Chapter 1 – A New Student

The homeroom teacher gestured towards the girl standing beside her, speaking in a clear, high-pitched voice, “Everyone, please welcome the new student, Yoon Yiyoung from AB Elementary School.”

“Would you like to introduce yourself? Or should I do it?” 

“Is it okay if I do it?”

“Yes.
Of course.” 

Yiyoung had dark, tanned skin.
Her bright eyes sparkled as she looked straight ahead.

“Hi, I’m Yoon Yiyoung.
I was nervous about transferring, but now that I’m here…” she let out a mischievous sigh of relief before continuing, “It is so nice to meet you all.
I want to get along with all of you.
Let’s become friends, okay?”

“Nice to meet you, Yoon Yiyoung,” her cla*smates chorused.
Yiyoung smiled at their welcoming response.
It seemed she had been anxious for no reason.

“Oh, I forgot to mention the most important thing.
Yiyoung’s grades are remarkable.
She achieved one of the top ranks in the national rankings.
She should be an inspiration and a good influence for all of you,” the teacher boasted.

Yiyoung flinched.
The teacher shouldn’t have said that.
She didn’t mind accepting a compliment, but doing so in front of everyone was akin to an invitation to make enemies, especially since bullying was such a widespread issue.
But Yiyoung was careful not to reveal her feelings.
She might be only 13 years old, but she was different from her peers.
She had learned how to be independent from a young, tender age.

‘Let’s figure out the atmosphere first, then I’ll see how it goes from there,’ she thought.

The teacher pointed to a seat at the end of the row and said, “You can go sit over there.” 

“Okay,” Yiyoung answered politely and walked toward her designated desk.
As she drew closer to her desk, she spotted the boy occupying the desk adjacent to her seat.

“Hi,” she greeted him.
The boy didn’t speak, only fixing a frigid stare at Yiyoung in response.

‘Did he not hear me?’ she thought.
Yiyoung took her seat, hanging her backpack on the side before leaning toward him.
She raised her voice this time, making sure he heard her clearly, “Hi.
I’m Yiyoung.
Nice to meet you.”

The boy still stared at her, his lips slightly curving up this time.

‘What? Is he laughing at me?’ Yiyoung wondered.

“Let me know if you need any help,” she added, pretending not to notice his mocking smirk. 

Muyeol, the boy Yiyoung attempted to converse with, turned his head forward and stared off into space, thinking, ‘What a funny transfer girl.’ 

With skin as dark as sand, she kept smiling like an idiot.
Muyeol furrowed his eyebrows.
This was