The next day, Zhong Yun rested at home while his parents were at the company. Cherishing this rare moment of relaxation, Zhong Yun decided to take a day off. He skipped the "Combat Simulation Training" and instead immersed himself in the online game "Space Campaign," which he had only played once before.

However, he never expected Liu Yunqi's older brother to actually call on him.

“Your family clearly isn't short on money now; why are you still living in a place like this?” Yang Yunrong’s face twisted in disgust the moment he stepped into Zhong Yun's apartment.

Damn it, this guy has a lot of hang-ups. Zhong Yun rolled his eyes so hard they nearly got stuck. “If I lived somewhere too nice, I’m afraid I’d catch a disease.”

“What disease?” Yang Yunrong turned his head.

“A rich man’s disease,” Zhong Yun replied, pouring him a cup of tea.

“Hmph,” Yang Yunrong snorted, making no move to pick up the tea offered. “I’m here today on Yunqi’s behalf, and also, I have a few things I need to ask you myself.”

If he had known, Zhong Yun would have just brewed some cheap, terrible tea for him—what a waste of good stuff. Zhong Yun muttered inwardly, but said aloud, “Ask away then.”

Yang Yunrong’s nose suddenly twitched twice. He gave a startled cry, lifted the teacup before him, and inhaled deeply. He exclaimed, “Yunqi gave you even this?”

Given Zhong Yun’s background, acquiring this “Heart-Cleansing Decoction” through official channels within the Liu family was impossible. Unless his sister gave it to him, Yang Yunrong couldn't find any other explanation.

Zhong Yun rolled his eyes again. “If you’re not going to drink it, then just pour it out. Don't waste my things.”

Yang Yunrong immediately downed the entire cup in one go. Then, he pulled a memory stick from his pocket. It was a device similar to Earth's USB drives, used for storing data.

Zhong Yun watched him, waiting for an explanation.

“This is your new identity. Memorize the details thoroughly. Don't slip up,” Yang Yunrong instructed.

“New identity?” Zhong Yun scratched his head. “Did Yunqi arrange this for me?” He picked up the stick and inserted it into his portable computer, quickly scanning the contents.

Yang Yunrong made himself at home, picking up the teapot of “Heart-Cleansing Decoction” and pouring himself another serving.

“Your efficiency is truly impressive,” Zhong Yun marveled sincerely. He had only revealed to Liu Yunqi the previous night that he didn't want his identity as a survivor of the Tongguang Star exposed. Now, less than a day later, a brand-new, clean identity had been fabricated.

“But this matter alone hardly warrants a personal visit from the esteemed Second Young Master Yang, does it?” Zhong Yun closed his computer screen.

“There are a few things you absolutely must pay attention to. Most of the previous Zhong Yun’s records have been purged. However, some administrative data couldn't be altered, leaving a few minor inconsistencies. They shouldn't cause major trouble, though.”

Yang Yunrong continued, “You can no longer attend Mingzhu Academy. I’ve enrolled you in another school; you’ll be a transfer student starting tomorrow. Yuehu Private Academy—you know it, right?”

Zhong Yun snapped his fingers. “I know it. Isn't it right across the street from Mingzhu Academy?”

“Grade one, Class A of high school. Remember that,” Yang Yunrong finished, having emptied the second pot of “Heart-Cleansing Decoction.”

Zhong Yun promptly and eagerly refilled the pot for him. Although Yang Yunrong was helping out primarily because of his sister, Zhong Yun felt he ought to acknowledge the favor.

“Now for what I needed to ask you,” Yang Yunrong sat up straight, his expression serious. “I am asking on behalf of the Military Command. Answer me honestly.”

Zhong Yun stuck out his tongue slightly. The Military Command? That was quite the heavy pretense. Still, he had already guessed what Yang Yunrong was going to inquire about. “Ask away. I promise to tell you everything I know, withholding nothing.”

“Good.” Yang Yunrong locked his gaze onto Zhong Yun’s eyes. “When did you return to Wulv? How did you get back? And why can’t the immigration office find any record of your entry?”

Zhong Yun recounted the explanation he had given Chen Wen the previous day, adding a few more specific details this time.

After listening, Yang Yunrong’s expression remained unchanged, but he fell into deep contemplation.

Seeing his demeanor, Zhong Yun felt a flicker of hope that he had managed to pass the test.

Yang Yunrong truly had no suspicions; he couldn't fathom any motive for Zhong Yun to lie. Zhong Yun’s sudden reappearance on Wulv Star was utterly bizarre. Had it been anyone else, they would have already been detained by National Security. However, if he had done that, his sister would likely have fought him to the death. Even amplifying his imagination a million times over, he would never consider that Zhong Yun possessed a starship that surpassed intermediate civilization technology.

Having secured the answers, Yang Yunrong didn't linger. After finishing the second pot of “Heart-Cleansing Decoction,” he took his leave. Before departing, Zhong Yun pressed a small bag of the decoction into his hand. Zhong Yun never forgot to repay favors. While Yang Yunrong’s attitude was sometimes hard to stomach, his character wasn't entirely repulsive. At the very least, for Yunqi’s sake, Zhong Yun didn't want their relationship to become too strained.

Zhong Pingjiang and his wife raised no objections when they learned their son was transferring to Yuehu Private Academy. Although Yuehu didn't possess the same prestige as Mingzhu Academy, it was by no means inferior. Their distinction lay in their positioning: Yuehu was a school for the elite, with tuition fees over twenty times that of Mingzhu.

