Mistaken Canary Chapter 5 (Part 1)
Certain chapters are a bit longer than usual, so I’ll be splicing those~
Proofread by CitrusP
Chapter 5.1
On the day of the school’s orientation, both inside and outside the campus were exceptionally lively. The school was a prestigious private institution, home to children from well-off families, most of whom led worry-free lives.
Outside the school gate, luxury cars were lined up, forming a long queue. Some parents had come personally to see their children off, while others were sent by their hired staff.
Amidst the long line of vehicles, a girl rolled down the window and leaned out, glancing at the traffic conditions outside, only to be yanked back into the car by someone inside. "Sit properly," they admonished.
"This traffic is unbearable! I told you we should've rode our bikes, but you wouldn’t listen," Zhuo Zi pouted, grumbling. She turned her head to glance at Zhuo Shu, who sat upright, focused on handling official matters. Leaning closer, she peered at his computer screen, which was filled with data reports. Her head began to ache. "Can’t you give your eyes a break? Look at the beautiful world outside, and then at the stunning me!"
Zhuo Shu didn’t even spare her a glance. "What’s so special about you? You’re not half as charming as the cleaning ladies on the first floor."
"Oh, really?" Zhuo Zi raised an eyebrow, pointing at him. "So, you’ve got your eye on one of the cleaning ladies, huh?"
Zhuo Shu gave her a cold look. "You’d better hand over all the light novels in your room."
"No way!" Zhuo Zi huffed, crossing her arms and sitting back in her seat. "Oh right, while I’m not home, make sure you’re nice to my hubbies."
Zhuo Shu, recalling the sea of idol posters covering her room, sneered. "Oh I’ll be real nice to them."
The car moved forward another half meter, and a silence fell between them. Zhuo Zi stole a glance at him, opened her mouth, but couldn’t think of anything to say.
Though they were siblings, there was a twelve-year age gap between them—the generational gap was undeniable.
Ever since she could remember, her older brother had been immersed in the family business, and when he went to university, he moved out on his own. They rarely saw each other, only meeting during their weekly family dinners.
This time, their parents had gone abroad for vacation, leaving Zhuo Shu to handle her high school orientation. But since the morning, he had been glued to his computer, barely exchanging a few words with her.
Zhuo Zi tried to show some concern, just like their parents would, and asked, "Ge, why are you still single?"
She directly cut to the core.
"Mind your own business." Zhuo Shu finally glanced at her. "Why are you suddenly asking this? Are you thinking about dating early?"
"No! I’m not! I just want to marry my hubbies, and that would be enough for me!" Zhuo Zi shuddered, then quickly remembered something and her eyes lit up. "By the way, I heard you’re inviting a celebrity to the mall for an event next month. Have you decided who?"
Their family was in business. When their parents were younger, they ran a supermarket. Over time, they managed to save enough money to buy the whole store. Then, by chance, they were fortunate enough to benefit from a demolition project and received a hefty compensation. With that windfall, they relocated and reopened their supermarket. Little did they know, the city center was being redeveloped, and their business continued to thrive. Ambitious to expand, the couple eventually ended up opening a shopping mall.
When Zhuo Shu took over, he secured a hefty loan to renovate, bringing in numerous high-end brands and significantly upgrading the mall’s image. He also had a massive mascot erected in front of the plaza, turning it into a landmark. To boost publicity, he hired a bunch of internet celebrities for street photos and promotions. Gradually, the mall gained immense popularity and became a must-visit spot for tourists.
"The planning department is still in talks." Zhuo Shu replied, pausing for a moment as a thought struck him. "You’re always chasing stars, do you know someone named Ying—"
"Holy shit! A hottie just walked into the school!" Zhuo Zi's eyes lit up, and she immediately stuck her head out of the window again. "My god, which class is he from?!"
Zhuo Shu pulled her back with a scowl. "If you stick your head out again, I’ll have the driver roll up the window and trap you in there."
"Aiya ge, let go!" Zhuo Zi slapped his hand away, pointing excitedly outside. "No, seriously, look! He’s a looker!"
Zhuo Shu glanced at the distant school gate. He saw a man walk in, greeting a few senior students in uniform before heading further inside.
"Isn't he hot?"
"It’s just a back view..." Zhuo Shu’s voice trailed off as he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity. That silhouette, especially the outfit of a dress shirt and trousers, seemed so familiar—he had been seeing it quite often lately.
But after thinking about it, it seemed impossible. Ying Tongchen had already become a celebrity. If he were to return to school, he would apply for university.
Because Zhuo Zi was lost in thoughts of the hottie she had just spotted, they were able to breeze through the entire registration process.
The school dorms were double rooms. Zhuo Shu helped carry her belongings to her dorm, and she wasted no time in scrambling onto the campus forum to search for clues.
Such a hottie couldn’t possibly go unnoticed, though it was also possible he was just another parent. As soon as she entered the forum, she was immediately drawn to a trending post:
— In the sea of people, I see no juniors or seniors, only this man! Does anyone know who this gege is? Beggin for his contact information! [Image]
Zhuo Zi eagerly clicked on the post, only to see a backshot of a man in a suit, swept-back hair, holding a box with a basin hanging off it, and a water bucket in the other hand.
Zhuo Zi: "............"
"What are you looking at?" Zhuo Shu put her things down, turned around, and saw her staring at her phone in a daze. "Did you leave anything behind?"
"No." Zhuo Zi scanned him up and down, carefully sizing him up. She pushed aside her familial bias and had to admit he really was quite handsome. "You can go now, I need to head to class."
"Ok, then I’ll go to the company."
As he passed by the office building, he received a call from his secretary. Without so much as a sideways glance, he continued walking forward, causing a stir among the female teachers in the office.
"Ah! That must be a parent, right?"
"Let me take a look, he’s probably someone's older brother?"
"My god, the students at this school are already good-looking enough, but their families are this good-looking too!"
"Do you think he's handsome, or do you think Teacher Ying is more handsome?"
"This question is too difficult. Why not just ask Teacher Ying? Mr. Ying! Did you see the man who just walked by? Who do you think is more handsome, him or you?"
Ying Tongchen lifted his gaze from the computer screen, catching a glimpse of a back profile. He smiled and adjusted his glasses. "He's more handsome. I'm just your average good-looking guy."
Everyone burst into laughter, gossiping while they worked. "Many handsome guys and beautiful girls have come this year. Have you seen any potential candidates for school grass and school flower*?"
(TLN: school grass (校草) is the most handsome boy in the school while the school flower (校花) the prettiest girl in the school.)
"There’s a young boy who's especially handsome, but he's a bit short. If he grows a little taller these next couple of years, he could make his debut right here."
"As for the girls, I did see one with great looks. I think she’s in Teacher Ying's class... what’s her name again?"
"Zhuo Zi," Ying Tongchen blurted out.
"Already got her name memorized?" teased a neighboring teacher.
Ying Tongchen raised an eyebrow, his gaze landing on the class roster. He recalled walking past the financial affairs office earlier, catching sight of a vibrant young girl standing next to a tall, handsome figure. Unfortunately, they had walked off too quickly for him to take a closer look.
In the dormitory, Zhuo Zi tidied up before heading to the teaching building to collect her textbooks. She spent the rest of the afternoon meeting new classmates and strolling around campus, but she didn't encounter that hottie again.
"Sigh..."