No. 38 Even When the Future is Uncertain
The sky was overcast.
Dark clouds loomed overhead, blocking the sun, but there was no hint of rain. A sense of unease settled over me.
As usual, I arrived at Huang Yingdie’s residential complex early, riding my bike.
“Good morning, Yi Yao!”
To my surprise, she was wearing the new Upper Capital City school uniform: a white shirt, a red scarf, a plaid skirt, knee-high socks, and her long hair tied neatly in a ponytail. If it weren’t for her signature smile, I would have thought I had the wrong person.
“What’s with…”
I parked my bike and stared at her. “Did you hit your head last night?”
The new uniform had just been released as part of the recent education reforms. Few students had purchased it yet, and those who did were mostly boys. Girls in Upper Capital City had never worn skirts as part of their school uniform before, and it was taking some time for them to adjust to the change.
“You’re the one who hit their head!”
As expected, she was easily provoked. She pouted and got on the back of my bike, then dropped a bombshell. “I’m transferring to your school today. You don’t have to take me to Nurturing Talent anymore.”
“What?”
I frowned. “Isn’t Nurturing Talent the best school in the city? Why would you transfer to our school?”
She turned her head away. “My dad saw your exam results and said I should transfer so you can tutor me.”
“Is your dad stupid?”
“I think so too.”
“Is it final?”
“Yes. I got my transfer documents yesterday.”
She pulled out a student ID card from our school. “Look, you know how adults are. Their logic is beyond our understanding. Besides, I don’t have any friends at Nurturing Talent. It doesn’t matter where I go.”
“But… this is too sudden.”
I was still confused. “We’ve only known each other for less than a month.”
“It’s not like we’re getting married. What does knowing each other for a few months have to do with transferring schools?” She poked me in the waist impatiently. “If you can pull some strings and get me transferred back, go ahead. If not, start pedaling. I need to fill out some forms with your homeroom teacher.”
This was getting ridiculous…
I got on my bike and asked, “So, you’re going to be in my class?”
“Most likely.”
“You’re going to take the high school entrance exam at our school?”
“Yes. Is there a problem with that?”
“No.”
“…”
Another event that could potentially alter my fate, the fate of Class 11, and the fate of certain individuals.
I wasn’t sure about Huang Yingdie’s future. She was already gone in the other world at this point. But her father’s connections would definitely be affected by this decision, which could indirectly impact his future.
In Upper Capital City, transferring schools required connections, the infamous “backdoor” method. And at this crucial time, so close to the high school entrance exam, it was even more difficult, unless you had powerful allies.
But using those connections meant incurring debts, either monetary or social.
The recent news stories had already thrust Huang Yingdie and her father into the spotlight. Abusing his power to transfer his daughter at this sensitive time was a foolish move.
“We have a new student joining our class today.”
The homeroom teacher entered the classroom, Huang Yingdie trailing behind her.
The usually noisy classroom fell silent.
“Our new student was previously attending Nurturing Talent Middle School. She’s transferring due to family reasons. She’s a bit shy, so please be kind to her.”
Xiaodie, dressed in her short skirt, black knee-high socks, and with her hair tied in a ponytail, became the center of attention.
Her figure was flawless. Thanks to her training, her legs were toned and slender, her white skin creating a perfect “absolute territory” beneath her skirt. Perhaps due to her small appetite, she looked delicate and fragile, her face flushed with shyness.
Wait, she’s shy?
“Introduce yourself.”
The homeroom teacher smiled at her, a smile she had never bestowed upon any of us before.
“I… my name is Huang Yingdie… Ying as in shadow, Die as in butterfly…”
She kept her head down as she spoke.
“Please… please take care of me.”
She was a completely different person from the stoic and aloof girl at the Taekwondo gym.
“Alright, everyone, you’ve met our new student. Huang Yingdie’s grades might not be ideal, so… you can sit next to Yi Yao. Her deskmate recently dropped out. You’re both girls, so you can help each other.”
