After leaving the principal's office, Feng Yan's mind was calm, her expression unreadable as always. She had proven her innocence, and that was all that mattered to her. But just as she stepped into the hallway, she felt a burning gaze on her back. Without needing to turn, she already knew who it was.
Feng Yue.
The delicate yet calculating beauty stood at the doorway, her face carefully arranged into an expression of innocent sweetness. Her large eyes, framed by perfectly curled lashes, shimmered as if with unshed tears, the picture of a misunderstood, virtuous young woman. Yet, beneath that mask of sickly beauty lay a storm of malice and hatred.
Feng Yan's lips curled into a sneer. She had seen through Feng Yue's act long ago. To the world, Feng Yue was the epitome of grace, beauty, and kindness—someone who captured hearts with a single smile. But Feng Yan knew better. She knew that beneath that mask was a snake, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Just as Feng Yan was about to turn and walk away, Feng Yue's sickeningly sweet voice rang out. "Sister."
Feng Yan paused but didn't turn around immediately. Her mind was already calculating the inevitable manipulation behind that one simple word.
"Sister," Feng Yue repeated, taking a few steps closer. When Feng Yan finally turned to face her, she saw Feng Yue's lips curved in a soft smile, her doe-like eyes filled with false warmth. "I'm so glad you proved yourself today. I didn't want to see you take the wrong steps in life, and that's why I had to speak up. I was only trying to protect you."
Feng Yue's tone was light, almost as if she were consoling a wayward child, but Feng Yan could hear the venom beneath the words. The insinuation was clear—Feng Yue wanted everyone to believe that Feng Yan had been on the wrong path, that she had been reckless and undisciplined, and that this sudden turn of events was nothing short of a miracle.
"I mean," Feng Yue continued, her voice soft but filled with false concern, "you've been so distant from the family, and your grades... well, let's just say everyone was worried. But I'm happy to see that you've started to work hard and have changed your ways."
Her words were honey-coated daggers, each one crafted to stab at Feng Yan's reputation. To anyone who didn't know better, it sounded like praise, like a concerned sister caring for her sibling. But Feng Yan knew better. She knew Feng Yue was subtly reminding everyone that Feng Yan had always been an outsider, an adopted daughter who had brought nothing but trouble and disappointment.
Feng Yan's expression didn't change. She didn't respond, didn't rise to the bait. Instead, she looked at Feng Yue the same way she always had—as though she were nothing more than an insignificant insect. Her silence was more cutting than any retort could have been, a reminder that she wasn't interested in playing Feng Yue's petty games.
For Feng Yue, this was the ultimate insult. To be ignored, to be treated like she didn't matter, was worse than being humiliated in front of the entire class. She had always been the center of attention, the one everyone adored and admired. Feng Yan, on the other hand, was nothing but a commodity—a tool used by the Feng family to ward off bad luck, an adopted daughter who was meant to stay in the shadows.
But now, Feng Yan had dared to rise above her. She had taken first place in the exams, humiliated her in front of the entire class, and walked away from the accusations without a scratch. And worse, she hadn't even acknowledged Feng Yue's attempts to put her back in her place.
Feng Yue's hand gripped the corner of her skirt, crushing the delicate fabric in her fist. Her nails bit into her palm, but she barely noticed the pain. How dare this insignificant adopted daughter humiliate her? Feng Yan was nothing compared to her—a mere replacement to take on the family's misfortune. What right did she have to rise above her, to act as if she were superior?
As Feng Yan turned and walked away, her long hair swaying behind her, Feng Yue's hatred simmered beneath her composed facade. She had been thoroughly humiliated, and the worst part was that no one else seemed to notice. To everyone else, it appeared as though Feng Yan had simply proven herself through hard work, while Feng Yue had been the overzealous sister. But she knew better. Feng Yan's silent rejection of her was the ultimate slap in the face.
Feng Yue's lips twitched as she forced a smile, but her mind was already racing. She couldn't let this stand. Feng Yan had dared to humiliate her, dared to overshadow her, and for that, she would pay. No matter what it took, she would ruin Feng Yan.
A malicious glint flashed in Feng Yue's eyes as she began to plan. Feng Yan might have won this battle, but the war was far from over. Feng Yue had always known how to manipulate people, how to twist the truth to her advantage, and Feng Yan's sudden rise would only give her more ammunition.
The jealousy and hatred that had been festering in Feng Yue's heart for years had now reached a boiling point. She had always resented Feng Yan's mere presence in the Feng family, resented the way she was treated like one of them despite being nothing more than an adopted child. But now, seeing Feng Yan rise above her in something as important as the exams—something that directly impacted her future—had ignited a fire that would not be easily extinguished.
As Feng Yue watched Feng Yan walk away, her fists clenched tighter. "Just you wait," she thought to herself. "I will ruin you. You won't know what hit you."
Feng Yue's mind raced with possibilities. She had connections, friends who were loyal to her, teachers who admired her, and enough influence to turn things in her favor. Feng Yan may have escaped this time, but there would be other opportunities. All she needed was the right moment, the right plan.
She would expose Feng Yan for the fraud she believed her to be, prove that this sudden success was nothing more than a fluke, or worse, a result of cheating or manipulation. Feng Yue knew how to plant doubts in people's minds, knew how to twist the truth until even the most innocent actions seemed suspicious.
For now, she would bide her time. But when the opportunity arose, she would strike. Feng Yan would regret the day she ever crossed Feng Yue, and when that day came, she would make sure that Feng Yan's fall from grace was as public and humiliating as possible.
Feng Yue's smile returned, a cold, calculating expression that belied the malice in her heart. She might have been defeated today, but in her mind, the battle was far from over. She would have her revenge, and when she did, Feng Yan would be nothing but a distant memory—a footnote in Feng Yue's rise to greatness.
With that thought, Feng Yue composed herself and walked back to class, her mind already spinning with the next steps of her plan. She would watch, wait, and strike when the time was right. And when she did, Feng Yan would have no idea what hit her. Only she, Feng Yue, deserved the spotlight, and she would make sure that Feng Yan was left in the darkness where she belonged.