Reborn not to be a beast of burden, I set the rules.

The heat of military training had not yet completely dissipated when the 32 freshmen of Class 3 of Humanities gathered together in the lecture hall of the teaching building.

This is the first formal class meeting since the start of the school year.

Su Qing sat quietly in the third row by the window, using her phone the whole time, texting someone, with a faint smile on her lips.

As Wang Chao passed by her, his pace noticeably slowed, and his gaze drifted towards her twice.

Ye Ming noticed. He wouldn't interfere in other people's affairs, as long as they didn't provoke him.

Counselor Liu Ting stood in front of the podium, her voice gentle yet crisp. Beside her stood Wang Jianguo, the class advisor, a young lecturer in the Department of Philosophy, who wore black-rimmed glasses and exuded a scholarly air.

"Today we have two sessions: self-introductions, and then the democratic election of class committee members." Liu Ting glanced at the young faces below the stage. "Teacher Wang and I will not appoint or interfere; it's all up to you to vote."

Wang Jianguo pushed up his glasses and softly echoed, "Just follow your heart and choose the people you think are reliable and capable."

The self-introduction session began quickly.

Most of the freshmen in front of me were flustered, some clutching the hem of their clothes and their voices trembling, others deliberately raising their voices, only to stumble after a few words and blush as they went downstairs.

When it was Ye Ming's turn, he stood up from the back row and walked steadily to the front of the podium without making any unnecessary movements.

"My name is Ye Ming. I usually work quietly and don't have any outstanding talents. I'm good at cooperating with class arrangements, but I'm not very good at handling complicated and trivial matters."

After speaking, he nodded slightly, turned around, and walked back to his seat.

The whole class fell silent for a moment.

This person is acting too nonchalantly.

Liu Ting glanced at him again, but didn't say anything, though a hint of surprise was hidden in her eyes.

There's no naivety, no flamboyance, how come he's just like those old teachers in their forties and fifties in the student affairs office?

The self-introduction session ended quickly.

Liu Ting swept her gaze across the audience: "Now we will begin the election of class committee members. Those who want to be class monitor can nominate themselves."

The classroom fell silent for a moment.

Wang Chao was the first to walk onto the stage, glancing at Su Qing by the window out of the corner of his eye.

He clenched his fist and spoke in a loud voice, "I'm efficient, have good character, and I'm sure I can lead the class well! If you elect me as class monitor, I promise..."

"When we were carrying water during military training, you loved sitting there and giving orders to others," Zhang Jian muttered from the back row.

The sound wasn't loud, but everyone around could hear it.

The classroom was silent for a moment, then someone burst out laughing.

Wang Chao's words caught in his throat, his face flushed from bright red to a deep purplish-red, and a vein throbbed on his forehead. He opened his mouth, wanting to retort, but couldn't utter a single word. His speech grew softer and softer until he almost mumbled it all out, then hurriedly walked off the stage.

Ye Ming didn't speak, but turned his gaze back to the pages of the book and turned a page.

Wang Chao's disheveled state only lingered in his mind for a second.

He wasn't thinking of the person in front of him, but rather of the people in his previous workplace who were all striving for advancement.

They rush to climb the ladder, scramble for power, only to be overwhelmed by responsibility and become the first to be pushed out to take the blame when things go wrong.

Several students took turns giving speeches, and the classroom was filled with hushed whispers.

Xu Wei sat in the third row, recalling how Ye Ming helped the boy who was clumsy with his hands and feet correct his movements during military training, helped the weak girl to rest under the shade of a tree, and mediated conflicts between roommates.

She suddenly raised her hand: "I vote for Ye Ming to be the class monitor!"

The girls around immediately chimed in.

The boys nodded in agreement; everyone had witnessed Ye Ming's diligence during military training.

Ye Ming remained outwardly calm.

That brat, she repays kindness with enmity.

Oh well, he was my benefactor in a past life, after all.

Make a note of this.

The vote count results came out quickly: Ye Ming received 24 votes, giving him a commanding lead.

Ye Ming quickly adjusted his mindset. In his previous life, he had experienced situations ten times more difficult than this at work.

trivial.

He stood up confidently and looked at the podium first: "Teacher, I'm taking over as class monitor and would like to nominate a few students to assist me."

Liu Ting smiled and waved her hand: "Don't look at me, you can choose yourselves, you can choose whoever you want, Teacher Wang and I will just be responsible for counting the votes."

Ye Ming turned to face the whole class: "I nominate Xu Wei."

