When I enrolled, it was early autumn—the last traces of summer heat still clinging to the air. Unlike Japan, where students step onto campus beneath falling cherry blossoms, I walked on osmanthus petals… and chrysanthemums.

Withered chrysanthemums carpeted the ground, casting a quiet desolation over the scene. I plucked a wild chrysanthemum on impulse, feeling like some ancient scholar-poet ready to compose an ode—titled *"Ode to the Chrysanthemum."*

Just as inspiration struck, a girl’s silhouette caught my eye. Long raven-black hair. A slender, graceful figure. Lanling High School’s uniform looked absolutely perfect on her. Lower down—any guy would’ve swallowed hard. Especially now, to ward off the autumn chill, black silk over-the-knee socks sheathed her long legs, gleaming as if stealing all the world’s charm.

*Few have truly loved chrysanthemums since Tao Yuanming.*

That thought flashed through my mind. I tossed the bright flower carelessly behind me. All my attention locked onto the girl ahead—my schoolmate, in uniform. Could she be a freshman too?

"Go for it, Ye Huaixian! Sixteen years of singledom—today’s the day to change it!"

Honestly, the start of high school is the boldest chapter for any guy. To make a grand debut, to escape loneliness, we summon courage we never knew we had—approaching one cute girl after another, undeterred by rejection after rejection.

So I still remember that day. Bewitched, I walked up and spoke.

—"Are you a freshman too?"

—"I’m Ye Huaixian, also new at Lanling High. Lucky me—I was chosen as freshman representative. Want to head to registration together?"

—"Huh? Student council? I’ve thought about it. You’re suggesting the office? Haha, I was actually eyeing the Culture Department."

I thought the chat went perfectly. Even got her contact.

Then came enrollment day. My heart sank.

A transfer student from a top school took my representative spot. Honestly? Not what crushed me. Dressed neatly in my blazer, seated up front with new classmates…

Then I saw her. Still breathtaking. Walking calmly toward the stage.

Jiang Yueyan—the girl I’d met. The one I’d chatted up. Disappointingly, not in my class.

But her next words froze me.

"I am Jiang Yueyan, current president of Lanling High School’s student council—your senior. It’s my honor to…"

I barely heard the rest. *Senior? Student council president?*

"…please welcome this year’s freshman representative…"

Our eyes met. Confusion flickered in hers. Shame burned through me.

It was an accident. *I* should’ve been the standout freshman. *My* name should’ve been called.

Freshman Representative—Gu Qianqian.

A girl. Didn’t matter.

I’d let her down… the girl I liked. So embarrassing.

Days blurred into gloom. Cost me the class monitor race—I became vice monitor. Lin Muke, our class beauty, won. I shouldn’t have lost. But the guys? Traitors to brotherhood. How many votes went to her? Only Fang Liancheng voted for me—I always figured it was ’cause he had a long-distance girlfriend.

I almost skipped the student council interview too. Too humiliating…

Until she left a message on the bulletin board: *Come to the student council office.*

…

Come on. One setback doesn’t break a guy. Student council president, here I—wait, no! The *student council* office—I’m coming!