In the middle of the yard, Aurora stood next to the red maple tree, her green eyes absentmindedly looking towards the football field. Still wearing a simple uniform with a closed collar, her hair tied low, but there was something about her that could not be touched, the icy beauty wrapped in a proud and quiet shell.
From afar, Xiao-Yu walked quickly, holding a red silk-wrapped invitation, a calculating smile on her lips:
"There's a mask party tonight. It's a tradition at this academy, held every year. You should go. It'll be more interesting than standing alone under the tree."
Aurora had just turned around, her lips hadn't even opened when from the hallway. At that moment, F4 approached from afar, the gazes of the entire schoolyard were focused on them. Each step seemed to drown out the atmosphere.
Blacke was the first to speak, his voice deep and half teasing:
Blacke:
"Xiao-Yu, inviting Aurora? You're one step too late."
Zane shrugged, half-smiling, and handed over a silvery black card with a mask badge:
Zane:
"Aurora, tonight's masked ball. There's dancing, wine, lights, and… the truth hidden under the disguise. Are you going?"
Aurora looked at the card, then looked straight at Zane, her green eyes unwavering:
Aurora:
"No. I don't like noise."
Knox stepped forward, hands in his pockets, and smiled faintly:
Knox:
"You like quiet? But you're studying at a school of people who always make a fuss, Aurora."
Easton leaned his hand on the doorframe, his gaze sharp as a knife:
Easton:
"If you don't go, you'll miss a special performance. Of… us."
Aurora sighed softly, not answering.
Xiao-Yu bit her lip, watching the scene, her heart churning. She stepped back, her eyes following Aurora, then took out her phone.
Xiao-Yu (in a low voice, calling Jayden):
"F4 just invited Aurora. She'll definitely accept. Plans are moving to the Ball. Tell F3."
Meanwhile, F4 was still surrounding Aurora. She turned away, about to leave when Blacke spoke, his voice low, this time not joking:
Blacke:
"It might be noisy there, but at least… you'll understand our world better. Just a little."
Aurora paused.
The wind blew through the schoolyard.
She looked at Blacke. Her green eyes reflected the soft gray sky of late autumn.
Aurora:
"…Okay. But I won't dance."
Zane:
"Just come. We'll take care of everything else
The hall, which was originally used for royal receptions, was transformed into a glittering paradise for a masked party. The high, vaulted ceiling, intricately carved, reflected the light from hundreds of suspended crystal chandeliers, sparkling like stars in the night sky. Along the walls were thin, metallic silk ribbons that fell like water. Symphony music mixed with light electronic sounds rang out, each note winding, seductive and luxurious.
On the shiny black marble floor, international school students were moving like stars, all dressed luxuriously, in trendy tight dresses, meticulously tailored black suits. Each person wore a mask, but could not hide the ambition, calculation, or curiosity that was overflowing in their eyes.
In the center near the grand staircase, F4 was standing.
Blacke wore a high-necked black suit, with a red bow tie. His eyes were half hidden behind a silver mask, cold cold and sharp as a knife.
Zane wore a gray-black vest, an open shirt with two buttons, and a crescent moon mask as if he was teasing the whole hall.
Knox chose a long, exquisitely cut robe, leaning against the railing, his eyes darting around.
Easton was quiet, holding a glass of red wine, standing as if observing the battlefield.
Zane (glancing at his watch):
"Ten minutes late. She kept us all waiting."
Blacke (looking toward the stairs):
"Worth the wait, up to her."
Knox:
"I bet... no one will remember Xiao-Yu tonight."
The grand golden staircase.
The sound of high heels echoed with each step.
The whole hall fell silent.
Aurora appeared.
The tight black dress hugged her body like a sculpture, slightly revealing her shoulders, and her wrists were covered with black mesh gloves. Long stockings and high heels with red soles were like drops of blood in the dark night. Her snow-white skin stood out in the light. Natural makeup, emphasizing her cold eyes, and a black mask covering the upper half of her face, sexy, mysterious, impossible to look away from.
She didn't walk. She glided like the wind. Like a supermodel walking on the runway.
F3 and the Shanghai girls, the noble ladies, were also shocked. Some girls unconsciously covered their chests with their hands, as if Aurora's charisma could overshadow their own existence.
"Oh my god… who would be crazy enough to let her wear that to school…"
"But… I can't take my eyes off her…"
The male students were speechless. From their surprised gazes to their leaning forward to look, everyone was captivated.
Aurora walked through the entrance hall.
F4 approached her as if the entire hall was divided into two halves, the world and Aurora.
Zane (bowing his head):
"You kill people. At least with your gaze."
Aurora glanced at Zane, not answering.
Blacke (in a low voice):
"No one remembers you being late, only remembers how you showed up."
Knox (tilting his head):
"Cold. Cruel. Absolutely beautiful. You just turned the whole party into a backdrop for yourself."
Aurora (cool):
"You always talk like I'm a collectible."
Easton (stepping closer):
"No. You're the only one who makes the collection worth anything."
Aurora paused. Her green eyes swept over the four of them. She picked up a cocktail on a tray from a robot waiter, sipping it.
Aurora:
"I didn't come to impress. Just to see who's really good at hiding their mask."
Zane (smiling):
"Then you've come to the right place."
Knox:
"So… Aurora, who's your first dance?"
Aurora:
"Nobody. I'm not dancing."
Blacke (coming closer, voice low):
"Not dancing is also a statement. But tonight, if you want... I'm here."
She turned away, walking straight into the heart of the party.