Only the students knew about Lan Zhuoyue’s passing. The teachers, including the homeroom teacher, thought he had simply dropped out. His books and belongings had been cleared away by the cleaning staff.
Relieved, Huang Yingdie scurried over to my desk and sat down.
“That’s all for now. Take out your books. It’s time for morning reading.”
I snapped out of my daze as the teacher left the classroom.
“Seriously?” I whispered to Xiaodie. “Are you putting on an act?”
She blushed. “No…”
“Don’t tell me…” I glanced around the classroom. “You have social anxiety?”
Now that I thought about it, I had never seen her interact with anyone else.
We were usually alone, and during Taekwondo training, I was her only instructor. She had barely spoken to me during our first few encounters.
So, her shyness wasn’t an act?
I vaguely remembered a roommate in my previous life who was like that. He was incredibly quiet and reserved around strangers, avoiding conversations whenever possible. Public speaking was his worst nightmare. But once you got to know him, he was the most talkative and outgoing person in the dorm.
“Mind your own business!”
She turned her head away, her cheeks still flushed.
“Hey, you two know each other?”
The boy in front of us turned around, his eyes gleaming with opportunity. “You actually know the school beauty? I need to get in on this.”
“We…”
I was about to say “yes,” but she pinched my thigh hard.
“Ow… no, we don’t know each other.”
“Oh… never mind. If you have any questions, just ask me or Da Liao. I’d be happy to help.”
He turned back, his gaze lingering on Xiaodie with a predatory gleam.
“What was that for?”
I hissed at her.
“Hmph.”
She blushed even deeper. “Mind your own business. I don’t need your help.”
With that attitude, no boy will ever want you!
“Fine, fine, I won’t bother you.”
I was used to her tsundere personality. I pulled out my English textbook.
After morning reading, a few boys tried to approach her, but her shy demeanor deterred them.
Chinese, Chinese, math, English—the morning classes passed quickly.
For four entire periods, Huang Yingdie didn’t say a word to me or leave her seat.
The fourth period ended with eye exercises, giving us a fifteen-minute break. I grabbed a bottle of water from my bag, my head spinning from all the studying.
“Yi… Yi Yao…”
Huang Yingdie tugged at my sleeve.
“Hmm?”
“Can you…”
She sat with her legs tightly crossed, her posture awkward, her black knee-high socks slipping down slightly. But somehow, it only made her look even more adorable.
“Can I what?”
“Take me to the restroom…”
Her voice was barely a whisper.
I chuckled. “Can’t you go by yourself?”
“I…”
“Didn’t you say you didn’t need my help?”
She curled up in her seat, her legs pressed even tighter together, her voice trembling. “Please…”
Her tone made me drop my playful facade. “Have you been holding it in all morning?”
“Yes…”
“What am I going to do with you?”
Pride before a fall.
I took her hand and helped her up. As we walked towards the door, I felt her grip tighten.
“Slow… slow down…”
She was practically crouching, her face contorted in pain or discomfort.
“If it weren’t for all these students watching, I’d carry you again.”
I walked beside her, supporting her with my arm. “Let’s go. People will get the wrong idea if they see you like this.”
“Wrong idea? About what?”
I glanced around, making sure no one was paying attention to us, then whispered in her ear, “They’ll think your friend has arrived.”
“Oh…”
My words jolted her back to reality. She straightened up immediately.
“Alright, let’s go. I’ll show you around the building.”
Yi Yao’s period had just ended, so I was acutely aware of this “privilege” that only girls experienced.
For an entire week, I had endured random cramps and inexplicable mood swings.
They said Yi Yao’s symptoms were relatively mild because of her training. I couldn’t imagine how other girls, with weaker constitutions, coped with this monthly visitor.
“Yi Yao…”
As we returned from the restroom, she took my hand.
“What?” I asked casually.
“Thank you…”
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