Daydreaming about Me

Chapter 6

To be fair, even though Eight High School in City A isn’t the top-notch school, it’s still regarded as a key school. Every year, numerous parents spend a lot of money and make great efforts to get their children enrolled.

Moreover, this school is very wealthy, boasting an impressive collection of books in the library, and the student dormitories are like high-end apartments. The cafeteria even has

Italian cuisine on the top floor, though hardly anyone goes there, as students prefer eating noodles and spicy hotpot outside the school.

Situated within the inner ring, the school covers an impressive area, even larger than the renowned No. 1 High School with its high enrollment rate.

Liu Fujian indeed has reasons to be proud: “Our school is large! And rich!”

As for Grandpa Shen’s popularity in the school, Lin Yujing had already anticipated it. After all, with his appearance and demeanor, he stood out during the turbulent teenage years.

The issue was, among all the high schools in City A, why was he famous in Class 20 of Eight High School?

Lin Yujing felt that sometimes you just couldn’t avoid fate. Since arriving in this city a week ago, she had encountered Shen Juan three times, more often than she had seen her brother who lived in the same house.

When she looked at him, Shen Juan also noticed her.

The boy didn’t react much, just raised an eyebrow slightly and returned to his typical indifferent and sleepy expression, staring at her with his long, narrow eyes.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

After staring for five seconds, Shen Juan let out a big yawn.

Lin Yujing: “…”

Do I look so hypnotic?

She rolled her eyes and turned away, deciding to ignore this inexplicable fate.

Liu Fujian used to teach the third-year students in the northern building, keeping a low profile and focusing solely on teaching, without caring much about the daily fights and dramas among the younger students.

He didn’t know Shen Juan, only seeing a boy wearing a neatly dressed school uniform, speaking slowly and politely, and looking quite likable.

The boy was tall and slim, standing lazily but with a straight back like a bamboo pole, resembling a little man.

Except he wasn’t carrying a backpack. Hmm? No backpack?

Liu Fujian said, “Late on the first day of school, being two minutes late is okay, no problem.”

Shen Juan bowed, “Thank you, teacher.”

Liu Fujian smiled kindly at him, “And your homework?”

“…”

Shen Juan was silent for two seconds, “I forgot to bring it.”

Liu Fujian: “…”

Everyone: “…”

Lin Yujing: “…”

Brother, how do you expect people to respond to that?

Claiming to forget your homework after an all-nighter, you’re too genuine.

Lin Yujing didn’t know what expression to wear. If it were her hot-tempered homeroom teacher from her previous school, they would probably be fighting by now.

Fortunately, Liu Fujian had a Buddha-like personality and was very trusting. He told Shen Juan to bring it tomorrow and let him find a seat. Shen Juan entered the classroom and stood in front of the podium, scanning the room for an empty seat.

After the second-year students were divided into science and liberal arts classes, the classes were reorganized, so only half of the students knew each other. Seats were first- come, first-served, with two people per desk, arranged in four vertical and six horizontal rows, totaling forty-eight students per class.

Shen Juan, being the last to arrive, found the seats by the windows and at the back already taken. Only the first row by the wall and the seat across the aisle were empty.

He chose the seat by the wall, walked over, and politely asked the boy sitting on the outside, “Excuse me, please.”

Since Shen Juan’s entrance, the bustling Class 20 became as quiet as if they were choking, not making a sound.

At this moment, everyone’s eyes followed him, quietly watching the boss take his seat. Even Liu Fujian was influenced by the atmosphere, stopping his speech and watching along.

Lin Yujing didn’t see what was so interesting, but since everyone was watching, she did too.

Then she saw the boy sitting on the outside tremblingly take out his backpack, grab his water bottle from the desk, and move to the seat across the aisle.

Lin Yujing: ?

Recalling, she confirmed Shen Juan had said “Excuse me, please,” not “Get lost, thank you.”

So what kind of legend did Shen Juan hold in Eight High that made him so intimidating, making someone fear sitting next to him?

Shen Juan, however, seemed unaffected, calmly sitting down in the first row by the wall.

In the whole class, only Liu Fujian seemed unaware of anything unusual. He turned around, finally noticing Lin Yujing standing there for over ten minutes, and said cheerfully, “Alright, Lin Yujing, you can return to your seat now.”

Seeing Lin Yujing nod, Liu Fujian continued, “Seats will remain as they are for now. If anyone can’t see from the back, come to me, and I’ll adjust them slightly. I don’t usually like changing seats because your choices in life are often very mysterious, ranging from big to small, even including the seat you choose now. Since you chose this seat, it means this place, this spot is meant for you. Its magnetic field matches yours, attracting each other…”

“…”

Lin Yujing, expressionless, carried her bag around the podium to the only empty seat and sat down.

Shen Juan leaned on the desk, half-lying there, looking listless, listening to Liu Fujian’s long speech. This time, the environment was very quiet, everyone’s eyes occasionally landing on the back of the boss’s head or his bent back. The guy who had been thrown chrysanthemum tea was sitting right behind Lin Yujing. She heard him whispering to his desk mate, “Wow, Shen Juan is in our class.”

His desk mate remained silent.

The guy continued, “So he essentially took a year off. I thought he got expelled.”

His desk mate was silent as a chicken.

