October 9th, Saturday (make-up class due to a holiday adjustment). It was the second morning after Che Xiayun transmigrated into the book. The alarm clock on her bedside went off on time, singing and dancing cheerfully.
Startled awake by the vibration, Che Xiayun stretched her hand out from under the covers and slapped the alarm clock. After fumbling around for a moment, she found her phone and groggily opened her eyes to check the time, 7:00 sharp.
She quickly crawled out of bed, rubbed her messy long hair, and muttered to herself, “Still growing, as expected.”
In the original story, Che Xiayun was only sixteen years old, just starting her first year of high school. Even the biological clock she brought from her previous life was useless, she still slept like a log at night.
But in reality, Che Xiayun was already quite tall, standing out even among her female alpha peers at a height of 173 cm.
After washing up and taking off her soft sleeping gown, Che Xiayun changed into the alpha uniform of Shengzhe High School, a dark blue academic-style suit set consisting of a white shirt, blue vest, blue-black gradient trousers, a striped tie, and a stylish blazer embroidered with the school emblem.
Dressed like this, she looked like a premium version of a male flight attendant. Che Xiayun examined her upright posture in the mirror. Aside from the large bump on her forehead, she had to admit she looked quite handsome.
She took a moment to admire her own beauty before grabbing her backpack from the computer desk, picking up her phone, and heading downstairs.
Unlike the previous night’s emptiness, the villa’s first-floor hall was bustling with servants passing by, each greeting her with, “Young Mistress.”
Che Xiayun would nod if she was in a good mood or simply ignore them if she wasn’t.
Ma Qingyu was already seated at the dining table, eating her breakfast with extreme elegance. When she saw Che Xiayun come down, a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes, she had actually gotten up on time and was properly dressed in her uniform.
Their agreement from the previous night was that Che Xiayun had to arrive at school on time today, wear her uniform properly, and not cause any trouble proactively.
A well-dressed, efficient-looking middle-aged woman immediately approached Che Xiayun upon seeing her, her gaze lingering on the large bump on her forehead with concern. “Oh my, young lady, what have you been up to? How did you get such a big bump on your forehead?”
Che Xiayun impatiently pushed her away. “It’s nothing. I just accidentally bumped into the doorframe.”
The middle-aged woman, Auntie Xu, was familiar with her temper and didn’t take offense. Instead, she chattered on with words of concern before directing a servant to fetch ice and a towel.
Che Xiayun temporarily ignored her ramblings and walked straight to the dining table, sitting down with a yawn. “Alright, Auntie Xu, I get it. Make me a latte, I’m so sleepy.”
After speaking, she yawned again, dark circles faintly visible around her eyes, clearly indicating a lack of sleep.
“Alright, right away,” Auntie Xu quickly responded, summoning a nimble-handed maid and pointing to the ice and towel. “You, apply this to the young mistress’s injury. Be gentle and quick about it.”
The maid nodded repeatedly. “Yes, ma’am.”
Che Xiayun glanced at the maid she was short, with a relatively delicate appearance, some freckles on her face, and looked quite young.
She forked a piece of sliced steak, put it in her mouth, chewed a couple of times, and pointed to the left side of her forehead. “Hey, what are you standing around for? Come over here, quick this side.”
The steak was a bit undercooked, probably around medium-rare, but it was indeed tender with fresh meat quality. When she took a bite, the juices burst in her mouth. Although Che Xiayun wasn’t quite used to the original host’s eating habits, she reluctantly accepted it.
“Right away, Young Master.” The maid immediately wrapped some ice cubes in a clean towel, hurried over to her, and carefully pressed the towel against Che Xiayun’s temple. She kept her arm raised, not daring to move an inch.
On the surface, Che Xiayun calmly ate her steak, but inwardly, she sighed. Am I really that unlikable? I haven’t done anything immoral, and I’m quite good-looking too.
Ma Qingyu finished the last sip of her soy milk, gently dabbed the corner of her mouth with a napkin, and looked up at Che Xiayun sitting across from her. Her gaze was complex, and her words carried a hidden meaning. “Find some time to get a health check-up at the hospital.”
Che Xiayun choked abruptly, her face flushing bright red. “Cough, cough! I’m perfectly healthy! No need for you to worry, cough, cough.”
So she really did hear me yelling randomly last night.
Ma Qingyu noticed her flustered state, a hint of amusement flickering in her eyes as the corners of her mouth lifted involuntarily.
Auntie Xu had just brought out the freshly brewed latte when she saw Che Xiayun choking. She quickly set the coffee on the dining table and patted her back. “Why did you choke all of a sudden? There’s no rush for school take your time eating.”
