Wang Fu Ya lowered her head, biting her lip so hard it turned white. She could feel the weight of every pair of eyes in the classroom pressing down on her. She had always craved everyone's attention, but she had never wanted it to feel like this, humiliating and suffocating.
Her classmates, who once admired her, were now looking at her with expressions of pure disdain. Even Teacher Guan, who usually favoured her, stared at her with a look of profound disappointment.
In a single moment, her carefully crafted reputation had been completely ruined.
'Ruined by this slut...' Wang Fu Ya thought venomously.
She looked up, staring straight at Yu Qi, her hatred for her adopted sister reaching a new, boiling peak.
Yu Qi met her gaze head-on, looking back at her provocatively. A faint, mocking curve appeared at the corner of her lips.
She was no longer the "Kind Yu Qi" of the past who would swallow her grievances in silence. She was a woman reborn, and she would never bend her knee to this manipulative White Lotus ever again.
"Miss Wang Fu Ya, do you admit that you stole Yu Qi's essay and simply wrote your own name on it?" Teacher Guan finally broke the heavy silence, demanding a confirmation.
Wang Fu Ya remained silent, her mind racing. She could not admit to it, as doing so would officially destroy her status as a 'model student' forever. However, she could not deny it either. Yu Qi had provided undeniable proof that the contents belonged to her.
Teacher Guan let out a long, weary sigh. In her eyes, Wang Fu Ya had always been an exemplary student, both in terms of her grades and her attitude. She had never expected a girl like her to stoop to such levels of dishonesty. Yet, the evidence laid out before her was impossible to ignore.
"Miss Wang Fu Ya and Miss Wang Yu Qi, please follow me to the staff room immediately. As for the rest of the class, please continue with your self-study." Teacher Guan gathered the stack of papers and marched out of the classroom.
Yu Qi and Wang Fu Ya followed closely behind. Yu Qi walked with a relaxed, almost leisurely stride, enjoying the cool morning air.
In contrast, Wang Fu Ya walked with her shoulders hunched in anxiety. She stole a glance toward Yu Qi, her heart sinking when she saw that the girl was actually smiling. 'This bitch... she's actually enjoying this!'
Yu Qi caught Wang Fu Ya's look and turned toward her, flashing a cold, icy smile that did not reach her eyes.
The sight left Wang Fu Ya feeling both shocked and paralysed by fear. Looking at Yu Qi's smile made her feel as though someone was holding a sharp knife against the back of her neck. It felt as if she were no longer walking to a teacher's office, but stepping directly into a tiger's den. Finally, they arrived at the staff room.
"The two of you, go and wait in that side room. I will deal with you shortly." Teacher Guan ordered, pointing her finger toward a small, private office.
Yu Qi and Wang Fu Ya entered the room together. A thick, suffocating silence fell between them. Neither was willing to speak first. Yu Qi, showing no signs of stress, sat down lazily on the sofa, making herself comfortable.
"Why are you doing this?" Finally, unable to endure the silence any longer, Wang Fu Ya hissed the question.
"Doing what?" Yu Qi asked, playing dumb with an innocent tilt of her head.
"This whole situation! Why are you doing this to me? My reputation is being completely ruined because of you!" Wang Fu Ya pressed her voice down, trying to keep her fury from being heard outside the door.
"I am simply doing the right thing. If I had not revealed the truth, I would have been the one punished by the teacher for not doing my homework." Yu Qi pointed out, stating the obvious facts with a calm, analytical tone.
"But because of this, my reputation... and besides, I am your sister!" Wang Fu Ya stated, trying to use their family bond as a shield.
"Then, let me ask you something. Have you ever truly thought of me as your sister? Does a 'sister' use her sibling to do her work? Do you care about my reputation? No, you never have. You have spent years dragging my name through the mud. So, tell me... why should I care about yours?" Yu Qi narrowed her eyes, her smile turning razor-sharp.
'That smile again...' Wang Fu Ya shivered involuntarily.
She took a panicked step back, away from Yu Qi. In that moment, she felt a terrifying premonition that the current Yu Qi could leap across the room and kill her without a second thought.
This chapter is edited by Tzin99... Thank you for your help...