The guy: “The last incident involved his desk mate, right? This boss is so tough. Except for new students, who dares to sit with him? It’s scary as hell.”

His desk mate, with a strong will to survive, didn’t utter a word. Lin Yujing glanced at Shen Juan.

The boy leaned lazily against the wall, half-lying on the desk, supporting his face with the back of his hand, his head resting against the wall, showing no change in expression, looking calm and unperturbed.

The guy finally realized and whispered, “Hey, do you think the boss can hear us talking at this volume?”

Two seconds of silence.

Boss Shen straightened up, turned around, his expression calm, his tone indifferent, with a heavy nasal sound like he had a cold, “Yes.”

The guy: “…”

The guy’s face turned pale, stammering, “Sorry, I wasn’t badmouthing you, really.” The boss said nothing, turned back, and resumed his previous posture.

Liu Fujian, satisfied with the quiet environment, continued his lengthy speech. Finally nearing the end, he cleared his throat, “Now we have a new class, new homeroom teacher, new classmates, and a new beginning. Going forward…

We are all part of one collective, Class 10. You are all unique individuals, and in your future studies and lives, there may be friction and conflicts. However, creating divisions among yourselves is absolutely unacceptable in my class!”

Liu Fujian’s smile faded, and he became serious, “I know some of you know each other, while others don’t. So now, I’m assigning your first homework as your homeroom teacher: Everyone turn around and face your deskmate, and look into their eyes for one minute.”

“…” ???

For the first time since Shen Juan had entered, the classroom, which had been very quiet, burst into murmurs. Everyone was shocked by this ridiculous homework, voicing their discontent.

“Teacher, I can’t do it!”

“This is too silly, teacher!”

“Brother Jiang, please don’t make us do this!”

“Hey, Song Zhiming, don’t look at me so affectionately, you idiot!”

Despite his usually easygoing demeanor, Liu Fujian was unexpectedly insistent on this seemingly pointless exercise, believing it would promote camaraderie among the students. Finally, everyone reluctantly began to look at their deskmates.

Lin Yujing turned around speechlessly, meeting Shen Juan’s gaze, who was already looking at her. He raised an eyebrow calmly when he saw her exasperated expression.

On the podium, Liu Fujian started the timer, “Ready! Start!”

Lin Yujing stared at Shen Juan expressionlessly, trying to let her mind wander. “Ten seconds,” Liu Fujian announced.

Only ten seconds had passed?

“Twenty seconds.”

Lin Yujing began to feel stiff all over.

“Thirty seconds.”

Lin Yujing started thinking frantically about what to say to him.

If she didn’t say something soon, her facial muscles would start twitching.

Looking at Shen Juan, he was still in his lazy posture, calmly staring at his new deskmate.

Shen Juan had little ability to discern the appearance of girls. When Jiang Han and Wang Yiyang debated over which girl was prettier and sought his opinion, he always felt they looked about the same.

However, his new deskmate had a very distinctive appearance.

Ponytail, pleated skirt, black leather shoes, knee-high socks wrapping around slender and beautiful legs.

Slightly upturned almond eyes, thin eyelids, fair skin. Being so close, Shen Juan could even see the fine hairs on her nose.

Her eyelashes were incredibly long.

How come he hadn’t noticed before? Jiang Han had good taste.

“Fifty seconds!” Liu Fujian timed precisely, encouraging them, “Hang in there! Victory is near!”

His new deskmate suddenly asked softly, “Do you have a cold?” “Hmm?” Shen Juan, still a bit distracted, murmured indifferently, “A bit.”

“Your rice ball,” his new deskmate continued, “I forgot to eat it that night, and the next morning it was spoiled.”

“Spoiled is spoiled,” Shen Juan didn’t care much about whether she ate the rice ball or not.

“Alright! Time’s up!”

Just when Lin Yujing felt the awkwardness was about to make her faint, Liu Fujian’s voice came as a rescue.

Lin Yujing slumped her shoulders, exhaled deeply, and turned back, feeling like she had survived.

Liu Fujian seemed very excited, probably feeling he had taken the first step as a homeroom teacher. He glanced at the book on the podium, “When You Gaze at Rebellious Teenagers, They Gaze Back at You”:

“Step Two: ‘Speak.’ After overcoming the first step: ‘Look,’ you’ve already succeeded halfway. The first step is always the hardest. Now, you must make them ‘speak’ their goodwill. Remember, you’re dealing with a group of rebellious…”

The rest needed a page turn, so Liu Fujian decided to proceed based on his understanding.

He picked up a piece of chalk, turned around, and wrote four large characters on the blackboard: “My Deskmate.”

Liu Fujian clapped his hands and turned around with a smile, “Now, I’ll give you three minutes to think about the first impression your deskmate left on you during the eye contact. Then, each of you will come up to the front and share your first impression of your new deskmate, describing what they are like in your eyes.”

“…” ????

It wasn’t over yet. Liu Fujian pointed to Lin Yujing’s desk by the wall, “Let’s start from this side. Lin Yujing, you go first.”

Lin Yujing: “…” Damn it.

Author’s note:

Lin Yujing: What am I supposed to say? What the hell do I say?

Student Shen Juan, what’s wrong with you? You’re supposed to look at your deskmate, not her knee-high socks!