The Marriage Trap

Shen Chaoxi pinched the day school application form in her hand, which was due today, and stood in front of the lead-gray door on the third floor of the administration building.

This was already her third time blocking the door since yesterday.

The newly appointed discipline officer of No.1 Middle School seemed very unprofessional, fishing for three days and drying the nets for two!

Her pale, slender fingers knocked on the lead-colored wooden door, producing a dull thump.

There was no response for a long time.

Shen Chaoxi, seemingly deflated, knocked on the door with increased speed and force.

The thumping sound became more aggressive.

Anyway, there was no one inside, so taking out her frustration on the door wasn't bad!

She obviously had no hope left.

During the wait, Shen Chaoxi thought of various possibilities for entering and exiting the school gate, including climbing the wall!

Like most middle schools across the country, the school was equipped with high walls on three sides topped with dense barbed wire.

However, such a thing could hardly deter Shen Chaoxi.

"Come in!"

Perhaps she was too absorbed in her wild thoughts; when she heard that familiar voice, Shen Chaoxi was slightly stunned for a moment, then the corners of her mouth curled up.

As long as she could "catch" someone, she naturally had ways make them sign the application form.

Using the strength of her wrist, her palm pressed lightly; the metal doorknob turned a small half-circle, and the door opened in response.

"Teacher Shang..."

The moment the door opened, Shen Chaoxi had already managed her expression, displaying all the humility and respect that a student should show.

However, as soon as she entered, she was taken aback.

There wasn't just Shang Jianghan inside the office.

While Shen Chaoxi was still in shock, the other party started making jokes.

"What did I tell you, Brother Jianghan? I said someone was knocking, but you insisted it was just the wind!"

At that moment, Shang Jianghan was sitting by the tea table, fiddling with his not-inexpensive tea set.

His long, cold, and pale fingers traveled between the shiny silver-white porcelain, very eye-catching.

He was like a pristine white fish swimming through water.

Turning her gaze, Shen Chaoxi recognized the girl sitting opposite Shang Jianghan; it was Zhong Li, her deskmate.

Zhong Li called Shang Jianghan "Brother," a clear indication of their close relationship.

In fact, it wasn't hard to guess; the top-tier families of Shangjing were not many, and their relations were naturally tangled and complex.

"My beautiful deskmate, your timing is impeccable. Try the craft of Shang Third Young Master. He doesn't serve people easily. I'm lucky today, and so are you!"

Zhong Li patted the sofa next to her, extending an invitation to Shen Chaoxi.

"Brother Jianghan, you know, in that Class Nine I'm in, out of twenty students, nineteen are just like me—here to mix and mingle for a diploma. Only this beautiful deskmate of mine is a true study genius! She even got me wanting to study seriously!"

Zhong Li's voice was coquettishly charming and very pleasant.

Shang Jianghan's brows and eyes were slightly lowered, his attention originally on the teacup in his hand. He now raised his head, his light gaze shifting toward the visitor.

After a week without seeing her, the girl in front of him seemed unchanged, still in her white and blue school uniform with a quiet, unassuming expression, her fair, eye-catching skin, and her striking features that made people pause and stare.

Having not been to No.1 Middle School for a week, he met Zhong Shuoxi at the clubhouse yesterday, who reminded him to get a day school certificate for Zhong Li.

Such a trivial matter was within the school's discipline director's authority and didn't necessarily require his intervention.

However, recalling that there seemed to be another similar matter to handle, he came over.

Shen Chaoxi curved the corners of her lips, waving at Zhong Li as a greeting.

They were deskmates and didn't interact much on a daily basis, but they were acquainted to some extent.

Although Zhong Li had invited her, Shen Chaoxi didn't have that kind of self-awareness. Holding the application form, she walked to within a meter of Shang Jianghan and presented the paper within his line of sight.

It was the usual handwritten day school application, the writing clear and strong with polite and humble language.

Shang Jianghan shifted his gaze to the paper, still focusing on his tea set and showing no intention of reaching out to take it.

Shen Chaoxi lowered her eyes, her thick lashes casting half-shadows, and since the other person did not speak, she had no choice but to emphasize again.

"Teacher Shang, my application for off-campus living will still need some time, please sign it for me."

Shen Chaoxi used the words "please" and "you" in her request, her demeanor very humble.

At that moment, Shang Jianghan was busy pouring a bottle of spring water into a kettle. Hearing her words, his hand moved slightly, causing a few drops to spill and pool in the hollow of his right hand.

Shang Jianghan put down the water jug and reached out his hand toward Shen Chaoxi while lifting his eyes to look at her.

?

Shen Chaoxi blinked in surprise; that gesture did not seem like he was going to take her application form at all.

"Oh!" Her hesitation was only momentary before Shen Chaoxi understood his intention, and she quickly pulled out a tissue to hand over.

Shang Jianghan took the tissue and wiped his fingers casually, a bit at a time.

"Bring me a pen!" He was halfway through cleaning his fingers when he finally granted her the favor of speaking.

Shen Chaoxi hadn't brought a pen, so she looked around.

In the pen holder on the desk, there were several black signature pens.

Shen Chaoxi walked over quickly, reaching for a pen, her eyes casually scanning the only piece of paper lying flat on the desk.

Then, her attention was caught by the bold words on the paper.

Application for Off-Campus Living

Applicant: Zhong Li.

Reason for Application: Inadaptability.

Duration of Off-Campus Living: Indefinite.

These dozen or so words were too brief, occupying less than one-third of the paper; the remaining two-thirds were strikingly dominated by the three large characters "Shang Jianghan."

Shen Chaoxi bit her lower lip, suddenly feeling a bit aggrieved.

After Shang Jianghan had signed his name behind the three characters for Shen Chaoxi, she turned and left his office.

Because she was upset, the sound of Shen Chaoxi closing the door was rather loud.

The thud startled Zhong Li, who had been engrossed in his video game.

"Hey! Why did my desk mate leave?"

Shang Jianghan toyed with the signature pen in his hand, casting a side glance toward the desk area and curved his mouth into a meaningful smirk.

"Take your application for off-campus living and go, I have other things to attend to," Shang Jianghan said as he shooed him away.

**

The weather, which had been sunny for a week, finally turned overcast on Saturday.

By early morning the sky was overcast, and by the afternoon school let out, the wind was howling.

When Shen Chaoxi came out of the academic building, she was already wearing her own clothes.

A black and white striped shirt, light white denim trousers, and a pair of white canvas shoes.

To go from the school to the Yao Family's home, she needed to transfer to another bus, and today, since her uncle was off duty, she didn't need to rush to the hospital.

Just as she was about to exit the academic building, she faced Bai Jinyuan, who was impeccably dressed in black and had her hair tidily pinned up.

"Good day, Teacher Bai!" Shen Chaoxi stopped to greet her politely.

Bai Jinyuan had no classes that afternoon and was just returning from researching in the library. At first she did not pay much attention to the greeting, but then she looked over the top of her slightly oversized black frame glasses and recognized the greeter.

She came to a halt.

"Shen Chaoxi, I heard that a family elder of yours is ill and needs your care?"

Since the application for off-campus living did not require Bai Jinyuan's signature, Shen Chaoxi had never mentioned this matter to her.

"Yes," Shen Chaoxi nodded.

Bai Jinyuan took a moment to size up the tall and slender girl in front of her, dressed simply, feeling a pang of sympathy inside.