Xi Si Yan was delayed for quite some time on his way back.

The reason was that, as he exited the office building, he ran into a surprise inspection by the Education Bureau.

Several school leaders accompanied the Education Bureau officials, chatting as they walked.

When they discussed the school’s teaching staff and campus environment, a leader from the logistics group responsible for school expansion eagerly stepped forward, saying, "Our school was fortunate to receive funding last year to renovate the campus and expand our teaching staff. As the top school in Sui City, our enrollment and graduation rates have steadily improved year after year."

The Education Bureau officials responded in a very official tone, "It’s always a blessing to have society support education. What we need to focus on is nurturing every student, not just in academics, but in all areas—moral, intellectual, physical, and artistic development."

“Absolutely,” everyone around him agreed.

As they were talking, someone noticed Xi Si Yan.

Upon recognizing him, the school leaders couldn’t hide their smiles.

Finally, Mr. Lai, the second-year grade director, waved at Xi Si Yan and introduced him to the Education Bureau officials. "It’s quite the coincidence; this student here is one of our school’s shining stars. He’s in the second-year experimental class, excels in academics, and is outstanding in all aspects."

Faced with so many high-ranking officials, the remarkably talented young man showed no sign of unease. He greeted them and briefly explained why he was outside during class.

The lead official from the Education Bureau tilted his head to listen as his assistant whispered something. The official’s initially aloof demeanor shifted to one of genuine warmth. He smiled kindly, saying, “So, this is the famous son of the Xi family?”

“Yes, that’s right,” one of the school leaders chimed in, adding, “The two new teaching buildings we constructed last year were thanks to the Xi family’s connections. This boy is very low-key.”

The Education Bureau official nodded approvingly, “Very good.”

As if recalling something casually, he continued, “Last year, I met Jian Yu, and he mentioned he had a nephew at your school. He didn’t mention, though, that he was so handsome.”

Xi Si Yan masked his amused smile.

Outwardly, he maintained his polite and pleasant demeanor, responding to the official’s attempt at familiarity, “My second uncle often says that most of the people in the education system are driven by their ideals. He’s always been a strong advocate of education, dedicating himself deeply to the field.”

In fact, his second uncle, Xi Jian Yu, was considered the family’s most eccentric member. Known as a bit of a troublemaker during his school years, Xi Jian Yu had barely managed to graduate from a prestigious university thanks to his sharp mind. He had no interest in politics or business, so his involvement in education had been a stroke of luck.

When Xi Jian Yu made the decision to donate the buildings under the family name, he had been lounging on the sofa at home, saying, “Those old bureaucrats in the Education Bureau are the worst—hypocrites, corrupt to the core. Ah Yan, our family’s got nothing but money. Why bother trying to be a ‘Campus Star’? The Xi family is enough for you to have free rein at school.”

Xi Jian Yu’s mother, Xi Si Yan’s grandmother, had smacked him across the head at that comment.

The elderly lady adored Xi Si Yan, and she was quick to scold her son, “Why can’t you ever say anything decent? All you teach him is nonsense! Ah Yan has been a good, obedient child since he was little—smart and considerate.”

Xi Jian Yu had rolled his eyes dramatically, collapsing into his seat. “Mother, are you blind? Him? Obedient? He’s more of a little devil than an angel!”

He then started listing Xi Si Yan’s childhood misdemeanors. From spilling ink on his grandfather’s treasured inkstone at age three and framing his own father for it, nearly resulting in a beating for the man, to at age thirteen, storing stacks of pink love letters that turned out to be accolades and awards, much to the ire of everyone involved.

Xi Jian Yu had loudly declared, “Character is shown in the little things! This smiling little Buddha has been trouble since he was a kid, learning all the wrong lessons from Grandpa!”

Even so, Xi Si Yan always managed to uphold the family’s reputation in public, maintaining their honor. Truly, they were all one family.

One of the school leaders then suggested, “Since we’re already here, why don’t we take a tour of the experimental class?”

The suggestion was met with unanimous approval.

One of the officials asked, “Si Yan, what class are you in right now?”

“Chinese,” Xi Si Yan replied as he led the way. “Mr. Jiang is an experienced teacher, well-read and knowledgeable. His lessons are always lively and engaging, and the students enjoy them.”

