He tugged her along as they walked out. Passing by a tightly closed door, he casually introduced, "There are a few paintings from the Song and Ming Dynasties inside."
Baisong: "..."
She suddenly wondered if there was something wrong with his brain. How could he show absolutely no awareness of being the rightful owner?
When they reached the front entrance downstairs, Shi Wei finally released her now crumpled backpack strap.
Handing her a black umbrella, he said, "Be careful on your way."
Baisong gave him a long look, her suspicions about this person seeming more and more certain.
She thanked him politely, though with some regret, sighed softly, opened the umbrella, and stepped onto the pavement where rainwater was nearly forming a river.
The door behind her didn't close until she completely disappeared into the rainy night.
**
Shengde Middle School.
Baisong followed behind Wu Lang at a leisurely pace, heading to the administrative office to complete her enrollment.
Perhaps due to the rain she endured last night, her entire demeanor was sluggish. She squinted lazily, like someone half-awake.
"Miss Zhi, we're here."
Wu Lang stopped at the office door, stepping aside to make room for her.
Yu Baisheng had already spoken to Shengde's school board ahead of time. Wu Lang's responsibility was simply to guide Baisong to the administrative office.
Baisong responded indifferently, then walked over to the only desk in the room.
The head of administration was a middle-aged woman about thirty years old, with high cheekbones that gave her a slightly sharp appearance.
Sun Xuemei scanned her with a sharp gaze, opened up a folder, and pushed it in front of her. "Sign here."
Baisong slouched slightly as she picked up a pen and swiftly filled out the basic information section before tucking her hands back into her pockets in an utterly nonchalant posture.
Sun Xuemei glanced at her information form, narrowing her eyes. "Are you sick?"
"Hm?" Baisong paused, her gaze tinged with confusion.
"If you're not sick, why bundle up like that? Take off your mask and hat. You're at school; act like it."
Sun Xuemei's voice was sharp, almost piercing to the ears.
Baisong raised her brows and deliberately coughed loudly several times in her direction. "I'm catching a cold."
She clutched her chest dramatically, looking as though she were gravely ill.
Sun Xuemei frowned deeply, leaning back slightly as if worried about the airborne droplets escaping past her mask.
She pointed to the sofa a short distance away, instructing Baisong, "Wait over there. I'll ask your homeroom teacher to come take you to your class."
"Thank you."
Baisong lowered her gaze, the corners of her lips curving into an imperceptible smile beneath her mask.
She took out her phone, set the volume to its lowest level, and lounged bonelessly against the sofa, casually playing her game while letting out a cough or two every now and then.
Sun Xuemei's brow twitched at the sight of her antics. She turned on the desk's air purifier, taking a deep breath once it was running.
Not long after, a knock sounded on the office door.
A young man in his twenties appeared at the doorway, hugging a stack of books.
His features were impeccably well-defined, his short hair casually trimmed, and the arch of his brows tapered upward in an unruly way. His unique monolid eyes narrowed into crescent moons when he smiled.
"Teacher Ji."
Upon seeing him, Sun Xuemei's face broke into a nearly overflowing smile.
Ji Jingchen had transferred here this semester to teach, and with his striking looks and magnetic demeanor, he had quickly gained popularity at Shengde.
Of course, as a teacher, his credentials were exceptional.
Ji Jingchen acknowledged her politely but without much warmth, turning his attention to Baisong.
He approached her with quick strides, smiling as he greeted, "Hello, I'm Ji Jingchen, your homeroom teacher." His voice was rich and calm, perfectly reflective of his character.
"Baisong."
Her hat was pulled low, and her mask concealed most of her face, making it impossible to discern her appearance.
Ji Jingchen showed no curiosity about her, treating her with an even-handed gaze that carried equal parts warmth and calm. "Come with me."
Baisong gave a small nod, pocketed her phone, and silently followed behind him.
Ji Jingchen's office was upstairs, situated centrally.
He pulled out a chair to place it next to the desk, gesturing for Baisong to sit before introducing her to the school's rules and providing an overview of her class.
Baisong was assigned to Class 7, Grade 12—a mixed bag of students ranging from the top ten in the year's rankings to the perpetual grade-level tail-enders.
After briefly summarizing, Ji Jingchen handed her a school uniform. "The bathroom is over there. Go change into the uniform."
Baisong nodded and placed her backpack on the chair before heading into the restroom.
Shengde's uniform bore a strong British influence: a deep-blue sleeveless knit sweater layered over a white shirt, paired with a plaid pleated skirt.
Baisong looked down at the skirt, which ended just above her knees, and felt a distinct discomfort throughout her entire body.
She lingered in the restroom for quite a while before finally stepping out at a sluggish pace.
"Are there any pants?"
Baisong lightly curled her fingers and tapped them on his desk.
Ji Jingchen was intently reorganizing the documents on his desk with such focus that he didn't notice her approach.
At her words, he slowly raised his head. The girl had already removed her hat and mask, revealing her jet-black and silky hair cascading at her back.
Her skin was porcelain-like, a perfectly oval face adorned with almond-shaped eyes in muted brown that shimmered faintly like stars against the night sky.
The tailored uniform accentuated her impossibly slim waist, while the pale and slender legs beneath the skirt seemed to glow, demanding attention.
Ji Jingchen's gaze flickered with a trace of astonishment. He cleared his throat lightly, swiftly diverting his eyes. "Is it ill-fitting?"
Baisong shook her head. "I'm just not used to wearing skirts."
Her hand at her sides instinctively tugged at the hem of the skirt, her unease plainly obvious.
Ji Jingchen chuckled softly. "Once winter comes, the uniform will be replaced."
Although he hadn't been at the school long, he had a fair understanding of Shengde's traditions—uniforms were updated every time the season changed.
"Okay." Baisong replied flatly, calculating the days in her mind.
"Let's go. I'll take you to your class." Ji Jingchen stood up and handed her the prepared textbooks.
Class 7, Grade 12.
As the door was pushed open, everyone inside paused whatever they were doing and looked toward the entrance.
Ji Jingchen placed his teaching materials on the lectern. "Today, we have a new classmate joining us."
He gestured for Baisong, who stood at the doorway, to come forward. As she walked closer, he tilted his head toward her. "Introduce yourself to everyone."
The girl stood lazily, sweeping a disinterested glance at those below. "My name is Baisong." Her crisp voice carried absolutely no emotion.