Back straight, steps decisive, light sliding on the body of the jet-black dress.
F4 stood watching.
Zane (lowering voice):
"Are we pursuing... something dangerous?"
Easton:
"That's why... we can't stop."
Music echoed in the lavish hall. Crystal lights swept past like waves of light. Aurora stood alone by the large pillar, her glass of water swaying in her hand, her eyes lifeless as she watched the crowd.
The F3 trio Jenden, Liam, Marcus stepped out of the crowd, approaching her.
Liam (pretending to be polite, smiling):
"You look beautiful tonight, scholarship."
Marcus (leaning closer):
"Beautiful as an untouched feast..."
Aurora didn't bother to turn around. She stood still, her shoulders slightly tilted, keeping a clear distance.
Aurora (coldly):
"I don't eat dinner with trash."
Marcus laughed, Liam paused. The atmosphere suddenly became heavy.
Marcus:
"I don't think you understand your place in this school..."
Suddenly, Marcus reached out and grabbed Aurora's bare arm.
A blatant provocation in the crowded hall. Some students turned to look, some laughed, some sighed as if they had predicted this would happen.
Aurora turned around. Her eyes darkened.
Aurora (clearly, word by word):
"I'll say it one last time. Let go."
Marcus (smirking):
"Or else?"
Aurora:
"Then your arm won't be intact anymore."
"Oh..."
The crowd around them started to pay attention. Someone whispered:
"This girl is really brave...",
"Is that her? The A-level scholarship..."
Liam was about to interrupt when Jenden appeared.
No words. No smiles.
He pushed Aurora against the marble wall.
The hall fell silent.
No one was surprised. Because this was Jenden.
The man who could push anyone against the wall, and no one dared to say anything.
F4 Zane, Blacke, Easton, Knox were standing nearby, about to step forward. But before they could…
"SNAP!!!"
A loud slap.
Aurora slapped so hard that Jenden's face turned away.
No hesitation. No trembling. No fear.
The hall erupted.
Murmurs rose like a tidal wave. No one could believe it.
Aurora (voice loud, calm, eyes fixed on Jenden):
"Don't touch me like I'm a toy."
The air froze. But Aurora didn't stop.
Aurora (turning to look at the three):
"Do you think I'm a doll that will shut up when touched?"
"Wrong."
Aurora (takes a deep breath, then declares):
"I know martial arts. And I won't hesitate to use them if I'm touched again."
Marcus opened his mouth to protest when Aurora twisted her wrist. A cracking sound rang out.
Her posture changed. She was no longer the scholarship girl.
But someone who could break anyone's arm in 3 seconds.
F4 stood still. Zane narrowed his eyes. Blacke almost laughed. Knox looked at her with interest.
Easton (whispers):
"This girl... is no pushover."
Jenden remained silent. His face was red from being slapped. But his eyes darkened, not from anger. But from... confusion.
An old memory flashed through his mind, of a girl who had also slapped him, who had also looked straight into his eyes and was not afraid.
Aurora adjusted her dress, turned away as if nothing had happened.
But before she stepped out of the circle, she said loud enough for everyone to hear:
"Next time, you should know who is human. Who is trash."
The dance floor fell silent.
And then, like a domino effect, the whole school began to whisper, admire, and gossip.
F3 was embarrassed. F4 chuckled. Aurora became a phenomenon on the first night.
Aurora calmly walked to the water counter, ordered a glass of cold water as if nothing had just happened.
The whole hall was still whispering after the slap that made Jenden's face lopsided. The crowd was clearly used to him treating girls like that, but no one had ever dared to fight back. Until today.
Knox from F4 raised his eyebrows at her:
"You don't drink?"
Aurora picked up the glass of water, took a sip, her eyes still cold as ice:
"I don't like it. Not because I get drunk easily, but because I don't need alcohol to be brave."
Zane laughed, and Easton whistled softly.
Blacke crossed his arms, muttering softly:
"Hard to swallow."
For the first time, F4 was made to feel... dead silent by a girl. But to Aurora, it was all meaningless.
In a dark corner at the end of the hall, Jenden stood still.
His left cheek was still hot, but his mind was even hotter.
A slap? No, not just a slap.
It was the same feeling of defeat, humiliation, and rejection as before.
Aurora's image merged with another face in his mind: the girl from that year, long hair, proud eyes, who had also said to Jenden after pushing his hand away, "You are not the center of the world."
Liam stepped closer, his voice low:
"Hey... Does she remind you of 'her'?"
Marcus snapped his fingers:
"You mean... that mysterious girl you chased around in your freshman year?"
Liam frowned, squinting at Aurora:
"Wait... Could it be... Aurora's sister?"
Jenden didn't answer. His eyes were dark, more dangerous and cold than ever.
He spoke slowly, like a verdict:
"I don't care if they're sisters or not."
"Both of them have embarrassed me."
"I'll make Aurora know that feeling... a hundred times over."
Marcus and Liam glanced at each other. No one laughed. No one asked any more questions. Both of them knew Jenden wasn't joking.
At that moment, a soft voice rang out from the gate:
"Huh? You guys are here too?"
Xiao-Yu, wearing a light blue dress, accidentally walked past F4 and Aurora. The petite girl smiled and waved at Marcus.
"This Sunday, our group is climbing the mountain! Don't make excuses for not showing up!"
Aurora glanced over, her eyes calm.
Little did she know that that unintentional invitation… had just opened the door to another, deeper, more dangerous encounter, on the mountaintop, where there were no lights, no witnesses.