Chapter 3

Golden sunlight filtered through the white clouds, streaming past the trees, casting a warm glow on the ground—and on the silhouette of a young boy. Youth was filled with passion, and his presence exuded confidence and spirit. Youth itself was an endless cycle of hurried encounters and missed opportunities. At the start of the new semester, the entrance of A City's most prestigious high school, No. 10 High School, was packed with people. Parents were there to send their children off, and boarding students carried large suitcases. The crowd was bustling. Gu Helin walked straight through the crowd towards Class 1-2. Thanks to Gu Zhiwei’s connections, all the necessary arrangements had already been made, so there was no need for them to go through the usual registration process. Before the placement exams, both Gu Helin and Lin Shizhao were temporarily assigned to Class 1-2. As per the school’s policy, students would choose between humanities and science tracks based on their midterm results in the first semester. "Everyone, don't push! Line up in order!" The director of student affairs shouted through a red megaphone, his voice hoarse. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he held a bottle of mineral water in one hand. As Gu Helin and Lin Shizhao passed through the crowd, many turned to steal a glance at them, whispering among themselves. The girls, in particular, couldn't help but look back at Gu Helin. Just one glance made their hearts skip a beat, cheeks flushed red. However, when they saw Lin Shizhao beside him, their expressions darkened. For a girl, seeing someone prettier than herself standing next to the boy she admired could be unbearable—jealousy was inevitable. The boys, too, loved gossip. Seeing Gu Helin and Lin Shizhao pass by, they immediately started whispering. "Wow, he's so handsome!" a girl with messy hair and black earrings squealed. "Doesn't matter. That’s Gu Helin. What chance do we have?" The girl beside her, Luo Yao, leaned in and said. "So that’s the famous Young Master Gu! But who’s that girl behind him?" Shen Qian asked curiously. "Everyone knows the Gu family’s situation. That must be the new little sister, haha. Looks just like her vixen of a mother." Luo Yao sneered. "Pretty is pretty. We're all girls—why be so bitter?" Another girl interjected. Shen Qian shot a glare at Yu Fei but didn’t say anything. She turned back toward the boy’s fading silhouette, her expression growing somber. "Shen Qian, stop staring. Let’s go, it’s our turn." Luo Yao pulled Shen Qian’s hand, dragging her along. It was a new school, and they didn’t want to stir up trouble just yet. Shen Qian wasn’t particularly attractive, but she came from a wealthy family. Arrogant and domineering, she had a reputation for bullying others back in middle school, leading her own clique of mean girls. Though her grades were terrible, her father had pulled some strings to get her into No. 10 High. Luo Yao, on the other hand, came from a modest background. She wasn’t bad at studying, but to avoid being bullied, she reluctantly stuck by Shen Qian’s side. Once inside the classroom, they spotted a familiar figure—Gu Helin was in their class. Shen Qian was surprised, but when her eyes landed on Lin Shizhao, her expression darkened again. Gu Helin sat in the second-to-last row of the first group. Beside him was He Junming, and right behind him sat Lin Shizhao. He Junming was all smiles, lazily crossing his legs as he chatted away. Occasionally, he glanced at the quiet girl behind them—Lin Shizhao. She was completely immersed in her book, unaware of the conversations around her, lost in her own world. He Junming’s mouth kept moving, throwing out comments here and there, while Gu Helin remained silent, gazing out the window, only nodding occasionally to show he was listening. "Excuse me, could you move aside?" Yu Fei’s voice broke through the tension at the door. She sidestepped Shen Qian and Luo Yao, entering the classroom with ease. Scanning the room, she said nothing and headed straight for Lin Shizhao’s seat. "Hey there! I’m Yu Fei. Nice to meet you!" Yu Fei greeted cheerfully. "Hello, I’m Lin Shizhao. Just call me Shizhao. Nice to meet you too," Lin Shizhao replied warmly, smiling as she pulled out a chair for Yu Fei. Meeting such a friendly classmate on the first day put her at ease, filling her heart with joy. Before long, most of the students had arrived. Their homeroom teacher, Li Min, entered the classroom, holding a class roster. She was dressed neatly and professionally, wearing glasses that gave her a composed and mature look. "Hello, everyone. I am your homeroom teacher, Li Min, and I will be teaching you Chinese this semester. I hope that in the coming months, we can get to know each other better and make this class a great one. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask me now." The students were still unfamiliar with each other, and no one wanted to be the first to speak. The room fell into an awkward silence. "Alright then, if there are no questions, let’s arrange seating. We will be drawing lots to decide desk partners. This way, everyone has a chance to get to know different classmates," Li Min announced. The classroom erupted into chatter—some students were excited, while others clearly weren’t thrilled. The moment of truth arrived. Half of the students picked slips of paper. Those who were drawn would be their new desk partners. Lin Shizhao didn’t draw—she was one of those being drawn. Before long, Gu Helin calmly gathered his belongings and walked over. When Yu Fei saw him approaching, she instantly understood. Smiling at Lin Shizhao, she teased, "Shizhao, you’re so lucky! But I guess we’re not meant to be seatmates. Come find me during breaks!" With that, she packed her things and left. Gu Helin walked over unhurriedly, settling into the seat by the window. A ray of sunlight streamed through, casting a glow on his jet-black hair, making him look fresh and radiant. Beside him sat a beautiful girl, quiet and poised, whose personality seemed to contrast sharply with her appearance. The two of them, bathed in golden light, embodied the essence of youth—perhaps hidden somewhere within the school’s sunlit corners.