C37 Monitor Bai Yiming

Yi Lanyou slung her backpack over her shoulder and headed to her class after completing the enrollment process. Upon entering the room, she caught sight of Lin Xiaorou, who was perched by the window, laughing and chatting with someone. Her radiant smile, bathed in sunlight, betrayed nothing of her venomous true self.

Choosing a spot against the wall at random, Yi Lanyou settled in, knowing that seats would soon be assigned by lot. In her past life, she had been seated next to Lin Xiaorou, which led to a close friendship after Lin Xiaorou's seemingly kind gestures. Yi Lanyou had confided her deepest thoughts and secrets to Lin Xiaorou, only to be betrayed...

One mishap after another had marred Yi Lanyou's high school years, while Lin Xiaorou thrived, rising to become the student council president and eventually securing a spot at one of the top 50 universities in the world.

This time around, Yi Lanyou wondered if Lin Xiaorou would enjoy the same good fortune as before. She was determined not only to rectify the regrets of her past life but also to expose Lin Xiaorou's duplicity for all to see.

"Youyou!" A girl with unfashionable black-rimmed glasses leaned over Yi Lanyou's desk excitedly. "What luck! We're in the same class!"

"Xiaoman!" Yi Lanyou's eyes welled up at the sight of her.

"Youyou, why the tears?" Wang Xiaoman asked, taken aback. She quickly took a seat next to Yi Lanyou and pulled out a slightly crumpled but clean handkerchief to dab at her friend's tears. "I've been to your place several times looking for you. Your aunt said you'd gone to your dad's, and I was afraid I wouldn't see you again."

"Xiaoman, so much has happened," Yi Lanyou murmured, unsure of how to begin explaining. Wang Xiaoman had been her steadfast friend since elementary school, and they had been classmates in high school in her previous life as well. However, following Fang Fang's harsh criticism, Yi Lanyou had made the painful decision to sever ties with her past, including her friendship with Xiaoman. She hadn't spoken to Xiaoman since.

Despite her heartache, Wang Xiaoman never held a grudge against Yi Lanyou. In fact, during their senior year, when Yi Lanyou was falsely accused of theft, Wang Xiaoman was the first and only person to come to her defense. Ironically, while Wang Xiaoman was the lone supporter in their class, Yi Lanyou had been intent on distancing herself from her.

After learning that Xiaoman had been accepted to a university in another city, Yi Lanyou and she had little to no interaction. When Yi Lanyou saw Wang Xiaoman, who had always treated her with genuine kindness, she was overwhelmed with emotion. She had been so lost in her past life, but now her heart was clear. She vowed to hold accountable those who had wronged her and to show gratitude to those who had been kind.

"Don't cry, take your time and tell me what's on your mind," Wang Xiaoman soothed, "I'm here for you, and I'm not going anywhere."

Yi Lanyou nodded with certainty, knowing full well that Wang Xiaoman, along with Yuan Hui, would never leave her side, no matter what. She shared with Xiaoman the disappointment of her middle school exam results and how Yi Haoen had come to fetch her and paid her tuition fees. However, she left out the details of the provocations from Fang Fang, Yi Rui'er, and the household staff.

"Oh, your dad coming to get you is a good thing. Has he been treating you well?" Wang Xiaoman inquired.

"My father has been quite good to me," Yi Lanyou confirmed, nodding. Yi Haoen had indeed been decent to her.

"That's wonderful," said Wang Xiaoman, a hint of envy in her voice. Her own father had taken all the family savings and left with his mistress when she was young, leaving her and her mother to fend for themselves in tough circumstances. Despite resenting her father, Wang Xiaoman couldn't help but yearn for a father's love. Hearing that Yi Lanyou's father had not only taken her in but also treated her well brought a smile to her face. She playfully nudged Yi Lanyou, "So, has your dad found you a stepmom or anything?"

Yi Lanyou, realizing Wang Xiaoman was joking, was momentarily taken aback before nodding emotionlessly.

Seeing Yi Lanyou's reaction, Wang Xiaoman immediately regretted her words. It made sense, after all—how could Yi Lanyou not have a stepmother? Noticing Yi Lanyou's expression, Wang Xiaoman could tell that life with her father wasn't all that great and quickly apologized, "Sorry, did I overstep?"

"It's no big deal," Yi Lanyou said with a playful smile, giving Wang Xiaoman a gentle poke. "If you're truly sorry, then treat me to some ice cream!"

"Absolutely!" Wang Xiaoman replied with a hearty laugh. "Besides lunch money, my mom gave me an extra ten bucks today. With the second ice cream half off, we can each have one and I'll still have some change left."

Yi Lanyou felt a twinge of sadness upon hearing Wang Xiaoman's words, but she didn't let it show. Instead, she gave Wang Xiaoman's shoulder a reassuring pat and said with a smile, "Then I'm counting on you!"

"Easy!" Wang Xiaoman said with a grin, waving her hand dismissively. She and Yi Lanyou were having a great time chatting and laughing together.

Engrossed in conversation with Wang Xiaoman, Yi Lanyou was completely oblivious to the fact that someone was observing her from the sidelines.

Lin Xiaorou, seated by the window, was conversing with her peers while stealthily glancing at Yi Lanyou from the corner of her eye. She hadn't been eligible to attend the banquet three days prior, but she had heard about it from a friend and even glimpsed the Eldest Miss Yi on her friend's phone. The girl laughing and talking with others across the classroom, near the wall, appeared to be the Eldest Miss Yi.

A glint of opportunity crossed Lin Xiaorou's eyes as she considered the prospect. Becoming friends with the Eldest Miss Yi could potentially have its perks.

Shortly after, the homeroom teacher entered, and the bustling classroom fell silent.

Their Grade One (B) homeroom teacher was a young man in his twenties, brimming with energy and enthusiasm. His hair was neatly styled, and he was dressed in a crisp white short-sleeved shirt paired with smartly tailored trousers. A pen was neatly tucked into his shirt pocket, his fair skin complementing his delicate features. When he smiled, his canine teeth were charmingly visible.

He approached the teacher's desk and said, "Don't be so formal, I'm not that much older than you." He then turned to the blackboard and wrote his name with white chalk: "My name is Bai Yiming, and I'll be your language teacher." He flashed a smile before adding, "I'm also an alumnus of City No. 1 High School. After graduation, I attended the capital university of Z Country, majoring in Chinese Literature. So, technically, you're all my juniors." Dropping the chalk, Bai Yiming leaned against the desk, his expression turning grave. "As your senior, there's something important I need to warn you about..."

Everyone noticed Bai Yiming's expression shift abruptly to one of seriousness, and they all watched him with bated breath.

"That is..." Bai Yiming paused, then blurted out, "The cafeteria's first floor serves the worst food, the second floor is slightly better, but the third floor has the best food!"

The brief silence that followed was shattered by peals of laughter, instantly bridging the gap between teachers and students.