Secrets and New Beginnings

Xi Ruo paused for a brief silence, then slowly answered, “It’s alright.”

Looking back, if not for that sudden intrusion in the afternoon, Xi Yao’s secret wouldn’t have been discovered, and she wouldn’t have been able to hold her hand that night.

Yet, to truly consider it…

“See? Didn’t I tell you?” Madam Xi was beaming with satisfaction. “Talking and chatting is effective.”

‘Useful, my foot! That girl’s little mouth was a veritable fount of excuses, articulating flawless logic, finding a reason for everything. If I hadn’t caught her red-handed with a weakness, I would have been utterly powerless against her.’

Madam Xi’s interest grew animated, and she continued to dispense advice to her daughter: “Chatting is merely the starting point. From time to time, you also need to give her things she likes, such as tasty treats.”

“Tasty treats?” Xi Ruo’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. “I remember she has little appetite.”

In the two and a half years she had been at the Xi family, she only remembered Xi Yao taking a mere mouthful at every meal, always opting for light, simple fare, and occasionally a small dessert.

Madam Xi had no chance to explain, as Xi Yao descended the stairs just then.

“Mom, Sister Xi Ruo, the food’s all on the table… Wow, the dishes are so sumptuous today.”

The young girl settled into a chair, grabbed her chopsticks, and immediately tucked in. Madam Xi helped her pick out two ribs and a chicken wing, saying with a smile, “Eat slowly, dear, eat slowly. You won’t be starving when you go back to school.”

“Munch, munch!”

A corner of Xi Ruo’s mouth twitched.

The image of her ‘ethereal sister’ from memory—who would delicately hold a tiny three-inch bowl, carefully conveying a meager few grains of rice with her chopsticks to her mouth—was shattering before her eyes.

‘Ah, she understood. So, even with eating, she was feigning purity for me, pretending to eat little, then secretly indulging in clandestine snacks when alone, wasn’t she?’

‘You must have had such a hard time.’

During the meal, Madam Xi continued her familiar admonishments, mainly asking about Xi Yao’s arrangements for the new semester.

No matter what she was asked, Xi Yao kept her head down, responding with a series of noncommittal hums and nods.

She hadn’t clearly heard what was asked, and even if she had, it wouldn’t have mattered. Having only transmigrated just over a month prior, and still in the midst of summer vacation, she was utterly ignorant of the school’s situation.

It wasn’t a significant concern, however. New classes were being reorganized into arts and science streams for the new semester, so she would be entering a completely new setting. Moreover, the original owner of this body hadn’t had any close friends at school, so there was no need to worry about her true identity being revealed.

As for her studies, there was even less to worry about. After all, she was still a college graduate. While she had forgotten a good seventy to eighty percent of her high school curriculum, she had, at least, learned it once. Catching up with everyone else would be considerably less challenging for her.

After eating and taking a nap, the summer vacation was, essentially, officially over.

Xi Yao pulled open her small backpack to ensure nothing had been overlooked.

Her summer homework, cafeteria meal card, bath card, laundry card, student ID… all were securely stored.

Then, glancing down her neckline, she saw the torn-out diary pages, wrapped in a silk handkerchief, also tucked securely against her skin.

“A-Yao, I’m coming in.”

Xi Ruo pushed open the door and saw Xi Yao hastily tugging at her collar.

“Wh-what’s wrong?”

“No, nothing at all. Mom asked me to come check if you needed any help packing anything,” Xi Ruo stated calmly.

She paid it no mind, merely assuming Xi Yao was checking the progress of her burgeoning figure.

‘What was there to inspect? Even with clothes on, it was perfectly obvious just by looking in a mirror. It was quite remarkable.’

“Oh, oh, I see,” Xi Yao tugged at the corner of her mouth, managing a strained smile. “You’re all far too considerate.”

‘She had almost been discovered. That had been far too dangerous.’

Finding there was nothing she needed help with, Xi Ruo didn’t linger, merely once again reminded her:

“Go to school, attend your classes diligently. I’ll come find you on the weekend, understood?”

“Understood! Absolutely understood!”

