Late at night, Phoenix Hall lay cloaked in silence. The soft glow of the corridor lamps seeped faintly through the curtains, painting shadows across the girls' room.
Tang Rui slept soundly, her breathing even, her desk neatly arranged after carefully placing each belonging in its proper place earlier. She seemed at peace, unbothered by the new environment.
But Lin Xioya tossed and turned restlessly on the other bed. Her mind kept circling back to the canteen, to the moment Tang Rui had unknowingly spoken about Lu Jiannan with such sharp confidence. She could still feel the weight of his eyes, that cold warning that had frozen her tongue.
She wanted to tell Tang Rui what a dangerous mistake she had made—yet Jiannan's silent threat loomed over her like a shadow. He hadn't needed words; his eyes alone had told her everything. Stay silent.
Fear coiled in her chest, but exhaustion eventually dragged her under. With a troubled frown, Xioya finally drifted into an uneasy sleep.
Across the campus, Jade Pavilion rested in tranquil luxury. Inside, Chen Yuhan was sprawled across his bed, already fast asleep. His breathing was steady, lips curved faintly as though he were dreaming of the "Miss Beauty" he had met earlier.
But in Dragon Hall, sleep was nowhere near Lu Jiannan.
He sat upright against the headboard, the moonlight spilling through the tall windows across his sharp features. His eyes were dark, burning with a storm he couldn't calm.
The sight of Tang Rui bumping into Chen Yuhan replayed in his mind again and again—the way she had looked at Yuhan, the way her eyes had lit up with amusement at his foolish jokes.
And then… the reflection he had caught in her gaze. A distorted image of himself, cold and arrogant, the kind of man she had already heard rumors about.
For the first time in years, Jiannan felt unsettled.
He ran a hand through his hair, frustration simmering beneath his calm exterior. He was used to being in control, admired, feared, never questioned. But tonight, that girl's voice, her laughter, and her oblivious words had cut through his composure like a blade.
The next morning, sunlight filtered softly through the curtains of Phoenix Hall, signaling the beginning of Tang Rui's first official day at Hua Ming Senior High.
Tang Rui was the first to wake. Moving with calm precision, she slipped into the school's uniform: a crisp white short-sleeved blouse tucked neatly into a navy pleated skirt that fell just to her knees. The navy tie with gold stripes rested perfectly at her collar, and she secured her long hair into a high ponytail that swayed lightly with every movement. A faint magnolia fragrance lingered around her, subtle yet refreshing.
She slipped on black flats with white socks, then caught sight of her own reflection in the mirror. A serene smile curved her lips, not forced, but confident—calm, collected, and ready.
After a final glance, she turned toward the other bed."Xioya, wake up," Tang Rui said gently, shaking her friend's shoulder.
Lin Xioya stirred, mumbling incoherently before pulling the blanket over her head. Smiling faintly, Tang Rui left her for the moment and walked to the canteen. She returned a little later, carefully balancing two packed breakfasts.
By then, Xioya had got ready for the class. They ate together in the comfort of their room, away from the stares and whispers of the canteen.
"Thank you, Tang Rui," Xioya murmured softly. "If you hadn't woken me up, I'd have missed school today. I fell asleep too late last night."
Tang Rui's eyes softened with concern. "Don't thank me. But, Xioya… why do you have dark circles under your eyes? Didn't you sleep well?"
Startled, Lin Xioya lowered her gaze quickly. "I'm fine. Don't worry about it. We should get going, or we'll be late."
But Tang Rui stopped her, frowning slightly. "Are you going to class like this? Look at you—you're beautiful, but those dark circles… they make you look exhausted."
A bitter smile tugged at Xioya's lips. "It doesn't matter whether I look beautiful or horrible. I'll always be humiliated here. I'm not rich like them, and I've stopped expecting kindness. Tang Rui… you're like me. You came here on a scholarship too. Sooner or later, they'll make your life just as difficult."
Tang Rui's eyes glinted with quiet defiance. She didn't reply to the warning. Instead, she pressed Xioya down on the chair and pulled out a small pouch from her bag.
"Hold still," Tang Rui said firmly.
With gentle care, she brushed a light layer of makeup under Xioya's eyes, softening the shadows. She combed her hair back into an elegant ponytail, smoothing the strands with practiced hands.
When Xioya looked up at her reflection, she froze. It had been so long since she'd seen herself like this—fresh, radiant, even beautiful.
