Jin Ran ran back to her bedroom, tears in her eyes.
Once the door closed behind her, the expression on her face vanished. Aside from the flush that temporarily wouldn’t recede, there wasn’t a trace of a coy, girlish demeanor left.
Ahem, well, actually, she did feel a bit of shame.
It was the first time in her life she’d encountered a handsome man holding lingerie in front of her. Not only had she remained as composed as a monk in meditation, but she’d also felt an urge to flee.
How could one not feel a sense of regret?
Jin Ran sighed deeply. She had actually been prepared for her true identity to be exposed, but she hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly.
Jiang Mingzuo was too dangerous. He was thirty-five this year. How many thirty-five-year stretches does a person have in their lifetime? Whether in life experience or career achievements, he far surpassed twenty-five-year-old Jin Ran.
Just as Jiang Xuli felt a sense of being seen through when facing Jin Ran, Jin Ran had the same feeling when up against Jiang Mingzuo.
She couldn’t guess his thoughts, making it impossible for her to make the right judgment. It felt like walking on a knife’s edge, constantly on tenterhooks.
But Jin Ran didn’t believe a shrewd businessman like Jiang Mingzuo would do something without reason. So, what was the purpose of his probing today?
To end the marriage? Or to seek justice for the original host?
The former, seemed unlikely, as they had just gotten married. The latter, judging from the original book’s plot, also seemed unlikely.
Jin Ran pondered for a long time but couldn’t come up with an answer, inwardly cursing the fact that a background character in a novel had no rights. In the end, she simply gave up and flopped onto the bed, adopting a “bring it on” attitude.
If Jiang Mingzuo wanted to crush her, it would probably be easier than crushing an ant. What else could she do besides reacting to each move as it came?
It was just that this feeling of being unable to resist made Jin Ran experience a long-lost sense of defeat once more.
Jin Ran hadn’t always wanted to be a teacher.
In her previous life, her family was moderately well-off, ordinary but comfortable. Her parents ran a small factory, and life had been stable.
Then, in her senior year of high school, the factory went bankrupt due to poor management. Their family’s circumstances took a nosedive, and they even ended up in debt.
Her parents fought every day because of it. On the day she filled out her college application, she silently crossed out her original choice of university and filled in a teacher training college instead. After graduation, she persisted in taking civil service and public institution exams, valuing the stability of state-owned units.
Thinking about tomorrow’s interview, Jin Ran looked up at the ceiling light, momentarily unsure what to do.
She finally decided to attend.
If Jiang Mingzuo was determined to kick her out of the villa, she would need a job to support herself.
If he didn’t, she still had to prepare for a rainy day and plan for the future early on.
Jin Ran, having regained her drive, was full of energy. She practiced problems until 2 AM and woke up the next day still feeling refreshed.
She went to the lawn as usual for half an hour of yoga.
It takes twenty-one days to form a habit, but a bad habit only takes a second. Jin Ran didn’t allow herself to let her figure go. Hadn’t she noticed that among the true elite, there were few overweight people? Good figure management was sometimes also a reflection of self-control and rationality.
But to Jiang Xuli, who had gotten up early, this looked like Jin Ran being “depressed and unhappy” to the point of insomnia.
His expression grew somewhat complicated.
He had been with his father for as long as he could remember, but Jiang Xuli wasn’t completely ignorant about his birth mother. People around him said his mother had been driven away by his father, and that he must be obedient, or he might be driven away too.
This cast a shadow over little Jiang Xuli’s heart. Though as he grew older, he realized those people were deliberately stirring up drama, he understood one thing—his parents’ relationship was indeed terrible.
Jiang Xuli had always thought his father’s coldness towards him was due to transferred resentment from his mother.
But now, witnessing Jin Ran secretly crying, he suddenly wasn’t so sure.
The young man stood there for a long time, so long his feet grew numb, before silently leaving.
Yet, in his heart, he began to feel a slight sense of shared adversity with Jin Ran.
…
Jin Ran was unaware she had inadvertently gained some sympathy.
Because her skin was overly fair, the slight dark circles from staying up late were especially noticeable. To cover them, Jin Ran had no choice but to apply some light makeup.
Her makeup skills were decent. Today, she did the trendy Velvet Mocha look from before her transmigration, paired with the khaki-colored casual blazer and denim A-line skirt she had carefully selected. The shoes were from the walk-in closet—a pair of black-and-white patterned sneakers. She slung a tote bag one shade darker over her shoulder.
The weather was a bit hot, so Jin Ran didn’t leave her hair down. Instead, she gathered it at the nape of her neck and twisted it into a bun, securing it with a scrunchie.
The final effect in the mirror was perfect.
Professional yet casual, with a hint of playfulness hidden within the casualness. It was exactly the teacher style that, when walking on campus, would absolutely not be mistaken for a student or a parent!
Jin Ran nodded in satisfaction.
On her way downstairs, she worried she might run into Jiang Mingzuo. Unexpectedly, she didn’t see a trace of him even after leaving the villa area.
Out of consideration, Jin Ran didn’t bother Xiao Sun this time. She took a taxi herself to Wencheng Middle School.
