The Montclair Elite schoolyard was as luxurious and bustling as ever during recess. Every step exuded class. Pristine white stone benches stretched under rows of fiery-red maple trees in autumn, the chatter and laughter of elite students blending with the low hum of planes passing over the VIP district above.
But this time, all eyes turned to one spot: the corner of the yard where Aurora stood alone, her gaze as indifferent as if nothing in the world concerned her.
No phone in hand, no earphones in her ears , no one dared approach except for one particular group.
---
At the row of stone benches by the fountain, where the F4 usually gathered.
Zane (glancing at Aurora while popping open a soda can):
"She really is something else. Still sitting alone, still not looking at anyone, and still making the entire school spin around her silence."
Easton:
"I thought girls like that were cold because they were insecure. But looking at her… it's more like she's sizing up the whole school."
Blacke:
"Did you see her eyes? Like she knows every dirty secret of the students here. I hate that sharp, silent type."
Knox (resting his feet on the stone table, smirking):
"And I find her… interesting. Very interesting."
This girl didn't need to show off. Just by walking in, she could make the rich heiresses tremble, afraid of being outshone.
Zane:
"Hey, you know what I just heard? Xiao-Yu told me… Aurora turned down a dinner invitation at the Montrose Hotel from Yulong , the eldest son of the man who owns that 6-star resort chain all over Asia."
Easton:
"She turned down Yulong? You mean the guy the entire student council tiptoes around?"
Knox:
"Which makes it obvious… she doesn't care about the whole 'noble student' power game."
(tilts his head toward Aurora in the distance)
"I'm going to try again , F4 style."
---
Where Aurora was sitting, Blacke and Knox began to approach, while a group of heiresses passing by shot her calculating looks.
Xiao-Yu:
"Well, this is interesting , someone who can turn down Yulong and still dare to sit with the F4."
"Think being pretty makes you special? Skirt that short , trying to seduce someone? Or did your parents never teach you how to dress?"
Aurora (looking up, green eyes icy cold, speaking slowly):
"Oh? I didn't know you had a license for language, yet here you are speeding straight into a crash. Careful , talk too fast and you might slam right into your own insecurity."
The courtyard erupted again. Xiao-Yu was speechless. A few nearby boys gave small claps.
Knox (arms crossed, stepping forward as Xiao-Yu left):
"You know, comebacks like that usually only happen in dramas. But here you are, doing it for real."
Aurora:
"That's because I'm not an actress."
Blacke (sitting down opposite her):
"Do you know who you're sitting with?"
"We're the kind of people who can get your name into the special protection system and the Ministry of Education's files with one phone call."
Aurora (locking eyes with him):
"And I'm the kind of person who can make that same protection system wonder why it's storing the names of people as unscary as you."
Knox (chuckling, looking at Blacke):
"I like this girl."
(to Aurora)
"You into bars? Or pool? We've got a VIP table at Lucien Club."
Aurora:
"No. I'm not interested in meaningless noise."
Blacke:
"How about motorcycles? We ride up to Montclair peak, drink wine, and talk philosophy."
Aurora (calmly):
"I'll join if you can prove you're worth having a philosophical conversation with. If not, please don't bother me again."
The F4 returned to their stone bench, each of them feeling like Aurora had just dumped a bucket of ice water on their heads.
Easton:
"Well?"
"Was it a success?"
Knox (smiling strangely):
"She's not like anyone else."
Zane:
"Not like anyone as in… she doesn't look at you?"
Blacke:
"Doesn't respect you?"
Knox:
"Doesn't need you."
They all laughed, but their eyes stayed on Aurora, who sat by the classroom window, utterly unconcerned with the attention.
From the far side of the yard, three young men from the American exchange group , sons of Hollywood tycoons , strode over, eyes locked on Aurora.
Liam (platinum blond, angelic smile, hunter's gaze):
"Well, well… this must be the new girl everyone's talking about, huh?"
Jayden (long hair tied half-up, artistic face):
"For real? Legs longer than my ex's. Wonder if her hair smells nice."
Marcus (tallest, blazer unbuttoned, wearing sunglasses on a cloudy day):
"Bet you I'll be the first to win her over."
They closed in, long strides consuming the space. Aurora stood by the koi pond, watching the red fish swirl, not bothering to look up.
Jayden reached her first, brushing a loose strand of hair off her shoulder.
Jayden (smiling, half-flirty):
"Sorry, but your hair was blocking the sunlight."
Aurora tilted her head slightly, her icy blue-green gaze landing on his hand.
Aurora (calm, clear):
"You just touched something that doesn't belong to you."
Liam (laughing):
"You're too tense. We just wanted to get to know you. No need to be so serious."
Aurora (still looking at Jayden):
"There's a line between getting to know someone and harassment. You just crossed it."
Gasps rippled through the crowd; phones came out to record. F4 watched from the second-floor balcony.
Knox (arms crossed, smirking):
"Those trash idiots again. Bet Aurora will wipe the floor with them."
