By the time Su Xiaonuan reached the school gates, her lungs were burning. But the sight that greeted her made her heart stop completely.
The massive wrought-iron gates of Imperial International Academy were locked.
Standing proudly in front of them was Teacher Wang, the school's infamous disciplinarian, patrolling like a prison warden with a long cane in hand. His sharp eyes swept over the line of unlucky late students who'd already been caught and were standing rigidly in a neat row, heads bowed in shame.
Xiaonuan froze behind a tree just in time, ducking out of sight.
"Oh no," she whispered. "Not today. Not on the first day."
If she was caught now, she'd be given a punishment lecture in front of everyone and detention on top of it. Mr. Wang was merciless, rumor said he once made a student run fifty laps for trying to climb the wall.
Her eyes darted around frantically. That's when she spotted it: The Spot.
Every student who'd ever been late at least once knew about it. There was a narrow passage behind the science building where a low wall led into the courtyard. The wall was just tall enough to keep prying eyes from seeing, and if you were fast enough, you could slip in unseen.
Without hesitation, Xiaonuan sprinted toward it.
Her shoes slapped against the pavement as she rounded the corner, heart pounding like a war drum. She skidded to a stop in front of the wall, tossed her bag over it with a heave, and scrambled up.
"Come on, come on!" she muttered, gripping the rough edge. She clambered up with all the grace of a squirrel and—
Thump!
—landed on the other side with a graceless crash.
"Ow…" she groaned, brushing dirt from her blazer.
She grabbed her bag quickly, about to sneak off toward her classroom, when movement ahead made her freeze.
A boy was standing there.
His uniform indicated he was a senior—same red and black blazer as hers—but she didn't recognize his face. His posture was casual, hands in his pockets, as if he'd been waiting for her.
Xiaonuan darted forward, panic overriding caution. "Please, don't say a word about this, okay? I'll...I'll make it up to you somehow!"
He tilted his head, a slow smile spreading across his annoyingly handsome face.
"Aren't I a pervert or kidnapper anymore?"
Her brain blanked. Recognition hit her like a bucket of ice water.
"Y-You?!" she squeaked.
Standing there, in perfect uniform and flawless composure, was the same guy from the luxury car. The one who'd been trailing her earlier.
"He… attends my school?!" Her voice cracked in horror.
She glanced at his nametag.
Lu Jingchen.
Her mouth ran faster than her brain. "M-Mr. Lu Jingchen! I'm so sorry! I didn't know you were a student! It was...it was all a misunderstanding!"
He raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying this.
"I...I'll...I'll do your homework!" she stammered. "Anything! Just please don't report me! I...oh no, I gotta run!"
Before he could answer, she gave him a hasty bow, spun on her heel, and bolted down the hallway.
Behind her, Lu Jingchen chuckled under his breath.
By the time Xiaonuan reached her classroom, Class D, she was gasping for air. The door was already open, and inside, their homeroom teacher, Mr. Li, was standing at the podium with the attendance list.
"…Lin Mengmeng," he called.
"Present!" her best friend replied brightly, waving from her seat near the window.
Xiaonuan spotted her and waved desperately from the doorway, mouthing: Help me!
Mengmeng blinked, then her eyes widened in delight. Oh, this was going to be fun.
Thinking fast, Xiaonuan gestured wildly: Distract him!
Mengmeng grinned.
"Professor Li!" she suddenly blurted, raising her hand. "Can you draw that diagram you mentioned in our last economics class before break? The one about supply curves?"
Mr. Li frowned, adjusting his glasses. "Miss Lin, this is attendance, not lecture time. You can wait until class."
"But I've been wondering for the entire school break!" she insisted dramatically, clasping her hands. "I couldn't even sleep last night! I need closure!"
He sighed, exasperated. "Fine, fine…" He turned to the board and began sketching a neat diagram.
Taking her chance, Xiaonuan slipped through the back door, crouched low, and tiptoed across the room toward an empty seat. Just a few more steps…
"Ah-ha!"
She froze mid-step.
Mr. Li turned sharply, pointing his marker straight at her. "I knew something was suspicious! Lin Mengmeng never asks questions voluntarily!"
Mengmeng gasped in mock betrayal. "Wow, Mr. Li! Way to crush a girl's academic spirit!"
"Save it." His gaze locked on Xiaonuan. "Su Xiaonuan, detention. First day or not, I won't tolerate tardiness."
"Ahhh!" Xiaonuan groaned, collapsing into her seat. "Mr. Li, I can explain..."
"No explanations," he interrupted.
She slumped miserably. "Great. Perfect. Amazing start to the year."
Before Mr. Li could continue, the classroom door opened again.
Every head turned.
A tall boy with perfectly pressed uniform and striking hazel eyes strode in with calm confidence. His gaze swept the room briefly before landing on Mr. Li.
"And who might you be?" Mr. Li asked.
"Lu Jingchen," he replied smoothly. "New transfer student."
The room erupted in whispers.
"Wait, that Lu Jingchen?"
"The heir to Lu Conglomerate?"
"He's so handsome!"
"I heard he ranked top three at his old school!"
Xiaonuan slowly sank lower in her seat, face pale.
Him? Here?
She stared at Lu Jingchen; tall, indifferent, and now, unmistakably, her classmate.
Her mind reeled. She'd just called him a pervert. And, as if that weren't bad enough, she'd offered to do his homework.
A strangled noise escaped her throat.
She was doomed.
Can this day get any worse.
.
.