Chapter Four: The Plan to Save the Big Boss

Ye Mian lifted her gaze to the faint moonlight above, feeling deeply conflicted within. No matter how you looked at him, he didn’t seem like someone truly evil. To end up with such a fate—anyone would feel a pang of regret.

After a sigh, a sudden, incredible idea rose in Ye Mian’s mind. Perhaps, while she was still young, she could try to guide the prodigy onto the right path? The thought stirred excitement in her. It was only a tentative attempt; if the future could be changed, then whether or not she gained anything, she would at least feel much better for having saved someone who had lost their way—a sense of morality nurtured by her past profession.

On a summer night, the rain began to fall again, and faint chirps of insects echoed from the distant grass. The coolness of the night lingered, and with the two secrets she now carried—her rebirth and the plan to save the prodigy—Ye Mian slept restlessly.

Her sleep had never been the best; when stirred emotionally, she often dreamed. Most dreams featured people she knew, with both pleasant and unpleasant content. Occasionally, she dreamed of things that had never happened. Ultimately, her thoughts by day became her dreams by night.

That night, she dreamed of Jiang Chen.

The scene was dim, shadows blurred, seemingly inside a classroom. A girl’s voice faintly echoed by her ear, “I’m telling you… after school… don’t go out the front… she’s bringing her boyfriend… waiting to ambush you.”

The words were fragmented and reverberated, their meaning incoherent. She frowned in the dream, not yet able to grasp the situation.

Suddenly, the scene shifted to a dark, secluded alley near the school. The alley was messy and deserted. Jiang Chen stood alone against a crowd, leaning lazily at the alley’s exit, his tone proud and cold: “Are you all coming at once, or one by one?”

His words sparked anger among the group—it was too arrogant.

Her heart tightened with the chilled atmosphere. Jiang Chen in the dream was fierce; he tossed aside his black backpack and struck mercilessly, as if he’d been trained. Clean and swift, with a single kick, he sent the attacker flying.

But there were too many on the other side. Jiang Chen alone was bound to suffer. Ye Mian instinctively tried to pull him away and escape. Yet, before she could touch his hand, the scene suddenly drew back.

Outside that alley, she saw herself. She was wearing her high school uniform, chatting and laughing with classmates, her face radiant with youthful energy, not even a glance cast toward the alley.

Then all went dark, and the dream ended.

She abruptly opened her eyes. The moonlight gently spilled across her desk, covering the floor in silver. Looking at her familiar little room, Ye Mian slowly exhaled, still feeling uneasy.

Absurd.

She had actually dreamed of Jiang Chen fighting. Yet it wasn’t entirely without cause—a chain reaction from overhearing his stepmother’s words that day.

Unable to explain why, her heart felt blocked.

The temperature dropped in the latter half of the night. A breeze swept through, dispelling any trace of sleepiness. Ye Mian reached for a book from the shelf beside her.

She opened to a chapter about dreams.

The beginning read:

“Psychology says, when you dream of someone, it doesn’t mean you’re forgetting them, nor that they’re forgetting you. Rather, your subconscious always holds them, and thus through dreams, tells you that you’ve always been thinking of them, never forgotten. Those who appear in your dreams are the ones your body senses your obsession for, and so, it meets the person you most wish to see on your behalf.”

Ye Mian skimmed the words, lost in thought.

Her mind wandered back to the shallow plan she’d made before sleep.

How to save Jiang Chen?

She didn’t know.

Yet deep within, a seed seemed to be sprouting.

Watered by the dew outside her window.

The name “Jiang Chen” began to grow wildly in her heart.

…

Summer brought frequent rainstorms; in this spell, two or three torrents swept through, and time stretched swiftly in the sound of drizzle.

Ye Mian, unsurprisingly, was trapped at home by the rain, unable to go anywhere.

In a few days, school would begin.

On the first day, Ye Mian rose early, rummaged through the old wardrobe for two brand-new uniforms, and dressed skillfully.

Looking at her bare, makeup-free face in the mirror, she smiled.

This still youthful face no longer bore the exhaustion of late nights and overtime, no traces of dark circles, not even a blemish or a closed pore—just an abundance of collagen.

Her features were well-shaped, with lips curved slightly upward, a gentle smile playing at the corners—no matter how you looked, she was beautiful.

Her father, Ye Haisheng, called before she left. Though he wasn’t there, his voice was full of careful advice, reminding her to bring her water bottle and umbrella, assuring her the tuition was paid, so she needn’t worry.

The care in his tone warmed Ye Mian’s heart. She listened patiently to her father’s nagging and instructions before hanging up, grabbing her umbrella and water bottle, and heading to school.

Her school, Ningcheng No. 1 High, was the best in the city.

Classes were sorted by academic ranking, and twice each term, a major exam divided all students into regular and honors classes.

Two honors classes, seven regular classes.

Someone like Jiang Chen, destined to be a future top scorer in the national college entrance exam, was without question in Honors Class One.

Ye Mian’s grades were good too—she’d spent the first two years in Class Two.

She once thought doing her best was enough, but with the upcoming college entrance exam in a year, Ye Mian felt a surge of motivation.

Her previous life’s university admission hadn’t been bad, but with the advantage of rebirth and a mature mindset, who wouldn’t want to achieve even higher marks and secure a better future?

Besides, Jiang Chen was in Class One.

If she made it there, she could observe Jiang Chen up close, perhaps even learn from his study methods—a great boost to her own performance.

It was a win-win situation.

With these thoughts, Ye Mian arrived at Senior Year Class Two.

The teacher announced passionately that in a month, there would be the class placement exam. Entering a better class meant a better learning environment, encouraging everyone in Class Two to strive for Class One.

Ye Mian listened attentively, jotting down all the review points the teacher mentioned.

During break, she stayed put, diligently flipping through her textbooks.

This repeated until the last period’s dismissal.

Most students had already left.

Only a few girls remained to work on the rear wall’s blackboard.

Ye Mian stayed as well; the teacher had marked many key points today, and she wanted to finish reviewing them all before going home.

The noise in the classroom didn’t distract her; instead, she focused even harder.

Suddenly, the lively classroom fell silent. Her desk mate, Jiang Yuan, tapped her hand, whispering, “Mianmian, look outside—it’s the handsome guy from Class One.”

Without thinking, Ye Mian looked toward the door, only to see Jiang Chen standing at the entrance.