Volume 3: Love in the Time of Cholera
Chapter 1: The Empty Classroom
“My lady, perhaps you haven’t realized yet, but Shenzhou is a magical country. Back in 1582, the Ming Empire, the predecessor of the Shenzhou Constitutional Monarchy, faced a crisis that almost led to its downfall. It was thanks to the emperor named Zhu Zhengyuan that the Ming Empire was able to turn the tide. However, historians have consulted thousands of historical documents and haven’t found any record of this emperor’s origins. He appeared suddenly, like a savior. Some say that Emperor Zhu Zhengyuan was a reborn individual, traveling back in time from the future to 1582. This could also explain his series of radical and bold political actions. Perhaps in another timeline, the Ming Empire had already perished?” Mr. Diplomat continued to ramble on about what he had read from some unknown unofficial history. “My lady, are you listening?”
“Yes, sir, I am listening.” To be honest, Wen Hupo wasn’t listening to him at all. She was completely focused on observing the classroom on the other side of the glass. Dozens of black-haired children sat in the same classroom, listening to the teacher’s lecture. This was both nostalgic and novel for Wen Hupo.
The beautiful figure of the blonde girl flashed past the window like a ghost, causing a stir in the classrooms along the entire corridor.
“Did you guys see that just now? Two foreigners, a tall man and a girl?”
“That girl is so beautiful, her skin is so white.”
“I think she’s too pale, like a corpse, without any warmth.”
Foreigners weren’t uncommon at Chuanhai No. 1 High School. Chuanhai had a special preparatory school for international students, located in another part of the city. The foreign students there loved to shout, “This is China, those who offend China, no matter how far away, will be punished!”
What was rare was a beautiful blonde girl, not the dazzling bright gold, but more like platinum, even her eyelashes tinged with a platinum sheen. Her features were as delicate as an angel’s. A bit more would be too much, a bit less would lack charm. Her temperament was calm and peaceful, like the goddess in every boy’s dream. Few Western women possessed such a temperament. To the people of Shenzhou, they were too passionate, too unrestrained, like wild horses, not steeds.
It was mid-November, the mid-term exams had just ended, and the students had just been released from the pressure of studying. They were in a state of bursting energy. The arrival of Wen Hupo at this time caused quite a stir among the student body.
Wen Hupo followed her father to the principal’s office, listening to their conversation. Her future placement was decided in just a few words. She didn’t listen carefully and didn’t know which class she would be in. However, it didn’t matter which class it was, she wasn’t going to attend classes anyway.
“Student Wen Hupo, do you have any special requests?” The principal was a considerate man, seemingly afraid of not treating foreign guests well enough, so he specifically asked her this question.
“I want an empty classroom.” Wen Hupo thought for a moment. “A classroom for painting, where I won’t be disturbed.”
“Would a club activity classroom be alright?” The principal pondered. “I remember there’s a vacant classroom. I’ll call the Student Affairs Office. You can just go get the key later.”
“Thank you for your trouble.” She crossed her hands in front of her abdomen and bowed slightly, like a lady.
Mr. Diplomat was a busy man. Seeing that the most difficult matter of transferring schools was settled, he prepared to leave. “My lady, I’ve rented a detached villa near the school for you to live in. If you have any inconvenience in your daily life, I can hire a maid for you. Oh, it seems that Shenzhou doesn’t have maids. Anyway, if you have any problems, you can come to the consulate to find me. I usually live there, you know?”
“Thank you.” Wen Hupo said calmly, seemingly not resisting her solitary fate at all. She was used to Mr. Diplomat’s indifference towards her. As far as she knew, the only reason Mr. Diplomat had summoned her back was to get a bigger share of the inheritance.
“You’re so understanding.” Mr. Diplomat said with a chuckle, then tipped his hat. “You can go to class now. Goodbye.”
Wen Hupo wasn’t going to attend class. After bidding farewell to her father, she took the key to the activity classroom and, following the instructions of the teacher from the Student Affairs Office, went to Building Three. She found a particularly empty classroom. Well, not as empty as she had imagined.
A slender girl was quietly cleaning the classroom with a broom. Wen Hupo didn’t make a sound to disturb her, just observed the girl carefully. She was slender, with long black hair, an oval face, and watery eyes. She was a beauty with an Eastern charm. Her movements were gentle, blending perfectly with the quiet classroom, so serene that Wen Hupo didn’t want to break the tranquility.
Chu Jingyi swept the classroom again. Since Lu Li left, she often did this. Only in this empty classroom could she calm down and savor Lu Li’s words that day. She put down the broom, looked at the clean floor, and thought to herself, now Lu Li wouldn’t laugh at her for not knowing how to do housework, right? She suddenly saw the blonde girl leaning against the door.
“May I help you?”
“I speak Chinese.”
Chu Jingyi awkwardly clasped her hands behind her back. “Hello, what can I do for you?”
Is she also a student? Silly Goose thought to herself.
“I got the key to this classroom from the teacher.” Wen Hupo shook the key in her hand.
Chu Jingyi’s eyes widened slowly. “This classroom is already being used by a club.” It was Lu Li’s so-called game production club. It had been a month, and there was still no prototype.
“Is it yours?” Wen Hupo’s expression remained unchanged as she spoke, as indifferent as a robot. It wouldn’t be unacceptable if it was this girl. She looked like a well-behaved and sensible child, barely qualified to share this classroom with her.
“It’s not mine, it’s Lu Li’s.” Chu Jingyi’s tone was slightly stern. “This is Lu Li’s club classroom.”
Lu Li? A man? Wen Hupo suddenly lost interest. She said, “This is the principal’s arrangement.”
“No. How could he do this?” Chu Jingyi frowned again. When she was with Lu Li, she rarely frowned. But since Lu Li left, she had been frowning more and more often. Speaking of which, had it been a week since Lu Li went to Mulan City? Was he used to it there? How should she talk to him when he came back?
The two girls stood there, neither willing to give in. If it was her own matter, Chu Jingyi might have kindly backed down. But this classroom belonged to Lu Li, and she didn’t want to give anything of Lu Li’s to anyone else. As for Wen Hupo, it didn’t matter who occupied the classroom, as she had the principal’s permission.
The atmosphere became a bit tense. In the end, it was Chu Jingyi who softened. “What do you want to use this classroom for?”
“Painting.” She answered quickly and decisively, as if she had anticipated Chu Jingyi’s question.
Just then, hurried footsteps came from the corridor outside. It was An Baili’s voice. “Jingyi! Jingyi! Something terrible happened! Mulan City is on lockdown!”
Leave a Reply to Akirei Cancel reply