The morning sun slanted through the towering glass windows of Starlight Academy's main hall, turning the marble floors into a blinding mirror. Lin Wei adjusted the strap of her worn backpack, ignoring the way heads turned as she walked in. New transfer student. Scholarship kid. Poor. The whispers followed her like smoke.
She kept her chin up. She'd dealt with worse than gossip back in her old neighborhood. At least here the air smelled like money instead of exhaust fumes.
The orientation assembly was already underway. Rows of perfectly uniformed students sat in neat lines, ties straight, hair glossy. Lin Wei slipped into the back row, hoping to blend in. No such luck.
"Next up, our new scholarship recipient from District 7—Lin Wei. Please come forward for your welcome badge."
The principal's voice boomed over the speakers. Every eye swiveled to her.
She stood, smoothing her slightly wrinkled uniform skirt, and walked down the aisle. The stares felt like needles. She reached the stage, accepted the stupid shiny pin with a polite nod, and turned to leave.
That's when she saw him.
Huo Yan.
Even seated in the front row reserved for the elite class, he stood out like a storm cloud in a clear sky. Tall, broad-shouldered, black hair falling just so over sharp eyes. His uniform was tailored—obviously custom—tie loosened in that careless, "I own this place" way. He wasn't looking at the stage. He was looking at his phone, bored.
Until he glanced up.
Their eyes met for half a second. His gaze was cold, assessing, like she was a bug that had wandered into his territory. Then he looked away, dismissing her entirely.
Lin Wei felt heat rise in her cheeks—not embarrassment, but something sharper. Annoyance.
She stepped off the stage and headed back to her seat. But as she passed the front rows, a low voice cut through the murmurs.
"Scholarship girl."
She stopped.
Huo Yan hadn't moved. He still lounged in his chair, one arm draped over the back, but now he was looking directly at her. The corner of his mouth curled in something that wasn't quite a smile.
"Wrong row," he said, voice lazy but carrying. "This section is for actual students. Not charity cases."
A ripple of laughter spread through the nearby seats. Meng Jiao—perfect hair, perfect makeup, perfect everything—covered her mouth with manicured fingers, eyes glittering with delight.
Lin Wei turned slowly. Her heart hammered, but her face stayed calm.
"Funny," she said, loud enough for the people around to hear. "I thought this was a school, not a country club. Or do they let heirs play principal now?"
The laughter died instantly.
Huo Yan's eyes narrowed. He sat up straighter, phone forgotten.
"You have a mouth on you," he said, tone dangerously soft.
"And you have an ego the size of your daddy's company," Lin Wei shot back. "Lucky for you, neither impresses me."
Gasps. Actual gasps. From the crowd.
Meng Jiao's smile froze. Chen Rui, sitting a few seats over, raised an eyebrow, looking amused.
Huo Yan stared at her for a long beat. Then he laughed—short, cold, without humor.
"Interesting," he murmured. "Very interesting."
He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, locking eyes with her.
"Enjoy your little moment, scholarship girl. Because from now on? You're on my radar."
Lin Wei met his gaze without flinching.
"Good," she said. "I love a challenge."
She turned on her heel and walked back to the rear seats, ignoring the buzz that erupted behind her. Her hands were shaking slightly as she sat down, but she clenched them into fists.
Xia Qing, the bubbly girl who'd waved at her earlier during registration, leaned over immediately.
"Are you insane?" she whispered, eyes wide. "That's Huo Yan. Huo Group heir. School prince. The guy who can make your life hell with one text."
Lin Wei exhaled slowly.
"Then let him try," she muttered.
Up front, Huo Yan watched her retreating back, expression unreadable. His fingers tapped once on the armrest.
The assembly continued, but the air felt charged now. Electric.
And in that moment, neither of them knew it yet—but the war had just begun.