The breakfast ended with the usual formalities—polite exchanges, thinly veiled barbs, and the occasional glance of approval from the family patriarch.
After she got out of the patriach's study, she walked out to the courtyard, where the late morning sun filtered through the leaves of the old trees. The air was crisp and carried the faint aroma of jasmine from the garden.
Yang Qinru sat on one of the benches, her expression serene, though her mind was anything but peaceful.
The tension at the breakfast table had been palpable. Yang Shu and Yang Xinye had kept up their petty jabs under the guise of compliments.
"Qinru, you're always so composed. It's almost like you never get tired of being perfect," Yang Shu had said, her voice syrupy sweet but laced with mockery.
"Indeed," Yang Xinye had added with a smirk. "It must be exhausting to keep up appearances all the time. You're really something, Qinru."
Yang Qinru had smiled at them both, unbothered by their attempts to provoke her. She had played along, responding with humility and grace that only seemed to frustrate them further.
Now, sitting alone in the garden, she couldn't help but let out a small sigh. These interactions, though familiar, were draining.
In her previous life, she might have let their words fester, driving her to impulsive actions that played right into their hands.
But this time, things were different.
She was different.
"Miss Qinru," a soft voice interrupted her thoughts.
Yang Qinru turned to see one of the maids approaching with a tray holding a cup of tea. "Master Yang asked me to bring this to you," the maid said, setting the tray down on the stone table in front of her.
Yang Qinru raised an eyebrow. Her grandfather's gestures of kindness were rare, but she knew better than to overanalyze them. "Thank you," she said, taking the cup.
As the maid left, Yang Ran appeared from the side path, his hands tucked casually into the pockets of his slacks. His ever-present smirk was firmly in place.
"You're really something, Xiao Ru," he drawled, walking over to stand in front of her. "Grandfather's little darling now, aren't you?"
Yang Qinru sipped her tea without replying, her calm demeanor only fueling his irritation.
"What's with the act? You think this is all it takes to win?" he continued, leaning closer. "Don't get too comfortable. You might have fooled him today, but we both know how this story ends."
Yang Qinru set her cup down, finally meeting his gaze. Her eyes were steady, her smile unyielding.
"You're right, Second Brother," she said lightly. "I do know how this story ends." She stood up, brushing past him without another word.
Yang Ran stared after her, his smirk faltering for just a moment. Something about her tone, the confidence in her step, unsettled him.
As Yang Qinru walked back into the mansion, she felt a flicker of satisfaction. She didn't need to argue or fight. Her actions would speak for her, just as they always had.
Yang Qinru stepped out of the sleek black car that had brought her to the school gates.
The air was filled with the usual bustle of students arriving in their luxury cars, accompanied by the constant hum of whispered gossip.
Yang Qinru was accustomed to the stares—some curious, some envious, and others filled with disdain.
"Isn't that Yang Qinru? The infamous 'cold beauty' from Class A?"
"Yeah, I heard she's the one who always ranks first in exams. People say she's untouchable."
"Her family's crazy rich too. But wasn't there a rumor about her being an outsider in her family?"
Her expression was indifferent as she adjusted her school bag and walked through the gates.
Inside the pristine hallways of the academy, her polished shoes clicked against the marble floors.
Students milled about, chatting in small groups, but the moment Yang Qinru entered, their chatter grew quieter, replaced by furtive glances.
As she entered the main building, she glanced at the bulletin board near the entrance, it was the same bulletin board she saw yesterday, just as she reincarnated.
Her name was, as always, at the top of the latest academic rankings. Beside it, in second place, was a name she knew all too well: Xie Xinglin.
The sight brought a faint smile to her lips. Academic rivals. That's what everyone called them.
"She's here…"
"Did you hear? She beat Xie Xinglin in the last monthly exam again."
"No wonder he hates her so much."
Yang Qinru paid them no mind. Their opinions were as insignificant to her as fallen leaves scattered on the ground.
As she entered Class A, a few heads turned.
Her desk was by the window, a perfect spot for someone who preferred silence over the constant hum of her peers.
She set down her bag and took her seat, pulling out a textbook to skim through before class began.
But her brief moment of peace was disrupted.
"Late again, Yang Qinru?"
That familiar voice, dripping with disdain, made her pause. She didn't need to look up to know who it was.
Xie Xinglin stood beside her desk, arms crossed, his sharp eyes narrowing as he looked down at her. His uniform was immaculate, and his tie was perfectly knotted, a stark contrast to the perpetual arrogance etched on his face.
"I'm not late," she replied calmly, without sparing him a glance. "Perhaps you should check the time before accusing others."
His lips curled into a smirk, though his eyes remained cold. "Always quick with an excuse. It's impressive, really."
Yang Qinru finally looked up, her gaze steady and unyielding. "And you're always quick to pick a fight. If you spent half as much energy focusing on your studies, you might actually catch up to me."
A collective gasp rippled through the classroom. Their academic rivalry was well-known, but such direct barbs were rare.
Xie Xinglin's smirk faltered for a brief second before it returned, sharper than before. "Enjoy your place at the top while it lasts. It's only a matter of time before I take it from you."
Yang Qinru leaned back in her chair, her expression unreadable. "Feel free to try. It'll make things more interesting."
Their exchange left the room in a tense silence, the other students unsure whether to intervene or stay out of it.