"Ah, have to go back again?" Bai Yuxuan murmured, seated inside a luxury limited-edition stretch limousine.

Per her father’s demands, she returned to the White Clan residence every weekend. There, she reported her academic progress at Cherry Blossom Academy and assisted with clan business affairs.

Each visit sank her mood. She hated the cold, unwelcoming White Clan home. She hated her perpetually stern-faced father.

"Tsk." Bai Yuxuan clicked her tongue in disgust. Today, she felt more irritable than usual. She hadn’t widened the score gap with second-place Ouyang Qianxue. She worried her father might scold her over it.

Inside the villa, her father was buried in company documents. The moment he saw her, his first words were:

"How did you do on this month’s exams?"

*(Tch. Just as expected. All he cares about is grades.)*

"I’m first place again."

"By how many points did you beat second place?" He capped his pen after finishing a file and looked up.

"T-two points."

"Two points." He set the pen aside. "Yuxuan, how have I taught you?" His face darkened like storm clouds before a tempest. "As the White Clan heir, you must always stay one step ahead."

"And you? Only two points ahead! Is that leading? You’ve let them catch up!" He slammed his palm on the desk.

"But Father, I scored 885. Second place just scored absurdly high—I never expected 883."

"No excuses! Hand me the report card!" He snatched the class score sheet. Cherry Blossom Academy took academics seriously, printing detailed subject scores for every student.

"Hmph. You aced all sciences, but second place outscored you in geography and history! Didn’t I demand first in every subject? Match her scores there, and you’d lead by ten points. Wait—this Ouyang Qianxue..." He studied the sheet, thoughtful. "That name rings a bell. Today, the mayor mentioned his son attends Cherry Blossom. He spoke of her. She’s surpassed you as the academy’s most influential student."

"Not only did she overtake your grades, her influence eclipses yours too. A White Clan heir, outshone in every way? What face do you have reporting back?"

"You’re a disgrace. If I’d had a son, he’d be far stronger than you!"

Bai Yuxuan clenched her fists. Those words—the last she wanted to hear—pierced her heart like a knife.

Back in her room, her emotions refused to settle. For years, she’d strived to avoid hearing that phrase again. She’d achieved near-perfection in everything. She couldn’t recall the last time her father scolded her.

"Damn it, all because of Ouyang Qianxue." She’d held no ill will before. But after the scolding, she realized: if Ouyang Qianxue’s influence grew, her own standing at Cherry Blossom would drop. Even the clan elders might doubt her.

"I can’t let this continue. I must act!" She grabbed her phone and dialed.

"Young Master, you called?" A woman’s voice answered.

"Xiao Liu, investigate Ouyang Qianxue."

"Yes!" The line went dead. Thirty minutes later, it rang again.

"My apologies, Young Master. The only domestic data shows she attends Cherry Blossom Academy like you. We only have basic academic records."

"Her identity was deliberately hidden?"

"Likely. Hiding info under our noses means serious power. Ouyang Qianxue’s backers aren’t to be underestimated. Don’t act rashly."

"Understood. Read her records."

"Ouyang Qianxue, born August 26, 20XX."

"She’s over a year younger? She won’t turn fifteen for two months? Anything else?"

"Nothing."

"What? With this sparse info, she entered Cherry Blossom? They have influence there too!" Bai Yuxuan hung up, frustrated. She left the villa alone, weaving through alleys to a secluded coffee shop.

She loved this place when troubled—quiet, elegant, rarely crowded. Soft classical music played inside. After ordering black coffee, she chose a shadowed corner seat.

"Ouyang Qianxue... what kind of person are you?" She took a small sip. Just then, a flash of gold passed her vision.

"Wha—!" She nearly gasped. The person was Ouyang Qianxue herself—the source of her frustration.

Bai Yuxuan’s seat was dim and shielded by bookshelves. Ouyang Qianxue didn’t notice her, ordering before entering a private room. Moments later, a black-haired girl arrived and knocked on its door.

What happened next shocked Bai Yuxuan. The black-haired girl hugged Ouyang Qianxue tightly. Then both disappeared inside.

Bai Yuxuan scanned the café. She approached a man in a hooded sweatshirt.

"Ten thousand yuan! For that fake designer outfit." She slapped cash on the table.

An hour later, the black-haired girl and Ouyang Qianxue exited the room. The girl glanced back as she left.

After bidding farewell, Ouyang Qianxue headed to pay. Suddenly, she felt a gaze. She followed it—a hooded figure sat in a dark corner, face hidden.

"What a weirdo, wearing a hood indoors." Ouyang Qianxue shrugged it off and left.

Bai Yuxuan removed her hood, staring at a photo on her phone—the black-haired girl.

"Now, Ouyang Qianxue," she whispered with a sinister smile, "how should I deal with you?"