“Y-you… y-you…” Her words fluttered like startled sparrows as Tang Coco pointed at Meng Xiaoxiao.

“What’d I do?” Her eyes were clear as a spring pool.

“Uh… n-no… nothing.” The reply dropped like a pebble into water.

That innocent, sugar-soft face made Tang’s words knot like creeping vines.

“Coco-jie, why wear such heavy glasses? Don’t they drag on you?” Curiosity pricked like cat whiskers.

“Huh? They don’t. I’ve worn them forever—habit, like a well-worn path.”

Tang Coco felt the oddness; this little beauty’s questions flowed like a chattering brook.

“Oh, then sis, could you take them off and let me see?” Her interest shone like a moth drawn to a lamp.

Meng Xiaoxiao seemed hooked on Tang, her gaze sticking like morning dew.

“Uh… nothing worth seeing. Mm… hang on, I need to reply to a message.” Her voice slid away like a wisp of smoke.

Tang hurried to shift the topic, smiling like a paper fan opening, then pulled out her phone, thumbs tapping like sparrows.

Seeing her dodge on purpose, Meng didn’t press; a meaningful smile curled like a crescent moon.

She also took out her phone and played, her focus drifting like a leaf on a stream.

About an hour later, Finance Class Four finally gathered like a flock settling on a field.

Tang raised her head and swept the room like a breeze skimming wheat.

Forty students; fifteen girls. Besides Meng, she spotted another beauty.

She stood as tall as Tang, a black dress like ink, long hair flowing like silk, speech as scarce as snowflakes, air cold as frost.

A figure stepped in; a man in his thirties hugged a stack of notebooks, pacing to the podium with the steadiness of an ox.

“Students, I’m your homeroom teacher, Zhu Zhide. You’re adults, and heirs of standing. In the next four years, get along and grow together. I’ll take roll; come up and introduce yourselves.”

He kept it short; names rose like lanterns, then fell.

Being a student is such a hassle, Tang sighed, her mood ruffling like wind over reeds.

Introductions spun on; most were rich, roots thick as old trees—boss’s sons, officials’ descendants, branches heavy with privilege.

Tang didn’t care for them; she watched the woman in black, that different note like winter among spring.

At last, her turn came; the cold beauty stepped up under heat-bright stares.

“Ouyang Lingxue.” The name fell like a shard of ice, clean and sharp.

She stepped down; whispers crowned her the iceberg beauty, frost traced in their minds.

Tang Coco liked that chill, a style like still water reflecting the moon.

Then it was Tang’s turn; she walked up, calm as a lake at dawn.

“My name is Tang Coco. Please be kind.” The words were simple, like plain tea.

She sat back beside Meng, intent on leaving a light footprint, like snow that doesn’t creak.

“Meng Xiaoxiao!” Meng shot up, voice ringing like a bell, hand waving like a flag, then plopped down.

Tang jolted, surprise leaping like a fish; Meng stuck out her tongue and pulled a face, impish as a fox.

Tang was speechless, her thoughts scattered like seeds on the wind.

The homeroom teacher said nothing; he knew her background, roots deep as bamboo, even the principal had greeted her.

In this class, a few were beyond his leash; he didn’t dare tug the rope.

“Alright, get along well. No class today—go explore the campus. We start tomorrow.” He left with his notebook bundle, footsteps steady as drumbeats.

“Oh yeah! Let’s go take a lap!” The boys burst alive like sparklers and streamed out in packs.

“Coco-jie, got anything you need to do?” Her tone was light as a kite string.

“Nothing much.” Her answer drifted like a cloud.

“Then let’s stroll the campus.” Her smile brightened like sun on tiles.

“Mm… alright.” Tang agreed, keeping the student mask smooth as porcelain.

They walked together, feet threading paths like threads through cloth.

Under a tree by the track, a few youths smoked, their talk curling like smoke rings.

A red-haired youth sat in the middle; someone leaned in, voice sly as a cat. “Fan-ge, how are the fresh new juniors? Any worth chasing?”

“There are a few. I’ve already sent Old Third to pull their info. Some are tricky—families with weight.” His grin spread like oil on water.

“What’s power to you? In Ninghai, who dares stand against you?” The flattery came like warm wine.

“Yeah, who’d dare cross our Fan-ge?” Their voices thumped like drums, and Fan-ge basked like a lizard in the sun.

“Hey? Fan-ge, look—two beauties coming. The tall one’s in a sports jacket, but that figure’s solid.” Eyes gleamed like knives.

“Mm? Where? Let me see.” His gaze swept like a hawk’s.

“Nice figure, face not pretty enough. The little one beside her—now that’s sweet. That small face, tsk tsk.” His tongue clicked like a pebble.

“Fan-ge, you don’t get it. Lights off at night—no face to see. And from the look of her, she won’t be that bad. Worst case, just average.” The logic slid like a greasy rope.

“Fair point. Come on, let’s check.” His smile hooked like a fishhook.

“Got it, let’s move.” They rose and drifted toward the girls like crows.

Meanwhile, Tang was enduring Meng’s nonstop chatter, words pattering like rain on tiles.

“Coco-jie, the campus is pretty nice, huh?” Her eyes shone like dew.

“Mm…” Tang’s reply was a soft leaf turning.

“Coco-jie, look—lilies in that flowerbed, my favorite.” Her delight bloomed like petals.

“Mm…”

“Coco-jie, let’s hit the track. Bet tons of people are there.” Her energy bounced like a ball.

“Mm…”

“Coco-jie, take off your glasses and let me see your face, okay?” Her request landed like a pebble in a quiet pool.

“Mm… mm? Ah?” Tang blinked, thoughts ruffled like startled pigeons.

“You agreed!” Her smile flashed like sunlight through leaves.

“I…” The word frayed like torn silk.

Right then, Tang wanted to strangle this little minx, her temper flaring like a match—she’d walked into a snare.

“Alright, I won’t force you now. But remember, you agreed. I’ll look later, in a different spot.” She spoke lightly, dodging Tang’s man-eating glare like a butterfly.

Little minx, daring to set me up—find time and I’ll eat you alive, Tang thought, her smile thin as a blade.

“Yo, where you two headed? Want us to show you around?” A greasy voice oozed over, slick as oil on stone.