Lunchtime.
At the Montclair Elite University cafeteria, the most luxurious and spacious in Asia, light shines through the tall glass frames, shining on the sparkling marble floor. Groups of students wearing the school's custom-designed uniforms are sitting and chatting, eating, but today, no one is really focused on the meal.
Because Aurora, the mysterious girl with deep green eyes like a fairy tale forest, is sitting alone at a table next to the window, where you can see the thick fog covering the ancient pine forest in the distance.
She rests her chin on her hand, her slender hands tapping lightly on the ebony table, her eyes quietly looking out the window, as if waiting... or simply hiding from the hustle and bustle of this world.
Her long, wavy black hair falls like water waves to her shoulders, reflecting the sunlight, making each strand of hair look metallic. Every breath of Aurora - like a peaceful symphony between nature and people.
"Hey… She's… sitting alone again."
"Why does she always choose that table? It's too cold…"
"Did you see? The chef… the chef is personally bringing out the food!!"
The entire dining hall erupted in whispers as the school's legendary Italian chef, Chef Andretti, in a pure white uniform, personally brought out a portion of traditional tomato-sauce spaghetti – a dish that was usually reserved for high-level events.
He gently placed the plate on Aurora's table and bowed slightly.
"Miss Aurora, I personally prepared today's dish. I hope the taste will please you."
Aurora only nodded slightly, her eyes never leaving the misty scene, holding her fork in her hand and elegantly began to eat.
Chef Andretti took three steps back, a ritual reserved for heads of state, before turning back to the kitchen.
The entire hall was stunned.
"What?! Is she really a princess?"
"Could it be the president's secret daughter?"
"Who is she? Why is she being treated like this?!"
At the center of the table, the four most powerful men in Montclair, could not hide their confusion.
Blacke Caelum Virell, with smoky gray eyes, frowned:
"Chef Andretti has never served anyone like that. Not even the principal."
Knox Delacroix crossed his legs indifferently, his golden hair shining under the light.
"A girl who has the power to make the whole dining room hold their breath… I'm really starting to get curious."
Easton Ryu coldly looked at the screen in his smart glasses, but he could not analyze Aurora's profile, her name was not in any of the data.
Zane Hargrave, with a rare black jade gaze, rested his chin on his hand:
"A creature that does not belong here… Interesting."
At that moment, a group of young ladies from Shanghai walked in, the scent of luxurious perfume filled the air, their dresses were as colorful as if they were going to a ball. Leading the way was Xiao-Yu, followed by Zhao Feiyan, Min Qian, Li Xia, Chen Yuling, and Tiffany Wei, names that made the whole school feel in awe.
Xiao-Yu walked over, her voice coquettish:
"Aurora, right? I heard you transferred here from the ancient art academy in Europe? Why… did you choose to sit alone like that? Don't you feel… out of place?"
Aurora continued eating, not raising her head. After a while, she put down her fork, wiped her mouth with a silk handkerchief, and said softly:
"Out of place? No… Actually, I think butterflies are also out of place when they fly among flies."
The words made the whole dining hall speechless.
The group of young ladies felt like they had been slapped in the face. Xiao-Yu's face was red, speechless. Behind her, F4 burst out laughing, but it was a smile of amusement.
Suddenly, sparrows and white doves flew to the window, bowing to Aurora, a scene never seen before in Montclair.
Aurora smiled slightly. The only smile since the beginning of the meal.
And whispers exploded throughout the dining hall:
"Is she… the king of nature?"
"Birds… bowing? Is this a fantasy movie?"
When Aurora stood up and approached the window, the flock of birds bowed again. At that moment, three young masters from the American academy walked in, their charisma not inferior to F4.
Liam, platinum blonde hair, angelic smile but sharp eyes like knives.
Jayden, a romantic artist with long hair tied in half.
Marcus, tall, wearing a blazer and sunglasses despite the gloomy weather.
Liam smiled lightly, stepping forward:
"Hello mysterious beauty. I am Liam. It seems that today is the first time I have seen someone who makes the flock of birds so obedient."
Aurora didn't reply. Liam bowed his head slightly, as if testing to see what could move that gaze.
At that moment…
A powerful flapping sound rang out.
Eric, the president of the Montclair Athletic Association, walked in with a white eagle spread its wings on his shoulder. That bird was a symbol of strength and pride, and had never let anyone touch it except Eric.
However…
When Aurora quietly reached out her hand, the white eagle spread its wings and landed on her arm.
Although the scratch on her hand was so small that it was just a thin red line, surprisingly… no blood flowed.
She only let out a soft breath, her green eyes flashing with a cold and gentle light:
"You should return to your master. I do not want to take away the loyalty you have chosen."
Her voice was soft, but strangely… each word seemed to echo in the minds of everyone present.
The white eagle quietly spread its wings, flapped its wings, and returned to perch on the shoulder of Eric, the sports president, who had just entered.
The entire school seemed to freeze for a few seconds.
Zane Hargrave leaned over slightly, whispering into Easton's ear:
"She commanded the eagle with… her mind?"
Easton Ryu pushed his glasses up slightly:
"No, not a command. It's a connection. Like an ancient instinct."
Knox Delacroix crossed his arms, frowned, his eyes as sharp as a blade staring at Aurora:
"Who is she, really?"
Blake Caelum Virell was still leaning against the pillar near the window, his lips half-curved:
"A queen doesn't need a throne. Just looking at the way she breathes is enough to make the world stop."
Aurora had already stood up from the table. She folded her napkin neatly, placing it next to the empty plate. She walked closer to the floor-to-ceiling glass window, where the rays of sunlight penetrated the mist, covering her shoulders with a halo of light.
