Back to School

Bai Yunsheng left Wu Shanye's house at dusk. The orange-yellow sky dyed the road ahead gold, wrapping even Bai Yunsheng in a soft, fuzzy glow. Though the setting sun's light was much gentler, Bai Yunsheng still found it hard to open his eyes. His gold-dusted lashes hung low, and by the time he reached the car, the last trace of orange on the horizon had been swallowed up.

The driver stood perfectly straight and properly opened the car door.

Bai Yunsheng suddenly said, for no apparent reason, "It's a little glaring."

The driver did not understand what Bai Yunsheng meant and answered according to the most ordinary logic, "The sun has set. It won't be so glaring soon."

Bai Yunsheng gave a hum and bent down to get into the car.

When he returned home, he learned that no one had waited for him. Dinner was already over, and they had not even left any food behind. Bai Yunsheng did not care. It would have been strange if Feng Yanshan remembered something so trivial. Bai Yunsheng casually had the kitchen make him a bowl of wontons and made do with that.

School started tomorrow, and there was still a hard battle to fight. The thought of having to deal with so many people left Bai Yunsheng somewhat weary. He turned on the light in his room, and the glaring brightness abruptly flooded the space.

Two sets of school uniforms lay on the dark blue bed. Bai Yunsheng paused slightly and walked over.

The uniforms were new, unblemished, and free of any strange writing. Clean and carrying the scent of dryer sheets, they lay on the bed. Bai Yunsheng only looked at them for a while before turning to the wardrobe. He opened the doors and found his old uniform hanging inside. Bai Yunsheng stared at it for a moment, then raised his hand and took it down. Filthy words flashed across the white fabric, gone in an instant. Soon, Bai Yunsheng threw the uniform into the trash.

Bai Yunsheng placed the new uniforms by his pillow and slept soundly through the night.

The next day, Bai Yunsheng saw Feng Tingfan downstairs, his face full of displeasure.

They attended the same school, so going together was only natural. Bai Yunsheng had always taken the bus before, but things were no longer as they had been.

The atmosphere at the dining table was strange. Oblivious to Feng Tingfan's vicious gaze, Bai Yunsheng finished breakfast. Jiang Li saw Feng Tingfan off to the car and said in a mocking tone, right in front of Bai Yunsheng, "Be careful during the placement test at the start of term. Don't disgrace the Feng Household."

Feng Tingfan had good grades and always ranked among the top twenty in the school.

That was also why Feng Yanshan had always favored Feng Tingfan.

Bai Yunsheng turned a deaf ear to Jiang Li's words and lowered his head to look over English vocabulary on his phone.

Seeing that Bai Yunsheng did not react, Jiang Li put on the manner of a loving mother and said, "Yunsheng, don't be too nervous. It's fine if you do badly. As long as you handle your relationship with Chairman Meng well, your father won't make things difficult for you."

Bai Yunsheng narrowed his eyes and smiled. At last, he tore his gaze away from his phone. "Got it, Auntie."

Seeing Bai Yunsheng's relaxed expression, Jiang Li snorted inwardly. After giving Feng Tingfan a few final reminders, she left.

On the way to school, Bai Yunsheng could clearly feel Feng Tingfan's gaze landing on him from time to time. Bai Yunsheng continued looking at the words on his phone. "What are you looking at me for?"

Feng Tingfan said disdainfully, "Studying vocabulary?"

Bai Yunsheng hummed in acknowledgment.

Mocking laughter rang through the car. "Cramming at the last minute?"

"With your IQ, studying won't help anyway. You might as well listen to my mom and properly ser..." Feng Tingfan paused and changed his wording. "Properly build a good relationship with Chairman Meng."

Bai Yunsheng answered blandly, "All right. Don't worry."

The car stopped at the school gates. Feng Tingfan clicked his tongue and got out. The black-tinted windows muted his colors as Bai Yunsheng looked up. Several people had gathered around Feng Tingfan, apparently talking about something. A moment later, they all turned to look in Bai Yunsheng's direction. After a few seconds, the group, centered around Feng Tingfan, disappeared from Bai Yunsheng's sight.

The driver glanced at the cars lined up behind them and quietly reminded him, "Young Master Bai, we've arrived."

Bai Yunsheng simply did not want to enter the school with Feng Tingfan; he had no intention of making things difficult for the driver. Hearing that, he immediately got out of the car.

Having lived a second life, arriving at the school gates felt like a lifetime ago. Though it truly was another lifetime.

People gradually passed by Bai Yunsheng. Some wore pure gold badges on their chests, some had silver-white ones pinned to them, and others wore bronze. The school had specifically used badges to distinguish special admissions students from everyone else.

There was no doubt that gold was for people like Feng Tingfan.

Silver was for people like Zhang Cheng.

As for bronze, that was even easier to understand: special admissions students.

Yet among these people, there was also a special group with no badges, like Bai Yunsheng.

Illegitimate children.

Bai Yunsheng had only lingered at the gates for a few minutes when, just as he was about to leave, a familiar voice sounded behind him.

Bai Yunsheng froze completely.

The person behind him slowly approached.

"Yunsheng, I heard you were hurt. Are you all right? I've been so busy lately that I didn't reply to your messages." Just as that person was about to raise his hand and touch Bai Yunsheng, Bai Yunsheng seemed to sense something. He abruptly turned around and took a step back.

Gao Yan froze when he saw Bai Yunsheng.

Sheng Chengguang, who stood beside Gao Yan, was the first to speak. "You're Bai Yunsheng?"

Bai Yunsheng gave him a bland look and did not answer.

Sheng Chengguang's voice pulled Gao Yan back from his wandering thoughts. "Yunsheng? You..."

Bai Yunsheng did not want anything to do with Gao Yan and cut him off directly. "There's an exam today. I'll go first." His manner was cold and distant. Without waiting for a reply, he turned and left.

Sheng Chengguang said, "That's the first time he's been so cold to you."

Gao Yan glanced at Sheng Chengguang.

"By the way, what's going on with this Bai Yunsheng? After one winter break, he's changed so much."

Gao Yan looked down the road, where Bai Yunsheng was long gone. Bai Yunsheng's beautiful face flashed through his mind before he said carelessly, "Maybe he's mad that I ignored him. I'll just coax him a little."

Sheng Chengguang smiled. "He's never been mad at you before."

Gao Yan's expression darkened slightly.

Sheng Chengguang continued, "Forget it, who cares whether he's mad or not? You were only teasing him like a puppy anyway. It's not like you liked him. But after seeing him today, Bai Yunsheng really is exactly my type. Do you think I should try pursuing him?"

Gao Yan frowned. "Pursuing him?"

Sheng Chengguang said, "Yeah."

Gao Yan adjusted his glasses. "You never thought much of him before."

Sheng Chengguang said indifferently, "Before was before. Now is now."

"Everyone likes beautiful things. I'm no exception. Especially something this beautiful."