---
Yiran didn’t show up to school the next day.
Interesting.
One little whisper about her tutor and she vanishes?
I didn’t even leak the proof yet.
I sipped my iced Americano in the corner of the courtyard, pretending to read while my ears picked up the whispers.
“She’s sick?”
“No way, she’s embarrassed.”
“I heard her boyfriend dumped her too.”
“She had a boyfriend?”
Exactly. Let the rumor mill work for me.
The best revenge? A little truth wrapped in a lot of public curiosity.
---
Later, I walked past the school’s café where most of the elite students hung out. And guess who I saw?
Li Zeyan.
Alone. Headphones in. Sketchbook open.
The original Shen Zhi would’ve melted on the spot.
I didn’t.
But I did pause, just for a second. He had drawn a city skyline, abstract but emotional. A rawness in it I didn’t expect.
He looked up. We locked eyes.
I smiled.
He didn’t.
Classic.
I walked away without a word.
---
Back at my locker, I found a note folded into the vent.
Neat handwriting.
> “You think you’re smart, but you're playing with fire. You’ll get burned, Shen Zhi.”
Cute.
I pocketed it without flinching.
Then added another task to my revenge notebook:
> 5. Find out who thinks they’re shadowy enough to threaten me anonymously. Burn them first.
---
In PE, I was paired with Li Zeyan. Bad luck? No. A gift.
He tossed the volleyball like I was invisible.
I caught it easily.
“Planning to ignore me the whole time?” I asked.
He raised an eyebrow. “I don’t talk during gym.”
“Too bad,” I said, smirking. “That’s when I’m at my most charming.”
For a split second, his lips twitched like he might smile.
But then he turned away. “Not interested.”
Oh, honey.
We’ll see.
---
That night, another message came from the unknown number.
Unknown:
> “I saw what you did to Yiran. That was bold.”
Me:
> “Bold is my new brand. Got a problem?”
Unknown:
> “No. I liked it. You’re dangerous.”
I stared at the screen.
Who was this?
A stalker?
A frenemy?
Or... someone playing a long game?
I typed slowly:
Me:
> “Then keep watching. The show’s just starting.”
🌪️ Chapter 4: Bruises Fade, Enemies Multiply
---
Three days later, Yiran came back.
Not with tears—but with lipstick.
Blood red.
Interesting choice for someone who’s drowning.
She walked into the classroom like she owned it. Sat down beside me.
“You think you’ve won?” she whispered.
I looked at her lip color and said, “I think red suits you. Matches your lies.”
“You think people like you can rise?” she hissed.
I smiled. “You’re right. I don’t rise. I conquer.”
---
In the middle of math class, someone threw a folded note at me.
Another warning?
Nope.
This one said:
> “Cute comeback at lunch. You’re funnier when you’re dangerous. – LZ”
Wait.
LZ?
Li. Zeyan.
My head snapped toward him.
He wasn’t even looking my way.
Just sketching again.
I looked down at the drawing.
A girl.
Standing in flames.
Her eyes were mine.
---
At lunch, Yiran approached Li Zeyan, trying to cling to his sleeve like a bad perfume.
“Zeyan~ let’s sit together like old times?”
He pulled away.
“I don’t sit with liars.”
She froze.
He stood, tray in hand, and turned toward my table—then paused.
No way.
No freaking way.
He walked past me, sat two tables away, and pulled out his sketchbook.
I didn’t smile.
But inside?
I won a little victory dance.
---
That evening, my stepsister called me.
The original Shen Zhi would’ve answered with fear.
I answered on speaker.
“You’re embarrassing the family,” she snapped.
“Good,” I said, kicking off my shoes. “You should be used to it. You did it for years.”
“You’re acting like a brat.”
“Funny, I learned it from you.”
Click.
Honestly, hanging up on toxic people? Therapeutic.
---
I looked at myself in the mirror.
Lip gloss. Bruise fading. Smile forming.
Not bad.
Not done either.
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