Chapter 4: BLACKTHORN ACADEMY.
Hua Rong sat in the Blackthorn Academy cafeteria, absently stirring the lukewarm tea in her cup. The bitter aroma filled the air, mixing with the low hum of students chatting in the distance. It had been weeks since her transfer, but the weight of everything that led her here still clung to her like a shadow.
Staying in Dihua High School during those last few months had been nothing short of a nightmare. One mistake, and suddenly, years of hard work and a spotless reputation meant nothing. The whispers, the stares, the way students looked at her as if she had committed some unspeakable crime—it had all become unbearable.
"Fake." That was the word they threw at her the most.
What did they mean by that? Had someone spread rumors? If so, the answer was obvious—Shen Yiren.
The memory of her last day at Dihua resurfaced. Feng Xue had been crying, clutching onto her sleeve with trembling hands.
"Rong!" Feng Xue had sobbed, her voice thick with guilt. "I'm sorry... I couldn't do anything to help you."
Hua Rong had placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "There's nothing to apologize for, Xue. This isn't your fault."
Bai Qinyue had stood beside them, silent at first, before suddenly stepping forward and embracing Hua Rong tightly. "I'll visit you every week. Don't worry, you won't be alone."
Hua Rong sighed, her chest tightening with a mix of gratitude and unease. "Is that even allowed?"
"Yeah, it is," Bai Qinyue had assured her, stepping back. "And I'll come with her."
That part had surprised her. Why would Bai Qinyue want to visit? She wasn't particularly close to Hua Rong before this. But at that moment, she hadn't had the energy to question it.