In the original host's memory, Ma Jiaojiao didn't start out with a particularly good relationship with her.
About half a month ago, Ma Jiaojiao began to approach her deliberately, bringing her tasty food every day and sharing gossip.
After a while, the original host naively considered Ma Jiaojiao her best friend.
Little did she know.
Whenever something is off, there's always a reason.
The third period in the morning.
To welcome the big shots from Qing City, the school organized all the teachers and students to stand in the playground to greet them.
Students from all grades stood on the field, creating an impressive scene.
At that moment, exclamations arose from the crowd.
"Look over there!"
"Isn't that our principal carrying the bag?"
At the school gate, the principal was respectfully holding a thermos and an overcoat for a middle-aged man.
Ma Jiaojiao looked over, "The man having the principal carry his bag is Zhang Jiacheng, a well-known big boss in our town with a fortune of tens of millions. He must be one of the donors today."
Hearing this, Jiang Yue said, "So that's Boss Zhang! No wonder our principal is so attentive!"
At the same time, a sedan slowly drove into the school and stopped. The multimillionaire boss, Zhang Jiacheng, immediately changed his demeanor, bending over to open the car door for the person in the back seat.
His manner was like that of a completely different person.
A multimillionaire boss showing such reverence to the person in the car fiercely piqued everyone's curiosity about who could be inside.
The car door opened.
A figure emerged from the vehicle.
The man was dressed in a suit, his features sharp and exquisitely handsome, his skin so pale it seemed untouched by the sun, his eyes holding an air of inaccessibility, not easy to approach.
Even Lin Wu, who had seen many handsome men in later generations, had to admit that this man could be described with the term "stunning beauty."
Only...
Why did she feel he looked familiar?
Lin City was just an obscure little town, and Zhang Jiacheng was already considered a big boss in the locals' eyes. The appearance of such a glamorous figure as the young man was like throwing a boulder into a placid lake, exciting countless students.
Even some female teachers couldn't seem to control themselves.
Lin Wu's eyes narrowed slightly, recalling the scene from that night, then quickly looked away.
At that moment,
The young man's gaze met hers.
Eye contact was made.
There was no panic in her eyes, no shock, no excitement, only a calm shifting away.
The man's finely shaped phoenix eyes swept over the girl's clear, handsome side profile, a ripple of emotion passing through his calm gaze.
He saw the little friend again.
It was rare for someone to be so composed when meeting his eyes.
She was the first.
Jiang Yue, thrilled to the core, excitedly tugged at Lin Wu and Ma Jiaojiao's sleeves, exclaiming, "Xiao Wu, Jiaojiao! He looked at me! That big shot looked at me!"
Look at her?
Upon hearing this, a mocking expression flickered in Ma Jiaojiao's eyes.
Has Jiang Yue ever looked in a mirror?
How could that big shot possibly be looking at her?
He was clearly looking at herself!
She wasn't like Jiang Yue, the uncouth bumpkin who had never seen the world. Even knowing the big shot was watching her, she maintained a demeanor of indifference, not revealing anything.
Only the unsophisticated would scream and shout.
----
At the same time, Jiang Shaoyun curiously looked in the direction of Lu Ye's gaze.
What was Third Brother looking at?
Lu Ye withdrew his gaze, pulling out a cigarette to put in his mouth, his eyes carrying a hint of roguishness, "Really good-looking!"
It had been too dark that night, and he hadn't seen the little friend's face clearly.
He hadn't expected the little friend to be so attractive.
Jiang Shaoyun was baffled, "What's really good-looking?"
"Flowers," Lu Ye's attention fell on the flowers by the roadside, "Good-looking."
These flowers are almost dead and they're still good-looking?
The flowers in Qing City were a hundred times more beautiful, yet he had never seen this gentleman spare them a second glance!
At this moment, Principal Song spoke up, "Mr. Lu, General Manager Jiang, and Boss Zhang, let's head to the lounge to rest for a while. This evening, our school's teachers have also arranged a welcome ceremony for the three of you."
Lu Ye casually raised his hand, "No need."
