The bell rang for lunch, and the school corridors buzzed with life. Students streamed out in groups, laughter and chatter bouncing off the walls.
Su Ning and Chen Anya walked side by side, heading toward the cafeteria.
"You really finished so quickly…" Anya whispered, worry etched on her face. "Everyone's saying you just submitted an empty paper again. What if—"
Su Ning glanced at her, lips quirking faintly. "Do I look like someone who would do that?"
Anya blinked. For a second, she couldn't answer. There was something about the way Su Ning carried herself now—calm, unshakable, like she already knew the ending of a story others hadn't read.
Before Anya could reply, hurried footsteps echoed behind them.
"Su Ning!"
Both girls turned.
It was Mu Suying.
She was dressed immaculately, as always—designer shoes clicking on the tiles, a silk ribbon tied neatly into her hair. She was the kind of girl who could make even a uniform look like high fashion.
The cafeteria hushed. Students slowed their steps, turning to watch. Mu Suying never chased after anyone, much less someone like Su Ning.
Suying stopped right in front of her, breathing a little faster than usual, but her eyes shone with determination.
"Su Ning," she said, her voice surprisingly soft, "I want to apologize. For before… for everything."
Gasps rippled through the hallway.
"Did I hear that right?"
"Mu Suying? Apologizing?"
"To Su Ning? That poor girl?"
Anya's mouth fell open.
Su Ning, however, remained impassive. Her gaze flicked over Suying once, cold and distant, before she simply turned and continued walking.
But Mu Suying didn't give up. She followed, her voice a little more urgent this time. "I mean it. I was wrong. From now on… I want to stay by your side."
That stunned the crowd even more.
"Stay by her side?"
"What's going on here?"
"Why would Mu Suying…?"
Suying ignored the whispers. She caught up again, lowering her voice just enough for Su Ning to hear. "Please. I'll prove myself to you."
Su Ning didn't stop walking. She didn't even glance at her. But a ghost of a smirk tugged at her lips. So it was her father's doing after all.
They entered the cafeteria. The moment Su Ning stepped inside, the usual noise died down. Her aura—subtle yet commanding—seemed to silence the air.
Mu Suying, undeterred, hurried to the counter. "Three meals," she ordered briskly, her tone clipped and commanding. She paid without blinking, choosing the most expensive set on the menu
She had ordered the most expensive set meal without hesitation—thick-cut steak, imported fruit juice, a plate of sashimi. When the trays arrived, she carefully placed one before Su Ning, another before Anya, and finally settled her own in front of her.
Su Ning sat with her usual calmness, eating slowly and deliberately, her expression unreadable. Beside her, Chen Anya sat stiffly, shoulders tense, clearly uncomfortable. And across from them, Mu Suying sat with a radiant smile, as if she belonged there all along.
Anya hesitated, glancing between Su Ning and the girl she'd always considered untouchable. She whispered nervously, "S-Su Ning… this is too much. I—I can't—"
But Su Ning merely picked up her fork and cut into the steak, her calmness dismissing Anya's worries. "Eat," she said simply.
Anya lowered her head and obeyed, though her hands trembled slightly.
Meanwhile, Mu Suying chattered lightly about trivial things—new makeup lines, funny teachers, the ridiculous hairstyles of some boys in their grade.
Her eyes flickered briefly to Su Ning, who chewed slowly, her elegance effortless. She wasn't flaunting anything—no jewelry except a simple necklace, no luxury bag, no high-end makeup. And yet… her presence was overwhelming.
'They're blind' Mu Suying thought coldly, her smile never faltering as she glanced at every student.
'All of them. Those so-called rich heirs who think they rule this school… they're fools. None of them realize what kind of storm is sitting right here in front of them.'
Around them, whispers grew.
"Why is Mu Suying sitting with Su Ning?"
"Did she hit her head?"
"Or is Su Ning blackmailing her?"
Mu Suying sipped her juice and continued chatting, laughing lightly at her own small jokes, but careful not to push Su Ning too much. Her instincts screamed that one wrong word could destroy her chances.
And Su Ning? She didn't spare her a glance. She ate calmly, speaking only to Anya now and then, her tone warm and reassuring when her friend looked uneasy. It was as if Mu Suying didn't even exist.