Under the shade of the roadside trees, Li Sheng's heart skipped a beat.
Could it be… the people in this car?
As soon as the thought crossed her mind, the car window slowly rolled down. On the back seat, the man's flawless profile appeared—sharp, angular, devilishly handsome. His every move was lazy yet indulgent, exuding an unparalleled nobility.
This kind of man… a disaster-level man.
Only the Fifth Lord, Shen Xiu Ci, could look like that.
A glint flashed through Li Sheng's eyes, and the corners of her mouth curved slightly.
"Fifth Lord, what a coincidence."
Shen Xiu Ci turned his head, his gaze landing on Li Sheng's face.
He saw a clear-eyed girl with a perfectly measured smile—polite, proper, neither excessive nor lacking.
But beneath the surface, he could see it for what it was: courtesy without sincerity.
Shen Xiu Ci smiled lazily. "It's not a coincidence. I came to find you. Get in the car."
Without hesitation, Li Sheng opened the door and got in.
She was almost late—who would reject a free ride?
Not far away, Qi Yu saw Li Sheng enter the car. His eyebrows tightened so sharply they could slice metal.
Jiang Chuchu covered her mouth, pretending to be shocked.
"How could Ah Li fall so low! Her father merely restricted her high spending by freezing her card. How could she get into another man's car so easily? And that car looks expensive—maybe he's some wealthy middle-aged man with a family, and Ah Li…"
"The meaning behind it is already clear," Qi Yu snapped, his face turning so dark it could drip water. "Shameless."
He spat out the word through clenched teeth, his disgust for Li Sheng reaching a peak.
Jiang Chuchu lowered her head, a triumphant gleam flashing in her eyes.
This was only the beginning.
At school, even bigger drama awaited.
Inside the Fifth Lord's car, Li Sheng hadn't yet given the address. But Ji Kaicheng, the driver, had already steered toward the school. This was a prestigious institution of Chinese medicine. The original Li Sheng was a first-year student here, and today was a day she had to report.
As for why Shen Xiu Ci knew where she studied, Li Sheng wasn't surprised. With the Shen family's influence, anyone could find out all her details with ease.
The ride was quiet.
When the car stopped, Li Sheng turned and thanked Shen Xiu Ci.
"Thank you for yesterday's gift, and thank you for sending me today."
But before she could withdraw her hand, her wrist was suddenly caught.
Li Sheng looked back and met Shen Xiu Ci's captivating peach blossom eyes. They held unfathomable depths, a cold pool that seeped into her bones. But a second later, the pressure vanished, replaced by a charming smile—gentle, almost spring-like.
"Is that all?"
"What else does Fifth Lord want to hear?" Li Sheng asked calmly, meeting his gaze without losing composure.
Her eyes were clear—his reflection unmistakable in her black and white pupils.
Shen Xiu Ci slowly released her hand.
"You're welcome."
He had come personally to send her.
Even after Li Sheng walked far, she could still feel the burning gaze behind her.
The more she knew Shen Xiu Ci, the more she sensed his mystery and danger. Something felt off. What made him test her personally several times?
Could he… have guessed her true identity?
Either way, she needed to keep her distance.
Li Sheng strode onto campus.
Soon she reached the Chinese Medicine Building. Everything overlapped with the original owner's memories—unchanged, but heavy with shadows. Here, she was isolated, ostracized, singled out.
Her body trembled instinctively, memories imprinted in its bones.
But she steadied herself and kept walking.
On the third floor, a student peeked out the corridor and shouted, "She's coming! Get ready!"
Chaos stirred inside the classroom.
When Li Sheng reached the door, the room fell silent. The door was half-open—inside, countless faces waited to laugh at her embarrassment. If she pushed the door, a bucket of toilet cleaner would spill over her head.
Not today.
Li Sheng curved her lips, lifted her foot, and kicked the door open.
Bang!
The sudden force shifted the trap. The bucket flipped and splashed dirty water all over the classroom.
Screams echoed.
Half the students waiting to mock her were drenched. Several girls stared at the black spots on their clothes, furious, glaring at Li Sheng as she walked in.
She wore a light green waist-cinching dress outlining elegant curves and snow-white skin. She walked with effortless grace—like nobility born, not made.
Even the boys stared, stunned; the girls froze in jealousy.
One girl, trembling with anger, raised her hand and slapped toward Li Sheng.
"Why did you dodge? You got our clothes dirty!"
"How dare you splash us? You're asking for it!"
The old Li Sheng would've endured silently.
Not today.
Li Sheng raised a hand, caught the girl's wrist, and—without changing expression—twisted.
A soft crack followed. The wrist dislocated.
Li Sheng tilted
her head and smiled.
"Oops, I used a little too much force. Let me help fix it—after all, I'm a good person."