Chapter 2: What a Pleasant Voice

The registration day for first-year freshmen at the key high school arrived as scheduled.

After breakfast, Shen Yan personally drove Shen Jia Yan to school.

On the way, Shen Yan said to her, “Yan Yan, Dad has something to attend to later, so he’ll head off first. After you’re done registering, take a cab home by yourself and be safe.”

Shen Jia Yan sat in the passenger seat, her short hair gently brushing against her cheeks, her lashes long and thick. She wore a simple white T-shirt and light blue jeans. With a faint smile, she revealed two small dimples on her face. “Got it, Dad. Go ahead with your business. Don’t worry about me.”

After more than half an hour’s drive, Shen Yan parked the car, and Shen Jia Yan got out.

The gilded words “Star City Key High School” leaped into her view, filling her with a surge of pride.

She strode into the campus, eager to quickly experience the unique charm of this dream high school.

The asphalt paths at the school gate crisscrossed toward the cafeteria, academic building, dormitory building, and sports field.

The modern minimalist academic building was grand and imposing, while the dormitory buildings of the same color scheme and style were neatly arranged.

The green lawns and plastic track brimmed with youthful energy. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the French tung trees lining one side of the road. Every blade of grass and tree showcased the school’s uniqueness and cultural heritage.

From the moment she stepped through the gate, Shen Jia Yan was deeply captivated.

She would truly regret it if she never studied here.

She walked slowly from the school gate toward the main academic building.

Near the flower bed not far from the building, a massive welcome banner caught her eye, with a dense crowd gathered beneath it.

Shen Jia Yan headed toward the bustling crowd; that must be where the class assignment notices were posted.

She reached the outskirts of the throng but could go no further.

It was packed tight, impenetrable.

She thought to wait for the crowd to thin before pushing forward.

But a glance at her watch showed she didn’t have time to wait.

Shen Jia Yan psyched herself up and, steeling her nerves, squeezed through the gaps.

“Excuse me, coming through, sorry…”

If time weren’t running so late, her socially anxious personality would never have allowed her to do this.

Finally reaching the class assignment notice, she painstakingly searched for her name.

At last, the three characters “Shen Jia Yan” appeared in her sight: Year 1 Class 7.

Now that she’d found her class info, she just wanted to escape this embarrassing place as quickly as possible.

Shen Jia Yan turned back toward the still-crowded mass, murmuring “excuse me” as she struggled outward.

Just as she was about to break free, she bumped into a few classmates trying to push in. With a slight shove, they sent her stumbling sideways.

Her left foot landed on her right, and she lost her balance, toppling to the right.

This was it—falling would be even more mortifying.

Just as she braced for the embarrassment, a pair of fair, slender hands steadied her in time.

“Are you okay?” A soft, gentle voice brushed past Shen Jia Yan’s ear.

“I’m fine, I’m fine. Thank you.”

“No problem. Be careful.”

“Okay, thanks.”

Before Shen Jia Yan could look up to see the girl’s face, she had already walked away.

What a pleasant voice.

Afterward, Shen Jia Yan went to the class distribution map next to the notice and located Year 1 Class 7.

It was on the fifth floor of the rear academic building, east side.

As soon as she stepped into the classroom, she spotted Tang Zhihan sitting by the window—her junior high classmate and the former class youth league branch secretary.

Shen Jia Yan’s heart leaped with quiet joy. Running into a familiar face was such luck. She hurried to sit beside Tang Zhihan and greeted her with a raised eyebrow, “Secretary Tang, what a coincidence!”

Tang Zhihan blinked in slight surprise, then broke into a warm smile. “Jia Yan, you’re in Class 7 too? Awesome! We’re in the same class—we can keep each other company.”

Shen Jia Yan clung to her like a lifeline. “Right? Otherwise, with my social anxiety, coming to a new environment alone would be tough to adjust to.”

The two exchanged smiles.

In junior high, Tang Zhihan had been the youth league branch secretary, and Shen Jia Yan the organization committee member. They’d always gotten along well. For the usually reserved Shen Jia Yan, landing in the same class was pure delight.

Amid the classmates’ lively chatter, the homeroom teacher entered the classroom, stepped onto the podium, and cleared her throat. The noise died instantly.

“Hello, everyone. I’m Yang Hua, the homeroom teacher for Year 1 Class 7. I teach English. Starting today, we’ll be studying and living together in this class for the next half year. Feel free to come to me anytime with questions or ideas.”

Yang Hua wasn’t very tall, with shoulder-length hair and the signature glasses typical of teachers. In her forties, she exuded a strong presence.

“Next, I’ll go over the military training arrangements before formal classes begin.”

“Military training starts tomorrow and lasts one week. During it, all students will wear junior high school uniforms until the high school ones are issued. Then switch to high school uniforms. No leave except for special circumstances—everyone must participate.”

Hearing the teacher say they’d wear junior high uniforms for training made Shen Jia Yan’s heart sink.

Military training wasn’t something most students looked forward to. But for Shen Jia Yan, there was one small thing worth anticipating.

The camouflage uniforms.