Jiang Shaoyun immediately took over, "Principal Song, we're here to donate books, money, and supplies. There's no need for all that pomp and circumstance."
Zhang Jiacheng immediately said, "Exactly, exactly, Principal Song, let's keep it as simple as possible."
The principal was stunned. These tycoons and young masters seemed different from what he had imagined.
--
After lunch, during the break, Lin Wu prepared to talk to her headteacher about her transfer plans.
Just as she reached the corner to the office, she saw Ma Jiaojiao's figure.
Lin Wu narrowed her eyes slightly and quietly followed Ma Jiaojiao's silhouette all the way to an office in the corner.
This was Wang Kang's office.
It was rarely visited!
Ma Jiaojiao didn't knock; she just walked in.
Then, some indistinct voices came from inside.
After some rustling, the sound of conversation followed.
"My dear, my name has almost been changed. Can you really help me replace Zhang Wu's college entrance exam scores?"
Half a month ago, Ma Jiaojiao met a benefactor who gave her some guidance and assisted her with the renaming process.
Now, all she needed was the name change to go through, and after the college entrance exams, Wang Kang would help her switch her scores with Lin Wu's!
By then,
She would be Zhang Wu!
"Of course, I can."
"Thank you, my dear."
"....."
It wasn't until Lin Wu heard this that she understood Ma Jiaojiao's true intention.
The original's grades were very good, always ranking first in the grade.
It seemed Ma Jiaojiao planned to use underhanded tactics to replace the original's college entrance exam scores.
So how should she repay her dear friend?
However, in the original's memories, Ma Jiaojiao was just an ordinary person.
She couldn't possibly pull off such a scheme with just Wang Kang's help.
It appeared,
Someone else had a bone to pick with her.
Lin Wu's lips curled slightly.
This was getting more and more interesting.
--
After the break, the first class was PE but the PE teacher had called in sick, so the headteacher brought everyone to the library to read instead.
Lin Wu looked at Ma Jiaojiao and asked intentionally, "Jiaojiao, where do you go every day during the break?"
Hearing this, Jiang Yue also asked curiously, "Yeah, Jiaojiao! Why do you disappear every break time?"
"I go for tutoring," Ma Jiaojiao replied unflinchingly.
"Oh," Lin Wu nodded slightly, "So that's what it is."
Suddenly.
Ma Jiaojiao spotted the hem of a suit trouser in her line of sight.
Glancing up, one could see the figures of several big shots.
Only, they weren't visible from Lin Wu and Jiang Yue's perspective.
Ma Jiaojiao narrowed her eyes slightly and immediately changed the subject to the tycoons visiting the school.
Hearing that, Jiang Yue immediately responded with a dreamy expression, "Among them, Mr. Lu is the handsomest!"
"Handsome?" Ma Jiaojiao laughed, "I don't think so."
Men have an innate desire to conquer.
They want to conquer what they can't have.
Ma Jiaojiao, wanting to rise from the ashes like a phoenix and catch the attention of the tycoons, knew she had to do the opposite.
Jiang Yue widened her eyes, "If you don't think someone like Mr. Lu is handsome, then who do you find handsome?"
Ma Jiaojiao began to share her opinion, "I think appearances aren't important. It's inner beauty that matters. Businessmen are greedy; they're like emotionless money-making machines. There's also a saying, 'there's no business without deceit,' showing that businessmen are all sly and cold-hearted. They came to our school to donate money just to label themselves as philanthropists."
No business without deceit?
Upon hearing this, Lin Wu's brows arched slightly, "That's not how 'no business without deceit' is used."
"How is it supposed to be used, then?" Ma Jiaojiao looked at Lin Wu, curious to see what Lin Wu would come up with.
Lin Wu continued, "The 'deceit' in 'no business without deceit' refers to being sharp on both ends, meaning that when a merchant sells rice to customers, they not only have to fill the container but also pile it up sharply. It's a reminder for merchants to give more to the customers. It's not accusatory or negative towards businessmen, suggesting them as sly or cold-hearted."