Chapter 22: Encounter with the Owner

Monday marked the official start of classes at the academy, and Xianyu Jing was up early.

Aunt Rong noticed and asked curiously, “Miss, do classes at your school start this early?”

The first class at Liyang Academy began at 8:30, but it was only a little past six. Xianyu Jing had always been in the habit of arriving at school early, hoping to avoid those she disliked and thereby preserve her mood for the day.

“It doesn’t matter if I go early,” she replied.

Aunt Rong sighed, “If only my Xiaoling loved studying as much as you do, I wouldn’t have to worry about her entrance exams!”

Xianyu Jing only smiled and greeted Nangong Ao, who was having breakfast, before sitting at the table.

The young master Nangong responded absentmindedly. Noticing she was about to drink her milk, he advised, “Don’t drink milk on an empty stomach.”

Xianyu Jing silently put down the milk and took a sandwich instead.

Even after just two or three days, Aunt Rong had already figured out her tastes. She knew Xianyu Jing disliked raw lettuce, onions, and red cabbage, so she left them out of her sandwiches and salads.

Unlike Xiao Zhiyun, who ate with delicate elegance, savoring each bite, Xianyu Jing simply squinted her eyes slightly at the corners, as if truly enjoying her meal.

Nangong Ao could not quite relate. The Nangong family, after all, was accustomed to enduring hunger and cold; they had never truly felt hunger nor found food particularly delicious.

For them, three meals a day were merely to replenish the body’s needs. Even Nangong Lü, as playful as he was, would only attend banquets, never dinner parties.

The young master finished breakfast in ten minutes, ready to head to work.

Before leaving, he reminded Xianyu Jing, “Try not to cause trouble at school, but don’t be afraid of it either. If something comes up that you can’t handle, call Bai Luomei.”

With that, Nangong Ao left, and only then did Xianyu Jing realize that the etiquette teacher, Sister Bai, was actually one of the young master’s people.

What surprised her even more was Nangong Ao’s “don’t be afraid of trouble” remark—it was exactly what Madam Nangong had said before, so fitting for the head of the Nangong family!

Still, she preferred to keep a low profile. Even with the backing of the Nangong family, she didn’t wish to trouble others. Besides, it was rare to have another chance at learning; she didn’t want to waste four years on petty schemes.

At 7:30, as the gates of Liyang Academy opened, Su Cha’s car pulled into the parking lot.

Xianyu Jing was the first to enter. She chose not to take the campus shuttle, instead following the signs toward the School of History. There was still plenty of time, and she could enjoy the academy’s beautiful scenery.

This school, gathering the scions of Imperial City’s noble houses and wealthy families, boasted smart, high-tech facilities, yet also paid much attention to greenery.

The tree-lined avenues, lush lawns, and the occasional clear birdsong echoing through the shade lent the early autumn morning a refreshing and pleasant air.

This was another reason Xianyu Jing liked to arrive early!

As she neared the School of History, a white blur darted out from a clump of shrubs, running straight into her.

Out of instinct, Xianyu Jing grabbed the white blur.

It whimpered—a Siamese cat, slender and soft-furred, with gemstone-blue eyes that gleamed with a fierce wildness.

The moment she caught it by the neck, it squirmed and threatened to bite. Xianyu Jing quickly shifted her grip to the scruff of its neck and fixed her gaze on its eyes. Instantly, the cat went limp, its limbs dangling obediently.

At that moment, someone emerged from the bushes, calling, “Little Flash!”

The Siamese cat in her hand meowed. Xianyu Jing watched as the person approached.

The first thing she noticed was a pair of pale gray eyes—an unusual color. His features were bright and sunny, his build slim and wiry. Not especially tall, perhaps about 1.75 meters, so Xianyu Jing didn’t need to look up to meet his gaze.

“Thank you for catching Little Flash for me!” His smile matched his clear, refreshing voice.

“You’re welcome.” Xianyu Jing handed the Siamese back to him.

He took the cat, holding it gently and stroking its back. In a low voice, he said, “Little Flash, don’t run off again. If the student council finds you, you’ll be sent to the shelter…”

“Is it a stray?” Xianyu Jing asked.

He looked up and replied, “It’s mine, but the academy doesn’t allow pets inside.”

Otherwise, it would be taken for a stray and sent straight to the shelter!

Xianyu Jing recalled seeing this rule yesterday while browsing the academy regulations after filling out her club application.

“Then why bring it in?”

“If I leave it home alone, it runs away.”

Xianyu Jing was speechless.

She then noticed the student ID badge on his chest: “Year One, Department of Astronomy – Bai Liyao.”

She took out the book she’d found yesterday and handed it to him. “Did you drop this?”

Bai Liyao’s face lit up as he accepted the book. “Thank you! This is my favorite book. I thought it had ended up in the trash!”

If someone else had found it, perhaps it really would have. After all, it was just a half-worn book.

At Liyang Academy, apart from student ID cards and items of personal significance, anything else dropped on the ground was generally ignored.

The lost and found was just for show.

Xianyu Jing understood. The students here were all from wealthy families; even losing a bag worth tens of thousands wouldn’t warrant the trouble of retrieving it.

“You’re in the School of History?” Bai Liyao looked at her student card, his eyes bright. “If I get the chance, I’d love to see that history museum!”

Xianyu Jing smiled.

Not far behind, the campus shuttle announced its stop, and a few students got off.

Bai Liyao said, “Let’s chat another time,” and hurried off with his Siamese cat in his arms.

Xianyu Jing continued toward the School of History.

She was the first to reach the classroom. With nothing to do, she opened her writing app and worked on her novel for a while.

It was almost time for class when the other students drifted in, one after another.

There were only five students in this year’s history program, though it wasn’t the smallest class yet—the previous year had only three!

Such a large classroom, and only five students. Still, the teacher was punctual.

This class was Ancient History of Country C, taught vividly with 3D projections. For the students, it felt almost like watching a movie.

As soon as the bell rang, the teacher declared class over, packed up, and left as if simply completing a task.

During the break, the few students played on their phones, with no interaction between them.

Xianyu Jing wasn’t quite used to this kind of academic life.

Back at No. 5 Middle School in the southern part of the city, students would whisper during class, and teachers would scold them. After class, everyone would joke and play together.

Although Xianyu Jing often just observed from the side, she could still feel the joy in the air; compared to the silent, frosty scene before her, the contrast was stark.

Perhaps this was the campus life of a noble school?

The first morning of the new semester passed in this quiet, unremarkable way.

But at noon, Xianyu Jing would finally witness how campus life at a noble academy was anything but ordinary.