Old Master Chi was stunned when he saw Chi Caishen come down the stairs. The rascal would normally have to be persuaded and urged multiple times before he would follow the given order. Why is Chi Caishen being so obedient today?
Chi Yun walked into the kitchen and saw the ingredients being prepared. She could tell that Old Madam Chi had put in a lot of effort for this meal.
"Today, both of our babies are at home, so I have decided to make dumplings."
"If there's some residual stuffing, we'll make steamed river mollusc."
"River mollusc? What is that?" Chi Caishen tilted his head, clearly not familiar with this delicacy.
"Boys will be boys; they'll never get the things in the kitchen." Old Madam Chi smiled delightfully as she worked on the dumpling stuffing.
Chi Caishen grumbled indignantly, "Grandma, that's not fair. What does gender have to do with it? Why don't you ask her then? I refuse to believe that she knows anything about it either."
"Steamed river mollusc is a common night market delicacy at certain cities. River mollusc is good for detoxification. The way to prepare the dish involves picking out the meat of the mollusc and then mixing it together with minced pork, shredded mushroom, ginger, green onions, and sesame seeds," Chi Yun explained as she helped her grandmother. "After that, the filling is stuffed back into the mollusc shells. The molluscs are then steamed with Shanghai's red oil sauce."
Not only Chi Caishen, but even the two elders were stunned.
Other than shock, Chi Caishen could also feel his stomach growling. Chi Yun's description of the food had his interest piqued.
"Oh my, we've run out of onions, ginger, and garlic. Sweetie, do you mind going shopping with Grandma?"
"We'll leave the boys at home."
...
Chi Yun and Old Madam Chu walked to Beijing's biggest supermarket, close to Shingzhi Villa. After they were done shopping, they prepared to go home.
As they walked out of the supermarket, though, a car accident occurred not far away from them.
Chi Yun turned to the crash and realized it was an accident between two sports cars. Chi Yun's eyes were immediately drawn to the one at the back because it had a gaudy pink paint job.
A man leaned his arm on the window of his backseat. He yawned, and his whole posture was relaxed and languid. Chi Yun saw the man's fair and muscular chest because his shirt was unbuttoned.
People can't even dress properly these days.
When Wang Zhanyan saw Chi Yun, his lips hooked into a smile. Well, this is serendipitous, or is it fated?
...
Chi Yun was sitting on her desk peacefully, reading a political science book.
"Chi Yun teacher Lin is calling you." A senior called her.
Chi Yun got up from her desk as she followed the senior obediently. She watched the busy corridor of the school, filled with students carrying all sorts of emotions on their faces. Happy. Sad. Mischievous. Frustrated.
Since Chi Yun was still down, she failed to see how she crashed into another strong body.
Chi Yun then bowed apologetically.
Wang Zhanyan narrowed his eyes at the girl and walked away to look at his result pasted on the notice board.
1/380: Chi Yun, 750
2/380: Wang Zhanyan, 749
3/380: Lin Xin, 741
4/380: Song Ci-739
...
380/380: Chi Caishen, 21
...
"I have another announcement to make," the headteacher said in the loudspeaker.
The students in Class 1 were already overwhelmed by the arrival of an aloof beauty in their class, and when the headteacher said that she had another announcement to make, the students didn't pay much attention to her. But they did keep their ears open to catch any juicy news.
This class had a total of 40 students, with the addition of Chi Yun. The teacher could understand their excitement, since if there's a transfer student, they either get assigned to Class 2 or 3. She felt relieved that the girl was liked by everyone, and her chances of getting bullied were even less.
"As you all know, Chi Caishen has been suspended for 2 day for inappropriate behavior on the campus." As her words fell into the students' ears, they straightened their backs and looked at him.
Apparently, any news related to Chi Caishen was important.
Chi Yun coughed. Suspended? That insufferable brat!
They had heard the news of Chi Caishen getting suspended for beating Lin Yu of Class 4.
Boss Chi was so cool that he beat Lin Yu even in the principal office.
"Everyone, please welcome Wang Zhanyan to our class!"
The entire class 1 had frightening looks on their faces. Only Chi Yun stayed calm, and she had no idea about the real identities of the two people the teacher was talking about.
"Wang..."
Their eyes fixed on the door, where a tall and lean teenager appeared wearing a black cap. The entire class gasped when he removed his cap and stared right into their eyes, unafraid and proud.
Chi Yun stared at a tall and lean, youthful boy. He was staring at the distance in an straight pose. He has slanted eyebrows like a young and refined man belonging to a scholar family. His nose was standing proudly on his face. His thin lips were impressive, just like the rest of his features.
However, his face didn't seem to match his rebellious aura.
She then frowned. Why was the first button on his uniform unbuttoned again?
Why was his tie hanging loosely on his neck?
And why was he wearing just half of the uniform?
Chi Yun's eyes went wide. She pointed her finger at him and then at her. "He…"
She gritted her teeth.
"Xiao Yun, stay away from him. He is a school tyrant. He beats good students like you," the boy who was sitting in front of Chi Yunsaid in a very soft voice. They had all taken this girl as their little sister.
"Don't talk to him, okay?" the boy warned softly. "Apart from his good looks, good grade, and family status, there's nothing good about him."
She was silent. So the only bad thing about him is his personality.
"My desk?" Wang Zhanyan asked the headteacher.
"Oh, it's the last desk in the last row," Lin Mei said calmly. And when the words registered in her head, even her eyes went wide in shock. She looked at Wang Zhanyan's exquisite face and then at the fragile face of the girl sitting on the last bench.
Before she could say or do anything, Wang Zhanyan was walking to his desk, carrying his empty school bag. His gait was proud and arrogant, just like the rest of him.
Desk arrangements are assigned by ranks. Since she had the highest marks in the entire class and year, she was naturally allotted the last desk; after all, the seating arrangement was made on the basis of marks in the monthly test. It changed every month.
Chi Yun scooted to the corner, putting a ruler in the middle of the desk. She put her things on her side, making sure not to touch his side or him.
He narrowed his eyes, but she harrumphed, and with a pout on her lips, she turned her head away from her.
Wang Zhanyan leaned closer to her, wanting to know what was up with this girl.
"Little firecracker, if you show me attitude, I will lock you in the storage room," Wang Zhanyan whispered in her ear.
Instead of getting scared of him, she pulled out the thick Calculus book and slammed it on the desk, startling everyone in the class, including him.
"Don't talk to me." Chi Yun glared at him.