The Opening Ceremony’s Unexpected Developments

The grand auditorium, capable of seating two thousand, was filled for the opening ceremony, which commenced as scheduled. Customarily, students found their places by class upon entering, though no one paid much mind to where individuals ultimately settled.

The auditorium’s interior boasted rather impressive decorations, with layers of lights casting a brilliant glow throughout the space. European-style wall sconces adorned the walls, complementing the tiered seating that sloped gently towards the front. There, a stage awaited, complete with a grand curtain, a prominent podium, and a large screen. Sitting within, Lin Ling felt as if he were at a live performance. It was his first time witnessing such a setup in person, and he found it quite novel.

No sooner had Lin Ling found a spot and settled in than a sharp poke landed on his arm. Sitting by the aisle, he was easily within reach of anyone passing through. Puzzled, Lin Ling turned his head, his gaze meeting a pair of dazzling golden eyes.

“Lin Ling, scoot over a bit. I’m sitting here,” Qin Ruoxue declared imperiously. Naturally, Lin Ling wasn’t about to comply. To simply move because she commanded it would only make him appear easily bullied.

“Why don’t you find another seat? I’ve already claimed this one.”

“Hm?”

“Hmph!”

After a brief staring contest, Lin Ling, feeling a touch sheepish, ultimately conceded and moved slightly.

“Heh? What, don’t want this seat anymore?” Qin Ruoxue’s eyes narrowed into slits as she watched Lin Ling shift. Without a moment’s hesitation, she swiftly claimed the vacated spot, settling herself right beside him.

‘It’s absolutely not that I, Lin Ling, chickened out,’ he thought, pouting. ‘This is called a tactical retreat.’ He stubbornly refused to admit otherwise. At that very moment, Chen Sishi arrived from the other side, settling naturally into the seat on Lin Ling’s opposite flank.

“Eh?!”

“Um… are both of you actually sitting right next to me?”

“Shut up!”

“Shut up!”

Their voices synchronized, and as they exchanged a fierce glare, the air around them seemed to crackle with a scorched tension. Lin Ling instinctively pulled his neck in, frozen in place.

Gradually, the surrounding empty seats filled, leaving Lin Ling utterly trapped between the two leading ladies. Unable to move, he could only cast a desperate, pleading look towards Li Yan, who was casually observing the unfolding drama from nearby, as if enjoying a show.

Upon sensing Lin Ling’s distressed gaze, Li Yan quickly shook his head, a clear signal that he was powerless to assist. He hadn’t even managed to sort out his own complicated matters; how could he possibly dare to meddle in Lin Ling’s predicament?

“Lin Ling, what are you looking at?” Chen Sishi asked, following his gaze. Upon seeing it was that fellow, Li Yan, she turned back to Lin Ling, a puzzled frown creasing her brow. A fleeting thought crossed her mind: ‘Should I get rid of Li Yan?’ But then, observing Lin Ling’s demeanor, she concluded he probably wasn’t interested in male classmates.

“Cough, nothing at all. Just saying hello to someone.”

“Oh~” Chen Sishi’s voice carried a hint of dissatisfaction, leaving Lin Ling wondering if she was truly jealous. He pressed a hand to his forehead in exasperation. ‘If Chen Sishi is going to be jealous over such trivial matters, she might as well forget about classes and just go into the business of selling vinegar. She’d make a fortune.’

Of course, that was merely a jest. Given Chen Sishi’s privileged family background, she could effortlessly live a life of comfort for decades without lifting a finger.

“Lin Ling, you know, it seems you’ve never actually greeted me,” Chen Sishi remarked. The words had barely left her lips when Lin Ling nearly choked on his own saliva.

‘No, I was just speaking casually! Why are you actually getting jealous?’ he grumbled inwardly. Before Lin Ling could even formulate a rebuttal, Qin Ruoxue’s voice cut in from his other side.

“So what if he didn’t greet you? Look at how you’re acting.”

