Song Mei's sharp words echoed like a slap in the hushed classroom, shocking everyone into silence. Her open disdain for her family—especially Song Ning—was unlike anything they had ever seen from her before. The usually gentle and obedient girl had vanished, replaced by someone fierce, cold, and unapologetically honest.
Song Ning's eyes welled with tears, and the room seemed to sway in sympathy with her sorrow. When Song Feng saw her tear-streaked face, his patience snapped.
"Song Mei! What's wrong with your attitude?" he yelled, his voice rising in fury. "Would it kill you to speak to Song Ning nicely for once? It was her idea that we give you another chance! All she asked was for you to apologize to Grandpa. Then you could return to the Song mansion, but look at you—biting the hand that feeds you."
Song Mei's gaze remained icy. "There's no need for your pity or your care. Didn't you all leave me on my own when I first came to the Song family? Now that I'm finally gone, aren't you relieved? You don't have to pretend anymore, constantly watching to see if I'm scheming against your precious Song Ning. Live peacefully, and leave me out of it. But let me warn you, if you come near me again, I won't guarantee Song Ning's safety. Now get out. You're disturbing my study time."
The silence that followed was deafening. Even Chu Shaojia, Song Mei's closest friend, was speechless. This wasn't the Song Mei she remembered. This version was sharper, stronger—and far more dangerous.
"She used to care so much for Song Feng," a student whispered.
"What's going on? Why is she like this now?"
"I think she's finally fed up. She's been trying for years to be accepted, and they just kept stepping on her."
"That doesn't excuse pushing Song Ning down the stairs," another student muttered.
"But haven't you seen her lately? Her eyes—there's no light left in them."
The classroom buzzed with hushed speculation, only fueling Song Feng's embarrassment. Unable to handle the stares and whispers, he dragged Song Ning from the room, his jaw clenched in frustration.
Finally, peace. Now I can focus on my studies.
"Meimei…" Chu Shaojia leaned closer. "Did you really move out of the Song mansion? Did something happen?"
Song Mei gave her a tired smile. "Don't worry. Everything's fine now."
But news travels fast—especially when the subjects are Song Ning and Song Mei, the infamous twin sisters of Prestige High. Students who had secretly recorded the confrontation uploaded it to the school's media forum. Within hours, it was trending.
"Wait—is this really Song Mei? I remember her looking awful!"
"I saw her too! It must've been bad makeup. She's actually gorgeous."
"If I knew she looked like that, I would've pursued her to the ends of the earth."
"Unpopular opinion: Song Mei is even more beautiful than Song Ning."
"That's going too far. No matter how pretty she is, she's still the girl who pushed our school flower down the stairs."
The online debate exploded. Some defended Song Mei, sympathizing with her pain and rejection. Others tore her down, unwilling to let go of her past mistakes. Still, the unexpected wave of attention didn't go unnoticed.
Students from other classes lingered outside her room, peeking in for a glimpse. Some boys even tried their luck, asking her out. Song Mei declined each one with calm politeness.
"I'm focused on my exams. I won't date anyone until after the college entrance tests," she said, her voice firm but not unkind.
Her classmates were stunned. They all remembered her recent grades. Could she really be serious about turning her life around?
Meanwhile, Song Feng monitored the online storm. Fearful it would upset Song Ning, he warned her not to check the forums and sent her home early, telling her to rest.
But privately, he was troubled. This new side of Song Mei… It didn't sit right with him. That night, he planned to speak with his parents.
Elsewhere, on the school's basketball court, Hao Ran dominated as usual. Cheers from swooning girls echoed around the court. If Song Ning was the school's goddess, Hao Ran was its golden boy.
But today, something was off.
His plays were sluggish, distracted. Though they won the match by a slim margin, his coach frowned.
"Hao Ran, what's wrong with you today? We barely scraped by. If this happens at nationals, we're done."
"Bro, you good?" his best friend, Si Ming, asked. "You've been off all day."
Hao Ran hesitated, then sighed. "Can I ask you something about dating?"
Si Ming grinned. "Finally! Ask away. I'm the dating guru, remember?"
"There's this girl. She used to be… well, unpleasant. But now, she's changed. Her face, her aura—everything. I can't stop thinking about why."
"Wait—are you talking about Song Mei?" Si Ming asked, eyes widening.
"Maybe."
"Bro, no way. She's beautiful, sure. But dangerous. Are you thinking of pursuing her?"
Hao Ran smirked faintly. "No plans. Just curious."
"You better not fall for her, bro. That girl's a walking storm."
Hao Ran didn't answer.
Back in the classroom, Song Mei buried herself in books. Time was ticking, and she had a lot of catching up to do.
"Meimei, stop already! We're going on the class trip soon. Aren't you excited?" Chu Shaojia whined.
"I'm not really excited. I just want to study. If I want to stand on my own two feet, I can't afford distractions. I know what my family thinks of me. They'll kick me out the moment they get bored. That's why I need to work harder than anyone."
Shaojia's heart ached. "Meimei… I'll be here for you. If they don't treat you like family, then I will."
Song Mei smiled faintly. "Thank you."
Shaojia hesitated, then asked softly, "Do you have enough money? Are they still supporting you?"
"They are… but I've taken a part-time job too. Just in case."
The two girls sat quietly, the warmth of their friendship softening the weight of Song Mei's burdens.
Even if the world turned its back on her, at least she had one person who wouldn't.