Chapter Three: Going to School

"Alright." Leng Zhen nodded and walked over to the dining table.

"Xiao Zhen, I’ve already finished your enrollment for school. You’ll be attending the same school as your sister," Shi Dingguo said to Leng Zhen in a tone that was meant to sound kind.

"There’s no need to trouble you, Uncle. I can handle it myself." Leng Zhen nodded, her face expressionless. "Uncle, I’ve finished eating. I’ll head to school now."

"Go on then."

...

After Leng Zhen left, Leng Shumei looked at her departing figure with disgust and asked Shi Dingguo, "Why are you so nice to that girl? She’s always been strange since she was born, and she still acts like that."

"Don’t get upset," Shi Dingguo soothed, massaging Leng Shumei’s shoulders. "We need to treat her well since we’re planning to transplant Leng Zhen’s heart into Xiao Su’s body, don’t we?"

"You’re right. Still, Su Mei is the only true heiress of the Shi family. Leng Zhen is just an adopted girl, unworthy of that status." Hearing Shi Dingguo’s words, Leng Shumei finally relaxed. "If it weren’t for Su Mei’s heart condition, we would never have taken Leng Zhen back."

"Yes, yes, you’re right. Now, let’s eat."

"Alright."

They thought this matter would remain a secret from start to finish, but little did they know, Leng Zhen had stood quietly by the door the whole time, listening to their conversation.

When they finished talking, she left for school on her own, unnoticed. Blood seeped from her palm...

...

"Ting, last night I forgot to ask—why were you so attentive to Leng Zhen’s little sister?" Shen Dongling sat on the sofa in the president’s office of Cheng Group, watching Cheng Yunting work through his documents.

Cheng Yunting’s body stiffened for a moment, but he quickly regained composure. "Did you find what I asked you to look into?"

"I did, but there’s only a little information on Xiao Zhen. To me, it looks like she has a powerful force behind her." Shen Dongling handed the investigation results to Cheng Yunting.

Cheng Yunting took the report, but his mind was clearly elsewhere. "Xiao Zhen? Since when did you become so close with Leng Zhen?"

"Oh, no, not that close. Leng Zhen, Leng Zhen." Shen Dongling caught himself and hurriedly corrected his words.

Cheng Yunting nodded, glancing at the report, and couldn’t help but recall their first meeting...

It had been in the Plum Garden. His mother had dragged him there to celebrate his nominal foster sister’s birthday, which also marked her becoming the head of the Qin and Su families.

He’d never liked socializing, so he’d slipped off to the back garden, having heard it was filled with beautiful flowers.

There, he had encountered Leng Zhen, who wasn’t wearing a mask. Though she was still young and hadn’t fully grown into her features, she was strikingly pretty.

He’d been so entranced that he accidentally fell into the swimming pool. Leng Zhen, who’d been chatting with her older brother, rushed over upon hearing the splash and saved him.

After she pulled Cheng Yunting from the water, people started coming to the back garden, and Leng Zhen, hoping to quickly change and put on her mask, was caught by Cheng Yunting.

With a pale face, he’d asked, "What’s your name?"

Not wanting to reveal her true identity then, Leng Zhen had given him another name: "Leng Zhen."

Now, thinking back, Cheng Yunting realized her background was anything but simple. All the guests at that banquet had been representatives of the world’s top 500 companies and national dignitaries, with tight security. How could a little girl have slipped in?

Could it be... Leng Zhen was actually the head of the Qin and Su families? But that didn’t seem possible. Why would she sneak in?

"By the way, Ting, Leng Zhen has transferred to Axi Academy as a senior..." Before Shen Dongling could finish, Cheng Yunting was already walking out of the office.

"Hey! Ting, wait up!" Shen Dongling stared for a moment before hurrying after him.

"Call Cheng Xi over and tell her to protect Leng Zhen at all times," Cheng Yunting instructed as he stopped and turned to Shen Dongling.

"Got it." Shen Dongling nodded and quickly followed after Cheng Yunting.

"My little ancestor, what brings you to study here?" Axi Academy’s principal looked at Leng Zhen, torn between laughter and tears. Not long ago, they hadn’t been able to invite this little ancestor no matter how hard they tried—now she’d come of her own accord. The key was, she was fully qualified to be a professor, yet chose to be a student. It was absurd.

"Family pressure," Leng Zhen replied, sitting in a chair and staring at her phone without looking up.

The principal wiped sweat from his brow. Who on earth could force this little ancestor to obediently attend school?

"Little ancestor, may I ask who forced you to come to school?" The principal asked, trembling. "If you don’t want to answer, that’s fine."

Leng Zhen popped a lollipop in her mouth. "I was recognized by my birth parents and brought back to the Shi family. They’re the ones forcing me."

"Oh, I see..." Suddenly, the principal remembered: the adopted daughter of the Shi family, the so-called eldest miss, had been brought home. Just yesterday, the Shi family head had asked him to arrange her admission.

"By the way, please don’t reveal my identity at school or call me little ancestor," Leng Zhen said as she slung her backpack on. "I’m off to complete the registration."

"Yes, little—understood."

...

Not long after Leng Zhen left, Cheng Yunting entered.

"Master Cheng, what brings you to our school?" The principal stammered, looking at the man before him.

Why had both these powerful figures come to his humble school on the same day? He couldn’t possibly accommodate them both, especially when they were both so formidable!

"Has Leng Zhen completed her admission procedures?" Cheng Yunting sat on the sofa and asked.

"Yes, yes—she just left my office," the principal replied, puzzled as to why this big shot was asking about the other big shot. Could it be... something between them?

