Whispers filled the hallways the next morning.
"Did you see Ji Yunxi yesterday? Lin Xinyue's face turned green!""She was supposed to be the fake daughter, yet she crushed Zhao Rui in public. I heard even Mo Liancheng spoke up for her…""No way, the Mo family's young master? He never pays attention to anyone!"
Ji Yunxi walked through the corridors, ignoring the gossip, her expression calm. Each murmur was another dagger in Lin Xinyue's pride, and Ji Yunxi savored the invisible wounds she was leaving behind.
The system's soft chime rang in her mind.[Ding! Side task complete: Publicly defeat Zhao Rui. Reward: 200 points.]
She didn't smile, but her steps grew lighter. Points meant power—and power meant freedom.
Meanwhile, in the corner of the campus, Mo Liancheng leaned against a sleek black car, watching her with unreadable eyes. He had seen countless brilliant people crumble before him, but this girl… this girl made him want to interfere. Protective instinct tugged at him, dangerous and unfamiliar.
That evening, a formal envelope was delivered to her desk. The crest of the Ji family glared from the seal.
Lin Xinyue's lips curled when she saw it. "Sister, don't be nervous. It's only a family banquet. Father must want to properly… acknowledge you."
But Ji Yunxi caught the flicker of malice in her eyes. Her fingers tightened around the envelope, her heart as steady as stone.
So. The Ji family wanted to put her on display.Fine. She would play their game.
She opened the envelope slowly, her eyes sharp as blades.
The banquet would be tomorrow.
And whatever the Ji family planned… she was ready