He paused, scanned the class, and then looked directly at the bright and beautiful girl: "She's straightforward, enthusiastic, and generous. Everyone in the class knew her during military training. The class secretary has to deal with the Youth League Committee, and she's beautiful, fast, and talkative—she's the perfect candidate."

Xu Wei was secretly pleased with her vote when she heard this and almost dropped her pen.

"What?" She opened her mouth, but before she could make a sound, her face turned red.

Someone in the audience laughed. Zhang Jian was the first to shout, "Agreed! Xu Wei will do it!"

Several people nearby chimed in, "Agreed! Agreed!"

Xu Wei turned her head and glared at them, which made the group laugh even harder.

Ye Ming and the others' laughter subsided slightly.

Let her be the branch secretary of the Youth League; she can help me, the class monitor, with my work.

Moreover, when she's busy, having class committee members accompany her makes it less likely that bicycles will bump into her.

Protecting her is repaying a debt of gratitude, and having her work for me is repaying that debt.

Two things were done, and one was repaid.

perfect.

Despite his racing thoughts, Ye Ming remained calm on the surface and continued speaking.

"Chen Yu".

The boy who had been taught by him during military training, who had always moved with the same hand and foot movements, paused for a moment, then looked up.

"He's meticulous and conscientious," Ye Ming said. "He's suitable to be the class monitor."

Chen Yu opened his mouth as if to say something, but then held back. A classmate next to him nudged him, and he smiled sheepishly.

"Lin Zhixia".

Ye Ming shifted his gaze to the other side.

The girl who had fainted from heatstroke during military training and was helped to the shade by the counselor was sitting quietly. When she heard her name called, her eyes widened slightly.

"She's reliable and gets things done quietly," Ye Ming said. "I can trust her to be the class's life committee member."

Lin Zhixia nodded without saying anything, but the corners of her mouth curved slightly.

"Zhang Jian."

Ye Ming looked towards the back row. Zhang Jian was holding up his phone to take pictures of the podium when he heard his name called. His hand trembled, and he almost dropped his phone.

"Active and organized," Ye Ming said. "He's good at being the arts and sports committee member."

Zhang Jian paused for a second, then grinned: "Okay! I'll do it!"

Another burst of laughter erupted from the audience.

The votes passed one by one, and the class committee was formed in just a few minutes.

Xu Wei was stunned for two seconds before she reacted.

Am I trapped in a losing position?

She suddenly turned her head and glared at Ye Ming in the back row. Her round eyes widened slightly, her cheeks puffed out gently, and even the tips of her ears were flushed with anger.

Ye Ming knew perfectly well what she was angry about. She must feel cheated by being chosen as the Youth League branch secretary.

But even after I explained, she didn't believe me. Besides, why should I explain?

Ye Ming happened to look up and meet her gaze. A faint hint of smugness flashed in his eyes, so quick it was almost an illusion.

Xu Wei understood the faint smile.

She bit her lower lip, turned her head sharply, and lightly poked the textbook with her fingertip.

As the class meeting ended, the two brushed past each other.

The afternoon sun slanted in through the window and fell on her.

Today she was wearing a white short-sleeved T-shirt tucked into light blue jeans, which accentuated her waist. The jeans were a slim fit, with smooth lines from her thighs to her ankles, making her legs appear straight and long.

Her long hair was draped over her shoulders, with the ends curled slightly inward, and she flicked it gently as she turned around.

She walked quickly, but not in a hurry.

Her back was very straight, her shoulders were relaxed, and she had that kind of unconscious good looks that are unique to eighteen-year-olds.

As she reached the door, she suddenly slowed down for a moment.

It's like they're waiting for something.

I waited for two seconds, but there was no sound behind me.

She quickened her pace and stepped across the threshold. The sunlight stretched her shadow long, casting it on the corridor floor, where it swayed back and forth.

After walking a few steps, I couldn't help but look back through the window.

Ye Ming was packing his schoolbag with his head down, seemingly not even glancing in their direction.

She bit her lip, turned around, and took heavier steps than before.

"Hmph." The voice was very soft, as if it were being spoken to oneself.

Ye Ming then raised his head and looked at her departing figure outside the window, his smile deepening.

Of course he saw it. He knew it the moment she slowed down.

But what's the point of looking up? It's better not to look at all.

During this first week of school, Xu Da, the branch secretary, should just work diligently for himself.

Ye Ming ignored the greetings from his classmates behind him, picked up his schoolbag and walked straight out.

He only has one thing on his mind right now: the computer association, programming, and web games.