The room was quiet except for the soft sound of oil being rubbed across skin. Feng Xinyue lay face-down on the treatment bed, her robe loose around her waist. Two young men worked steadily, one at her shoulders, the other at her calves.
The door opened. Ke Lian stepped in, head slightly lowered.
"Miss Feng," he said, voice measured. "It's done. They won't talk."
Feng Xinyue didn't open her eyes. "Good." Her tone was flat, leaving no space for doubt. "She can wait. I'll handle her later. For now, I have an appointment with the Qin family."
"Yes." Ke Lian bowed quickly and left without another word.
"Stop."
Her eyes finally opened. "Enough."
The single word was directed at the attendants. Both men froze mid-motion, then stepped back, bowing low before slipping out. The room grew still, the air thick with her presence alone.
On a low table nearby, photographs lay scattered like trophies. Gu Jianhong's arm draped over Jun Meiyu's shoulders, the two sharing ice cream on a quiet street; him placing his jacket over her shoulders in the chill; their faces tilted toward each other in laughter.
Feng Xinyue rose, unhurried, her silk robe sliding over her body like armor. She crossed the floor and stood above the table. Fingers painted in deep crimson lacquer hovered, then plucked one photo free.
The picture showed Jun Meiyu smiling in the sunlight—young, bright, untouched.
Her lips curved, but the smile carried no warmth. She reached for the silver lighter resting beside the photographs, flicked it open, and let flame kiss the edge of the paper.
Orange tongues ate away the image slowly, curling the corners, turning that bright face into ash. Feng Xinyue watched it without blinking, the fire reflected in her eyes.
"She thinks she can take what belongs to me." Her voice was low, cold, edged with steel. "But no one steals from Feng Xinyue. Not her. Not anyone."
The fire ate through the photo until nothing but ash remained. She dropped it into the tray, brushed her hands clean, and sat back on the couch, crossing one leg over the other.
"Jun Meiyu…" she murmured, each syllable drawn like a blade. "I'll strip you of everything—until you learn that what's mine… stays mine."
---
The classroom buzzed with chatter until the door slid open.
"Settle down," a gentle voice carried through.
Teacher Bai stepped inside, dressed neatly as always, his glasses catching the morning light. He wasn't just a good teacher—he was the kind of man girls whispered about between classes.
"Your teacher is on leave for a while," he said, smiling as he set the attendance sheet on the desk. "I'll be in charge until further notice."
A ripple of excitement ran through the room. Several girls straightened in their seats, eyes shining, while the boys let out groans of disappointment.
"Aw, come on, Teacher Bai…" one muttered, "we liked our homeroom teacher better."
The girls shot him sharp glares.
"He's just jealous."
"Don't be rude. Teacher Bai is way better!"
Teacher Bai chuckled, unfazed. "Alright, alright, I'll try not to disappoint. But before we begin…" His smile softened. "We have a new student joining us this semester. Please come in."
The door moved again, and Xi Jiayi stepped inside.
Every head turned. She stood there in her uniform, her gaze sweeping lazily across the room before meeting the teacher's eyes.
"Introduce yourself, please," Teacher Bai encouraged warmly.
"Xi Jiayi," she said simply. Nothing more.
The silence stretched for a beat. Teacher Bai let out a small, awkward laugh, scratching his cheek. "Well… short and clear. Alright then, Miss Xi, you can sit at the back. There's an empty desk by the window."
Xi Jiayi nodded, expression unreadable, and walked down the aisle. Her steps were calm, unhurried, as if the stares bouncing off her didn't exist.
Just then, one boy nudged his seatmate hard, lowering his voice.
"Oi, Shanshan," he whispered, eyes fixed on her, "isn't that the crazy girl from the park?"
Ao Shan lifted his head, still half-asleep, his expression bored—until his gaze landed on her. His eyes sharpened instantly, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.