4 Where the Heart Leads

Zhang Heyu was in the same class as her.

Jiang Ci couldn’t help but curve her lips into a smile, her heart already blooming with joy.

In her previous life, she had been certain Zhang Heyu would be in the experimental class, which was why she had worked so hard—just to get into the same class as him.

After Jiang Ci and Yu Xijin returned to their original class, the homeroom teacher came to the classroom to restore order, instructing the students to pack up and move to the new classroom.

“Ci Ci, remember to miss me!” Yu Xijin said with exaggerated sobs and sniffles, “I’m going to miss you so much!”

Jiang Ci laughed at her antics. “Alright, alright, enough with the mushy stuff!”

“On purpose,” Yu Xijin stuck out her tongue.

After packing up, Jiang Ci went ahead to the new classroom to save a seat, only to find many classmates had already claimed spots early.

With no other choice, she settled for a corner seat by the window, where the sunlight was nice.

Only a few students had transferred from other classes into the experimental class, Jiang Ci among them.

“Hey, Yu Ge, where are you sitting?” Huo Chensi stood by the back door, scanning the room. Most seats were taken, except for three remaining in the corner near the door.

Fan Mian also glanced inside, his gaze landing on Jiang Ci. “This experimental class really lives up to its name—seriously unbalanced boy-to-girl ratio.”

Zhang Heyu said nothing, clutching a box of books, swiftly passing by Huo Chensi and the others without a pause.

Huo Chensi looked at the unusually quiet Zhang Heyu, then exchanged puzzled glances with Fan Mian. Both silently asked each other: “What’s going on?”

Unhurriedly, Zhang Heyu walked over to the seat beside the girl, his voice low and calm: “Is this seat taken?”

Jiang Ci, lost in thought just a moment ago, stiffened at the familiar voice above her. She uttered a soft “Ah,” turning her head and looking up, her pupils reflecting Zhang Heyu’s face. Her breath caught, and she shook her head blankly.

“Hmm,” Zhang Heyu set down his things, then turned to the two still standing guard by the door. “Not sitting? Want to be like Guan Yu and Zhang Fei?”

Huo Chensi and Fan Mian came to their senses, chuckling and cursing under their breath as they hurried to move their things inside.

Jiang Ci never imagined the person sitting next to her would be Zhang Heyu—something she hadn’t even experienced in her previous life.

Before long, the homeroom teacher of the experimental class appeared in the corridor. After standing for a moment, he carried a thick stack of materials to the podium.

The classroom instantly fell silent.

Mo Bingyou scanned the students below, cleared his throat, and said, “I’m your homeroom teacher and also your math teacher, Mo Bingyou. You’re all in your senior year now, so I won’t waste time telling you what the goal ahead is. I’m pretty open-minded and don’t like to micromanage. As long as you maintain first place in the grade for each exam, you can do whatever you want.”

“In my opinion, rules are meant to govern those who don’t behave, not the good students. As a teacher, I will lead by example but hope you all cooperate actively.”

Jiang Ci suddenly recalled the first time she met Mo Bingyou in class. He had said the very same words. Even until graduation, he never imposed strict rules.

Most students in the class already knew each other, so Mo Bingyou didn’t ask for self-introductions but called out names from the roster.

Not long after, she heard her name: “Jiang Ci.”

“Present!” she replied.

“Present!” Zhang Heyu answered.

“Present!” Fan Mian chimed in.

The roll call continued silently.

After confirming everyone was present, Mo Bingyou asked, “Does anyone want to be the class monitor?”

The room was engulfed in silence.

Mo Bingyou expected this reaction. Rubbing his aching temples, he sighed and said, “No volunteers? Then I’ll just appoint someone.”

Suddenly, a student spoke up, “Teacher, go ahead and appoint!”

By senior year, everyone was focused on their studies and had no time for class affairs, especially for thankless positions like class monitor.

Mo Bingyou nodded, his gaze scanning the top scorers from the latest exam. His finger slid over the list, stopping at one name.

“Well then…” he hesitated briefly. “Jiang Ci, are you here?”

That question felt like a giant pot suddenly dropped from the sky, crashing straight onto her head.

Jiang Ci nearly wanted to cry. She stood up. “I’m here, teacher.”

“Jiang Ci, you will be our experimental class monitor,” Mo Bingyou said. “Do your best.”

She really didn’t want to take the role, but at that moment, it felt impossible to refuse.

Jiang Ci nodded, then sat down with a helpless sigh.

Suddenly, she heard a muffled laugh beside her, so close it felt like a whisper in her ear.

“Jiang Ci,” Zhang Heyu smiled lazily, his voice clear and tinged with amusement, “I look forward to working with you, little deskmate.”

Jiang Ci froze, her eyes darting away as she bowed her head. “...Mm.”

After Mo Bingyou left, Huo Chensi, sitting behind Zhang Heyu, spoke excitedly: “Who would’ve thought our Yu Ge’s deskmate is a girl?”