"Hmm. Principal, do you think I could join your school as a teacher?" Cheng Yunting leaned back on the sofa, asking lazily.

The principal wiped the sweat from his forehead and stammered, "Master Cheng, our little establishment can hardly accommodate one great Buddha..."

Before he could finish, Cheng Yunting cut him off. "So, can I be a teacher here or not?"

"Of course, of course, you can even take my position if you wish," the principal replied, voice trembling.

"Good. Then I’ll be the head of the senior year. Any objections?" Shen Dongling laid Cheng Yunting’s credentials on the principal’s desk. "Perhaps you’d like to look at the paperwork first?"

"Very good, Master Cheng," the principal replied after glancing over the documents. "No problem at all. When would you like to start?"

"Tomorrow."

"Very well."

...

After Cheng Yunting left the principal’s office, the principal finally breathed a sigh of relief, no longer crushed by the presence of two titans.

Ah, Axi Academy—blessed with two living Buddhas! The first, head of the Qin and Su families, a top professor at the world’s leading academies... The second, head of the Cheng family, also a top professor, only a level junior to Leng Zhen but equally formidable...

This humble temple had been forced to house two Buddhas. What a fate!

"Everyone, quiet please. This is our new student," Teacher Xu led Leng Zhen into the class and introduced her. "Her name is Leng Zhen, and she’s a transfer student. Leng Zhen, please introduce yourself."

"Hello, everyone. I’m Leng Zhen." With a single strap over her shoulder, she picked up a piece of chalk and wrote her name in large characters on the blackboard.

After that, Leng Zhen said nothing more, and an awkward silence fell over the room.

Seeing Leng Zhen had finished, Teacher Xu quickly had her take a seat. Just then, a man entered with the principal.

Teacher Xu looked curiously at the man beside the principal. The principal whispered a few words to Teacher Xu, who immediately vacated the lectern.

"Good morning, students. Allow me to introduce our new head of the senior year—Cheng Yunting. Please welcome him." The principal said this, his voice shaking under the combined scrutiny of two daunting presences.

The students were puzzled. Why change the head of year now? Back when they’d all signed a petition to replace the previous one, the principal had refused, yet now, without warning, the change was made?

Still, no one showed their doubts; instead, they applauded enthusiastically—except for one.

Leng Zhen stared in disbelief at the man on the podium. It was Cheng Yunting? The head of the Cheng family, coming to teach at such a small place? Was he abandoning his family business? If so, she wouldn’t mind taking it off his hands! (Qin Yanan: Hahaha, you haven’t even managed your own enterprises, and you want someone else’s? What are you thinking?
Cheng Yunting: If my wife wants it, she can have it.)

"Hello, students. I’m your new head of year and chemistry teacher. I look forward to working with you." Cheng Yunting, dressed in a black suit, gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, looked every bit the refined scoundrel.

His appearance made all the girls in the class swoon—except Leng Zhen. Though she had a weakness for good looks, her godmother’s son was definitely out of bounds.

What she didn’t know was that Cheng Yunting had been planning this for a long time...

...

After the last morning class, Leng Zhen went to Teacher Xu’s office.

"May I come in?"

"Please do."

"Teacher Xu, I’d like to pack some things and move into the school dormitory." After the morning’s lessons, Leng Zhen had formed a very good impression of Teacher Xu—gentle, and relaxed about grades.

"Of course. I’ll write you a leave slip so you don’t have to attend afternoon classes. Take your time, settle in, and get used to the environment." Teacher Xu nodded, wrote her a leave slip, and handed it to her.

"Thank you, Teacher Xu." Leng Zhen nodded and left with her bag.

...

"What is it, brother?" Leng Zhen left school, put on her Bluetooth earpiece, and spoke into her phone.

"Next Saturday night is godmother’s forty-fifth birthday. Are you coming?" On the other end was Qin Cheng, eldest son of the Qin family. He sounded a little flustered, though he kept his usual tone.

Leng Zhen paused, then nodded. "I’ll go, but perhaps not as the head of the Qin and Su families."

Qin Cheng also paused, but quickly recovered. "Alright, I understand."

"That’s all, then."

"Okay."

"Ting, look, isn’t that Leng Zhen? Why is she standing there all alone? Should we ask where she’s going and give her a ride?" Shen Dongling spotted Leng Zhen by the roadside and turned to Cheng Yunting.

"Alright," Cheng Yunting nodded.

Sensing his approval, Shen Dongling drove over to Leng Zhen, rolled down the passenger window, and was about to speak when Cheng Yunting beat him to it.

"Xiao Zhen? Where are you headed? Do you want a lift?" Cheng Yunting looked at her seriously.

"I’m going to the Shi family to pick up my things, then to the mall," Leng Zhen replied meekly—after all, he was her godmother’s son, so it didn’t matter. "Master Cheng, aren’t you busy? How do you have time to be here?"

"Not very busy. Do you want a ride?" Cheng Yunting confirmed her intentions. "Where will you live if not at the Shi family?"

"Sure." Leng Zhen nodded easily—after all, it would be silly to refuse a free ride. "I’ll stay in the dormitory."

"Ting, you’re not really—" Shen Dongling started to say that Cheng Yunting wasn’t free at all, but the look in Cheng Yunting’s eyes made him fall silent.

"Why not stay at my villa?" Cheng Yunting, satisfied that Shen Dongling had shut up, turned to ask.

Leng Zhen thought—well, it was a free villa. If she didn’t take it, she’d have to stay in her own. No reason not to accept. "Thank you for your hospitality, Master Cheng."

"No need to thank me," Cheng Yunting replied with a nod.