18: The Beauty of First Encounters (10)

“Come in.”

Jiang Huan watched as the two students stepped into the office one after the other. After placing several phones on her desk, they stood silently in place, leaving just enough space between them to fit two more people. The sight suddenly struck her as somewhat amusing.

“This office is quite spacious, isn’t it?”

Feng Jinyan and Ye Xiangwan exchanged puzzled glances at her words, but when she followed up with another question, their expressions instantly shifted into a vivid array of emotions.

“Standing so far apart, are you two having a quarrel?”

An odd silence settled over the office. The students had rushed out to play during the break, so aside from Jiang Huan, four other homeroom teachers were present. They all casually cast their gazes toward the trio, their boredom momentarily broken.

After a pause, Feng Jinyan, looking somewhat pained, said, “...We’re not in a relationship where we’d quarrel.”

“What kind of relationship do you have then?”

Feng Jinyan was speechless.

Ye Xiangwan was speechless.

Jiang Huan, observing their expressions—both as if they were about to vomit blood—nodded with mild satisfaction.

“I don’t care what your relationship is now, nor your family backgrounds. High school is that stage where you’ve grown sensible but aren’t yet worldly.

In my class, I don’t expect you to love each other, but I hope that three years from now, when you look back on this time, you’ll feel it was worth remembering, meaningful.”

Hearing this, Feng Jinyan glanced at Ye Xiangwan, only to find her lips still pressed into a straight line, utterly unmoved.

Feng Jinyan thought: A girl without feelings is really tiresome. Then Jiang Huan added, “So I’m going to assign you a task. The class can’t be without leaders at the start of the semester. Ye Xiangwan, you’ll be class president; Feng Jinyan, the academic committee member. How about that?”

Unexpectedly, the usually silent Ye Xiangwan spoke up instantly: “No.”

In her career, Jiang Huan probably had never encountered such a decisive and ruthless refusal. She was momentarily stunned, then slightly raised her head and leaned back in her chair, smiling rather than frowning. “Why not? Tell me.”

“If your goal is to build a more united class, then it’s best to be democratic about it.”

Jiang Huan nodded thoughtfully. “Good idea. But let me ask you, can you name more than ten classmates right now? Feng Jinyan, don’t laugh—can you describe the personalities of ten or more classmates and what roles they excel in? Are you going to vote based on who you know?”

It was less than a month since the semester began, and the class was more scattered than grains of sand. Everyone was more self-important than the next, and they only went to the restroom with people they already knew. Since there had been no collective activities, no one really knew anyone else.

“Class leadership isn’t fixed forever. After midterms, I’ll hold another election. Those who are capable and want to compete can step forward. For now, I have to choose the highest achievers. I need you two to integrate quickly into the class in these first few months and help unite everyone. You’re both very capable. Understand?”

Feng Jinyan: “...Oh.”

Ye Xiangwan: “...”

“From your reaction, is there something you don’t understand or are dissatisfied with?”

Feng Jinyan: Of course I’m dissatisfied.

He glanced at Ye Xiangwan again. With such a detached and indifferent girl as class president, could their class really get along?

Ye Xiangwan furrowed her brows, and without hesitation said once more, “Teacher, I can’t be class president...”

The moment the words left her mouth, Jiang Huan’s expression visibly darkened.

Feng Jinyan took a breath and quickly stepped forward, grabbing Ye Xiangwan’s arm behind her back, fearing she would continue. Never mind who became president; for the next two months, they wouldn’t escape being bathroom monitors.

“Teacher, how about I take the role, and let her be academic committee? With her personality as class president for half a semester, our classmates might as well shave their heads and become monks.”

Jiang Huan stared at them silently for a while, then suddenly laughed. “Not bad. Just as I thought. You even know how to cover for your classmates. Let’s do it your way. Ye Xiangwan, remember to reciprocate and help each other, okay?”

Ye Xiangwan: “???”

As the two exchanged looks that screamed, “Is it still possible to drop out now?” Jiang Huan threw out another sentence that made them both step back in shock.

“I see the atmosphere between you two has eased. Now, shake hands properly in front of me and say something sincere to each other, so all past grievances can be wiped clean, alright? As class leaders, you can’t have any barriers between you.”

So this wasn’t punishment—it was mediation?!

Feng Jinyan twisted his mouth at Ye Xiangwan, his face clearly saying: Who runs first, you or me?

Ye Xiangwan said nothing, but the way she stepped back with her right leg clearly said: I’m first.

Master Feng’s face was filled with speechless disbelief, his eyes silently accusing her of shamelessness.

Ye Xiangwan: “...”

Just as Ye Xiangwan tried to run, Feng Jinyan pulled her back. The moment he stepped forward, Jiang Huan spoke again:

“Ye Xiangwan, be proactive. Feng Jinyan has already dropped his pride and pulled you. You can’t just be indifferent. Interaction between people is mutual. Come on, you go first this time.”

Feng Jinyan: “...”

Ye Xiangwan: “...”

Turning around was like a glitch in her movements — it was painfully slow. She never imagined, now that she was in high school, the homeroom teacher would treat her like a kindergartener, forcing a handshake to make peace.

She lowered her eyelids for a long moment, then finally looked up. Feng Jinyan was staring down at his shoe tips, a rebellious strand of hair at his hair whorl stubbornly sticking up.

His hair always had a few mischievous strands. Usually, he would rock his chair or his thigh, the creaking sound making her want to press her hand down.

Outside the window, raindrops tapped softly on the glass, not thunder or lightning, but a quiet, continuous drizzle.

Ye Xiangwan’s fingers curled slightly at her side. She stared at that hair whorl and very slowly raised her hand, stopping it between them.

Feng Jinyan suddenly looked up, eyes full of the meaning: Why don’t you resist a little more?

From down the hallway came the distant sounds of laughter and chatter. A few boys reached the office door, suddenly remembered themselves, hushed their voices, and hurried away quietly.

Feng Jinyan lowered his gaze to the pale hand stretched out to him, squinting slightly. After a moment, his fingers twitched but didn’t lift. Instead, the rolled-up sleeve slid down along his arm, covering that small movement.

“Ring ring ring.” The bell signaling the end of break rang abruptly, and both of them stiffened in place.