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Xu Yueyao woke up groggily, ate, and went to school in the same dazed state. As she approached the school gate, she noticed a large crowd gathered, including reporters with cameras.
She stopped in her tracks, listening in on the conversations of nearby students.
“Did you hear? Our school made headlines! Yesterday, President Fu of the Fu Corporation confessed to An Zhiyi at a café.”
“Yeah, I heard too! They say it was super romantic.”
“Our school really is full of hidden talents.”
“No kidding! And they’re all receiving special attention from high society.”
“What’s up with these billionaire CEOs? So many wealthy heiresses to choose from, yet they always fall for commoners. Is this some kind of Cinderella fairytale?”
“Pfft! It’s all about looks. A pretty face, a humble background—perfect for a fling.”
“Well, if I had the chance to be ‘played’ by men like War God Shao and President Fu, I’d gladly take it.” A girl sighed dreamily, earning laughter from her friends.
Xu Yueyao pulled her hoodie up, lowered her head, and walked into the school.
Inside the classroom, a group of girls surrounded An Zhiyi, chatting and laughing.
Gao Yuyan, displeased, admired her freshly manicured nails and sneered, “Our class is getting famous. Looks like even the nobodies are getting arrogant. Random stray cats and dogs think they’re special now.”
Xia Nuannuan retorted, “What do you mean by that, Gao Yuyan?”
“I just don’t like you. Want to settle this outside?” Gao Yuyan stood up, unfazed. Three other girls immediately followed her lead.
Xia Nuannuan hesitated but stood her ground. “You lost a bet to Xu Yueyao. You promised never to bully anyone again.”
Xu Yueyao rolled her eyes. Why drag her into this?
BANG!
A basketball suddenly fell from above, hitting Xu Yueyao’s head. Already sleep-deprived from the night before, she felt her head buzzing from the impact.
Fu Xiaosi walked in and smirked. “Oops, sorry, Xu Yueyao. The ball doesn’t have eyes. But it’s just a small matter—you’re not going to run to War God Shao and complain to make trouble for my Fu Corporation, are you?”
The classroom fell silent. Everyone observed the situation, likely contemplating whose side to take.
Xu Yueyao clenched her head. Fu Xiaosi, you lunatic. She knew that if she didn’t respond, others would take his lead and start bullying her too. But today, she wasn’t in the mood for games.
Still, anger was simmering inside her. She glanced at the basketball beside her, picked it up, placed it on a desk, and pulled out a foldable knife from her bag. Without hesitation, she stabbed the ball, deflating the limited-edition basketball on the spot.
She tossed the ruined ball into the trash and smiled at Fu Xiaosi. “No need to thank me. Just doing you a favor by getting rid of a blind ball. You should get one with better aim. The Fu Corporation can afford that, right?”
She met his gaze directly. Fu Xiaosi looked at her in surprise for a moment before stepping closer, smirking. “You’ve got guts, Xu Yueyao. This is going to be fun.” He deliberately brushed against her shoulder as he passed by.
Wu Haolin discreetly gave Xu Yueyao a thumbs-up. Xiao Beichen adjusted his glasses and walked past. Even Shen Yi paused to glance at her before leaving.
Once they were gone, Xu Yueyao sat down, indifferent. The classroom instantly became quiet.
Zhang Beilu arrived just as the bell rang, her eyes puffy from crying the night before. Xu Yueyao wasn’t in the mood to comfort her—she had her own problems.
Fu Xiaosi was becoming a headache.
That afternoon, as Xu Yueyao exited the restroom, a freckled girl named Ruan Fangfang approached her. “Xu Yueyao, Zhang Beilu asked to meet you at the South District basketball court. She seems upset.”
Xu Yueyao didn’t doubt her. She had been meaning to talk to Zhang Beilu anyway.
However, when she arrived at the court, she found Fu Xiaosi and his group, along with Gao Yuyan’s clique, seated in the highest spectator seats, looking down at her mockingly.
She had run there, so she was slightly out of breath. Placing her hands on her hips, she steadied her breathing and looked up at Fu Xiaosi. Were they destined to be enemies? She sighed, feeling unwilling to accept that.
Climbing the stairs, she reached them. Gao Yuyan stood up, stretching her wrists. Fu Xiaosi had just told her that she could do whatever she wanted to Xu Yueyao—he would take responsibility.
As soon as Xu Yueyao got close, Gao Yuyan raised her hand to slap her. But Xu Yueyao grabbed her wrist, twisted it, and shoved her into her three lackeys. The three girls, who had been ready to pounce, were caught off guard as Gao Yuyan was hurled into them with enough force to send all four tumbling to the ground.
Ignoring them, Xu Yueyao strode up to Fu Xiaosi and got straight to the point. “Fu Xiaosi, what will it take for you to leave me alone?”
Fu Xiaosi’s eyes sparkled with intrigue. He licked his dry lips and said, “Break up with War God Shao and be my girlfriend.”
“Not happening. Pick something else.” Xu Yueyao rejected him instantly.
Fu Xiaosi’s expression darkened. “Xu Yueyao, you’d better think this through. You and War God Shao have no future. He’ll never marry you. Once he finds a suitable match, he’ll discard you—and you might even lose your life. If you choose me, I’ll make you my wife.”
His words sent shockwaves through the group. No one had expected Fu Xiaosi to be serious. Shen Yi, in particular, looked pale. Did he really like Xu Yueyao that much?
Xu Yueyao sighed, feeling a headache coming on. His words hit a little too close to home. But regardless, she had no feelings for Fu Xiaosi. Even if she did, she wouldn’t risk everything for him. She was here to change her fate, not to recklessly rewrite the story.
“Fu Xiaosi, listen up. I’m with War God Shao because I love him. I have no interest in being his wife. My love for him has nothing to do with money, status, or fame. I love him for who he is, and that’s all that matters.”
She watched their shocked reactions and smirked. Love always made things sound noble and undeniable. That was the power of true love.
But Fu Xiaosi wasn’t deterred. His eyes gleamed with determination. He leaned in close, whispering seductively, “Then let me be your man. We won’t tell War God Shao. What do you say?”
Xu Yueyao stared at him in disbelief. What the hell was he saying?
This shameless scoundrel!
Enraged, she turned to leave—only for someone to stick out a foot, tripping her. She lost her balance and tumbled down the stairs, rolling uncontrollably.
Pain seared through her body, but all she could think was: Am I going to die from this fall?
Then another thought came—maybe if she died, she’d wake up back in her cozy little villa.
“Xu Yueyao!”
Fu Xiaosi’s panicked voice rang out. He, along with Shen Yi, Wu Haolin, and Xiao Beichen, rushed after her.
Wu Haolin and Xiao Beichen, recalling their parents’ warnings, felt a surge of fear.
What had they just done?