Chương 36: Jiangchuan 1 Middle School

Jiangchuan No. 1 Middle School is located in the most bustling part of Jiangchuan City, yet it miraculously retains a tranquil campus atmosphere. The century-old brick-red main teaching building is covered with ivy, which complements the brand-new glass curtain wall complex, forming a unique landscape.

The ginkgo trees on both sides of the school gate rustled in the breeze, and their golden fan-shaped leaves swirled and fell, adding a touch of poetry to this campus where history and modernity blend.

As one of the city's top key middle schools, it not only boasts a strong faculty and an international curriculum, but is also renowned for its diverse campus activities—monthly open days, exchange programs with prestigious overseas universities, and a cultural festival that attracts citywide attention, always drawing countless visitors from outside the school.

At this moment, the electronic screen at the school gate is displaying banners welcoming new students, and the melodious strains of a band practicing can be heard in the distance. The entire campus is brimming with youthful energy.

Lin Che looked up at the gilded plaque bearing the school's name at the school gate. As the sunlight danced on the metal surface, casting dazzling spots of light, he subconsciously squinted, a subtle ripple stirring in his heart.

Memories of my past life at that ordinary key high school in Nanhu City surfaced in my mind. Those days spent with tutoring books and test papers formed a stark contrast to the vibrant prestigious school before me.

"Brother, what are you daydreaming about?" Su Yuqing's clear voice interrupted his thoughts. The girl had already taken out her phone, pointing the camera at the school gate plaque.

"Come take a picture to commemorate your first day of school!"

Without a word, she grabbed Lin Che's arm and held the phone high. In the video, the boy in his brand-new school uniform stood stiffly, while the girl leaned affectionately on his shoulder, making her ever-present peace sign.

"Smile a little~" Seeing Lin Che's expression, Su Yuqing poked his cheek with some dissatisfaction, "It's not like we're taking an ID photo."

Lin Che gave a helpless twitch of his lips, but the moment he pressed the shutter, he felt her fingers subtly hook around his little finger. This small gesture warmed his heart, and his expression softened involuntarily.

"One more!" She suddenly turned around, stood on tiptoe, and rested her chin on his shoulder.

"This time, make it more natural!"

Lin Chen, who was standing to the side, smiled and raised his DSLR camera: "I'll take a proper picture for you guys."

"Ready—" Just as he got the focus right, a small figure suddenly burst into the frame. Xiaoye broke free from her mother's hand and rushed towards the siblings who were about to take a picture like a small cannonball.

"Xiaoye wants a photo too!" She grabbed Lin Che's leg, resulting in a comical moment in the photo: Lin Che was holding his backpack, which was about to slip off, with one hand and supporting Xiaoye's back with the other; Su Yuqing bent down to pick up her sister, but her hair ended up covering her face.

"Retake!" Seeing the finished shot, Su Yuqing stomped her foot angrily, then squatted down and gently pinched her younger sister's soft cheeks, pulling them apart.

"This time, Xiaoye, you have to stand properly!"

Finally, the brother and sister, wearing the same school uniform, stood side by side with the gold-embossed words "Jiangchuan No. 1 Middle School" behind them. Su Yuqing naturally took Lin Che's arm, while Lin Che gently placed his hand on his sister's shoulder. The shutter clicked, capturing this precious moment of their first day on campus.

"Then we'll go in first." After taking the photos, Lin Che said this to his family, his gaze unconsciously falling on the little girl who was still tugging at his clothes, seemingly wanting to follow him in, with a hint of doubt.

"Huh?" Xiaoye's eyes suddenly widened, as if she had discovered something astonishing.

"The school I'm going to isn't here?"

Su Wanyi squatted down and gently adjusted the bow ribbon in her daughter's hair: "Xiaoye's primary school is two streets away. We'll take you there now."

This answer made the little girl's face fall instantly, and her eyes visibly reddened: "I also want to go to school with my older brothers and sisters!"

"But Xiaoye is still a primary school student." Lin Che gently patted her head, his voice softening unconsciously.

"When Xiaoye grows up, when she's as tall as her sister, she can come here."

"How much longer?" Xiaoye looked up, her eyes filled with anticipation.

