"Do you even realize what you’ve done? You rotten bitch!"

The girl snarled at Mu Yue Ran, her frustration boiling over. She’d been *this close* to watching Ji Yueyi’s father’s hope shatter—she’d craved seeing Ji Yueyi scolded by her own dad. But now? Ruined!

She opened her mouth to scream again—

*Whoosh!*

A thick-soled shoe slashed through the air toward her face. The girl shrieked in terror and squeezed her eyes shut. But Mu Yue Ran’s hand clamped her jaw, twisting the heavily made-up face, forcing her to look up.

Mu Yue Ran planted one slender leg on either side of the girl’s head, looming over her. No anger flickered in her eyes—only weary resignation. She let out a faint sigh, her gaze reflecting the girl’s trembling fear.

"Can’t you just behave? Stop buzzing around like a damn fly."

Mu Yue Ran had thought Ji Yueyi’s crisis ended when Wu Fan "turned over a new leaf." She’d planned to step back quietly.

But the System warned her: *This isn’t over. The girls who started the rumors at school—the ones who tried to force Ji Yueyi to drop out—they’re still out there.*

【*Jealousy between girls can be terrifying.*】

That single line jolted Mu Yue Ran. Though she’d told Ji Yueyi she wouldn’t interfere, she’d trailed her silently, guarding her every step to stop these little punks from causing trouble.

Mu Yue Ran shook her head, snatched the girl’s phone from her pocket. When the girl lunged to grab it back, Mu Yue Ran stomped down—pinning the girl’s wrist against the radiator—and unlocked the screen with her fingerprint.

The photos showed Ji Yueyi at a bar table, coerced into sitting there. The photographer had skillfully captured her flushed cheeks, the hazy, intimate angle.

"Not bad… kinda hot," Mu Yue Ran muttered under her breath.

【*Hey! Focus!*】 the System snapped in her mind.

"I know, I know."

She deleted every photo—Ji Yueyi at the bar, even shots with Wu Fan—wiping them clean. Still uneasy, she leaned down, shaking the phone threateningly. "So. You’ve been plotting this all along?"

"So what?!" the girl spat back, reckless now. Her hair hung wild, eyes bulging, face twisted in a snarl that made Mu Yue Ran almost wince.

"Why does that country bumpkin get to be so pretty?! Why’s her hair so silky when I spend a fortune on conditioners?!"

"I work so hard! Wake up an hour early every day just to look good! She just sits there reading some stupid book—and everyone *adores* her!"

"Is that fair?! IS IT?!"

*Yelling so loud…*

Mu Yue Ran tilted her head, dodging the spray of spit. She rubbed her ear—the screeching was giving her a headache. *Pathetic. Ji Yueyi would never act like this.*

Mu Yue Ran didn’t bother arguing. Obsessing over looks while neglecting your soul? No wonder she’d ended up like this—a mess.

*Sigh. Sometimes, cutting yourself some slack makes life easier.*

"Cat got your tongue? Hah! Nothing to say?" The girl sneered.

*Smack!*

Mu Yue Ran’s palm cracked across her cheek. The sting left the girl frozen, stunned.

"I don’t owe you explanations. People like you? Not worth my time."

Mu Yue Ran tapped her temple, absorbing data from the System. Her voice turned icy. "Huang Yiyi, right?"

Hearing her name, Huang Yiyi’s eyes widened in terror.

"Your dad works at the steel mill. Your mom’s a corporate executive. Comfortable life. You live at…"

"Your first boyfriend was…"

"Lost your virginity at fifteen, on your birthday, to…"

Mu Yue Ran recited every detail—Huang Yiyi’s entire history: how many partners she’d had, their real identities, even her preferred positions. Some names were ones *Huang Yiyi* had never known.

"STOP IT!!" Huang Yiyi shrieked, hugging herself, curling into a ball like a bullied child. Mu Yue Ran straightened up, bored, cracking her knuckles. "Not yet. I haven’t mentioned your dad’s mistress—"

"I SAID STOP!!" This time, the scream was pure fear—a raw wound ripped open again and again.

Her tough act crumbled. She was just a scared girl now.

"I… I’m sorry. I’ll apologize to Ji Yueyi."

"Don’t bother. Just stay out of her sight."

"O-okay! I promise! As long as you—"

Mu Yue Ran patted her head, finally smiling—soft, almost kind. "Don’t worry. Your secrets are safe… if you behave."

"And that goes for *all* of you."

Mu Yue Ran turned. Huang Yiyi’s cronies had crept to the bathroom doorway but hadn’t dared intervene. Now, under Mu Yue Ran’s gaze, they flinched. One collapsed onto her knees.

"I don’t care about your tragic backstories or your ‘issues.’ But if you ever want your dirty little secrets to stay secret? Keep your heads down and your mouths shut."

Mu Yue Ran walked to the sink, turned on the tap, and let water rinse her palms. She watched their reflections in the mirror. "Don’t project your poison onto others. Consider this our last meeting."

She dried her hands with a paper towel, tossed it into the bin, and strode out.

Huang Yiyi and her friends stood frozen. The moment clarity hit, they frantically deleted every trace of Ji Yueyi from their phones. Everyone had secrets. They had no idea what Mu Yue Ran knew—but just as they’d planned to destroy Ji Yueyi, now *they* faced the same threat. They wouldn’t risk it.

Outside, Mu Yue Ran finally exhaled. *Damn that Wu Fan. Even after turning gay, he still causes trouble.*

"...Though," she mused, flexing her fingers, "hitting girls? Kinda thrilling."

In her past life as a guy, she’d never laid a hand on a woman—too embarrassing. But now? As a girl? No guilt. Not even when using the women’s restroom.

Lost in the satisfying memory of that slap, she stepped out of the bathroom—and nearly collided with Ji Yueyi, who’d been anxiously peering inside.