The Virell Estate, located on the hilltop west of Montclair Elite University, was always brightly lit like a castle out of a fairy tale. Tonight, the atmosphere seemed… unusual.
The large, windy rooftop, where the four most powerful names in the school, Blacke Caelum Virell, Knox Delacroix, Easton Ryu, and Zane Hargrave, were gathered around a glass chessboard, red wine sparkling in crystal glasses.
The night wind blew gently through Knox's hair, he rested his chin on his hand and looked up at the sky:
"The moon is so full tonight. Maybe Aurora is the embodiment of the moon..."
Zane chuckled softly, pouring more wine:
"Are you writing poetry, Knox?"
Knox shrugged:
"It's just… I can't stop thinking about that green gaze. It's as cold as a winter night, yet strangely captivating."
Easton leaned against the railing with his arms crossed, his eyes cold:
"What's more interesting is that she's unlike anyone else who's ever appeared in Montclair. All the data on Aurora is almost... blank."
Blacke flipped the chess piece in his hand, his characteristically hoarse voice rang out:
"Isn't that why you three lost control?"
Zane narrowed his eyes:
"What about you, Blacke? You're the first person to be rejected when you talked to her."
Blacke smiled half-heartedly, his smoky gray eyes flashed with a challenging look:
"It's because she's unlike anyone else... that she's worth pursuing."
Knox nodded:
"She's like a math problem without an answer."
Easton:
"Or like an unsolved code."
Zane:
"Like a beautiful, deadly weapon."
Blacke suddenly stood up, hands in pockets:
"Are you guys really going to climb the mountain on Sunday?"
Knox laughed:
"I said 'Aurora promised', and a promise to F4 cannot be taken lightly."
Zane leaned his hands on the table, his eyes flashing mischievously:
"Moreover, we will have a whole day in the middle of nature, with only grass, trees, sunlight, wind... and Aurora."
Easton added coldly:
"And maybe, in the middle of nature, we will find something that will make her keep her distance from the world."
Blacke glanced at his watch:
"Then get ready. I will leave the motorbike ready on Sunday morning. Whoever is late, no need to blame."
Zane laughed:
"Is our Blacke serious?"
Knox stood up, raising his glass of wine:
"Because this is the first time in F4's life that a girl has made him so crazy. Cheers to Aurora."
Ding!
The four glasses clinked together, the crimson wine under the moonlight creating a scene like the beginning of a new destiny.
Easton, who was usually quiet, suddenly spoke:
"But who do you think... Aurora really is?"
No one answered. Four gazes simultaneously turned towards the hill where the female dormitory was located, where the moonlight was falling as if touching the slightly curly black hair, the cold green eyes were looking up at the sky from the second floor balcony...
In a room filled with bright red neon lights and the smell of expensive electronic cigarettes, the vibrant American trap music rang out, mixed with obnoxious laughter.
The three young masters from America gathered in their private villa were Jenden, Liam, and Marcus, the "Alpha Dogs" in the international student community, famous for their money, looks, and... predatory habits.
Jenden leaned back on the sofa, shirtless, one hand holding a glass of brandy, the other hand twirling the photo of Aurora that had been secretly taken this morning.
"Look at that waist, it looks like someone carved it with a laser. I swear, girls in America don't have that kind of cold vibe."
Liam squatted beside him, raising his eyebrows:
"It's not just the waist. That high neck, the slightly curly black hair, the way she looked at us like we didn't exist... That's what drives me even crazier."
Marcus licked his lips, his sick eyes as if he was dissecting every detail of Aurora's body with his imagination:
"That gaze... it's icy green but if you look closely, I swear there's something that wants to be touched. I just want..."
"Remove that layer of ice with my own hands." Jenden interjected, his eyes flashing, almost losing control.
Liam laughed contemptuously:
"But she rejected us all this morning. Not even a hello."
Marcus:
"That's even more exciting. A wild cat... there must be a way to make it lie down at your feet."
Jenden put his feet up on the table, squinting:
"I was thinking of a game. If I can't touch Aurora with words... let's see if a night party... a place with no lights... will make her show her true colors."
Liam nodded, delighted:
"Montclair is having a mask festival next week. Perfect place for a sweet trap."
Marcus: poured more wine, lowered his voice:
"But remember... F4 is around her. If you want to steal Aurora, you have to be quick, precise, discreet. And dirty... if necessary."
The three of them laughed, like three wild animals preparing to pounce on a brutal hunt.
Jenden, his voice as soft as a snake slithering past her ear:
"Aurora… you have no idea whose territory you've just entered."
---
The three-story Suzhou-style villa is modern, covered with bougainvillea walls and pale purple lanterns. Inside, six girls in sheer designer nightgowns gather around a crystal tea table filled with expensive sweets and facial masks.