"Six years," Lin Che said truthfully.

Xiaoye immediately pouted, tears welling up in her eyes. Su Yuqing quickly squatted down and hugged her, gently patting her back like she was comforting a small animal: "We'll go home with you after school, and we'll bring you your favorite cream bread!"

"Really?" Xiaoye sniffed, looking at her sister with teary eyes.

"Of course it's true!" Su Yuqing held up her little finger.

"Let's pinky swear!"

Xiaoye then stopped crying and smiled, hooking her finger around her sister's: "Then I want two! No, three!"

Looking at his younger sister's innocent and carefree appearance, Lin Che's lips curled up slightly. This kind of everyday life was the treasure he wanted to protect the most right now.

After seeing their parents and younger sister off, the two arrived at the class assignment notice board in front of the teaching building. The notice board was already surrounded by new students, with exclamations and sighs mingling together. Su Yuqing's gaze swept over the row of rankings, and she suddenly grabbed Lin Che's sleeve, her voice filled with barely concealed excitement:

"Ah Che! We're in the same class! Class 1-A!"

Her eyes shone like they were filled with stars. Lin Che looked in the direction she was pointing, and the two names side by side on the bulletin board warmed his heart.

"Great!" Su Yuqing cheered, drawing stares from the surrounding classmates. She quickly lowered her voice and whispered in Lin Che's ear, "This way we can..."

She abruptly stopped mid-sentence, her eyes gleaming mischievously.

"By the way," she said, "how about we play a game?"

"What game?" Lin Che raised an eyebrow, his intuition telling him what kind of mischief this girl was up to now.

"Let's not reveal that we're siblings yet!" she said excitedly.

"Let's see who can make more friends. The loser has to grant the winner a request!"

Lin Che helplessly pointed out the flaw in the girl's logic: "Is there any necessary connection between hiding a relationship and competing to see who has more friends?"

"That's a different matter," Su Yuqing waved her hand.

"Let's wait until everyone's familiar with each other before going public. Their expressions will definitely be interesting—by the way, are you going to compete or not?"

"I refuse."

"Why?" Su Yuqing puffed out her cheeks like a pufferfish.

"Because I'm sure I'll lose." He turned and walked towards the teaching building.

"I don't plan to interact with too many people; one or two friends will be enough."

Su Yuqing jogged to catch up with him, her skirt swaying gently with each step: "Why? It's the first day of school! Wouldn't it be great to make more friends?"

"Troublesome," he replied briefly, his gaze sweeping over the groups of freshmen chatting and laughing in the corridor. These vibrant faces reminded him of his own past.

In his previous life, he didn't have the chance to enjoy campus life carefree. In this life, if he had just been reborn, he might have wanted to relive his high school years. But now, he doesn't have that luxury.

He needs to focus a lot of his energy on his magical training as a Starfrost and on gathering relevant information. Too much socializing will only hinder him. Besides, he is no longer a real high school student. When he is with these innocent boys and girls, he always feels a subtle sense of alienation.

Su Yuqing pouted, then suddenly leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Could it be... you're afraid you won't make any friends? I didn't expect you to be so insecure, A-Che~" This clumsy attempt at reverse psychology left Lin Che speechless. He reached out and lightly flicked her forehead: "Save your breath, this trick won't work on me."

"Boring~" Su Yuqing dragged out her words, about to continue pestering, when the pre-class bell suddenly rang.

"Oh no! I'm going to be late!"

She turned and ran towards the teaching building, calling out to Lin Che behind her, "Che, hurry up!"

"It's just a preparatory bell..." Lin Che followed helplessly, his steps still composed.

At the corner of the corridor, Su Yuqing stopped and smiled brightly at Lin Che, who was walking slowly towards her. She stretched out her hand and said, "Hurry up, Lin Che!"

Lin Che smiled slightly and took her outstretched hand: "I really can't do anything with you."

On the campus path covered with golden ginkgo leaves, two figures are running towards their own chapter of youth. In a corner unknown to anyone but their owner, a pink and gold transformation device quietly emits a faint light, reminding this seemingly ordinary boy of the special mission he carries on his shoulders.