Great Sea City Noble Academy.
Great Sea City, the most prosperous place in the entire Dragon Country, surpasses even the capital, Great Capital City, in its grandeur.
And the Great Sea City Noble Academy is the most formidable institution in the entire city, so exclusive that it doesn’t even admit outsiders—all its students come from internal lists.
Talk about a rigid hierarchy.
Of course, to quell any negative public opinion and to recruit more outstanding "workhorses," the academy opened up a tiny quota for so-called "genius students."
Requirements included top academic performance, a clean family record for three generations (no criminal history), good looks, no bad habits… and these were just the basics.
After a smooth application process, Ye Cheng hit the jackpot!
As for the odd looks from others, Ye Cheng simply ignored them.
Losing face?
First, you’d actually need to have face to lose it.
What face did he even have?
He wasn’t some emperor who could just demand respect from anyone he met.
The "face" of these "genius students" was about as valuable as the shoe inserts of the young masters and ladies.
Did these people really think dressing up all prim and proper would let them blend in?
What was that saying again?
"Cholesterol, what brand of synthetic hormones do you use?"
"Oh, me? Standcon!"
"Ohh, I use Standcon too!"
Today was the first day of the freshman orientation, so no classes were scheduled.
Ye Cheng strolled toward the single dormitory assigned to him, a toothpick dangling from his lips as he hummed an incomprehensible tune.
"Mm-hmm, today’s a good day~~~"
……
Private Gym.
Dongfang Zhixia had changed into workout attire.
Black yoga pants, a white sports tee, and headphones blasting energetic music.
She was sweating it out on the treadmill, her toned abs clearly visible, radiating strength and vitality.
Knock knock knock!
"Come in." Dongfang Zhixia didn’t even glance at the door as she responded.
Her personal secretary walked in, holding a detailed dossier on Ye Cheng.
"Young Miss, found the info, hehe."
The secretary blinked and handed over the documents.
Dongfang Zhixia turned off the treadmill, removed her headphones, and wiped her slightly damp hands with a towel before carefully examining Ye Cheng’s profile.
[Name: Ye Cheng]
[Gender: Male]
[Family Background: Orphan]
[Personal History: Abandoned by his parents as a child, raised in Great Sea City Orphanage. Unconventional thinker, handsome, academically outstanding, kind but eccentric…
In kindergarten, he tricked classmates out of their eggs and milk. In elementary school, he led a rebellion against the "no boys in girls' restroom" rule, only to be swiftly crushed by the homeroom teacher. In middle school, he once bled from his nose in class, screamed "I’m a tOmatO!" and insisted he was the reincarnation of a tomato. In high school…
Since elementary school, he’s worked odd jobs to help cover the orphanage’s expenses. Loves chewing Big Bubble gum and drinking iced tea…]
[Relationship Status: Sworn brothers with a stray mutt named Big Yellow. Also seems to have a doctor-patient relationship with it (further verification needed).]
Dongfang Zhixia: "???"
"Where did you even get this information?!" Her voice was sharp with irritation, as if she’d been played.
What kind of life history was this chaotic?
The secretary flinched, shrinking her neck like a scared puppy.
"Wuwuwu, I’m sorry, Young Miss! I’m so useless! I’ll redo the investigation right away—"
"Hmm?" Dongfang Zhixia frowned as a familiar name caught her eye in the documents.
"Lin Baizhi, illegitimate daughter of the Lin Group. Born with a heart condition, abandoned due to internal family conflicts, raised in Great Sea City Orphanage. Hospitalized multiple times for illness. Eventually identified by her father, Lin Tianxiong, through blood tests…"
"Great Sea City Orphanage?"
Dongfang Zhixia narrowed her eyes, lost in thought as she continued reading, forgetting the secretary’s presence entirely.
The secretary peeked at her mistress, blinking. So… was the Young Miss not angry anymore?
If she wasn’t mad, maybe she could sneak an extra bite today. That cake from yesterday was calling her name…
Standing quietly in her professional secretary outfit and pencil skirt, her expression was oddly dopey—nothing like a proper secretary.
Next to Dongfang Zhixia, she stuck out like a husky in a wolf pack: zero intimidation, just a lovable airhead whose brain was forever occupied by snacks and how to sneak more cake without getting caught.
One bite here, another there… Now she dreaded stepping on a scale more than a pig at New Year’s.
"So that’s how it is. There’s actually such a backstory?" Dongfang Zhixia muttered to herself before casually extending the documents toward the secretary.
"Hmm?"
The papers didn’t leave her hand. Frowning, she turned to see the secretary grinning like an idiot, mumbling, "Cake…"
"Hehe, strawberry cake, pineapple, honeydew…" The secretary slurped back drool, her eyes wavy with bliss, completely lost in her dessert fantasy.
Dongfang Zhixia: "…"
"Idiot! What kind of secretary acts like this? Starting today, memorize the Secretary Codex. For every rule you miss, 100 bucks docked from your allowance!"
"Wuwuwu, nooo, Young Miss! Wuwuwu…"
Snapped back to reality, the secretary clung to her mistress’s leg, her pitiful wails echoing through the gym.