"I'll go check it out."

Zheng Hong threw the words over his shoulder and dashed out after the crowd, eyes alight with excitement.

"Tch. Boring."

Yichen had zero interest in mob mentality. His gaze drifted toward Shiyue—she sat quietly absorbed in her book. Suddenly, a girl rushed over and yanked Shiyue out of her seat.

Moments later, Zheng Hong burst back into the classroom, gasping for air as he skidded to a halt before Yichen.

"Yichen! Quick—come out! Your sister’s here!"

"What?"

Before Yichen could process it, Zheng Hong was already dragging him up.

"Alright, alright, I’m coming," Yichen sighed, letting himself be pulled along.

They squeezed through the throng of students crowded against the corridor railings, finding a sliver of space to peer down.

"Over there, Yichen."

"Jiejie!?"

No mistaking it. Among the group gathered in the square below, one girl stood out unmistakably—Lin Zixuan, her snow-white hair catching the light like a beacon.

Down in the square, the principal and head of discipline led a cluster of teachers, bowing respectfully to the Skyvoid Group inspection team. Six figures in total: five clad in sharp black business suits. One woman with shoulder-length dark hair radiated polished professionalism; the four middle-aged men beside her exuded quiet authority. But all eyes were drawn to the sixth—a statuesque girl in a white lace-trimmed blouse and pink knee-length pleated skirt. Lin Zixuan.

Her youthful elegance clashed starkly with the corporate formality around her. She looked like she’d wandered into the wrong scene entirely. The principal’s heart hammered uncontrollably as he watched her. *Shameful*, he chided himself. *At my age?* Yet he couldn’t help it—her beauty was paralyzing. Countless women were called beautiful, but all had flaws someone might pick at. Not her. One glance at that unreal face shattered all criticism.

"*Ahem.*"

The suited woman beside Zixuan cleared her throat sharply. The principal jolted back to reality, forcing a smile as he addressed Zixuan directly.

"Chairwoman Lin, welcome to Skyvoid Academy."

***

From the classroom windows, students watched the scene unfold below.

"Must be Skyvoid Group’s top brass."

"Is the white-haired beauty a secretary?"

"No way—that suited lady’s the secretary. Secretaries don’t wear casual clothes!"

"Then who *is* she?"

"Could she be... the Chairman’s mistress?"

"Holy crap, that’s totally possible!"

Yichen’s stomach dropped at the whispers. Zixuan rarely spoke of work—he only knew her position was high-ranking, nothing specific. His mind raced back seven years: their crushing poverty, his sister—just eleven months older—scraping for odd jobs to keep them fed. Then, overnight, their fortunes reversed. He remembered Zixuan sobbing as she hugged him: *"I’m sorry you had to live like that. Never again."*

Wealth flooded in. But Zixuan grew distant, home only a few days each month. *How?* Yichen thought desperately. *No one amasses that much money that fast unless...* He couldn’t finish the thought.

"Whoa, so *that* guy’s the Chairman?"

"And she’s just a mistress? Damn, she’s gorgeous~"

The crude chatter from nearby students darkened Yichen’s expression. He couldn’t believe his radiant, capable sister—the one who’d lifted them from ruin, who’d become his idol—could ever be reduced to *that*.

"Yichen... ignore them," Zheng Hong murmured worriedly. Yichen offered a tight smile and walked back to class.

***

Third period: Math. The old teacher scrawled a brutal equation on the board.

"Five minutes. Solve it."

Silence followed. The teacher scanned the room, smug satisfaction curling his lips.

"No takers? This only requires core concepts. Weak fundamentals, clearly. Watch closely." He solved it with theatrical flair.

He repeated the pattern—impossible problem, student failure, patronizing lecture. Zheng Hong leaned toward Yichen, voice low:

"Is he seriously gonna spend the whole class shaming us with these?"

"Obviously," another boy muttered, joining them. "No way anyone solves these in five minutes."

The teacher, preening with smug satisfaction, spotted the huddle near Yichen just as a group appeared outside the classroom window. *The inspectors!* Panic flashed across his face. He snapped upright, voice booming:

"You three! Pay attention!"

Zheng Hong and the other boy flinched back. The teacher’s glare locked onto Yichen.

"Lin Yichen! You think you can solve it? Get up here!"

(Yichen had actually been working silently, ignoring the chatter. But guilt by association stuck.)

Yichen blinked, then walked to the board without protest.

Outside, the group had stopped at their window. A ripple of awe spread through the classroom.

"The white-haired girl’s here!"

"Is she an angel?"

"Holy crap, why’s she at *our* class?"

Murmurs swirled. Even Shiyue glanced up—then looked away with a quiet "Hmm." when her friend Lan tugged her sleeve, starstruck.

The principal’s smile was strained. *Disaster.* He’d ordered strict discipline. "Ahaha, Chairwoman Lin! The students are simply captivated by your radiance. Normally, they’re utterly focused! Our national ranking speaks for itself—"

Zixuan smiled—a smile that could melt glaciers. "It’s alright."

Relief washed over the principal.

Then Zixuan’s gaze fixed on something inside the classroom. The math teacher followed her eyes, momentarily dazed before scolding himself: *Foolish old man.* Yet the urge to impress flared—he’d make Yichen’s failure a showcase of his authority.

"Teacher. Solved."

Yichen stepped back. The teacher strode over, hunting for errors to pounce on. Minutes ticked by. His frown deepened. Every symbol, every step—flawless.

Annoyed, he glanced up—and froze. Yichen stood motionless, staring out the window. His lips moved silently:

"*Jiejie.*"

The teacher’s blood ran cold. He followed Yichen’s gaze. Zixuan was smiling back, a faint blush coloring her cheeks, her eyes shimmering. *Lin... both of them are Lin...* His career flashed before his eyes. *Thank heavens the boy got it right.*

He cleared his throat, voice suddenly warm. "Excellent work, Lin Yichen. You may sit."

Yichen had only just spotted Zixuan when she arrived—shock and joy flooding him. Then his eyes snagged on the sharp-suited man beside her: groomed beard, sharp features radiating calm command. *The Chairman.* His stomach clenched. When the teacher dismissed him, Yichen kept his head down, avoiding Zixuan’s gaze as he walked back.

The class had been silently cheering Yichen’s victory over the teacher—until they saw the silent exchange between siblings. Now, shock and envy crackled through the room, thick with gossip-hungry energy.