The next day, Ye Chen walked through the school gates, the weight of everyone's stares pressing against him. Whispers followed him down the hall, harsh and cruel. His family had fallen, and with it, his reputation. His engagement to Lin Xuerou had been broken, and all the things that had once defined him—his wealth, his status, his future—had crumbled into dust.
But Ye Chen wasn't bothered. He had faced far worse in his past life. These people, with their small concerns, were beneath him. The thoughts of revenge, the plan to regain his strength—those were the things that mattered now.
He walked through the hallways like a shadow, unnoticed by most but fully aware of the eyes that followed him. There were a few familiar faces, but none who dared approach him. Most of them had already chosen sides, either sympathizing with his downfall or mocking him for his failure.
But today, Ye Chen didn't care. He had bigger things to focus on. The rest of the world was just background noise to the grand plan that was beginning to unfold.
During lunch, the cafeteria buzzed with chatter, the usual high school drama unfolding as usual. Ye Chen walked in, scanning the room. Most of the students were in groups, laughing and talking, some of them pointing at him as he passed. The usual bullies were sitting in the corner, whispering among themselves, probably plotting their next prank. But none of them mattered.
He was about to grab his tray of food when he saw her—Su Lingxue.
She sat alone at the far side of the cafeteria, her head tilted downward, the long silver strands of her hair cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall. Her pale skin stood in stark contrast to the dark school uniform, and her expression was as cold as the icy winds of winter. There was an air of indifference around her, like she was separated from everyone else in the room by an invisible wall.
Su Lingxue was known as the "Ice Queen" of the school—beautiful, untouchable, and distant. Most students admired her from afar, but none dared approach her. Rumors swirled about her—some said she had no emotions, others claimed she was just too proud to interact with anyone. But whatever the truth was, everyone seemed to agree on one thing: Su Lingxue didn't care about anyone.
Ye Chen, however, found himself intrigued. There was something different about her, something familiar, yet unknown. As he walked past her table, their eyes met. For a moment, everything around him seemed to blur. He could see the depth of her eyes, the coldness in them, but he also sensed something more. Something hidden beneath the surface. He wasn't sure what it was, but he felt a strange pull toward her, like fate had placed them together at this moment for a reason.
He was about to open his mouth to say something, but before he could speak, the quiet atmosphere of the cafeteria was broken by the sound of laughter—loud and mocking.
A group of students, the typical bullies, had gathered around Su Lingxue's table. Their laughter echoed across the room as they made crude remarks, taunting her.
One of them, a tall boy with a smirk plastered across his face, leaned down and sneered at her. "What's wrong, Su Lingxue? Too good for us, huh?"
Su Lingxue didn't react. She simply stared at her plate, ignoring them completely. Her aloofness only seemed to anger the bullies more.
"Don't ignore us!" another bully shouted. "Come on, say something! Or are you too frozen to speak?"
The group laughed again, the sound ringing in Ye Chen's ears like nails on a chalkboard. He had seen enough.
He took a deep breath and approached the group. Without hesitation, he stepped between them and Su Lingxue, blocking their view of her. His voice was calm, but firm. "Leave her alone," he said, his tone carrying an undeniable authority.
The bullies paused for a moment, confused by the sudden interruption. They looked Ye Chen up and down, as if assessing whether he was worth their time.
The leader of the group, a burly boy named Chen Wei, scoffed. "And what are you going to do about it, loser?" He shoved Ye Chen, trying to provoke him.
Ye Chen didn't move an inch, his expression unchanging. He simply smiled. "This."
With a speed that surprised even himself, Ye Chen swung his fist toward Chen Wei. The force of the blow was enough to send the bully flying across the room, crashing into a row of tables. The cafeteria fell into stunned silence, the sounds of clattering dishes and shocked gasps filling the air.
The bullies stood frozen, their faces pale as they watched their leader struggle to regain his footing. Chen Wei groaned, looking up in disbelief. He had expected a fight, but not like this.
"W-What the hell…?" Chen Wei muttered, still dazed from the impact. He pushed himself up from the floor, glaring at Ye Chen. "You think you can—"
But before he could finish his sentence, Ye Chen was already walking away, turning his back on them. The bullies, still in shock, could only stand there, stunned into silence.
Su Lingxue's gaze followed him as he walked past her, her cold eyes softening ever so slightly. For the first time, her icy exterior seemed to crack, if only for a moment.
"Thank you," she said, her voice low and surprisingly gentle
Ye Chen nodded. "No problem."
As he walked away, he couldn't help but feel that his new life was just beginning.