The leader Xiao-Yu, daughter of the chairman of a leading Shanghai real estate group, swipes her bright red nail polish across the tablet screen, curling her lips:
"It's Aurora again. Look at her when she walked into school today. Does she think she's a goddess?"
Min Qian (Xiao-Yu's cousin, famous for her sarcastic comments):
"I imagine I'm watching an ice perfume commercial. Her face is like a real porcelain doll... but her eyes are like an emotionless zombie."
Li Xia likes to use English to express herself:
"Dead eyes, babe. Totally dead. No classy vibe at all. The Americans call it "emotionless plastic."
Chen Yuling (famous for her sweet beauty but heart like a knife):
"That's right. I heard... she was orphaned since she was young, living in someone else's house. The type of person who always wears a cold mask to hide her inner inferiority."
Tiffany Wei chuckled, crossing her legs in a haughty princess style:
"Has anyone seen the clothes she wears? They're all black gothic dresses, simple to the point of being pitiful. She really doesn't know how to show off her worth."
Zhao Feilay was the quietest of the group, but he was secretly dangerous, dropping a deadly sentence:
"She doesn't belong in Montclair. Blue eyes, Western face, black hair... like a dessert that was mixed wrongly."
Tiffany nodded, sipping her dragon fruit flower tea:
"Even if she has the title of "genius" or something, it won't change the truth. She's not from the nobility. No background. No roots."
Xiao-Yu interjected:
"But the F4 are showing interest. Especially Knox and Blacke. You see?"
Min Qian glared:
"Pfft. Men are always curious about strange things. Give them time, and they'll realize that Aurora is nothing but... an ice robot playing a noble game."
Xiao-Yu propped her chin up and smiled faintly:
"We won't need to make the first move. Aurora will self-destruct when she can't stand the pressure of our gazes."
Li Xia laughed:
"Queen bees don't sting. We just let the fake ones fall."
The six girls laughed as if the world was in their hands. But Lian's eyes were much quieter, as if... she didn't completely agree.
Late. Tianshuanglou Villa.
The dim glass chandelier cast shadows on the marble floor. The tea party ended, and several girls had returned to their rooms. Xiao-Yu, alone, was still sitting in front of the second-floor window, holding the phone in her hand, her lips drawn in a sly smile.
The most gentle-looking girl in the group turned out to be the most dangerous.
"Even if you die, you'll still be paying attention to Aurora... how interesting."
She typed a few words. Then called.
On the other end of the line was Jayden.
Jenden's voice was still sleepy and lazy:
"Who is it? Calling me at this hour, must be something interesting?"
Xiao-Yu's voice was sweeter than honey:
"Jayden. It's me. Xiao-Yu. From Shanghai."
"Ah... a beautiful face with an angelic face and a fox's heart? Calling me at midnight must not be to confide."
She smiled, not denying it:
"I have a small proposal. Cooperation. Mutual benefit."
Jayden jumped out of bed, half interested, half cautious:
"Go on."
Xiao-Yu glanced at the moonlight on the glass door, her voice as light as silk but as sharp as a knife:
"I noticed... you and those two guys seem to... care too much about Aurora. But we don't like a girl who suddenly appeared out of nowhere to take all the spotlight."
"What do you want to do?" She brushed her off.
"Gently. Not to do any serious harm. Just... lower your reputation. Let F4 open their eyes. And you... will have more than "one night" with her if you're clever."
Jayden laughed:
"She's as cold as ice cast from Pluto. Do you think I can touch Aurora with just a few school tricks?"
Xiao-Yu tilted her head:
"Don't underestimate yourself. Aren't you known as the one who made 4 maids transfer to the hospital because of "loving" too much? She's human. Not a stone statue. The problem is... there must be a suitable environment to break the ice."
Jayden pondered… then snapped his fingers:
"I like that plan. But in return… you help me get close to F4. Especially Ethan."
Xiao-Yu chuckled:
"Of course. Ethan is a handsome idiot who is driven by emotions. To me, he is just a pawn. If you help, I guarantee… to force Aurora into a position where she has to "take refuge" in your arms."
Jayden narrowed his eyes:
"You are dangerous, Xiao-Yu."
She replied as lightly as the wind blowing through flowers:
"I only like order to be arranged in the right place. And Aurora's place… should never be in the middle of the spotlight."
Jayden laughed, for the first time he felt like he had found a worthy "ally".
"Deal. From now until Sunday, I will find a way to "get close" to her. And you? Make F4 see that Aurora is no longer worth pursuing."
Xiao-Yu said softly:
"The game has begun, Jayden. Good luck with the Ice Goddess."
Jayden hung up, lit a cigar...
His shadow stretched across the wall, and in his heart was a thirst not for love, but for possession.