Fan Mian teased, “You’re lucky, man.”

Though Jiang Ci faced away, their voices were loud enough for her to hear.

“Hmph,” Zhang Heyu’s lips curved subtly, his tone light and joking, “It’s where the heart leads.”

Jiang Ci swallowed hard, her pen pausing mid-stroke. She’d long forgotten what she was writing as those words echoed in her mind: where the heart leads.

“Hey, Jiang,” Huo Chensi called, and Jiang Ci snapped back to reality, turning to look. “Have we met before?”

Jiang Ci blinked, feeling his gaze on her. She forced calm and replied, “Yeah, at the convenience store.”

“Damn, it really is you!” Huo Chensi slapped his thigh excitedly. “Didn’t expect you’re from Southern City too.”

Fan Mian glanced at Huo Chensi. “Why are you so excited? You scared her.”

“It’s nothing,” Jiang Ci waved it off and turned back to her exercises.

Near the end of the day, Yu Xijin ran over from the adjacent class to find Jiang Ci. Through the window, she witnessed an unbelievable scene.

Jiang Ci looked up to see Yu Xijin standing in the corridor outside their classroom. She stepped out and called, “Jin Jin.”

“No way,” Yu Xijin grabbed Jiang Ci’s hand, her eyes wide with shock. “How come you’re sitting next to Zhang Heyu?”

At first, the two had no connection—never imagining their paths would cross.

Jiang Ci didn’t know what to say, so she gave a casual reply: “Just happened to sit here.”

Yu Xijin warned, “You know how he is—admire from afar, but don’t get too close. Don’t fall for him.”

Jiang Ci avoided Yu Xijin’s gaze, smiling faintly. “What are you talking about? He wouldn’t look twice at someone like me. He won’t like me… and I won’t like him.”

Her voice grew softer until only she could hear it.

It was as if she was telling herself that Zhang Heyu would never like her.

“That’s good,” Yu Xijin said. “Ci Ci, I want to eat the fried sauce noodles from outside the school tomorrow morning!”

Jiang Ci replied, “Sure, I’ll bring some for you.”

Yu Xijin was a boarder. Southern City No. 3 High School rules forbade boarders from leaving during weekdays unless they had a leave permit approved by a teacher.

Tired of cafeteria food, boarders often asked day students to bring them delicious treats from outside.

“Thanks, Ci Ci, you’re the best!” Yu Xijin said gratefully. Just then, the dismissal bell rang. She hurried back to the dorm, saying goodbye.

Jiang Ci returned to class, only to find that Zhang Heyu and the others had already left.

As she tidied her desk, her eyes fell on a question she had been stuck on—now with a few new pencil marks.

The neat handwriting detailed the problem-solving method.

Her gaze moved down to the last line.

“If you don’t understand, ask me. No charge.”

A breeze swept through the open window, rustling her hair and turning the pages of the books on her desk with a soft flutter.

She was momentarily stunned, her eyes instinctively resting on Zhang Heyu’s seat.

Her heart warmed, like a summer breeze blowing through, igniting a rush of heat within.

*

After dinner with her grandmother, Jiang Ci had just finished bathing when her phone on the table suddenly lit up and vibrated.

She quickly picked it up and saw it was a call from Gao Wanqing. Without hesitation, she answered.

“Ci, do you have a moment?” Gao Wanqing asked.

Jiang Ci considered for a moment, then replied warmly, “I do, Aunt Gao.”

“Ci, can you come help me at the store? I’ll transfer your salary later.”

Jiang Ci agreed, changed clothes, tied up her hair, and looked neat and tidy.

She walked to the convenience store and chatted with Gao Wanqing briefly. After Gao left, Jiang Ci pulled out her exercises and started working on them.

Returning to the question she couldn’t solve earlier, she studied Zhang Heyu’s solution carefully and suddenly everything became clear—the entire problem unraveled effortlessly.

She stayed there for three hours.

When Gao Wanqing returned, she found Jiang Ci still buried in her work and sighed softly.

“Ci, go home and rest,” Gao Wanqing said, offering a bag of fresh bread. “Old Zhou’s family just gave these—take some home.”

Jiang Ci smiled, “Thank you, Aunt Gao.”

By the time Jiang Ci left the store, it was already half past ten at night.

On her way home, she passed a bustling barbecue stand, lively and noisy.

Something happened at one of the tables—suddenly, a middle-aged man stood up, holding a bottle of alcohol, swaying as he left his seat.

Jiang Ci hadn’t expected him to come toward her.

Instinctively, she tried to avoid him, but he seemed to notice and deliberately blocked her path.

“Hey, little girl, why are you blocking the way?”

The man frowned, but when he looked down at Jiang Ci’s innocent face, a mischievous grin spread across his features.

“Well, aren’t you quite pretty.”