At the end of July, the admission letter from No. 1 High School arrived at Song Cheng’s home. Registration was scheduled for the end of August, and the letter also listed the dates and location of military training. Yes, as high school students, none of them could escape military training. Fortunately, this year it would last only one week, and take place at the school. As her older cousin put it, “Your year’s getting off easy.”
In August, Song Cheng went to her older cousin Qin Hongtao’s place to pick up a set of first-year high school textbooks. Looking at the pristine books, Song Cheng had a million questions. When had her cousin gotten so smart that he could score highly without taking notes? When she went to get the books, Qin Hongtao was playing basketball with his classmates. Song Cheng’s arrival caused a stir. Qin Hongtao had heard from his father after he got home about how sensible and beautiful his younger cousin was, how gentle and generous—his father had practically sounded as if she were his own daughter. Qin Hongtao had rolled his eyes at the time. It wasn’t as if he’d never seen his little cousin before. She was just ordinarily pretty; there was no need to exaggerate. His uncle’s rose-colored glasses were far too strong.
But the moment Qin Hongtao saw his cousin, his mouth fell open and he stared, hardly able to believe his eyes. He immediately took back his assessment that she was merely ordinarily pretty. His father hadn’t been exaggerating this time. Girls really did change dramatically as they grew up. It had only been a few months since he’d seen her, but she looked so different.
Song Cheng could now walk calmly through the curious gazes around her. She picked up the books and flipped through them. Seeing that they were new, she asked curiously, “When did you get so smart that you stopped taking notes in class?”
Qin Hongtao glanced at the people around them, then covered his mouth with his right hand and cleared his throat. “Well, my set was incomplete, so I got you a new one. That way, you can use the whole set.”
Just then, a boy came over and draped an arm over Qin Hongtao’s shoulder. “Ha ha, little cousin, Taozi’s notes are so bad you’d be better off without them. His class notes look like chicken scratch—they’re painful to look at. You should use our top student’s books instead. They’re brand-new, without a single flaw, just like he is.”
“Who’s the top student in your class? Does he never even go to class?” Song Cheng asked, astonished. She felt that her intelligence was already above average. Even though she had a photographic memory, she still sometimes needed to take notes. But these books looked as if they’d never been opened. It was hard to believe a genius like that could exist.
Qin Hongtao shrugged off the boy’s arm. “Get lost. Who’s your cousin? Don’t go claiming my little cousin as your own.” He pointed to a boy sitting on the steps nearby. “Those are Fang Muhan’s books. I thought you could soak up some of the top student’s aura and get good grades in the future. Wu Chao’s right—my books are missing bits and pieces. I didn’t want to hurt your eyes.”
Song Cheng followed her cousin’s gesture. A boy sat nearby in a white short-sleeved sports shirt, a towel draped around his neck as he wiped away sweat. From the side, she could see his tall nose; sweat ran down his forehead and fell onto the towel. Suddenly, as if he’d sensed Song Cheng’s gaze, he turned toward her. Only then could she see his face clearly.
Song Cheng was astonished. She had seen that face before—in a financial magazine in her previous life. Back then, Fang Muhan had made a name for himself and become successful. He was composed and reserved, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and an impeccably tailored suit. His eyes held a detached, disdainful look, as if he’d been born a king. Of course, there was also something of a refined scoundrel about him. It was said that Fang Muhan had been born in the Imperial Capital, into a prominent family. Even in that city, where politics, business, and culture all converged, the Fang family ranked among the very top. Rumor had it that Fang Corporation had started out manufacturing automobiles, then kept pace with the times by expanding into real estate, while also investing in dining, clothing, tourism, health insurance, and other sectors. But reports said Fang Muhan’s success had little to do with his family. He was rumored to have an exceptionally high IQ. While still in high school, he had gathered a group of people to start an internet business, and the various games and mini-programs they developed had become hugely popular. His investment instincts were extraordinary, too; none of the projects he backed ever failed. Many people in the city wanted to join his team. Those working under him had been with him since their teens, and every one of them later became a leading figure in the industry.
But now, that face was young, fresh, and handsome, with the spirited confidence of a boy in his brows. Thanks to his upbringing, he had an air of refined elegance and noble bearing, nothing like the composed, reserved man he would become. He picked up his shirt and walked over at an unhurried pace. Backlit, his tall, slender figure drew closer step by step. The breeze lifted the loose hair over his forehead, and it seemed to brush across the young woman’s heart, leaving a tingling sensation. As she felt her heartbeat grow faster and faster, Song Cheng pretended to be calm and hugged the books to her chest, as if trying to soothe her racing heart.
【So people really do have an aura. Or is it just that a handsome face makes all the difference?】Song Cheng wondered silently. She was surprised to learn that Fang Muhan had gone to school here, and had even been her cousin’s classmate. In her previous life, she had never known that.
