The next morning, Yan Tingxu was indeed waiting in the courtyard.
When Shen Qingyou pushed open the door and stepped out, he was standing next to the black sedan, his dark blue coat impeccably pressed.
Hearing the noise, he looked up and glanced over.
“Let’s go.”
Shen Qingyou nodded and walked over quickly.
In those days, anyone who could ride in a sedan was no ordinary person. Shen Qingyou remembered hearing people say in her previous life that Third Uncle’s business dealings in Beijing were vast, and that both the legitimate and underground worlds showed him respect.
Still, today he was personally driving her to school.
Shen Qingyou opened the car door and climbed into the passenger seat. The seat was a bit high—when she sat down, her feet didn’t reach the floor and dangled in the air, swaying slightly.
Yan Tingxu glanced at her, said nothing, and reached over to adjust the seat forward by one notch.
Shen Qingyou thanked him softly. “Thank you, Third Uncle.”
The car started and drove out of the alley.
There weren’t many people on the road at first, but the closer they got to the school, the more crowded it became. There were workers on bicycles heading to their jobs, students carrying satchels, and street vendors balancing loads on shoulder poles.
As the car passed by, many people turned their heads to look. Sedans were rare to begin with, and this one was polished to a gleaming shine—clearly not something an ordinary family could own.
Shen Qingyou sat in the car, watching the street scenes flash past the window.
In her previous life, she had never ridden in Third Uncle’s car.
She hadn’t dared to impose on him, thinking he was cold and intimidating. Then Third Uncle died, and she never got the chance.
“We’re here.”
Yan Tingxu parked the car at the school gate and turned off the engine.
Shen Qingyou pushed open the door and got out.
A crowd of people stood at the school entrance.
Students in uniforms, parents dropping off their children, and a few teachers maintaining order at the gate.
They had all been busy with their own affairs, but when they heard the sound of the car, they turned their heads one after another.
Their gazes landed on Yan Tingxu as he stepped out from the driver’s side.
Shen Qingyou overheard quite a few people whispering.
“Who’s that?”
“A sedan—must be someone important.”
“Good heavens, that man is so handsome…”
The murmurs washed over her like a tide.
Shen Qingyou stood there, watching the expressions of the female students.
Their eyes were full of curiosity and admiration, fixed intently on Yan Tingxu.
Yan Tingxu, utterly oblivious to these stares, walked around to the back of the car, opened the trunk, and pulled out a canvas bag.
“Let’s go,” he said.
Shen Qingyou nodded and followed.
The two walked one behind the other toward the school gate.
Wherever they passed, the crowd automatically parted to make way.
Shen Qingyou heard people behind her speculating about her identity—what she was to him.
She pressed her lips together and didn’t look back.
When they reached the entrance of the teaching building, Ms. Zhou was already waiting there.
Ms. Zhou was a middle-aged woman in her forties, wearing glasses, with a demeanor that looked very strict.
The moment she saw Yan Tingxu, the sternness on her face melted into a smile.
“Third Master Yan, you came to drop her off personally?”
Yan Tingxu nodded. “I’m sorry to trouble you, Ms. Zhou.”
“No trouble, no trouble,” Ms. Zhou said with a smile. “You must be Comrade Shen? Come with me. I happen to be teaching the first period.”
Shen Qingyou nodded, then turned her head to glance at Yan Tingxu.
Yan Tingxu stood there, not moving.
“After school, I’ll come to pick you up,” he said.
Shen Qingyou had initially wanted to refuse, but after a moment’s thought, she obediently nodded. “All right.”
She followed Ms. Zhou into the teaching building, walked down the long corridor, and arrived at the door of Class Three, Grade Eleven.
The classroom was noisy; class hadn’t started yet. When Ms. Zhou pushed open the door, the noise immediately died down.
“Quiet down,” Ms. Zhou said as she stepped onto the podium. “Today, a new student is joining our class.”
She gestured toward the door. “Shen Qingyou, come in.”
Shen Qingyou took a deep breath and walked into the classroom.
Over forty pairs of eyes turned to look at her with curiosity.
She stood by the podium and swept her gaze across the room. She recognized a few familiar faces—classmates from her previous life. She remembered them, but they didn’t remember her.
“Introduce yourself,” Ms. Zhou said.
Shen Qingyou nodded, faced the class, and spoke: “My name is Shen Qingyou. I’ve come from the countryside. I hope everyone will look after me from now on.”
A few simple sentences, no unnecessary formalities.
Whispers broke out from the back.
“From the countryside?”
“Her clothes are pretty plain.”
“But her face isn’t bad…”
Shen Qingyou stood there, letting them look her over.
Ms. Zhou tapped the podium. “Quiet down. Shen Qingyou, for now, take the empty seat in the third row.”
Shen Qingyou nodded, walked over, and sat down.
Her deskmate was a round-faced girl who smiled at her and said softly, “Hello, my name is Li Hongmei.”
Shen Qingyou nodded. “Hello.”
Li Hongmei leaned in and lowered her voice. “Who was that who brought you here? The one in the sedan—he was so handsome!”
Shen Qingyou paused.
“My third uncle,” she said.
Li Hongmei’s eyes lit up. “Is your third uncle a businessman? What kind of business does he do?”
Before Shen Qingyou could answer, the bell for class rang.
Ms. Zhou tapped the blackboard. “Class is starting. Everyone sit properly.”
Li Hongmei stuck out her tongue and sat up straight.
Shen Qingyou opened her new textbook and began to listen to the lesson.
In her previous life, she had been in this class for three years. She had heard Ms. Zhou’s lectures countless times.
Back then, she couldn’t understand anything, was too afraid to ask questions, and her grades were a complete disaster. Now, listening again, she realized it wasn’t actually that difficult.
By the end of the period, she had filled three full pages of notes.
When the bell rang and Ms. Zhou left, a crowd immediately gathered around her.
“Shen Qingyou, where do you live?”
“Is your third uncle really a businessman?”
“What kind of car does he drive? It was so impressive!”
Shen Qingyou found herself surrounded, a bit overwhelmed.
Li Hongmei tried to shield her. “Ask one at a time. Don’t scare her.”
“I just want to know,” a girl with a ponytail squeezed to the front and blinked, “is your third uncle married?”
Shen Qingyou froze.
Li Hongmei burst out laughing. “Wang Fang, you’re way too direct!”
Wang Fang’s face flushed, but she kept her gaze on Shen Qingyou, waiting for an answer.
Shen Qingyou shook her head. “No.”
“Really?” Wang Fang’s eyes grew even brighter.
“Really,” Shen Qingyou said. “But…”
She paused, thinking about how to phrase it.
“But what?” Wang Fang pressed.
Shen Qingyou looked at her and said earnestly, “But my third uncle doesn’t like talking to people, and he doesn’t like being disturbed.”
Wang Fang hesitated, let out a disappointed “oh,” and stepped back.
Someone nearby murmured, “Third Master Yan—I’ve heard that in business circles, he’s known as a grim reaper. He’s definitely not easy to approach…”