Chapter 49: Ye Fanzhi

Shudu, a private secondary school.

“Mom, I’m here. Let the security guard know so I can drive the car in.”

“Park your Bentley outside. Don’t drive it into the school. If someone takes a photo, people online will start gossiping again, thinking some teacher here owns a Bentley.”

“All right.”

Lin Ran parked his car on the roadside, explained his purpose to the gatekeeper, and was let in. He made his way to the Publicity Department with practiced ease.

Knock, knock, knock—

“Mr. Gao?”

“Oh, Lin, you’re here! Come in…” Mr. Gao looked Lin Ran up and down. “Haven’t seen you for a while. You’ve gotten even more handsome. Have you found a job now that you’ve graduated?”

“My friend and I are starting a company.”

“Good for you! Young people should take risks.”

“I heard there’s a new principal?”

“A few days ago, the board collectively dismissed the previous principal for embezzling a lot of money. Now, the daughter of one of the board members is temporarily acting as principal.”

This was a private bilingual high school in Shudu, established by a conglomerate from the metropolis. The tuition was exorbitant—definitely an elite school.

Children of faculty could attend for free, which was how Lin Ran had studied here in high school.

“With the new principal, we need to update the leadership photos on the school website. You’re good at retouching photos, so we’re asking you to help. Once they’re online, everyone will look a bit more professional.”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Gao. I’ll make sure it’s good.”

“Sit down and get started.”

Lin Ran sat down and randomly opened a photo. On the screen was a strikingly beautiful woman, with delicate features and a youthful appearance—she couldn’t be more than her twenties.

“This new teacher is very pretty. What does she teach?”

“She’s the new principal.”

“What?!”

Lin Ran stared in disbelief at the beautiful woman on the screen.

“She’s the new principal? Is the board out of their minds? How can the principal be so young? She should at least be forty. This is too young—can she handle it? She’d be more suited to running a kindergarten.”

“I told you, the previous principal was only just dismissed a few days ago. The new term is about to begin, and they haven’t found a suitable replacement. One of the board members recommended his daughter. Don’t be fooled by her age—she’s an MIT graduate from the metropolis. She was supposed to volunteer in Guizhou, but because of this situation, she was drafted as a temporary fix. When they find a proper principal, she’ll step down on her own.”

“A temporary principal. That makes more sense.”

Lin Ran glanced again at the beautiful principal. “What’s her name?”

“Ye Fanzhi.”

“She’s really stunning. This photo doesn’t need any editing—she’s already beautiful. Next one.”

There were over a dozen new teachers. Lin Ran worked quickly, finishing the photo edits in a little over twenty minutes.

“Okay, Mr. Gao, all done. Once the principal checks them, I can make changes if needed.”

“She’s in a meeting right now. When it’s over, I’ll send them to Principal Ye.”

“Great. I’ll look around outside. Call me if you need me.”

With that, Lin Ran took a walk around his alma mater.

Since school hadn’t started yet, the campus was quiet. Lin Ran grabbed a basketball and went to play on the court.

Before long, the meeting ended. The doors of the auditorium opened. The teachers below the stage made a show of packing up, but none of them left, because the new principal hadn’t moved yet.

Principal Ye Fanzhi gathered her documents and stepped down from the stage, heading outside.

She wore a tailored business suit, the kind that hugged every curve, accentuating her flawless figure. As she walked, she exuded a charisma that seemed almost out of place in the sanctity of a high school.

After all, this was high school—a hotbed of adolescent hormones.

But no teacher dared to say, “Miss Heiress, your attire is inappropriate.”

Because this new principal had a formidable presence.

As Ye Fanzhi walked toward the principal’s office, her high heels suddenly stopped. The mass of teachers behind her halted as well.

She glanced toward the sports field, where a young man was shooting threes with a form reminiscent of a manga star.

“School hasn’t started yet—how did someone get in? What’s security doing?”

At that moment, Lin Ran’s mother approached Ye Fanzhi. “Principal, that’s my son. He’s here to help with the photo edits.”

“Oh.”

Ye Fanzhi said no more. After all, she was getting Lin Ran’s help for free. Letting him shoot some hoops was fair enough.

Though young, Principal Ye understood the value of a free favor.

She was here to help the school save money, after all.

As Principal Ye departed, the teachers all relaxed.

“Lin Ran, come here,” his mother called.

“Coming!” Lin Ran jogged over with the basketball. “Mom, Miss Li, Mr. Wang, Mr. Chen, Mr. Zhou…”

He cheerfully greeted each teacher, many of whom had once taught him.

“You’re looking more handsome by the day. Have you settled into a job?” one asked.

“I have.”

After graduation, it seemed every conversation turned to whether you’d found a job.

“You’re a good kid, Lin. If I had a daughter, I’d introduce you to her.”

“Miss Li, it’s not too late to have one now.”

Everyone burst into laughter.

Lin Ran’s mother playfully swatted him.

Miss Li put her hands on her hips. “Hey, you dare tease me? Still holding a grudge from when I watched over you like a hawk in senior year?”

“How could I? I just thought I’d repay your kindness by becoming your son-in-law.”

“If I’d known, I’d have had another daughter, haha!”

The group bantered and teased Lin Ran, who responded with good humor and charm.

Lin Ran’s mother watched on, pride shining in her eyes. Her son was her greatest accomplishment.

Brrring!

Lin Ran’s phone rang. It was Mr. Gao calling. “Lin, the principal isn’t satisfied with her photo. She wants you to come up and revise it.”

“All right.”

He hung up. “Mom, teachers, the principal wants me to fix her photo. I’ll head up now.”

“Wait,” his mother stopped him, pulling out a tissue to wipe the sweat from his forehead. “Be polite, all right?”

“I will.”

Lin Ran nodded and went up to the fifth floor. The teachers began praising Lin Ran to his mother—not out of empty courtesy, but sincere admiration from those who had taught him.

Fifth floor, principal’s office.

Knock, knock, knock—

“Come in.”

A melodious voice called out.

Lin Ran opened the door and entered. The spacious office greeted him. Directly ahead was a row of bookshelves, with two large calligraphic characters hanging above—at first glance, they looked like “shameless woman,” but no, they actually read “forthright.”

In front of the bookshelves sat a desk.

Seated behind it was the stunning woman in business attire, reviewing documents.

Was this the new principal, Ye Fanzhi?

As Lin Ran approached, he realized just how young she looked—so fresh she seemed almost dewy.

She didn’t look like any principal he’d ever seen. Who else would wear a business suit and pencil skirt like that?

The only other time he’d seen a principal dressed like this was in an online forum.

Ye Fanzhi closed her file and looked up. “You’re here, Lin.”

“Lin?” he thought. Well, a principal had to act the part.

“Hello, Principal Ye. Is there something wrong with the photo?”

“I’ve reviewed them. The others are fine, but why didn’t you edit mine?”

“Principal Ye, you’re so beautiful already. No editing needed.”

“Edit it.”

“How would you like it edited?”

Ye Fanzhi leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, long legs crossed beneath her pencil skirt, her elegant foot dangling a high heel.

A wave of authority emanated from her as she looked at Lin Ran.

“I look too young. If this photo is posted online, people will question my leadership. Make me look more mature. Edit me into an experienced, sophisticated woman.”

A spark lit up in Lin Ran’s eyes. This principal really knew how to play the game!