The school leaders nodded in agreement. “That’s right, that’s right. I’ve attended Mr. Jiang’s classes before—his students are always very cooperative. And, of course, the experimental class is full of self-motivated top students. The learning atmosphere is excellent. Just wait until you see—”

The words were cut short when they reached the back door of the classroom.

The reason?

At the back of the class stood a boy with a lazy stance and a groggy expression. Though he had a handsome face, the words that came out of his mouth made the school leaders wish they could sew his lips shut.

The boy said, “Sorry, teacher, but your recitation is seriously putting me to sleep. Should I just go stand outside as punishment?”

As soon as Chen Mo uttered those words, he felt an eerie silence fall over the room.

He blinked slowly, following the gaze of the classmates who had turned to look.

Standing there were the green-faced school leaders.

A stunned Mr. Lai.

And a certain class monitor, who appeared both surprised and amused, suppressing a smile as he covered his nose with the back of his hand.

“Chen Mo!” Mr. Lai finally found his voice. “Step outside.”

Chen Mo nonchalantly slid his chair aside and calmly walked out.

The other school leaders, sensing the tension, quickly ushered the Education Bureau officials to another part of the school. Only the grim-faced Mr. Lai, Chen Mo, and the still-entranced Xi Si Yan remained outside the classroom.

Mr. Lai didn’t immediately reprimand him. Instead, he softened his tone slightly, as if trying to reason with him, “Chen Mo, did you not sleep well last night?”

“I slept just fine, Director,” Chen Mo replied, glancing at Xi Si Yan standing nearby before looking away. After a moment’s pause, he added, “I’ve just been feeling unusually sleepy lately. Maybe I’ve developed narcolepsy.”

“Enough with the jokes!” Mr. Lai snapped, swatting the back of Chen Mo’s head with a rolled-up piece of paper. “Answer me properly.”

Rubbing the spot where he’d been hit, Chen Mo sighed. “Alright, fine. I’ll admit it. The Yang family paid to get me into this school, but I can’t keep up with the experimental class. I don’t understand a word of what’s going on. Can I transfer to a regular class?”

“Absolutely not!” Mr. Lai immediately rejected the idea, clearly upset. “I’ve heard the rumors going around the school, but I’ve seen your past grades. You’re not that far behind.”

Chen Mo chuckled, “Are you going to tell me you didn’t know the level of my previous school? Let’s be honest—if I can even manage to stay in the middle of a regular class here, I might as well have won the lottery in my past life.”

He hadn’t won the lottery in his past life.

The price of staying in the experimental class back then had been countless nights spent studying until dawn and stacks upon stacks of exam papers that had nearly buried him. Although his college entrance exams had ended in disappointment for reasons beyond his control, those days had been real.

He hadn’t forgotten everything he’d learned.

But the idea of going through it all again, striving for academic success, didn’t particularly interest him.

“That’s not true,” Xi Si Yan suddenly interjected.

Chen Mo blinked, not expecting him to chime in. “What do you mean?”

“Your grades aren’t bad enough to be middle-ranked in a regular class,” Xi Si Yan said, his hands casually in his pockets. “I saw your entrance exam scores. You’d be near the bottom of the experimental class, but you’re still holding on.”

Chen Mo quirked an eyebrow. “Ever heard the saying, ‘Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix’?”

“Do you really want to be the head of a chicken?” Xi Si Yan asked. “Just so you know, even if you switch to a regular class, there’s no way you’ll get away with sleeping through class.”

Mr. Lai nodded vigorously. “Chen Mo, don’t give up on yourself. I’ll figure something out.”

Chen Mo wanted to tell them he wasn’t giving up at all.

He just didn’t like the current atmosphere of the experimental class. Dealing with one Yang Shu Le was bad enough. Besides, he had a significant amount of money in hand, along with an investment plan that sidestepped the Yang family altogether.

After graduating from high school, he could sever financial ties with the Yang family completely and go to a decent university. That would be more than enough. Just because he accidentally fell asleep once didn’t mean he was throwing in the towel.

Then he glanced at the relaxed figure beside him.

What was this guy’s deal?

