Chapter 3: Chapter 3: In the Office, Ms. Ye

"Meow~"

As the evening sun cast its reddish glow over the corridor, the handsome young man carrying a schoolbag was trailed by a black cat. Yatsuhashi had already disappeared.

Since school was officially over, what came next was no longer Yatsuhashi’s concern. After replying to the group chat to express his thanks, Yan Huan had declined further assistance.

On reaching the floor where the principal’s office was located, the silence was profound. He could faintly make out voices coming from inside the office.

He stopped before advancing, turning toward the window to adjust his appearance. He switched his bag to a cross-body position and glanced back at Meow-chan, who was seated on the floor grooming itself.

"Meow-chan, wait here until I come back to get you. Don’t wander off—it’d be bad if someone spotted you."

"Don’t worry. You don’t have to babysit me."

Though Meow-chan didn’t seem thrilled about the name, it wasn’t the type to make a fuss. Its clear emerald eyes blinked as it spoke telepathically.

"If necessary, I can ensure that only you can perceive my presence. You won’t need to worry about where I am—I’ll appear anytime you call me in your mind."

"Meow~"

Satisfied, Yan Huan nodded and turned toward the principal’s office, a place he’d visited countless times.

As he approached the door, the faint sounds of conversation inside made him hesitate.

A sudden appearance of someone claiming to be his mother, given his background as an orphan, was either a bizarre urban legend or something connected to the Modifiers.

Curiosity won, and he leaned closer to listen.

“Yes, yes, he’s exceptional. He’s the president of the Yuanyue Academy Student Council. Despite his responsibilities, we’ve provided tuition waivers, recommendation letters, and reserved spots for relevant universities...”

That voice belonged to Principal Hermes. His high-pitched tone was easy to identify.

"But even with the waivers, doesn’t that cover only two-thirds of the fees? How does he manage the rest?"

The other voice, a warm and soothing female tone, was harder to place. It carried a gentle cadence, like a breeze brushing one’s cheek.

"Well... while the school doesn’t prohibit part-time work during free hours, I’ve been considering proposing a scholarship fund to the board to ease financial burdens, especially for such exceptional students."

"I see. As it happens, I’m here on behalf of Ye International to establish a Dragon Nation Immigration Scholarship Fund at Yuanyue Academy. I hope it will support your proposal. Our team will handle the fundraising logistics..."

"You’re too generous, Ms. Ye... Ah, forgive me for keeping you waiting. The students had exams today, so he might have had his phone on airplane mode."

"It’s no trouble."

Hearing no decisive clues, Yan Huan resolved to face the mystery head-on.

With a soft knock, he called out,

"Principal, you wanted to see me?"

"Ah, here he is..." Principal Hermes chuckled and addressed the woman before raising his voice.

"Come in, Yan Huan."

Opening the door, Yan Huan found himself in the lavishly furnished office. Principal Hermes sat on a leather sofa directly facing the entrance.

He was dressed formally, his neatly combed white hair and elegantly styled goatee lending him a classical air.

Opposite Hermes sat a woman with her back to Yan Huan. Her hair was styled in a black chignon, adorned with a jade hairpin that seemed naturally part of her elegance.

Her figure radiated a subtle charm, enhanced by the soft lines of a dark green floral cheongsam. One lock of her hair was tucked behind her ear, revealing a fair lobe adorned with a dangling emerald earring that swayed gently.

As Yan Huan entered, she turned to look at him, revealing a face poised between youthful vitality and mature grace. Her pupils briefly contracted as her gaze locked on him.

A stunning woman.

Standing gracefully, she carefully examined Yan Huan, her focus lingering on his face.

Her eyes reddened almost instantly. She raised a hand to cover her mouth, her voice trembling.

"It’s uncanny... you look so much like her... so much..."

What is this? Who looks like whom?

Startled, Yan Huan alternated his gaze between the emotional woman and the cheerful Hermes, completely baffled.

Once again, that peculiar sensation he’d experienced with Bai Yi surfaced in his mind.

Who are you? I’m pretty sure we’ve never met.

Seeking clarification, Yan Huan glanced at Principal Hermes, who smiled warmly and introduced the woman.

"Yan Huan, this is Ms. Ye Lan, the new representative of Ye International here at the Maritime Gate."

The Maritime Gate was a highly modernized and prosperous independent city-state on the sea, known for its economic vibrancy and multicultural population—a place that hadn’t existed in Yan Huan’s previous life.

Ye International was one of the top enterprises in the Dragon Nation, which itself seemed parallel to his past life’s Celestial Empire.

While the context clarified Ye Lan’s impressive status, Yan Huan was still puzzled by her earlier reference to being his “mother.”

"Uh, Ms. Ye... nice to meet you. But... have we met before?"

Tears welling in her eyes, Ye Lan strode toward him, clearly trying to speak but reduced to choked sobs.

Before Yan Huan could react, she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a warm embrace.