Chen Sishi, her temper clearly rising, straightened her posture and fixed Qin Ruoxue with a fierce glare.

“Was I speaking to you? When others are talking, don’t interrupt. That’s basic courtesy.”

Qin Ruoxue rolled her eyes, turning her head away with an expression of utter disdain.

Witnessing the imminent clash between the two, Lin Ling quickly interjected with a few coughs, placing himself squarely between them.

“Alright, alright, keep your voices down. The opening ceremony is about to begin.”

Precisely at that moment, the hall plunged into darkness. As the overhead lights faded, the wall sconces slowly flickered to life, bathing the interior in a soft, subdued glow once more. A moment later, the powerful stage lights also began to gradually illuminate.

Standing at the podium was a middle-aged man who, judging by his formal attire, was undoubtedly the principal.

“Esteemed leaders, dear teachers, beloved students: Good morning, everyone!”

“Though time may pass, today we stand once more, prepared and reunited, to embrace a new academic year. On behalf of the school’s leadership, I wish to extend my sincerest gratitude to all the esteemed leaders present for our opening ceremony, and to offer my warmest greetings for the new semester to all faculty, staff, and students.”

It was the same familiar string of clichés, a tedious succession of empty words that soon had Lin Ling feeling quite drowsy.

“Next, we will proceed with the first item on the agenda,” the principal announced. “Everyone, please rise…”

The music emanating from the speakers wasn’t any melody Lin Ling recognized, and it struck him as distinctly odd. Yet, he reasoned, this wasn’t his old world; it would be more peculiar if everything were identical.

Settling back into his chair, Lin Ling leaned against the backrest, a wave of boredom washing over him.

“Lin Ling, is it our day for duty today?” Qin Ruoxue’s voice drifted into his ear. Lin Ling turned his head and nodded in confirmation.

“Yes, it’s our duty day. Why do you ask?”

“Then, did you empty the trash cans?”

Qin Ruoxue’s question immediately sparked a realization in Lin Ling. He had been so preoccupied with the transfer procedures that morning; how could he possibly have remembered to take out the trash?

“Um… Class Monitor, I completely forgot,” he admitted, scratching his head sheepishly. Qin Ruoxue could only sigh in resignation.

“Forget it, then. If it’s not done, it’s not done. Just don’t forget to do it when we head back later.”

“Alright.”

With a brief affirmation, Lin Ling redirected his attention to the stage. The principal had been replaced by a female student in a school uniform. He paid no mind to her words, considering her speech irrelevant to him.

The young woman’s voice on stage was pleasant, yet as Lin Ling listened, he found himself growing unexpectedly drowsy. Just then, a slender arm wrapped around his own, and he felt two soft, yielding forms press intimately against his side.

Lin Ling’s eyes snapped wide open, his drowsiness vanishing in an instant. With two ‘mountains’ pressing firmly against his arm, how could he possibly sleep? It was utterly impossible.

Lin Ling mechanically turned his head, knowing instinctively who was embracing him. As he gazed at the sleeping face of the silver-haired girl, a subtle tug resonated through his heartstrings.

‘Beautiful?’ he mused. ‘Undoubtedly. As the original novel’s heroine, Chen Sishi’s beauty was undeniably the pinnacle of the entire school. Even Qin Ruoxue, sitting nearby, paled slightly in comparison.’

The deeply sleeping girl was clinging to Lin Ling’s arm, her beautiful cheek nestled against his, rubbing gently as if she were cradling a cherished treasure. Feeling her steady heartbeat, Lin Ling’s own pulse began to quicken, as though striving to synchronize with Chen Sishi’s.

“Lin Ling, what’s the matter?”

“Nothing, nothing at all. I’m just feeling a bit sleepy.”

Qin Ruoxue sensed something amiss and cast a sidelong glance at Lin Ling. From her vantage point, she couldn’t discern anything specific, so she didn’t dwell on it.