Why was the class monitor suddenly so interested in helping him?

Chen Mo found out during third-period physics just what Mr. Lai meant by “figuring something out.”

When their homeroom teacher, Mr. Xiang, walked into the classroom, he scanned the room before saying, “Xi Si Yan, move your desk next to Chen Mo’s.”

The entire class fell silent.

Xi Si Yan, unfazed, calmly responded, “Why doesn’t he move here instead?”

“You’re blocking the door,” Mr. Xiang replied. “One on the left, one on the right—you two can guard the experimental class together. Chen Mo is new here. As the class monitor, it’s your responsibility to help him with his studies.”

The class erupted into murmurs.

Mr. Xiang raised his voice, “Quiet!”

The lesson began.

It was a full and productive class, with no chance for Chen Mo to nap. He even took some notes.

His physics grades had always been decent, and Mr. Xiang’s unique teaching style had certainly played a part in that.

When class ended, the classroom buzzed with chatter.

Many students turned to watch Xi Si Yan as he calmly packed up his things.

Chen Mo could feel a particularly intense gaze on him. He didn’t need to guess who it was. As he watched Xi Si Yan lift his desk and move it to the back of the room, he leaned back in his chair and asked, “Are you doing this to get back at me?”

Xi Si Yan set his desk down, arranging his books with a cool indifference. “What would I need to get back at you for?”

Chen Mo gestured toward the front of the room.

Xi Si Yan followed his gaze and raised an eyebrow.

“Yang Shu Le?”

“Who else?”

Xi Si Yan paused for a moment, then looked down at him. “I think you’ve asked me this twice now. Care to explain why?”

Chen Mo thought back to the night he had gotten into his car.

He sighed, too tired to explain again. “Isn’t my relationship with him reason enough?”

Xi Si Yan seemed to think for a moment before understanding dawned on him.

He let out a quiet laugh.

“You think I’m interested in him?”

Fortunately, the class was noisy, and most of the students were out of earshot. No one seemed to have overheard.

Chen Mo was taken aback by his bluntness. He gave Xi Si Yan an appraising look. “I’ve got to hand it to you, Class Monitor. Not many goody-two-shoes students would talk about romantic interests so casually.”

Xi Si Yan smirked, his eyes cold. “Who told you I like guys?”

This time, it was Chen Mo who was left speechless. In his memory, back when they were in high school, whenever he saw Xi Si Yan, Yang Shu Le was always by his side. At home, Yang Shu Le constantly talked about Xi Si Yan, and his parents were always encouraging them to spend more time together, maintaining a close relationship.

Chen Mo recalled that Yang Shu Le had confessed to Xi Si Yan during the second semester of their second year—just not yet.

Though the window hadn’t been shattered at that point, surely Xi Si Yan knew by now whether he liked guys or girls?

Chen Mo also remembered the rumors about Xi Si Yan’s discreet coming out many years later.

Could this guy still be deeply closeted?

“Yan-ge!” At that moment, one of Xi Si Yan’s close friends, Qi Lin, who would later become quite notorious in the gay scene in Sui City, approached. He draped an arm over Xi Si Yan’s shoulder, surveying the scene. “This seat isn’t bad, but it’s not as private as your last spot.”

Without missing a beat, Xi Si Yan nonchalantly removed Qi Lin’s arm. “It’s fine.”

Then he turned and caught Chen Mo’s gaze.

His eyes carried a hint of danger. “I know what you’re thinking. Don’t.”

Qi Lin looked confused. “What are you talking about? What were you two discussing?” Then he noticed Chen Mo. “Hey, you’re Chen Mo, right? You’re pretty tall. How about joining us for basketball at noon?”

“I’ll pass.”

“Huh? Why not?”

Chen Mo smiled faintly. “Don’t want to give the other team a complex.”

“Wow! So cocky,” Qi Lin exclaimed, clearly intrigued.

Chen Mo casually pulled out his book for the next class, extinguishing Qi Lin’s excitement. “I’m busy at noon. Need to move into my dorm.”

 

TL NOTE: Please don't skimp on the stars for the translation - I'd really like to see how far Leon goes and how far we can increase the number of chapters. Thanks~!

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