Che Xiayun caught sight of Ma Qingyu sneaking a laugh from across the table and felt both embarrassed and angry. For a moment, she was at a loss for words, and her temper flared. She tossed her fork aside. “I’m full.”
Auntie Xu glanced at the half-eaten steak and untouched grape juice on the plate, making a mental note. “Alright, Driver Zhang is already waiting outside.”
Seeing the freshly brewed latte by her hand, Che Xiayun casually called over a servant. “Pack the coffee for me. I’ll drink it on the way.”
Auntie Xu observed this thoughtful gesture and tucked it away in her heart, her smile growing even brighter. Though the Young Master speaks bluntly, she still appreciates her housekeeper deep down.
＊
Ma Qingyu was a freshman at Jing University, one of the top two universities in the country, majoring in Business Administration. She had taken a day off for her birthday yesterday, and today she was supposed to attend classes as usual. However, Che Xiayun wasn’t sure whether Ma Qingyu usually went to the company or to school after leaving home.
There was only one dedicated family driver Uncle Zhang, who was from the Che family and solely responsible for Che Xiayun’s transportation. Ma Qingyu usually drove her own BMW coupe.
The Ma family was a well-known elite family in the capital. Though not as nationally renowned as the Che family, they still had considerable influence. Ma Qingyu was the only child of her generation.
The Che and Ma families had been close for generations, and Che Xiayun and Ma Qingyu had grown up together since childhood. Many had joked that they were childhood sweethearts, saying that if they could marry someday, the two families would become even closer, almost like one.
But as children grow up, they develop their own ideas. Che Xiayun was a prime example, she had become extremely rebellious and willful, with a strong personality of her own. She no longer sought out Ma Qingyu to play, and over time, their relationship grew distant.
A little over half a year ago, the plane carrying Che Xiayun’s parents met with an unexpected accident, and both lost their lives, leaving behind a massive inheritance with Che Xiayun as the sole heir.
However, after learning of her parents’ death, her temperament changed drastically. She became moody and unpredictable, utterly incapable of managing the vast Che conglomerate.
After many years of retirement, the elderly patriarch of the Che family was forced to return to the helm. He declared, “The Ma family’s young lady is quite impressive. Che Xiayun, marry her, get the certificate, and live a good life.”
And so, Ma Qingyu moved into the Che family villa, temporarily taking over the role of chairman from Che Xiayun. She managed the conglomerate’s affairs with meticulous order, leading to a rise in quarterly GDP instead of a decline. The plummeting stock prices recovered to their original value and even showed signs of increasing.
Sitting in the back of a luxury car, Che Xiayun held a cup of hot latte, taking small sips as she analyzed the current situation in her head. She came to a very fitting conclusion: she was nothing but a pretty boy living off his wife’s wealth without Ma Qingyu, she was nothing at all.
How wonderful! What a stroke of luck!
Che Xiayun couldn’t help but cheer inwardly. This was undoubtedly a golden opportunity handed to her by the heavens to live a carefree life. With Ma Qingyu managing the family assets, all she had to do was enjoy spending money and maintain a good relationship with her. A wife like this? She’d take a dozen!
The corners of Che Xiayun’s mouth drooled uncontrollably as she indulged in grandiose fantasies.
However, to ensure her safety and maintain her leisurely lifestyle, Che Xiayun first needed to uncover who had tried to assassinate her and find a way to eliminate the mastermind behind it. Only then could she happily embrace her role as a wealthy heiress.
The luxury car, adorned with a gleaming paint job and a license plate bearing the number “888888,” weaved effortlessly through the congested traffic before coming to a smooth stop at the gates of Sage Middle School. The driver, Zhang, seemed completely unaware that he was blocking the entire entrance and calmly reminded Che Xiayun, “Young Master, we’ve arrived at school.”
“Mm.” Che Xiayun finished the last sip of her coffee, picked up her backpack with one hand, and stepped out of the car, clutching the empty double-layered paper cup. She casually tossed it into a trash bin, glanced at the students around her, and flashed a devilish smile.
Snapping her fingers, Che Xiayun summoned a slender girl in an Omega uniform who emerged from the crowd and stood quietly by her side, whispering softly, “Young Master.”
The Omega uniform consisted of a blazer, a half-skirt, and knee-high socks with boots, a rather rigid design, but on this girl, it carried a certain charm.
The girl was painfully thin, standing at 165 centimeters but weighing less than 40 kilograms. Despite her frailty, her skin was fair, her features were delicate, and her large eyes sparkled with intelligence.
