The next morning, Feng Yan walked into the school alongside Ning Jue, the sun casting a warm glow on the campus. She moved with quiet confidence, her thoughts focused on the intricate plan she was carefully weaving. The events of the past few weeks had solidified her resolve, and now she knew exactly what needed to be done. As she took her seat by the window, she allowed herself a moment of reflection, her gaze drifting outside as she silently mapped out her next moves.
Ning Jue, ever the loyal companion, sat beside her, chatting amiably about trivial matters. Feng Yan responded occasionally, her mind partially occupied by more pressing concerns. She appreciated his presence—it grounded her, providing a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos that had recently engulfed her life.
"Feng Yan, did you hear about the new art exhibit coming to the city?" Ning Jue asked, trying to draw her attention back to the conversation.
"Hmm? Yes, I heard," Feng Yan replied, her voice soft but distant. She offered him a small smile, though her thoughts quickly returned to the plans she was laying out in her mind.
As they settled into their routine, the door to the classroom swung open, and Feng Yue strode in with a storm cloud of resentment hanging over her. Her eyes immediately found Feng Yan, sitting calmly at her desk. The sight of her adoptive sister, the very person she despised more than anyone else in the world, sent a fresh wave of anger coursing through her veins. She glared at Feng Yan, her hatred barely concealed, but she knew better than to act on it directly. Her father had made it clear—Feng Yan was too valuable to be harmed, at least for now. As long as her father intended to use Feng Yan's identity as Butterfly to elevate the family's status, Feng Yue's hands were tied.
But that didn't mean she had to sit idly by. Feng Yue's mind raced, trying to come up with a way to hurt Feng Yan without drawing her father's wrath. Her anger needed an outlet, and she was determined to find one.
As she fumed silently in her seat, Bai Shuang, one of her most loyal followers, entered the classroom. The sight of Bai Shuang immediately sparked an idea in Feng Yue's mind—a way to strike at Feng Yan indirectly, without getting her own hands dirty.
"Bai Shuang," Feng Yue whispered as her friend passed by her desk. Bai Shuang stopped and leaned down, her expression curious. Feng Yue's eyes glinted with malice as she whispered her plan.
"Did you know," Feng Yue began, her voice low and filled with feigned vulnerability, "that Feng Yan is Butterfly? The one who humiliated me in front of everyone? Ever since she announced it, she's been looking down on me, mocking me every chance she gets. I can't stand it anymore." Her voice wavered, as if on the verge of tears.
Bai Shuang's eyes widened in shock. "Feng Yan is Butterfly? But how...?" she trailed off, her mind reeling from the revelation.
Feng Yue sniffled, letting a tear slip down her cheek for added effect. "It's true. She's been using her status to bully me, to make me feel worthless. I can't take it anymore, Bai Shuang. I don't know what to do."
Bai Shuang's expression hardened as she watched Feng Yue's tears. She had always been fiercely loyal to Feng Yue, not just as a follower, but because she genuinely cared for her—at least as much as a fair-weather friend could. Seeing her friend in distress stirred a sense of protectiveness within her.
"Don't worry, Feng Yue," Bai Shuang said firmly, her voice filled with determination. "I'll take care of this. Feng Yan won't get away with treating you like this."
Feng Yue's lips curled into a small, satisfied smile. She had anticipated this reaction, knowing that Bai Shuang would be all too eager to come to her aid. "Thank you, Bai Shuang," she murmured, casting her eyes down as if still burdened by her troubles. "I just don't know what I'd do without you."
"You'll never have to find out," Bai Shuang replied confidently, already pulling out her phone. "I'll make sure she pays for what she's done to you."
As Bai Shuang stepped away to make her call, Feng Yue sat back in her chair, her expression smoothing into one of calculated satisfaction. She had planted the seed, and now all she had to do was wait for it to grow. Bai Shuang might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but she was loyal and more than willing to do Feng Yue's dirty work.
Meanwhile, Feng Yan remained at her desk, seemingly oblivious to the storm brewing on the other side of the room. Her thoughts were still occupied with her own plans, unaware that she had just become the target of yet another scheme.
Bai Shuang found a quiet corner of the hallway and dialed a number on her phone. As she waited for the call to connect, her mind raced with possibilities. If she could take down Feng Yan, not only would she protect Feng Yue, but she might also earn even greater favor with her friend. The thought brought a gleam to her eye.
When the call finally connected, she spoke into the phone with quiet resolve, "Hello..."
The voice on the other end responded, and Bai Shuang's smile widened, a wicked glint in her eyes as she imagined the results of her actions.
Back in the classroom, Feng Yue caught Bai Shuang's eye and received a subtle nod in return. Feng Yue's heart filled with dark satisfaction, knowing that her plan was now in motion. She couldn't wait to see how it would unfold, and for the first time that day, a genuine smile touched her lips.
Unbeknownst to them, however, the tides of fate were not so easily manipulated. Feng Yan, though seemingly unaware, was not someone to be underestimated. The game had only just begun, and the players were already positioning themselves for the first move.