Startled by the sudden closeness and the soft warmth pressing against him, Yan Huan froze, his body rigid with alarm. His thoughts raced—was this another Modifier at work, one requiring physical proximity?

Just as he considered pushing her away, Ye Lan’s trembling voice reached his ears.

"Sorry... you just look so much like your mother... so much..."

"...Mother?"

Yan Huan blinked in surprise, his tension easing slightly. Though still cautious, he didn’t dare move.

After a moment, Ye Lan composed herself. She stepped back, her hands gripping his shoulders as she met his gaze with red-rimmed eyes.

"Yes, your parents were my dearest friends from the Dragon Nation—especially your mother, Wang Yulu. She was my closest friend...

"We were university classmates. After graduation, they came to the Maritime Gate while I stayed behind. I hadn’t heard from them in so long. How could I have known they..." Her voice broke again.

So, she was a friend of his parents in this life?

Hearing his mother’s unfamiliar yet familiar name, Yan Huan felt a weight lift from his heart.

Honestly, he’d paid little attention to his parents’ social circles after transmigrating. It wasn’t apathy; he simply had minimal memories of them.

As a baby, his underdeveloped brain had left him in a daze, only for him to learn later that they’d perished in a plane crash.

Stranded as an orphan in a foreign land, he’d watched as distant relatives descended like vultures to claim his parents’ assets—a shameful practice commonly called “inheritance looting.”

By the time his soul fully integrated with this life, the scavengers were long gone, leaving him to grow up in an orphanage.

For years, he’d grown accustomed to being alone. Now, suddenly, his deceased parents’ real friends had appeared, albeit belatedly.

Changing his tone, he addressed her respectfully.

"Aunt Ye."

"Good boy."

Ye Lan wiped her tears, her joy evident as she spoke.

"Sorry, I shouldn’t have brought up such sad memories. After arriving at the Maritime Gate, I’ve been searching for you. I’m so proud of how strong and outstanding you’ve become—managing on your own, excelling at such a prestigious school. Your mother would’ve been so proud..."

Her words steered the conversation back to his mother, leaving Yan Huan little choice but to respond tactfully.

"I’m sure she’d have been very happy to see you again, Aunt Ye."

Unfortunately, his words struck another emotional chord. Tears threatened once more as Ye Lan’s lips quivered.

Alarmed by her reaction, Yan Huan quickly waved his hands.

"Sorry! I didn’t mean to upset you further."

"Little Huan... may I call you that?"

"Of course."

He glanced at Principal Hermes, who stood nearby, beaming with his signature investment-securing smile. This expression was unmistakable—Hermes always looked like that when someone pledged money.

Sensing Yan Huan’s gaze, Hermes belatedly handed Ye Lan a tissue.

"Ms. Ye, please."

"Thank you, Mr. Hermes..."

Ye Lan wiped her tears and blew her nose before offering Yan Huan a slightly forced smile. Still, her lips trembled as she struggled to regain composure.

Yan Huan, now equipped with his newly acquired Perfect Expression Control, masterfully adjusted his demeanor.

His lips pressed slightly together, his brow furrowed with subtle confusion, and his eyes flitted awkwardly around her tear-streaked face.

"Aunt Ye..."

His expression radiated a blend of empathy and uncertainty, perfectly reflecting someone touched by her emotions yet grappling with faint, incomplete memories of his parents.

Seeing his reaction, Ye Lan’s heart ached. Realizing her display had burdened him, she quickly straightened up and offered a suggestion.

"It’s alright, Aunt Ye is here now. From today on, I’ll take care of everything for you, Little Huan. Let’s go home for dinner later—I’ll introduce you to your sister. Mr. Hermes, thank you for your time this afternoon."

Seeing Ye Lan calm down, Yan Huan felt some relief.

Though unfamiliar with dealing with elders this emotional, he was confident Ye Lan was just a genuine family friend, unrelated to the Modifiers.

"No trouble at all, Ms. Ye. Yuanyue Academy is honored by Ye International’s support and recognition."

Ye Lan smiled warmly, retrieving her phone from her bag and typing out a message. Turning to Yan Huan, she added,

"By the way, your sister recently arrived in the Maritime Gate. She doesn’t know many people here, so I’ll introduce you two tonight. You’ll be classmates soon, too!"

Wait... what?

A sister?

Yan Huan blinked, his unease rising once again. With precision, he focused on a key word from Ye Lan’s statement.

"Sister?"

"Yes!" Ye Lan nodded happily. "My daughter. She’s a year older than you and was studying her second year of high school in the Dragon Nation. She’ll be attending Yuanyue Academy with you soon. I’m sure you’ll get along splendidly!"

Ye Lan’s hopeful gaze left Yan Huan unable to object to such a reasonable arrangement.

But deep inside, perhaps influenced by Meow-chan’s earlier warnings, he felt an ominous sense of foreboding.

Nevertheless, his smile remained perfectly polite.

"Of course, Aunt Ye."