Che Xiayun gave a slight nod and tossed her expensive backpack to the girl, adding unexpectedly, “Have lunch with me at noon.”
The girl’s expression remained unchanged as she cradled Che Xiayun’s backpack gently and replied softly, “Okay.”
In truth, Che Xiayun suspected that the original owner of this body had harbored some affection for this Omega. However, the vast gap in their social statuses made any meaningful relationship impossible. Moreover, the original owner had been foolish, mistaking bullying as a way of expressing love.
The girl’s name was Shi Xiaoya. She was an orphan adopted by Che Xiayun’s parents from an orphanage when she was two or three years old. Given the surname Shi and the name Xiaoya, she was introverted and somewhat insecure but excelled academically.
Walking into the school one after the other, most students kept their distance from Che Xiayun, afraid she might suddenly lose her temper.
Shi Xiaoya walked quietly by her side, not uttering a single word.
Under the gaze of everyone, Che Xiayun leisurely walked into the classroom of Class 17, Grade 10. She scanned the room with a glance, curled her lips disdainfully, and then swaggered over to the corner seat reserved exclusively for her.
Che Xiayun pulled out her phone, tapped a few times, and downloaded the famous novel app, Green River. Just as she was about to dive into her blissful reading time, she suddenly glanced at her deskmate, Shi Xiaoya, and asked, “What classes do we have today?”
Shi Xiaoya read the schedule taped to her desk aloud, “Morning classes are Math, Physics, Chinese, and Basic Music. Afternoon classes are English, Politics, and Comprehensive Physical Education Basics.” [Note]
Che Xiayun nodded slightly, casually pulled a chocolate bar from her desk drawer, and tossed it to Shi Xiaoya. She shook her phone and said, “Keep an eye out for the teacher for me.”
Shi Xiaoya had initially wanted to say that the teacher wouldn’t dare to discipline her anyway, but upon seeing Che Xiayun’s smug expression, she accepted the chocolate and nodded, “Mm-hmm.”
Che Xiayun glanced into her drawer and noticed only one chocolate bar and a pack of original-flavored potato chips remained. She took out the chips, tore open the bag, and began munching on them with a satisfying crunch. The familiar taste made her squint her eyes contentedly.
The class bell rang, and two seats in another corner at the back of the classroom remained empty. Che Xiayun’s good friend, the alpha Jiang Shuai, and her girlfriend had brazenly skipped class, a sight the teacher had grown accustomed to.
Yes, Jiang Shuai was a female alpha. She hailed from the prestigious military-political Jiang family in the capital. Che Xiayun and she were childhood friends who had even played in the mud together. They often joked about her name, “Jiang Shuai, you truly are an exceptionally handsome talent for leadership!”
Jiang Shuai would usually retort with disdain, “Che (pronounced ‘Ju,’ homophonic with ‘pig’), of course, I’m handsomer than you.”
Che, Ma, Jiang indispensable pieces in the game of Chinese chess.
The Che family (surname pronounced ‘Che’ in the first tone) was in business, owning a financial conglomerate, but each generation only had a single heir. The Ma family had always been less tactful, which somewhat limited their influence. Though their business scope was broad, they generally operated conservatively, developing alongside the Che and Jiang families.
Math teacher Wei Xinwen set up his PowerPoint and began the lesson. Every time he spoke, Che Xiayun would crunch on a potato chip. The moment he paused and stared at her, she would stop and pretend to read her novel attentively. As soon as he resumed speaking, she would start munching again.
After several repetitions of this, Wei Xinwen’s face turned livid as he glared at Che Xiayun. “This student, could you please step outside to finish your snack before coming back in?”
Che Xiayun glanced at the now-empty chip bag, held it up for him to see, and put on an innocent expression. “Teacher, I’ve already finished.”
Wei Xinwen felt as if he were choking on blood, his face flushed red with anger. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself before continuing the lesson.
Meanwhile, Che Xiayun voluntarily gathered the empty chip bag from her desk and left the classroom. She tilted her head, gazing at the sky, humming a little tune under her breath. She had long held a grudge against Wei Xinwen.
He often assigned Shi Xiaoya all sorts of trivial tasks and took the opportunity to call her alone to his office. Che Xiayun wasn’t sure if he had ever taken advantage of her, but she was convinced he had ulterior motives.
When Che Xiayun returned from the restroom, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and glanced at the screen, her joyful expression freezing instantly.
WeChat message: Ma Qingyu has recommended contact Yang Di, Chief Physician of the Alpha Urology Department at Peking University Third Hospital.
The corner of her mouth twitched. One could say it was a repeat performance.