She’d always admired soldiers since childhood and had envied the senior students training in camo.

But reality rarely matched expectations.

For the transition from elementary to junior high, the school had required uniforms. Now, for junior to senior high, it was uniforms again. Shen Jia Yan’s excitement for this training plummeted from fifty percent to zero.

Yang Hua adjusted her glasses and continued, “Also, about seating: Remember your current spots for now—they won’t change yet. After formal classes start, each week after major cleaning, everyone shifts one row to the right and back, so everyone gets a turn at the front and back.”

Yang Hua spent the class period covering upcoming studies and training details, then dismissed everyone to go home and prepare.

After school, Shen Jia Yan and Tang Zhihan walked to the gate together.

Shen Jia Yan trudged along with her head down, expressionless.

Tang Zhihan couldn’t help asking, “What’s wrong, Jia Yan? You seem unhappy.”

Shen Jia Yan kicked a pebble while pouting. “It’s nothing big. Just that military training in this scorching heat sounds miserable, and why no camo uniforms? We have to wear school ones!”

Tang Zhihan laughed at the reason.

“That’s it? You’re acting like a kid. It’s not your first training, and this one’s only a week. Just tough it out.”

Shaking Shen Jia Yan’s arm, Tang Zhihan added, “Come on, cheer up. Getting into the key high school is great, right? And we’re junior high classmates in the same class—how perfect. So many happy things; don’t dwell on the bad.”

Tang Zhihan comforted her like the class cadre she was.

Shen Jia Yan suddenly thought those three years as cadre hadn’t been wasted—her pep talks were pro-level. As a fellow former cadre, Shen Jia Yan felt inferior.

Sure enough, her mood lifted.

After taking a cab home, Shen Jia Yan saw Jiang Jing on the sofa watching TV and couldn’t hold back her complaint. “Mom, military training starts tomorrow. You didn’t throw out my junior high uniform, did you? They require it. So annoying.” She plopped heavily onto the sofa with a sigh.

Jiang Jing glanced at her dismissively. “Military training is normal. Everyone does it—not just you. What’s to complain about?”

Hearing that reignited Shen Jia Yan’s frustration, which Tang Zhihan had just soothed.

“You didn’t even catch the main point and you’re scolding me. The point is wearing school uniforms—no camo—and I don’t even know if it’s still around.”

During her elementary-to-junior high training, Shen Jia Yan had sulked all day over no camo. She’d been looking forward to this one, but same issue.

At that, Jiang Jing burst out laughing. “Hahaha, that’s why? No big deal—training’s about building fitness; clothes are secondary. I didn’t toss the uniform; I’ll dig it out later. Don’t sulk over this. You’ve got one more training chance in your school years.”

Little did she know, three years later, Shen Jia Yan’s final school military training still had no camo uniforms…

The next morning, Shen Jia Yan got up early, grudgingly donned her junior high uniform, and headed to high school training without breakfast since she wasn’t hungry.

The driver dropped her at the gate and left.

Shen Jia Yan found Year 1 Class 7’s marked spot on the sports field.

Having only met most classmates yesterday, she didn’t recognize them until she saw Tang Zhihan, confirming she’d found the right place.

“Morning, Secretary Tang.”

“Morning, Jia Yan. Training should start any minute.”

“Teacher Yang said yesterday there’d be leadership speeches before the real training. So annoying.” Shen Jia Yan hated fuss and lacked patience for it.

Soon, the instructor arrived at the class line, rearranging them by height. Shen Jia Yan and Tang Zhihan, similar in stature, ended up side by side.

Military training began formally—with leadership speeches.

As expected, the most irritating part couldn’t be avoided.

All students stood at attention on the field, listening to the school leaders’ dull speeches.

Perhaps favoring this freshman class, the leaders had too much to say; the talk dragged over twenty minutes, leaving everyone fidgety.

When it ended, thunderous applause erupted on the field.

The school leaders beamed, assuming the students loved their words.

Only those who’d stood for over twenty minutes knew it was relief at the ordeal’s end.

After simple activities, formal training started.

The instructor first taught basic moves.

At ease, at attention, straddling stance.

The first session didn’t last long; aware of the students’ fatigue from standing, he let them familiarize with basics then rest ten minutes.

Everyone deflated like punctured balls upon hearing “rest,” sitting immediately.

The twenty minutes of speeches had crawled by; the ten-minute break flew.

“All present, fall in!” The instructor stood ramrod straight before the line. “Dress right, eyes front.”

“At attention—hold the position for 15 minutes!”

Shen Jia Yan’s mind buzzed. “Damn, again.”

The field fell silent as all classes held position.

Midsummer heat permeated the campus air. Scorching sun pierced clouds, baking the field; heat waves shimmered.

Standing at attention in the blaze tested endurance.

Shen Jia Yan wasn’t one to quit easily, but after ten-plus minutes under the sun, sweat streamed from her hairline. Suddenly, her vision blurred, darkness creeping in.

She urged herself to stay alert, hold on—but her body betrayed her, swaying backward.

Tang Zhihan caught her wobble in peripheral vision and grabbed her as she fell.