Xi Ruo left feeling pleased, having discovered that as long as she had something over her, Xi Yao remained quite compliant.

‘Much cuter than before!’

Xi Yao listened as the footsteps faded away, then opened the door to verify her absence before finally lying back down on her bed.

‘Phew, good thing I wasn’t discovered.’

‘The secret in the diary was far more unnerving than “secretly claiming a prize alone in the room.” And she didn’t even know who that “Sister Wan” was.’

However, since they only met once a month, it suggested their paths rarely crossed, so she likely wouldn’t have to fret too much once she was at school.

‘Best to get a good night’s sleep, then, and prepare to embrace high school life once more.’

The young girl spread out her blanket and settled onto her pillow.

Zzzz

****

The day for school to begin finally dawned.

As university and high school had different reporting schedules, Xi Yao didn’t go with Xi Ruo, instead making her way to school by herself that morning.

“Early to bed, healthy in body; early to rise, light as a feather,”

Standing at the school gate, Xi Yao found herself murmuring, “It’s still utterly surreal, like a dream.”

The high school campus in this world was entirely different from her previous life’s, strikingly similar to those depicted in anime. With stylish school uniforms, gym clothes, and sports shorts, physical education classes featuring various activities including swimming, clubs, and student councils… it was a veritable checklist of tropes.

All that was missing were school idols.

As the pinnacle of academic excellence among schools, Wenlu Academy offered an even more vibrant campus experience. Standing at the main gate, the grounds stretched endlessly.

Xi Yao reckoned it was probably several times larger than the college campus she had known in her previous life.

“Time to enroll.”

Following the instructions on the school’s website, Xi Yao successfully registered and updated her student ID information. For the new academic year, she had been assigned to Class 2 of the Humanities stream, with classes officially commencing tomorrow, Wednesday.

Regarding dormitories, she first needed to go to the girls’ dorm, register her information with the dorm matron, and then inquire about her room.

Leaving the registration office in the teaching building and walking towards the girls’ dormitory, students she passed repeatedly stole glances. Upon reaching the more crowded dormitory building, the surrounding gazes grew more fervent, accompanied by a hum of hushed murmurs.

In a school where most students were on the cusp of adolescence, among a crowd of newly blossoming JK (TL Note: Japanese term ‘joshi kōsei’ meaning high school girl) students, she was exceptionally striking.

With a calm expression, Xi Yao walked into the dormitory, shoulders back and chin up.

“Auntie,” she said, handing her student ID across the desk. “I’m here to register my information.”

The dorm matron, Auntie Huang, glanced at the student ID, then lifted her head to look at the young girl before her, a momentary stunned silence escaping her.

‘Well, I’ll be. Before looking up, she had thought the photo on the student ID was digitally enhanced. Only upon seeing the real person did she realize the reality was even more… pronounced than the picture.’

“Your room is 502, Student Xi Yao,” Auntie Huang said, efficiently recorded the information, adding casually, “In your future dorm life, you’re sure to attract a lot of envious glances… your development is simply too outstanding.”

“Oh, it’s nothing, I merely repeated a year before, so I’m just one year older than them,” Xi Yao replied modestly. “Give them another year, and I’m sure they’ll be just as outstanding.”

“…Well… I don’t think so.”

‘Was that a question of a mere year or two? No, that was a fundamental, innate disparity.’

Xi Yao had spoken without much thought, and Auntie Huang had listened without much conviction. After completing the paperwork, Xi Yao went up to the fifth floor and located her room.

The girls’ dormitory at Wenlu Academy consisted of two-person suites, ample living space for just two students.

Her other roommate hadn’t arrived yet. According to the dormitory’s room allocation policy, her roommate would also be a girl from Class 2 of the Humanities stream.

‘There are only two beds anyway, so there’s no real difference. I’ll just pick one.’

Xi Yao began making her bed.

As she busied herself, the dorm room door opened once more, and a ‘three-no’ girl (TL Note: A common anime trope referring to a character who is emotionless, voiceless, and clueless, or sometimes without family, friends, and hobbies) with an indifferent expression walked in.