When she arrived at the interview location, three candidates were already in the waiting area. Two men, looking around forty, were standing together engaged in lively conversation. Across from them sat a young girl who looked nervous and reserved, seemingly fresh out of school.
Jin Ran observed for a moment without showing it, then naturally sat down next to the girl. “Are you here for the interview too?”
She offered a friendly smile.
Xu Zhen was on the verge of a social anxiety attack sitting there alone. Seeing someone her own age finally arrive, she breathed a sigh of relief. “My name is Xu Zhen. I’m applying for a Chinese teacher position. I just graduated from S University this year. How about you?”
“My surname is Jin, single character name Ran, with the grass radical. I majored in mathematics and graduated from A Normal University.”
Immediately, Xu Zhen’s expression turned admiring.
A Normal University was the best teacher training school in the country. Jin Ran was beautiful and dressed fashionably. Xu Zhen had instinctively assumed she was applying for an arts subject, never expecting her to be a math prodigy.
Math… that was a beast in the eyes of humanities students. At least, Xu Zhen’s math scores had always been barely passing.
She suddenly thought of a popular internet saying: “People more outstanding than you are working even harder than you.” Coupled with her own four years of coasting through university and only getting this interview opportunity through connections after graduation, she felt a wave of shame. She couldn’t help but ask, “Did you come here because of that news?”
“What news?”
Jin Ran was taken aback by the question.
Xu Zhen lowered her voice. “I heard this from someone else. Wencheng Middle School is establishing a foundation this year, implementing a ‘prestigious school + enterprise’ cooperation model. Do you know Mingji Tech? The one that sells computers? Because the boss’s son studies here, they’ll not only sponsor students from poor families, but some outstanding teachers might also get overseas study funds!”
The young girl looked excited. “I’ve always wanted to go abroad, but my family couldn’t afford it. If I can become a teacher at Wencheng, I might get to go abroad on public funds in the future!”
Jin Ran, however, was stunned.
Mingji Tech? Wasn’t that Jiang Mingzuo’s company?
She hadn’t expected such a coincidence. On second thought, Jiang Xuli had just started middle school. As a father, Jiang Mingzuo donating equipment and funds to the school was perfectly understandable.
But looking at Xu Zhen’s face, glowing as if she’d found a kindred spirit, Jin Ran didn’t have the heart to say she had initially chosen Wencheng simply because it was close to home. “If it’s true, that’s indeed very good.”
Xu Zhen nodded emphatically in agreement. “If my cousin wasn’t a teacher at Wencheng, I wouldn’t have known such important news. Oh, right, my cousin is a math teacher too. He just passed the exam to get into Wencheng last year.”
Hearing this, a thought struck Jin Ran. She asked, “Is your cousin named Wang Chen?”
Xu Zhen was astonished. “You know my cousin?”
How come she didn’t know her own otaku cousin knew such a stunning beauty?!
Jin Ran then explained with a smile about her initial application.
It was all thanks to Teacher Wang’s proactive work ethic, recruiting for the school even after hours. Because of this connection, the two recruited individuals instantly felt closer.
Jin Ran didn’t have many friends here. She had a good impression of the talkative Xu Zhen. And when she intentionally wanted to befriend someone, few could refuse. In no time, Xu Zhen was calling her “Ranran” while holding her arm.
However, they didn’t chat for long before it was Jin Ran’s turn for the interview.
“Good luck, Ranran!”
Xu Zhen shook her fist encouragingly.
Jin Ran felt a bit nervous as she walked into the classroom, expecting to make this or that mistake.
But in reality, her interview went smoothly throughout. Perhaps because she had prepared thoroughly these past few days, it had become muscle memory. Among the candidates, her experience wasn’t the richest, but her trial lecture was quite commendable.
Finally, when Jin Ran, standing at the podium, saw the teachers below giving her warm smiles, she knew she had likely succeeded.
Thinking this, she finally couldn’t help but smile.
So what if she transmigrated into an unfamiliar world? So what if she wasn’t from a wealthy family?
She would achieve her goals step by step and become better and better.
…
Xu Zhen also emerged with a beaming smile.
“I think I did pretty well. Maybe I have a chance of getting selected. How about you, Ranran?”
Jin Ran curled her lips into a smile. “I think I did alright too.”
Both were happy. Seeing there was still time, Xu Zhen suggested walking around the school. “If we pass the interview, this will be our workplace. Let’s take it as getting familiar with the teaching environment in advance.”
Jin Ran thought for a moment and agreed.
Because she really didn’t want to go back to the villa.
If she ran into Jiang Mingzuo and he had another brainwave asking who she was, she really wouldn’t know how to answer.
It was the weekend. The day students at Wencheng Middle School were home, but many boarders were already returning to campus with their luggage.
They hadn’t walked far before encountering several groups.
Looking at these vibrant students, Jin Ran felt an almost medical student’s affection for lab rats—these were all potential seedlings for her future classes.
Little did she know: You are watching the scenery from the bridge, while someone watching the scenery is watching you from a tower.
Some students were stunned by Jin Ran’s beauty, secretly taking photos with their phones and posting them in private student chat groups.
[Breaking News! A beauty has appeared at school! Not exaggerating, she’s seriously super-duper-duper beautiful!]