As Lin Jiajia stepped out of the classroom, her gaze caught a man in a white coat leaning casually against the balcony. He was tall and taciturn, wearing gold-rimmed glasses that gave him an elegant yet slightly cold demeanor.
Her heart raced at the sight of him; instinct told her he was dangerous. Without wanting to linger, she made a quick detour to the restroom.
But before she could escape, a hand shot out and grabbed her arm. Turning back, she instinctively blurted out, "School Doctor."
The man—her school doctor—studied her with an intense, probing gaze, scrutinizing her face as if searching for something hidden beneath her exterior.
"What is it?" Lin Jiajia asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
The doctor's expression was unreadable, but he seemed to take note of her cold, indifferent demeanor. The casual smiles she once wore were absent. He released her arm and, with an air of indifference, asked, "You're not her?"
"What?" Lin Jiajia was utterly bewildered.
His eyes turned icy for a moment, but then he smiled, albeit without warmth. "I mistook you for someone." With that, he walked away, the tails of his coat billowing slightly behind him.
Lin Jiajia watched him leave, her mind racing. She shook her head, trying to clear the confusion.
But the surprises didn't end there. Later, she received a message from her father, who had heard about Leng Ao wanting her to be his girlfriend. He wanted to bring her back into the Lin family. What a twist! They had kicked her out, and now they wanted her back?
Lin Jiajia had no interest in returning to the Lin family. Despite being alone, she felt a newfound freedom. The notion of using "affection" to win her back fell flat; she simply smiled knowingly at their attempts. They had used her as a shield when it suited them and even published a newspaper article severing ties with her.
She didn't know who had occupied her body before, but she was genuinely grateful to that person. She had never imagined her life could feel so unshackled and free. No longer did she have to endure her father's incessant lectures about family honor and the sacrifices expected of her.
The truth was, she wasn't their biological child. The Lin couple had adopted her after years of trying for a baby, believing a superstitious saying that adopting would bring them a real child. Now that she had been cast aside, she felt no desire to return.
With Ace Academy not expelling her, Lin Jiajia continued her studies. She couldn't help but smile at her resilience. How had she become so tough? Here she was, an orphan attending an elite school.
Ever since she rejected Leng Ao, he had stubbornly pursued her. Sometimes, when he annoyed her, she would throw him over her shoulder, and to her surprise, he didn't show any displeasure.
Lin Jiajia raised an eyebrow, confused. Could it be that Leng Ao actually liked this dynamic? While others treated him with reverence, he responded to her coldness and the occasional rough treatment without a hint of irritation. It was bewildering, yet somehow, it felt oddly satisfying.