Xie Xinglin stood there, seemingly indifferent as he glanced at the rankings. His dark eyes were unreadable, but there was a sharpness in his expression that hinted at his displeasure.
"Doesn't he ever get tired of trying to beat you?" Wang Ye muttered.
"It's not about beating me," Yang Qinru said, her voice low. "It's about proving something to himself."
Wang Ye raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her insight.
Before he could reply, Xie Xinglin turned and started walking in their direction. His presence was like a cold gust of wind, silencing the nearby students as they quickly stepped aside to let him pass.
"Speak of the devil," Wang Ye whispered.
Xie Xinglin's sharp gaze briefly flicked to Yang Qinru as he passed by. There was no greeting, no acknowledgment—just a cold indifference that sent a clear message: You're not worth my time.
Yang Qinru met his gaze with equal coolness, refusing to look away until he was out of sight.
In the classroom, Yang Qinru took her usual seat near the window.
The sunlight streamed in, warming the desk as she pulled out her notebook. The teacher hadn't arrived yet, and the students were still settling in, chatting animatedly about their rankings and weekend plans.
A girl from her group earlier at lunch leaned over from the seat in front of her.
"Qinru, are you coming to the charity gala this weekend?" she asked.
Yang Qinru frowned slightly. "I wasn't planning to."
"You should! Everyone important will be there," the girl insisted. "Plus, I heard Xie family is one of the main sponsors."
Yang Qinru froze. The Xie family.
Her thoughts spiraled as the name triggered a flood of memories she thought she had buried deep. Xie Jingyi.
A fragment of her past life surfaced, vivid and sharp. His face, his smile, his quiet yet imposing presence.
She remembered how he had come into her life during her most vulnerable years, only to become a cornerstone of her future. Yet, the shadow of what he had done to her loomed large.
Though her memory of the events that would happen 6 to 8 years from now was blank, the memories of what happened 9 to 10 years ago remained painfully clear.
In her previous life, Xie Jingyi had forced her into marriage. Not because of familial obligation or power plays, but because he loved her.
Even now, the thought of it made her stomach churn. Yet, to her surprise, another part of her whispered that he had never truly wronged her beyond the compulsion of that marriage. He had not mistreated her. He hadn't crossed any line other than taking away her agency.
It was the blank years that troubled her most.
The classroom door slammed open, and the teacher walked in, cutting off all conversation.
The lesson went by quickly, and Yang Qinru found herself lost in thought as she scribbled notes.
Her mind drifted back to the rankings, to Xie Xinglin's cold stare.
He hated her, that much was clear. But there was something unsettling about the intensity of his animosity. It wasn't just about academics—it felt personal, as if she'd wronged him in some way.
But she couldn't remember ever doing anything to provoke him outside of their rivalry.
That evening, Yang Qinru sat at her desk, staring at the open laptop in front of her. She wasn't studying for the first time in weeks. Instead, she was digging up information about the charity gala.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard as she thought about Xie Jingyi.
In her previous life, she had been an ambitious heir candidate, willing to do whatever it took to secure her position.
Would she have agreed to a marriage proposal or a contractual arrangement with him for the sake of her candidacy?
The answer was clear. She would have.
Her lips pressed into a thin line. But at what cost?
Yang Qinru leaned back in her chair, her eyes fixed on the ceiling.
Her current self had no intention of being bound by anyone, not even Xie Jingyi. But the gaps in her memory bothered her deeply.
What happened during those years?
Why had she willingly gone along with his plans? What had she gained, and what had she lost?
The day of the charity gala was still a few days away, but Yang Qinru couldn't shake off the unease that had settled deep in her chest.
She forced herself to focus. There was still school to get through, and even though her classmates were abuzz with talk about the gala, she couldn't allow herself to be distracted.
The following day passed in a blur of lessons and whispers. Wang Ye, as usual, stuck close to her side, occasionally cracking jokes to lighten the mood.
She appreciated his presence more than she let on; his easygoing attitude balanced out the tension she often felt.
By the time lunch rolled around, Yang Qinru was ready for a break. She and Wang Ye found a quieter corner of the cafeteria, away from the usual crowd. She didn't say much, letting Wang Ye carry most of the conversation.
"You're unusually quiet today," he remarked between bites of his sandwich. "Nervous about the gala?"
Yang Qinru blinked, startled by how easily he read her. She gave a half-hearted shrug. "Not really. Just thinking."
"About what? The Xie family?" His tone was casual, but his eyes were sharp.
Her chopsticks froze mid-air. She glanced at him, narrowing her eyes slightly. "How do you know about that?"
Wang Ye smirked. "Please. It's not exactly a secret. Everyone knows they're one of the sponsors. And everyone knows they're connected to you somehow. Xie Jingyi's name has come up more than once in the rumor mill."
She frowned, feeling a flicker of irritation. "People really have nothing better to do, huh?"
Wang Ye leaned back, folding his arms. "It's not just idle gossip, you know. People are curious. You're a Yang, and he's a Xie. Two big families. Of course, people are going to speculate."
Yang Qinru didn't reply. She hated how right he was, but there was no point denying it.
That evening, back at the Yang mansion, Yang Qinru found herself staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her uniform had been replaced by a simple pajama.
The upcoming gala loomed large in her mind. She knew she would have to face the Xie family sooner or later. Xie Jingyi might still be abroad, but his presence was felt nonetheless, like a shadow lingering just out of reach.
She touched the necklace around her neck, a subtle piece of jewelry that had once belonged to her mother. It was a small comfort, a reminder of the person who had always believed in her, even when the rest of the world didn't.
What am I so afraid of? she wondered.
Her grip tightened on the necklace. She wasn't the same person she had been in her previous life. This time, she would face the Xie family on her own terms.