Tian Hai and Chen Wen, on the other hand, were quite excited. The two schools were so close that it was practically the same as being in the same institution.

“Oh, right, do either of you know which school Yunqi is attending? I forgot to ask her last night,” Zhong Yun recalled the matter when schools came up.

“Liu Yunqi was specially recruited by Mingzhu Academy early on. She never told you, probably planning it as a surprise,” Chen Wen explained.

The next day, Zhong Yun once again carried a bag to school. After seven months away, stepping onto the vibrant, youthful campus filled him with deep emotion. The life of sheer terror and constant brush with death was truly gone. What a wonderful feeling this was. Watching the high school girls in their mini-skirts, revealing long, slender, fair legs, Zhong Yun couldn't help but let out a low whistle.

“What are you whistling at? Whistle again and I’ll slap you dead.”

There are always a few flies trying to spoil the mood. Seeing a boy with multicolored hair and an arrogant expression—like he owned the place—throw an arm around the shoulders of a tall, long-legged girl, Zhong Yun immediately felt a slight annoyance. He glanced at the girl; she was quite attractive, but what terrible taste in men. There were men all over the street, yet she chose that piece of trash.

Zhong Yun was in a good mood and didn't want to stoop to his level, so he pretended not to hear anything.

The man’s unrestrained laughter echoed behind him.

The quality of students at this school is really something else, Zhong Yun muttered softly.

“It’s not like that.” A soft, melodious voice sounded beside him. Zhong Yun looked over in surprise. The speaker was a very pretty girl walking next to him, about half a head shorter. She had the classic short haircut style from Earth, and a small dimple appeared near the corner of her mouth when she smiled, making her look very approachable.

Noticing Zhong Yun staring, the girl smiled slightly and pointed at his clothes. “You’re not from our school, are you?”

Zhong Yun had already observed that while the styles differed slightly, the clothing worn by the students here generally followed a similar theme—it was a uniform, after all.

“That guy just now is Wan Youcai. He’s the nephew of the Mayor of Mingzhou City. He acts very arrogantly at school, relying on his uncle being the mayor. All the students find him a huge headache,” the girl said, her tone laced with clear indignation. It seemed this Wan Youcai was the type of detestable figure that everyone universally despised, similar to Niu Ben.

The Mayor of Dawu held far more power than a city mayor on Earth; one city here could equal an entire province back home. Moreover, Mingzhou City was the second largest metropolis on the capital planet, Wulv. The Mayor of Mingzhou was practically a regional sovereign. Based on Wan Youcai’s behavior, however, this Mayor wouldn't hold his position for much longer.

None of this concerned him. As long as Wan Youcai didn't provoke him personally, his arrogance was irrelevant.

“Oh,” Zhong Yun feigned realization. “I’m the new transfer student. My name is Zhong Yun.” The new identity arranged by Yang Yunrong also used the name Zhong Yun, merely relocating his birthplace, previous schooling history, and other experiences elsewhere.

“My name is Gong Yao. Welcome to Yuehu Academy,” the girl smiled, revealing the small dimple by her mouth.

“Your tone sounds an awful lot like someone from the school admissions office,” Zhong Yun said, pretending to be surprised.

“I’m an executive in the Student Union. Greeting new students is part of my duty,” Gong Yao winked.

Gong Yao kindly escorted Zhong Yun to the faculty office building for the first-year high school students, where he needed to register first, before she left.

“Excuse me, where is the homeroom teacher for High School Year One, Class A?” Zhong Yun politely asked the security guard at the entrance.

After confirming the information, the guard led Zhong Yun to an office door, knocked lightly, and announced, “Teacher Dong, there is a new student here to see you.”

“Come in,” Hearing the clear, pleasant female voice, Zhong Yun was quite taken aback; the voice sounded strangely familiar.

The guard pushed the door open and left after Zhong Yun entered.

Zhong Yun froze solid as he looked at the familiar figure hunched over a desk, writing something.

Teacher Dong hadn’t heard anyone speak and looked up curiously. The moment she saw Zhong Yun, she too was stunned into stillness.

“Dong Wan, what a small world this is,” Zhong Yun murmured.

“Zhong Yun,” the teacher was Dong Wan, the former receptionist at Zhong Yun’s father’s company. She stood up from her seat in utter delight. “It’s really been a long time.”

“It has been a long time,” Zhong Yun exclaimed, genuinely surprised to run into an acquaintance. “How did you end up teaching here?”

“I have to thank Manager Yun from before, actually,” Dong Wan said with a touch of emotion. “She gave me the opportunity for further study.”

His mother was that helpful? Zhong Yun strongly suspected that she had arranged this specifically to keep Dong Wan far away from the company. Seeing Dong Wan’s stunning, mesmerizing beauty, his mother feeling a sense of insecurity was perfectly understandable.

“You’re the transfer student who arrived today?” Dong Wan remembered the official business; she hadn’t yet reviewed the newcomer files sent by the school because she had been busy these past few days. She hadn't expected the transfer student to be Zhong Yun.

“Didn’t you score first place to get into Mingzhu School? Why transfer to Yuehu Academy now?” Dong Wan asked curiously.

“That’s a long story,” Zhong Yun truly didn’t know how to explain it.

Dong Wan joked lightly, “You didn't get expelled for doing something bad, did you?”

To her surprise, Zhong Yun actually nodded. “Yes, I did.”

This answer stunned Dong Wan into silence.

“This matter is incredibly embarrassing. You must promise to keep it a secret for me,” Zhong Yun pleaded.

“Oh, alright.”