his mind—asking him a hundred times wouldn’t make a difference. And the girl was really pretty, fresh-faced and lively. But He Cheng remained as unmoved as an old monk. If this were a game, he’d be the hardest boss to conquer!”  

He Yang asked, “Did he drink the milk?”

Li Kexin didn’t answer but instead asked, “He Cheng never eats food from others, didn’t you know that?”

He Yang looked completely bewildered. “I really had no idea.”

The reason He Cheng was secretly called “Young Master” wasn’t just because of his obviously wealthy background, but also due to his meticulously cared-for lifestyle.

During his three years at Yangkui, he never ate at the school cafeteria. His family had a dedicated nutritionist who prepared his lunches, delivered hot and fresh by a chauffeur.

This matter was actually related to his health.

His frail constitution was obvious at a glance. Just as Li Kexin had said—his skin was as pale as a vampire’s—this wasn’t an exaggeration but the literal truth. His complexion was truly pallid, and he frequently took sick leave.

Naturally, he was extremely strict about what he ate and drank, never touching anything offered by outsiders—not even a single bite.

As Li Kexin chattered on, she suddenly realized, “…Why are you suddenly asking about him?”

He Yang avoided her scrutinizing gaze. “Just curious!”

Li Kexin wrapped an arm around He Yang’s shoulders and laughed. “How rare! Your eyes can actually see someone other than Su Wei?”

He Yang had long forgotten about Su Wei, but thinking back, it made sense. Growing up wild in the countryside, she’d followed older kids climbing and jumping everywhere. During puberty, with hormones raging, she’d naturally been curious about the opposite sex. Back then, the “bad boy” trope was popular, and she’d been somewhat influenced, developing an interest in the school’s underachieving troublemakers—with Su Wei being the most prominent among them.

Handsome, fierce in fights, and rumored to have connections with a local gang—to young He Yang, he’d perfectly fit the male lead archetype.

But now, she’d outgrown that restless phase.

He Yang couldn’t help saying, “Student Li Kexin, you need to adjust your attitude. The college entrance exams are coming soon—studies should be your top priority.”

Li Kexin, whose grades were average, just wanted to get into any university with normal performance: “Yes, yes, study hard and make progress every day!”

After fooling around for a while, they started working on problems. He Yang mentally reviewed the information she’d gathered from Li Kexin but remained clueless.

She didn’t even know what He Cheng looked like, let alone that he was academically excellent and came from a good family—he couldn’t possibly be someone she knew.

So why did hearing his name suddenly give her a headache?

Maybe she was overthinking it.

After school, He Yang didn’t go home. She was heading to Uncle Li’s restaurant to work.

Her tuition was already paid, so she wasn’t worried about that. The main issue was that she didn’t have a single cent to her name. All the money she’d previously earned had been handed over to Li Yazhen for safekeeping, and getting any of it back from her was next to impossible.

Yet He Yang, like a complete fool, had ignored Uncle Li’s advice and stubbornly handed over every penny, leaving her with no money on her meal card—now she could only drink the free soup at meals!

Uncle Li leaned against the doorway, one leg propped up, and waved when he saw He Yang. “Come quick! Your aunt made buns and saved some specially for you!”

As He Yang approached, Uncle Li frowned at her thin arms and legs. “Haven’t been eating properly again?”

He Yang blinked and flexed her arm. “It’s all muscle.”

Uncle Li gave her slender arm a light tap. “Quit your nonsense.”

Aunt Li poked her head out at that moment: “Yangyang, you’re here! Why are you standing at the door? We’ve got plenty of buns today—can’t even finish them all. Saved a few for you. Eat up before your shift.”

He Yang knew these two cared for her and didn’t refuse. With a sweet call of “Auntie,” she followed her into the diner.

She was indeed hungry. While eating, she made sure to praise Aunt Li’s cooking skills. After stuffing herself full, she changed into her work clothes and got to it.

Yangkui was a small county town where food delivery hadn’t really taken off yet, but lazy people could be found everywhere.

Aside from odd jobs, He Yang’s main task was delivering orders. The regular customers all lived nearby.

She hopped onto the electric scooter Uncle Li had parked by the entrance and took off.

The evening sky was painted with brilliant clouds, and the early spring breeze carried a chill as it gently brushed her cheeks.

Riding her scooter, she had just turned into a narrow alley when she heard the sound of chaotic footsteps, followed by the rough, crude banter of men.

She wasn’t going very fast and instinctively glanced toward the noise. Between two low-rise buildings, a group of men in short sleeves, their arms covered in fierce tattoos, were crowded together. Opposite them stood a slender young man.

He Cheng’s face was pale, his clear eyes icy cold.

The biting wind pressed his clothes against his frame, outlining his straight yet fragile posture. He took a step back, fists clenched, cold sweat breaking out on his back as he stared at the men blocking his path, his expression dark and hostile.

“I’ve given you all my money,” he said, his voice trembling slightly, hoarse. Already sick, he had rushed out before recovering, and the wind during his journey had left his pale face flushed with an unnatural redness.

He wasn’t good at fighting—frail since childhood—let alone against a group of burly, menacing men.

“Boss, this kid’s real pretty,” one of them said.

The group burst into laughter, their leering gazes fixed on He Cheng. “Little bro, you think that pittance is enough to send us off?”

He Cheng clutched his empty wallet. The amount inside hadn’t been small—he’d given them everything—but they clearly weren’t satisfied. His eyes darkened. “If it’s not enough, I can come back tomorrow with more.”

A yellow-haired thug seemed tempted, thumbing through the thick wad of cash in his hand. “Boss, we’ve hit the jackpot here. Why not let him go? It’s not like he can hide—he won’t dare not show up tomorrow.”

He Cheng kept his eyes on them.

But the one called Boss sneered, “I’ve been locked up for three years—haven’t had a taste in ages!”

At that, the others immediately understood. They knew their boss had no qualms about gender, especially when it came to teenagers. This boy was stunning, a rare beauty.

He Cheng’s face turned ashen as he retreated step by step.

Just then, the loud roar of an engine approached, followed by a panicked shout: “Move! I can’t stop!”

He Cheng instinctively looked up to see someone on an electric scooter speeding toward him, their jacket flapping wildly over their face. The frantic yelling startled the group into reflexively scattering.

As the scooter drew near, its wheels kicked up a cloud of dust, the evening light scattering the grit in all directions. Frozen in place by the scream, He Cheng’s dark pupils reflected the masked figure hurtling toward him.

“Screech—” With a sharp sound, the speeding car came to an abrupt halt. A fair, delicate hand reached out to him: “What are you standing there for? Get in quick!”

He Cheng’s heart exploded at the sound of that familiar voice.

He grasped the outstretched hand and swung his long legs into the car in one fluid motion.

Instantly, the vehicle shot forward like an arrow.

Behind the spinning wheels, clouds of dust rose, obscuring the furious curses that followed.