The pre-class bell rang in a hurry.

A shadow darted into the room, flustered.

Every seat was taken. Dozens of eyes snapped toward the newcomer.

Yun Mingxin felt a flicker of embarrassment.

He slid into the nearest empty seat near the front, yet stray glances still lingered on him.

For a wild moment, he wondered if his rushed morning showed—had someone spotted his inside-out underwear? Or noticed his unwashed hair? The thought made his scalp prickle.

Thankfully, most classmates were boys. Boys with thick skins, unbothered by small details.

Only when the official bell chimed did everyone straighten up, finally freeing him.

The classroom fell unnaturally silent. Yun Mingxin frowned. Since when were these students so well-behaved?

The quiet made the sound outside the door startlingly clear.

A light, rhythmic *click-clack* drew his gaze.

Kujou Yukihime entered, holding a lesson plan and a USB drive. Her presence was arresting. She wore non-prescription black-rimmed glasses, adding an air of scholarly grace—while subtly toning down her stunning beauty.

Her eyes swept the room, searching.

When they found Yun Mingxin in the corner, he was already looking back.

Their gazes met. Kujou Yukihime didn’t smile, but warmth flickered deep in her clear, transparent eyes—a warmth that seeped straight into Yun Mingxin’s mind. Her gaze held an indescribable maturity, like a spilled palette of watercolors, vibrant beauty cascading forth.

Instantly, that warmth spread through his thoughts, staining his memories with her colors. His heart grew inexplicably warm.

*Part of his heart already belongs to me…*

Kujou Yukihime lifted her lesson plan, hiding the fleeting shift in her expression. She cleared her throat softly twice.

Composed, she stepped onto the podium and tapped the desk lightly.

The sound jolted the class awake. Every student—except Yun Mingxin—wore an expression of pure awe.

Envy, adoration, delight, infatuation—a myriad of expressions bloomed across their faces.

Nearly every male student unconsciously drew in an extra breath and held it.

Afraid this goddess-like teacher, the kind only found in novels, might vanish like a mirage.

Their reasons for signing up for this elective hadn’t been purely academic.

They’d heard rumors of a beautiful teacher, of course. But they’d expected merely someone *presentable*—most reputations were exaggerated anyway.

They’d been wrong. Horribly wrong.

This wasn’t just a good draw. It was hitting the jackpot.

Some already fantasized: *What if she smiled at me just once?*

A new dream took root: *Maybe… just maybe… I could have a moment with her? Even a few extra words?*

Everyone imagines themselves the protagonist. The truth is, everyone is only the protagonist of their own story.

Paths cross only by fate.

At some unexpected moment, one life’s thread might weave into another’s.

And for some, there is only one such thread in a lifetime.

These lovestruck boys were destined for heartbreak.

The few girls present—mostly accidental enrollees—felt no jealousy toward their teacher. Only pure, helpless admiration. Such beauty was a gift from heaven, beyond rivalry.

Kujou Yukihime turned, offering the class a silhouette that sparked imaginations, and began writing on the blackboard.

Her elegant regular script drew soft gasps.

"I am your Japanese instructor, Kujou Yukihime," she announced, her voice neutral yet effortlessly commanding respect. "As my name suggests, I hail from the Land of the Rising Sun. I’m honored to hold this position part-time. I look forward to our time together."

Her aura, more than her words, sparked murmurs among the students.

Yun Mingxin overheard the two boys seated directly ahead.

"Unbelievable. Truly unbelievable," one whispered, voice thick with awe.

"Of course she is," the other replied, tone low and steady, dismissing his friend’s exaggeration. "That level of beauty? You can’t find it online, not even with god-tier Photoshop."

"You’re thinking too small. Way too small!"

"Kujou—that’s one of Japan’s Five Regent Houses. Second only to the Konoe clan. True, old-money nobility."

"In Japan, even faded aristocratic blood commands respect. And the Kujou? They’re not faded. They’re thriving."

"The Kujou are strict. Only those of exceptional nobility and ability earn their naming rights. Males carry ‘kimi’ in their names. Females carry ‘hime’."

"I see…"

Even Yun Mingxin, listening from behind, felt a jolt of surprise. He’d known the Kujou were powerful, but not *this* layered.

Kujou Yukihime was far more extraordinary than he’d realized.

Her real presence was aligning uncannily with the character in his novel.

Was this… fate? It felt strangely inevitable.

"Today, we’ll discuss linguistic universals. Everyone knows: the longer you stay in a place, the easier it is to learn its language…"

Disappointment rippled through the room. She wasn’t asking for introductions. She was diving straight into the lesson.

Many who’d prepared clever self-presentations slumped slightly.

Kujou Yukihime had no interest in knowing them.

On the podium, she was utterly focused. Her grammar breakdowns were deep yet crystal clear.

Some strained to listen, only to find every complex concept made simple under her guidance.

No chance to show off with answers. No excuse to feign confusion and ask questions.

She was, quite simply, flawless.

Ninety minutes—two back-to-back classes—flew by. The bell rang far too soon for the reluctant students.

Sadly, this elective met only once a week. Their chance to see her again wouldn’t come until next Monday.

Kujou Yukihime gathered her things without hesitation and left.

No lingering. No theatrics.

Yun Mingxin exhaled, relieved she hadn’t caused a scene in front of his classmates.

He didn’t notice her final glance.

As she reached the door, Kujou Yukihime’s eyes flicked toward his seat. A glint of mischief danced in them.

Another plan was already forming.

She’d fully regained her footing. Just as she’d arrived, brimming with anticipation.

And now, that anticipation had not been in vain.