Song Cheng looked at him, steadied herself, and smiled as she thanked him. “Thank you for the books, Senior Brother Fang. To show my gratitude, I can have my cousin treat you to a meal. The more expensive, the better—don’t let him skimp.”
Although she did want to build a good relationship with someone as influential as him, Song Cheng didn’t want him to think she was trying to flirt with him.
Fang Muhan looked at the pretty girl. This wasn’t the first time he’d seen her. The last time she’d made an impression on him was at the taekwondo studio run by his older cousin Zhao He. His cousin had gone on and on about how a girl had started learning taekwondo at their studio, how talented and powerful she was, and how she could practically rival a professional. As it happened, when Fang Muhan had gone there to find someone that day, he’d seen her practicing with another person and glanced at her through the doorway. She really was beautiful—petite and slender, but with a remarkably forceful presence in her movements. It was rare for a girl who took up a sport like that to have so much strength. He hadn’t expected her to be Qin Hongtao’s younger cousin.
“You ungrateful little thing. I went to the trouble of borrowing books for you, and now you’re trying to make me pay? Your mother dotes on you so much, and you get far more spending money than I do. If anyone should treat him, it should be you.”
“You’re my cousin, aren’t you? Besides, you only had to borrow someone else’s books because your own weren’t usable. Should I go home and tell Uncle whose fault it was?”
“Don’t even try that, you little brat. Everyone knows my dad treats you like his own daughter. I’m like the rag on the table—once you’re done with me, you toss me aside.”
“It’s still your fault,” Song Cheng huffed.
Listening to the cousins’ exchange, Fang Muhan’s lips curved into a smile.
“Tsk, tsk. Taozi, you’ve got a pretty pitiful standing in the family. Why don’t you two stop arguing? We wouldn’t mind eating twice—your treat today, your cousin’s tomorrow. Look how harmonious that is.” Wu Chao waved both hands as he spoke, and the people around them chimed in.
“Get out of here. You wish,” Qin Hongtao shot back.
“Fine, I’ll treat today. Muhan, are you free? If not, we can go another day,” Qin Hongtao asked.
Fang Muhan thought for a moment, then said, “I’m free. Let’s go today.”
Song Cheng was surprised. She hadn’t expected Fang Muhan to get along so well with his classmates. Why hadn’t her cousin ever mentioned him in her previous life? What Song Cheng didn’t know was that she herself had something to do with it. Fang Muhan had transferred from the Imperial Capital in the first semester of his second year of high school. With his bearing, he seemed like a solitary flower atop a high peak. His grades were excellent, and he could outdo the entire class without even attending lessons, which was enough to leave everyone else feeling utterly defeated. When Qin Hongtao heard that his cousin needed to borrow books, he’d initially wanted to find a girl to lend her a set. It was Wu Chao who pointed out that Fang Muhan’s books had to be in good condition, since he hardly ever looked at them. Qin Hongtao had thought he might as well try asking, never expecting Young Master Fang to hand the books over without a word—and he turned out to be easy to deal with. Boys’ friendships were simple enough: play basketball together, share a meal, and soon they’d be friends. In her previous life, Song Cheng hadn’t borrowed any books, so Qin Hongtao had never had that unexpected encounter with Fang Muhan. Then, during the second semester of his third year, Fang Muhan transferred straight back to the Imperial Capital to continue his studies, and that was the end of it.
After everyone finished playing basketball, they went to eat hot pot. Her cousin invited Song Cheng along, but she thought it wouldn’t be appropriate to be the only girl among a group of boys. Besides, she needed to calm her girlish heart. She was practically an old lady, yet a handsome young man had made her heart race. It was embarrassing. After Song Cheng left, Fang Muhan glanced at her retreating figure, raised an eyebrow, and turned away.
That evening, Song Cheng lay in bed and asked the System, “77, my heart was beating so fast earlier. Could something be wrong with me?”
【There is no pathological reason your heart could be beating faster. It must have been caused by external stimulation that made you excited, nervous, or emotionally stirred. Please acknowledge your emotional response, Host.】
“You don’t mean I’ve fallen for him, do you?” Song Cheng sat up in bed. She really couldn’t accept that conclusion, and she knew perfectly well that she wasn’t the type to fall for someone based on looks. What mattered more to her was a meeting of minds.
【Everyone appreciates beauty. When people see something or someone attractive, their eyes send information about its appearance, height, features, clothing, and colors to the brain. The more these qualities excite your brain, the more hormones it releases, which in turn changes your heart rate.】
Right. That was the sensible explanation. So it wasn’t that I lacked self-control; he was just way too handsome. I’ll probably get used to it after seeing him a few more times. Song Cheng thought silently.