It was Luo Xianxian's first day at the Golden Dragon Academy. Unlike other children, who came in the company of their parents, she came in the company of her mother and three uncles, all excessively handsome in their own right.
Unfortunately, the three uncles were not allowed to pass through the gate.
"Why not?" Jiang Wei glared at Director Zheng.
"We are her uncles," Jiang Yue declared.
"We want to accompany Xianxian on her first day at school," Jiang Cheng said.
Director Zheng pointed at the huge board at the entrance gate, specifically at the two words "ONLY PARENTS OR GUARDIANS".
"The academy students all hailed from distinguished families with extraordinary backgrounds," he started to explain. "Many of them had never set foot outside their bed chamber without an entourage of guards to ensure their safety. Now, if this habit is permitted even within the academy, the classrooms need to be as big as lecture halls to accommodate not only the students but also their bodyguards. Now, esteemed gentlemen, please do not make things difficult for me."
In the end, the three Jiang brothers begrudgingly left, not without giving Luo Xianxian a loving kiss on each cheek and a tight squeeze.
"We will take you out for ice cream to celebrate your first day at school later," Jiang Cheng promised.
"Only ice cream? I suggest a visit to a waterpark! Xianxian, do you know how to swim? Uncle Jiang Yue will teach you, alright?" Jiang Yue asked while pinching Luo Xianxian's soft cheek affectionately.
"I shall take you and Ruoye to Disneyland to celebrate," Jiang Wei declared, earning a scowl from his younger brothers.
"Big Brother, you are too much, you know?" Jiang Cheng complained.
"Yeah! Stop being so competitive! Do you expect Xianxian to miss school a day after she enters the academy?"
Director Zheng coughed into his fist loudly and said, "Gentlemen, please stop arguing. Miss Fang and Luo Xianxian, please head toward the Student Hall. The new students will be sorted into their respective classes there. Parents shall gather and watch from the gallery.
At the entrance of the Student Hall, parents and children were separated. The parents were directed towards the elevated gallery, while the students proceeded into the spacious hall.
The Student Hall itself was empty, save for the children standing around looking lost. Their gazes were drawn upwards to their parents, who occupied the gallery, looking down with expectant expressions.
The front seats had all been occupied by those who came early. Fang Ruoye could only occupy one of the seats at the back, and she could see nothing from her vantage point.
Luo Xianxian, who stood among the other first-grade elementary school students, looked at the balcony anxiously, but she could not find her mother at all.
And then, a girl with long bangs, pinned to the side with a flower hairclip and two pigtails began talking to her.
"Hey, you. What's your name?"
Luo Xianxian blinked at the other girl, a little confused at being addressed so suddenly.
"Me? I am Luo Xianxian. Who are you?"
The girl narrowed her eyes at Luo Xianxian, seemingly deep in thought.
"The Luo family from Taiwan, the steel giant?"
"Um, no."
The other kids chimed in, apparently curious about Luo Xianxian's background as well.
"Are you related to Luo Chengze, the richest man of Hong Kong?"
"... No."
Luo Xianxian had never heard of Luo Chengze before.
"Then which Luo family are you from?"
Luo Xianxian pressed her lips together in indignation. She did not want to even say her father's name out loud. She knew that both of her parents had been targets of online speculation, their names dragged through the mud by rumors. If she said Luo Yanming's name out loud, would she not embarrass herself in front of her new classmates?
"It doesn't concern you," she finally said in the end, with a tone as friendly as possible.
But her new schoolmates did not take it lightly.
"If you do not dare to say it out loud, then you must come from a lowly Luo family," one remarked.
"Yes, a Luo family that no one knows about," the other chimed in.
And then, more and more students spoke up.
"Does your father even have a company? Or at least a huge inheritance?"
"How did you even get into this academy? Did your parents donate a hefty sum of money to the academy in exchange for your admission?"
"And I thought that Golden Dragon Academy only accepted children of specific family backgrounds. I think I am going to tell my dad. My dad won't be too happy about it..."
"Same..."
Luo Xianxian lifted her head, her cheeks burning with anger. She glared at the children, who looked at her as if she did not belong in this academy.
"My father is...!"
But before Luo Xianxian finished her words, a student pointed at the glass ceiling and cried out, "LOOK! THERE IS SOMETHING OUTSIDE!"
All eyes were directed toward the ceiling, where a helicopter flew by, dragging a banner and scattering flower petals from the sky.
A stark white banner stood out against the azure sky, bearing the message, "CONGRATULATIONS, LUO XIANXIAN, FOR YOUR FIRST DAY AT GOLDEN DRAGON ACADEMY. YOUR UNCLES CANNOT BE MORE PROUD OF YOU! WE LOVE YOU! -Jiang Wei, Jiang Yue, Jiang Cheng."
The students and the parents alike gaped at the banner as the helicopter made its round around the academy, before flying off into the distance.
After the helicopter was gone, the students tore their gazes from the sky and stared at Luo Xianxian. Even the parents had to lean against the gallery railing to take a better look at this particular "Luo Xianxian".
"Are you that Luo Xianxian?" a boy mumbled in disbelief.
"Uh, yes."
Luo Xianxian swallowed hard. That was soooo embarrassing. She needed to scold her uncles later on!
"Jiang Wei, as in Mr. Jiang Wei, CEO of Phoenix Trading International?"
"Jiang Yue, as in the most popular first-rate actor and top model right now?"
"Jiang Cheng, as in the most formidable lawyer who can win any case against anyone in front of the court of justice?"
Luo Xianxian nodded fervently.
Weird.
For some reason, her new schoolmates appeared rather impressed.
"Well, why didn't you say that from the beginning???" the girl with bangs and pigtails exclaimed. She draped an arm around Luo Xianxian and pulled her close while announcing to every single person within earshot, "From today on, Luo Xianxian and I are best friends. Whoever dares to bully her will deal with me, Lu Yueya from Lu Enterprise!"
Luo Xianxian gaped.
In retrospect, maybe she did not need to scold her uncles after all...