Her throat tightened, but before she could speak, Tang Rui smiled warmly."There. Now you look like yourself again. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise."
For the first time in weeks, Lin Xioya felt a flicker of courage she thought she'd lost.
The classroom was empty when Tang Rui and Lin Xioya stepped inside. The faint smell of chalk and polished wood lingered in the air, the morning sunlight spilling across the rows of neatly arranged desks.
Tang Rui walked confidently toward the first bench in the middle row. She placed her bag on the seat, ready to settle down, when Lin Xioya tugged her wrist urgently.
"Let's sit at the back," Xioya whispered.
Tang Rui blinked at her. "Why? Are seats assigned by the teachers here?"
Xioya shook her head, her lips pressed into a thin line. "No… not by teachers. But they're still… fixed."
Tang Rui frowned, confused. "Fixed, but not fixed? What do you mean by that—"
Before Xioya could answer, a mocking voice cut through the air."It means the back benches are for poor people like you."
Both girls turned. Zhang Yueling stood in the doorway, her arms crossed, lips curved into a cruel smile. The glittering pins in her hair sparkled as she walked forward with deliberate grace.
"So…" her eyes scanned Tang Rui from head to toe, "…you're the new scholar student everyone's whispering about."
At that very moment, Chen Yuhan entered the classroom. He stopped just inside the doorway, his sharp eyes taking in the scene. Instead of stepping in, he leaned casually against the frame, curious. Let's see how she handles this, he thought, a faint grin tugging at his lips.
Tang Rui opened her mouth, but Lin Xioya quickly stepped in front of her."Yueling, we were already leaving for the back. Please don't make trouble on her first day. I beg you—don't create a scene."
Zhang Yueling's laugh was sharp and mocking."Begging, as always? Xioya, you never change. Who are you to command me?"
But before she could continue, Tang Rui's calm voice rang out, cutting through the tension like a blade.
"Oh… so you must be Zhang Yueling."
Yueling blinked, startled by the sharpness beneath Tang Rui's steady tone.
Tang Rui's lips curved slightly. "The girl who lives comfortably on her father's wealth. The one who has no identity of her own but dares to mock students who've earned their place at Hua Ming through effort and ability. Am I right?"
For the first time, Zhang Yueling's face froze, her retort lodged in her throat.
The classroom door creaked again. Chen Yuhan stepped inside, his grin widening."Morning, Rui," he greeted smoothly, as if the entire tension-filled moment was invisible to him.
He walked past Yueling without sparing her another glance, dropped his bag onto the second bench of the middle row—his usual seat—and casually gestured at Tang Rui."Go ahead, take your seat."
Zhang Yueling clenched her fists but had no choice. Chen Yuhan's presence and effortless dismissal burned more than Tang Rui's words. Forced to step aside, she moved stiffly to her own desk.
Tang Rui gave Xioya a reassuring nod and pressed her down onto the first bench. "Here. Sit with me."
Xioya hesitated, panicked, but Tang Rui didn't give her room to refuse. Together, they occupied the bench at the very front—Lu Jiannan's bench.
The class, which had slowly been filling, erupted in a wave of hushed whispers. Students exchanged glances, wide-eyed.
She sat in Lu Jiannan's seat.The scholarship girl? She's finished.Yueling's going to eat her alive later. And Jiannan—he'll never let this pass.
Zhang Yueling's lips curved into a triumphant smirk. Perfect. Let her be crushed. Jiannan won't tolerate this insult.
But Tang Rui ignored the whispers, calmly pulling out her notebook and flipping it open. She immersed herself in the pages as though the world around her didn't exist.
The air shifted. The faint scrape of polished shoes against the floorboards echoed in the suddenly silent room.
Lu Jiannan had arrived.
Every student went still. Even Chen Yuhan straightened in his seat, the grin slipping off his face.
Jiannan's gaze swept across the room, sharp and unreadable, before pausing on the first bench.
Tang Rui sat there, utterly unbothered, her head bent over her book.
For a long, tense moment, the classroom held its breath.
Then Jiannan's eyes flickered—once, sharply—before he moved. Without a word, he passed the first bench and placed his bag beside Chen Yuhan's on the second.
The collective exhale from the class was nearly audible. Whispers buzzed again, softer this time, uncertain.
But Jiannan didn't look at anyone else. His eyes lingered briefly on Tang Rui, unreadable, before he sat down, his movements smooth and controlled.