Easton (shaking his head, sneering):
"I hate it when people touch someone's hair. Gross."
Zane (leaning on the railing):
"But you've got to admit… this girl's no pushover."
Blacke (narrowing his eyes):
"The way she talks , she's the type who'll never let anyone control her."
Down below, Marcus stepped forward, hand out as if inviting her to dance, aiming to brush the back of her hand.
Marcus (winking):
"Come on, chill a little. If you want, we've got a VIP room at Velvet Rouge tonight. Plenty of drinks and music."
Aurora (stepping back, voice still even):
"I don't drink with people who don't know how to behave."
A sharp female voice rang out from a group of Shanghai heiresses nearby.
Min Qian (straight black hair, chin lifted):
"Oh, thought you were some fairy, but you're just playing hard to get for attention."
Li Xia (red lipstick, brand-new Chanel dress):
"And putting on that moral act. Playing the cold queen? Please. There's no shortage of pretty girls here, darling."
Aurora turned, eyes resting on each of their faces.
Aurora (smirking):
"Beauty isn't power , especially when it's used to attack others out of insecurity."
Min Qian (startled):
"You…!"
Aurora (cutting her off, smiling):
"If I make you this insecure, thanks for confirming it."
The crowd exploded into chatter; girls who were usually bullied by the heiresses clapped loudly.
On the balcony, F4 laughed.
Zane:
"Shut them right up. I'm falling for her."
Easton:
"I want her to kick the Americans' asses too."
Knox (glancing at Blacke):
"What? Mr. Poker Face here can't take his eyes off her?"
Blacke (calmly):
"…Haven't met anyone this interesting in a long time."
Aurora, after stirring the whole courtyard, simply turned and walked away, her skirt swaying lightly in the autumn breeze , lonely but radiant as a queen.
No need for more words; everyone in Montclair Elite knew one thing , the game had only just begun.
She walked straight-backed without looking back. But no matter how quick her steps, she couldn't shake off the four long shadows trailing her.
Liam (panting):
"Hey, you called us 'tails'… but I think we'd make a great pair, don't you think?"
Aurora glanced back for half a second, then turned away again:
"You like being tails that much? Then I suggest… try being mouse tails. Perfect size, perfect rank."
Marcus laughed at his friend getting roasted, but still managed to catch up, walking beside her and reaching for her braid.
Marcus:
"Seriously though , what's your name? Never met anyone whose hair is this silky and… aloof."
Aurora stopped, turned lightly, and with one look made Liam yank his hand back like it burned.
"My hair isn't for hands unwashed with respect. Learn basic manners before you touch anyone."
Jayden (raising his brows, lifting his phone):
"You think we're scared? This attitude is cute. Let me put it on my story, yeah?"
Aurora smirked, stepped closer, looked straight into the camera , her lips curving like a smile, but her words sharp as a blade:
"Go ahead and record. But don't blame me when that story gets you kicked out of your mansion."
Jayden: "What "
"Because you'll be sued for filming a female student without consent. And maybe… I'll send the link to your mother. Her name's Elaine Foster, right?"
The group froze. Jayden, Liam, and Marcus looked at each other in shock.
Jayden (stammering):
"How… how do you know my mother's name?!"
Aurora walked away, tone flat:
"Easy. The Foster family's list of scandals is longer than your list of ex-girlfriends. Honestly, maybe even your mother's afraid of me."
The Hollywood heirs immediately began drifting apart.
Liam (to Marcus):
"Told you… she's not normal."
"Not 'she' Ms.," Liam corrected, with unexpected respect.
But Jayden still snarled:
"I don't believe any girl in this school can ignore us like that. I'll make her look back at me."
Aurora had just stepped into the glass-vaulted hallway when the sound of leather shoes echoed behind her , not one, but all of them in a row, like some international parade.
Without stopping, she called over her shoulder:
"Alright. If you want to be tails, then commit to it. But please , don't make noise. I want peace."
Liam (whispering):
"Is this… a challenge?"
Jayden (nodding):
"You're right. This is how she picks a boyfriend: the silence challenge!"
Aurora could hear the faint scuffling behind her. She sighed, truly annoyed this time. She stopped, turned, and looked straight at the four of them:
"You have two options one keep following me, and I'll have the discipline office put you on the behavior watchlist. Two turn around, keep your dignity, and next time try introducing yourselves without acting like a pack of hyenas."
The courtyard exploded again. Students dropped their snacks just to watch Aurora roast the rich kids.
From the special Class 12A window above, Blacke was still watching.
Zane (laughing hysterically):
"No one's ever called them 'a pack of hyenas' before."
Knox (stroking his chin):
"She's not just sharp… she knows how to take out the trash."
Easton (legs crossed):
"When the lioness enters the jungle… the other beasts better back off. I'm starting to really like this girl."
Blacke stayed silent, but his eyes gleamed. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Aurora walked away and this time, no one dared follow.
The schoolyard was silent, like the calm before an earthquake.
But in many hearts… the quake had already begun.