Hypocrite 23

Chapter 1: First Encounter (1)

Flashback September 1, 2020, Beginning of School 

A tall boy with a handsome face but patched up clothing, Mu Xianyang would pass as a high-class CEO with that built if it weren't for his oversized uniform. There were uneven stitches all over the hem of the pants, and the yarn of the vest was slowly tearing apart. He sighed as he adjusted his tie, the only thing that looked presentable due to the neat way of it being worn. 

"Wasn't I just here a moment ago?" Mu Xianyang mumbled to himself. 

Clearly being lost in the giant campus as a newcomer, he slumped down onto the stairs. 

Mu Xianyang had just moved to Beijing a month ago, right before school started. He earned a scholarship to one of the most prestigious high schools in China. That was the only reason he was able to live in such a luxurious place. 

Born on a freezing winter day, Mu Xianyang was from a very poor family in the countrysides. Both his parents passed away when he was younger, so he stayed with his aunt's family. He was told that they were killed in a car accident, but Mu Xianyang never truly believed his mom and dad died that way. 

They were quite against having a new member join their house, but they still took him in and gave Mu Xianyang a home to live in. He got just enough he needed to stay alive, but that was it. The family was already financially unstable before Mu Xianyang had come, and with a new person to feed, the money was just not enough. Then, the news of Mu Xianyang getting a scholarship to Beijing No. 4 High School*, he was kicked out of the house right away. 

"Class... 23..." Mu Xianyang mumbled to himself, tracing his long, thin fingers on the map. 

"Need any help?" A soft but bright voice rang behind him. 

He turned to where the voice was coming from and met eyes with a young lady, probably around the same age as him. Her uniform was carelessly put together and the tie was loosely hanging from the collar that was missing one or two buttons. The hem of her shirt seemed like she was in a rush when trying to tuck it into the skirt. She wasn't wearing any makeup and her hair was dangling to one side inattentively. 

"Oh, I don't recognize you, are you new this year?" She smiled, making her way beside me.

"Mhm," he nodded, shifting his gaze down as he didn't want to keep looking up at the girl. 

"Well, welcome to Sizhong*, I'm Li Yiqing, class 23, want me to show you around?"  She sat down at the same level next to him. 
"No thanks, I can find my way around here just fine," Mu Xianyang stood up, still not looking at her, "besides, I don't need the help from random strangers."

"Hey! I don't know your name yet!" Her voice getting drowned out by the coming crowd of students as Mu Xianyang walked away. 

Li Yiqing, that was the first time Mu Xianyang met her.

* Beijing No. 4 High School or Sizhong is one of the most well-known and respected highschools in China.