Chapter Seven: Stealing a Glance by Moonlight

In a daze, Ye Mian finally recalled that she had been knocked down by the person in front of her, but she couldn’t quite grasp the logic in their words—who was supposed to apologize here, anyway?

“Ye Mian, are you alright?” The homeroom teacher, Hu Tan, walked over, glanced at Ye Mian’s wound, and called a girl to help Jiang Yuan and Li support Ye Mian.

“Teacher, I’m hurt!” The girl behind them, ignored by everyone, was nearly beside herself. Unfortunately, her own homeroom teacher wasn’t present, so she could only complain to Hu Tan.

“I’m in pain! It hurts so much!”

Hu Tan adjusted his glasses. He had seen clearly that the girl had collided with Ye Mian first; the rights and wrongs were obvious. Yet, as a teacher, he needed to preserve the students’ dignity. Excessive criticism would only escalate their conflict.

He pointed at the two students, instructing them to help the girl up, and smiled, saying, “Let’s not get agitated. You should all go to the infirmary first. We’ll discuss everything later.”

Ye Mian leaned against Jiang Yuan’s shoulder, the corners of her eyes reddened. Supported by her classmates, she obediently shuffled forward with small, slow steps.

The summer heat pressed down on everyone.

The principal finished his speech, and thunderous applause erupted from the crowd.

Suddenly, a melodious voice came through the speakers.

“Hello, students.”

The voice was strikingly familiar.

Ye Mian, enduring her pain, instinctively turned her head.

A sudden breeze brushed past her ear.

On the stage stood Jiang Chen.

The sunlight streamed in from another angle.

Half his face was bathed in light, his lips touched by a gentle glow, lightly pressed together. His almond eyes were slightly lowered, and he stood upright, speaking calmly, a cool, distant aura surrounding him.

He was gentle, yet aloof.

The entire student body, Ye Mian included, stared at him. Many girls’ eyes sparkled, and even the boys couldn’t help but feel a touch of envy.

Yet his gaze… lingered on Ye Mian.

His features were sharp and distinct, and his almond eyes held a mysterious, unreadable expression as he looked directly at her.

Ye Mian was stunned.

Was he… looking at her?

Jiang Yuan noticed her dazed expression, turned around, and, seeing Jiang Chen, grinned, “Ah, you’re watching Jiang Chen. Being top of the grade really makes a difference—he’s so handsome.”

Ye Mian immediately withdrew her gaze, nodding in agreement. “Yes, he is quite good-looking.”

“Right?” Jiang Yuan sighed regretfully. “It’s just a pity he doesn’t like to be seen much. Maybe he has a bit of a temper. Still, I think he’s the best-looking and top student in our school. Unlike those few clowns in our class, always showing off and causing trouble outside.”

Ye Mian glanced down at her bleeding wound, walking in silence.

Does he have a bad temper?

Ye Mian smiled softly. She didn’t think so. In fact, she believed Jiang Chen was polite and well-behaved—a model student with a promising future.

Perhaps this was the aura of someone destined for greatness.

She walked slowly, the pain in her wound turning numb, and the feeling of being watched lingered behind her.

Not until she descended the stairs and turned into the infirmary did it fade.

...

The infirmary was cool with the air conditioning, quiet and empty, filled with the faint scent of disinfectant.

The girl who had loudly protested and tried to shift blame earlier had already had her wound treated and left. The homeroom teacher waited by the door for Ye Mian.

Seeing her arrive, he pulled out a chair for her to sit and quickly called the school nurse to examine her injury.

The nurse knelt down, first rinsing her wound with saline before disinfecting and applying medicine.

The sting of the saline was sharp, and with the ointment and gauze wrapped around her knees, Ye Mian squeezed her eyes shut in pain.

The nurse paused, then brought over an ice pack and more medication. “It’s nothing serious, just a scrape. Rest a bit and you’ll be fine. Watch your waist, use an ice pack at home, spray some medicine, and avoid running around these next few days.”

The homeroom teacher, witnessing such sensitivity to pain for the first time, was taken aback.

The young girl’s eyes were tightly closed, her long lashes glistening with tears, cheeks smudged with sand, looking both pitiful and disheveled.

Seeing her like this, the teacher swallowed what he wanted to say, rubbed his nearly bald head, and gently reminded her, “Don’t worry. Rest in the classroom for a while. You can skip PE this week—I’ll let the PE teacher know.”

Ye Mian managed to endure the pain and nodded, “Thank you, teacher.”

After returning to the classroom, Jiang Yuan and another classmate comforted her briefly before heading to PE.

Ye Mian lay her head on the desk, a thin sheen of sweat forming on her forehead.

Her dark lashes drooped weakly, showing signs of heat exhaustion.

Several cicadas chirped incessantly from the young trees outside. As she opened her book to review, her eyelids closed involuntarily, and she drifted into a hazy sleep.

She didn’t even hear the footsteps echoing in the quiet classroom.

...

It wasn’t until PE ended that Ye Mian was roused.

She slowly opened her eyes, propped herself up, and heard Jiang Yuan beside her, her cheeks flushed, say, “Mian Mian, did you hear what I said?”

Ye Mian blinked, shook her head. “No, can you say it again?”

Jiang Yuan paused, leaned closer, and whispered, “Just now, several classes were at PE downstairs. We ran into the girl who knocked you down. She’s from Class Six.”

“Oh.” Ye Mian nodded drowsily, still half asleep. She hadn’t taken the earlier incident to heart. “It’s fine. I forgive her.”

She wasn’t one to hold grudges.

Although the girl’s attitude was less than ideal, Ye Mian simply didn’t want to dwell on it.

Perhaps her body returning to seventeen had brought back the same carefree temperament—she was laid-back about things she didn’t care about.

“How are you so magnanimous? I know you’re easygoing,” Jiang Yuan said, poking Ye Mian’s head, “but she’s the one who wants to make a fuss!”

Ye Mian: “…?”

She raised her brows, her voice soft and puzzled, “What is she upset about? Wasn’t it her who ran into me?”

“Yes, but she says you embarrassed her. She said after school she’ll have her boyfriend wait outside to block you. Be careful—I think it’ll be at the front gate. Let’s leave by the back this afternoon.”

Jiang Yuan finished, sighing in worry. “Why is she like this? Blaming others and bullying people. Don’t be too scared; I’ll stick with you.”

“Alright.” Ye Mian blinked. To be honest, she wasn’t afraid.

Dealing with this childish, rebellious girl didn’t faze her.

Besides, she knew self-defense. She could handle one or two guys.

If she couldn’t, she could always call the police.

Her temperament might be slow, but her mind was mature—she didn’t think calling the police was shameful.

But...

This conversation felt oddly familiar to Ye Mian.

As she thought carefully, she realized it came from the dream she had the day she was reborn.

In that indistinct dream—

Jiang Chen... seemed to have gotten into a fight?