Yi Tianyu's basketball was confiscated by his father, and with formal classes starting on September 1, he was forced to adjust to a grueling schedule. Morning self-study began at 7:00 a.m., so even though his family had moved closer to the school, he still had to wake up at 6:30 a.m.
His eyes were bloodshot with dark circles underneath.
Having played games until the early hours of the morning, getting up felt like torture. He barely made it into the classroom as the bell rang.
"Seriously? How long has this abbess been standing there?" he muttered, glancing at Yin Fang, who stood by the door with a strict expression.
The boy sitting in front of him turned around and whispered, "She's been here since 6:50 a.m.!"
Yi Tianyu's jaw dropped slightly. "What kind of monster is she?"
His gaze shifted to the girl beside him. Her posture was perfectly straight, her expression focused, and her eyes glued to the English book on her desk. The page in front of her was filled with neatly written notes and related phrases. When he leaned closer, he noticed a timetable pasted in the upper-right corner of her book.
He nudged her arm. "Hey, nerd, you remind me of a song."
"?"
"When the sun rises in the sky, the flowers smile at me, and the little bird says, 'Wake up, it's morning.' Why do you carry a small schoolbag…"
"?"
He pointed at her timetable. "You really look like an elementary school kid."
"..."
This time, without the pressure of survival weighing on her, Xuejiao strictly followed her learning method: preview, study, and review. Having already learned the material once in her previous life, she found it easier to comprehend now, which allowed her to focus more on depth.
No. 7 Middle School's reputation for academic rigor was well-earned, and its teachers were top-notch. Yin Fang, nicknamed "the abbess" by her students, was no exception. Despite her stern demeanor, her standard pronunciation and engaging teaching style made her classes enjoyable.
Even though Xuejiao had already gone through this once, she still found herself struggling at times. This realization created a sense of urgency. Fortunately, she was only a sophomore in high school and had time to improve.
"Cousin!" Cheng Mingjiao approached her with a smile, sitting down in front of Xuejiao's desk.
Xuejiao closed her eyes briefly, suppressing her irritation, and frowned slightly.
The girl in front of her was smiling sweetly. Her hair was braided neatly, her lips glistened with a touch of gloss, and her shaped eyebrows framed her delicate features. She looked like a charming young woman, but the malicious glint in her eyes made Xuejiao wary.
"Cousin, if there's anything you don't understand, just ask me. Uncle asked me to take care of you, after all!" Cheng Mingjiao chirped, repeating a line Xuejiao had heard several times before.
"No need," Xuejiao replied curtly.
"Cousin, are you still angry with me?" Cheng Mingjiao's expression turned pitiful, her voice dripping with feigned concern.
Xuejiao didn't feel the slightest bit sorry for her, but others were quick to sympathize.
"Mingjiao, is she your cousin?" someone asked.
"Yes! My cousin's mother married my uncle a few years ago. She's part of the Cheng family now! Don't bully her. If you bully her, you're bullying me too!" Cheng Mingjiao declared dramatically. Then, as if realizing she'd said too much, she covered her mouth and looked at Xuejiao apologetically.
Xuejiao inhaled deeply, trying to keep calm.
"Wow, isn't that…" someone started to say but trailed off.
"Are you done?" Xuejiao asked coldly.
"What's your problem? Mingjiao's being nice to you, but you're acting like this!" another person chimed in.
"She's just showing off because she's good-looking. What's with the attitude?" someone else added.
Cheng Mingjiao's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. "Cousin, my dad reminded me this morning to get along well with you. There's no need to stay mad at me for such a small thing. Besides, it was Grandpa who helped you get into the experimental class."
The implication hung in the air: Xuejiao only got in because of favoritism.
"I knew it. She only got in because of connections! Isn't she just going to get kicked out after a semester?" someone scoffed.
The arrogance of the top-class students showed. They viewed anyone with poor grades as unworthy of being there, and hearing this only fueled their indignation.
If this had been the old Gu Xuejiao, she might have stormed out of the classroom, vowing never to return. Cheng Mingjiao was banking on that reaction, assuming Xuejiao hadn't changed.
But Xuejiao wasn't the same person anymore.
"Are you finished?" she asked evenly. "If you're done, can you leave? I need to study."
Cheng Mingjiao was momentarily stunned, embarrassed by Xuejiao's calm demeanor. "Cousin, let me tutor you. Otherwise, you'll get kicked out at the end of the semester…"
"Even if someone gets kicked out, it won't be me," Xuejiao said, locking eyes with Cheng Mingjiao.
"Well, Gu Xuejiao, who are you pretending to be? Do you really think you can stay in the experimental class with a 9 in math?" Yu Fangfang, one of Cheng Mingjiao's new allies, sneered.
"Only 9 points? How pathetic!" someone laughed.
Xuejiao remained composed. "I didn't do well before, but that doesn't mean I'll continue to fail. Unlike some people who spend their time gossiping instead of improving themselves."
"Who are you calling a gossip?" Cheng Mingjiao snapped, unable to maintain her sweet facade.
"Whoever it applies to," Xuejiao replied calmly.
"Gu Xuejiao, do you think you can compete with Mingjiao? That's ridiculous!" Yu Fangfang said mockingly.
"Wait and see," Xuejiao said, her tone unwavering.
Her serene confidence made her stand out even more. With her hair tied in a ponytail and dressed in her simple school uniform, she exuded an understated elegance that drew everyone's attention.
Cheng Mingjiao's jealousy burned, but she suppressed it with a smile. "Alright, cousin, let's make it a bet. If you can surpass me in grades, I'll accept defeat. But if you lose, you have to agree to one request from me."
"Fine," Xuejiao replied without hesitation. "Let's compare our final grades."
Cheng Mingjiao's eyes lit up. "Deal! If you lose, don't forget what you promised."
By the end of the day, news of the bet had spread like wildfire. Even students in Class Two were talking about it.
"Did you hear? Gu Xuejiao, the girl who scored a 9 in math, is challenging Cheng Mingjiao, who's in the top 20 of the grade!"
In Class Two, Gu Shiyun listened to the gossip while eating her lunch with her usual grace.
"Cheng Mingjiao is annoying, but Gu Xuejiao is just as bad. Can you believe she thinks she can compete?" one girl sneered.
Gu Shiyun put down her chopsticks, her gentle smile never faltering. "Let's not gossip about others. It's their business, not ours. Let's go back to class and finish our homework."
Her calm, kind demeanor won her admiration, as always. Several boys and girls nodded, agreeing with her suggestion.
But once Gu Shiyun was alone in the bathroom, her gentle expression turned cold.
What an idiot Cheng Mingjiao was! If you don't like someone, why give them motivation to improve? Even though Gu Shiyun didn't believe Xuejiao could succeed, she didn't want to risk it.
Gu Shiyun took out her spare phone and made a call. "Hello, Dad? I miss you. Can you pick me up tomorrow?"
"Are you an idiot?" Yi Tianyu whispered, nudging Xuejiao, who was engrossed in her studies.
"What?" she asked, frowning at him.
"Why would you bet on something so stupid? Do you even know what people are saying about you?"
"I know. It doesn't matter," Xuejiao replied, turning back to her book.
Yi Tianyu wasn't satisfied. "How can you not care? They're saying terrible things—"
Xuejiao interrupted, "If a dog bites you, do you bite back?"
"What?" Yi Tianyu blinked, confused.
Xuejiao smirked. "Exactly. Just like how I don't hit you back when you annoy me."
Yi Tianyu stared at her, dumbfounded, before exploding. "Gu Xuejiao! Are you calling me a dog?!"
"You said it yourself."
The remainder of Friday afternoon passed quietly. Sophomore year wasn't the most intense yet, so No. 7 Middle School adhered to national standards and allowed students a weekend break. After three classes, day students could pack up their bags and head home, though they carried a heavy load of homework to fill the weekend.
Xuejiao, who usually packed quickly, was deliberately slow today. While others rushed out, eager for their weekend freedom, she lingered at her desk. Gu Jingxu had called the previous night to inform Li Sitong that he wanted to take her to dinner, and the driver wouldn't be picking her up until Cheng Mingze finished his evening classes.
Reluctantly, Li Sitong had agreed, believing that Xuejiao still longed for her father's attention.
"Hey, nerd, let me borrow your homework for the weekend!" Yi Tianyu leaned toward her with a mischievous grin.
Xuejiao slung her bag over her shoulder, turned to him with an innocent blink, and replied, "Dream on!"
Without waiting for his reaction, she strode away, leaving Yi Tianyu staring after her, stunned.
He clutched his chest dramatically. "No lending... no lending... but why did she blink like that? It made my heart skip a beat."
Xuejiao took her time walking toward the school gate, earbuds in, listening to some English audio tracks. The bustling noise of students leaving the campus filled the air. Most students had already rushed home, while a few boarders returned to their dormitories. By the time she reached the gate, the area was relatively quiet.
A familiar black Audi A8L was parked nearby.
"Xuejiao!" A stylish woman with an intellectual air waved to her from the car, smiling warmly.
Xuejiao suppressed the sigh building in her chest and approached slowly. Sitting in the car was none other than Wu Wanjun, the junior who had displaced Gu Xuejiao's mother and become Gu Jingxu's new wife. Next to her sat Gu Shiyun, the beloved daughter of this "perfect" family.
Gu Shiyun smiled gently, exuding the same kind and understanding aura she always did, while Wu Wanjun beamed at Xuejiao as if nothing were amiss.
"Why didn't you greet her properly? Your Aunt Wanjun even brought you a gift!" Gu Jingxu said as he stepped out of the car, reaching to pat her on the head. Xuejiao subtly dodged, leaving his hand hanging awkwardly mid-air.
Gu Jingxu's expression stiffened.
"Oh? A gift?" Xuejiao asked lightly, raising an eyebrow.
Wu Wanjun quickly retrieved two boxes from her bag and handed them to Xuejiao with a radiant smile.
Xuejiao opened the first box. Inside was a jeweled necklace, excessively gaudy and far too ostentatious for a student. Wearing this in public would certainly attract all the wrong kinds of attention.
She closed the first box and opened the second. The moment she saw the contents, she couldn't suppress her laughter.
Inside the second box was a bright pink princess crown decorated with glittering rhinestones and plastic gems. It looked like something meant for a child's costume party.
Wu Wanjun's smile froze as Xuejiao held up the crown, examining it with a bemused expression. "What do you think, Xuejiao? Isn't it beautiful?"
"It's... something," Xuejiao replied diplomatically, placing the crown back in the box and shutting it.
"Shiyun picked it out," Wu Wanjun added, her tone slightly defensive.
Gu Shiyun smiled sweetly, as if oblivious to the tension. "I thought it suited you, Xuejiao. It's youthful and fun, just like you!"
Xuejiao glanced at her half-sister, who sat there looking serene and composed, and couldn't help but marvel at her acting skills. "Thank you," she replied dryly, her tone revealing none of her true feelings.
"Well, let's go! Your dad's taking us to a nice restaurant," Wu Wanjun said, trying to smooth over the moment.
Gu Jingxu opened the car door for her, but Xuejiao hesitated for a moment before getting in.
The drive to the restaurant was filled with polite small talk, mostly led by Wu Wanjun and Gu Shiyun. Xuejiao remained quiet, her responses minimal. She wasn't interested in playing along with their charade of a perfect family.