A flock of brown sparrows and a few white doves flew in from the pine forest, covering the windowsill.
They all bowed their heads.
The entire dining hall was in an uproar.
"What the hell is this…"
"Is she a witch? A saint?"
"She's… the king of beasts?"
"No way…"
From another angle, Xiao-Yu grabbed the hem of Chanel's skirt:
"She's just showing off. Those birds must have been trained…"
Tiffany Wei pouted:
"Maybe they were hired with money. As for this connection of nature, what nonsense."
Aurora turned around, her eyes sweeping over the six Chinese young ladies like a cold blade of ice.
"If your imagination stops at renting birds, then it's a pity for the brains that are fed with caviar and precious ginseng."
One sentence. Short. Light. Straight to the ego.
Xiao-Yu clenched his fist:
"You…!"
But Aurora had already turned away. Still the long, slightly curly black hair, sparkling in the sunlight like a stream of gold.
At this moment, Liam with his shiny platinum hair, took the first step, smiling like the summer sunlight:
"The first time I saw an eagle bow its head, and it was to a girl."
Aurora glanced over. No response.
Jayden, half-up, wearing a hand-painted, colorful shirt:
"You have very… cinematic eyes. I'm an amateur director. If you allow me, I want to make a documentary about you."
Marcus, tall, blazer open, eyes still hidden behind sunglasses:
"I didn't expect Montclair to have such a treasure."
Aurora looked at the three of them, her head tilted slightly, her voice ringing like silver bells:
"Thank you, but I am not a work of art to be displayed."
The three were surprised.
No harsh refusal, nor a smile. Just silence… like the calm wind in a storm.
Eric, who had come forward at this time, put his hand on Aurora's shoulder:
"I have never seen Snow, my eagle, act like this. She doesn't trust anyone but me."
Aurora nodded slightly:
"She doesn't trust me. It's just… she saw me."
Eric frowned:
"What kind of person are you? A psychic? Or… a descendant of some race?"
Aurora chuckled, her lips as red as a rose in the early morning:
"That question… let the wind take it away."
Eric laughed, leaning slightly:
"Can I have your Montclair ID? Or any account to contact?"
Aurora turned away, gently stroking the black hair behind her ear:
"If there is fate, a bird will bring a letter to you."
From afar, F4 observed the whole thing.
Blake chuckled, his eyes flashing with sharpness:
"Even Eric was rejected… This is the first time I've seen someone who makes us all… keep an eye on her."
Knox tilted his head:
"She doesn't play on the same floor as anyone in this school. The question is… which floor is she on?"
Easton pondered:
"We need to know her background. Not to put her down, but to understand."
Zane licked his lips, his eyes like a predator:
"I don't know… but I'm sure of one thing."
The three turned to look at Zane.
"Aurora Luneva didn't come to become a part of Montclair. She came to… make Montclair a part of her legend."
Aurora just shook her head slightly, stepping back, her hair fluttering in the wind:
"Communicating with nature is easier than communicating with me."
F4 in the distance had stood up, Blacke's eyes deeper than ever:
"I don't know if Montclair is big enough for that girl… but I know for sure, we've never seen anyone like her."
The bell for the afternoon class rang. The Humanities lecture hall hallway gradually became bustling. Aurora walked slowly, her high boots making a steady "clack-clack" sound, her hand holding an old dark leather book, Plato, "Republic".
"Let me guess…" – a soft male voice sounded behind her. "Plato, the chapter 'The Cave Metaphor', right?"
Aurora didn't turn around, only tilting her head just enough to glance at the speaker: Knox Delacroix. He was still walking beside her, his smile curving up as if he was sure of his answer.
"So what?" Aurora's voice was soft but sharp.
Zane Hargrave lazily stuffed his hands into his coat pockets and walked over from the intersection of the corridors: "Then it proves that we understand you, or at least… are trying."
Easton Ryu put on his blazer loosely, leaned his shoulder against the pillar, and raised his eyebrows at Aurora: "You promised us. On Sunday, go to the top of Baifeng with the F4."
Blacke Caelum Virell leisurely walked over from the end of the corridor, his smoky gray eyes stopping at Aurora's green eyes, and slowly said:
"We keep our word. What about you?"
Aurora stopped right at the last step of the stairs. She turned around, her black hair flowing like waves with the movement.
"Climbing…" she replied. "I don't like noise. It's just that I think… nature doesn't judge people."
Knox chuckled softly: "So you like nature more than people?"
She looked at him, her deep blue eyes seemed to read his mind:
"Better than people trying to label each other all day."
Zane frowned, then smacked his lips: "Okay. Sunday. 7am. The motorbike will be waiting at the Aurora Villa, don't let us climb the mountain alone."
Aurora looked at the four people, cold but determined:
"I won't break my promise."
Easton smiled lightly. "Oh… by the way…" He held up his phone "Give me your contact number and personal account. Save me the trouble of sending an owl letter."
Aurora smiled sarcastically, a rare sight. "It's better to put your trust in an owl letter than to give your number to you guys."
Blacke suddenly tilted his head, his gray eyes flashing with interest:
"There seems to be some kind of connection between you and nature. Almost… in tune."
Aurora paused, softly replying:
"Nature doesn't need me to understand. I don't need it to agree."
The second bell rang, pulling everyone into the Philosophy class.
The large lecture hall had a semicircular structure, high ceiling, and a hologram projection board displaying the Montclair Elite University logo. The students began to settle into their seats.
The lecturer was Professor Emeric Valmont, a French-Italian, nearly 60 years old but still had an aristocratic demeanor. He pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, walked to the podium, and said in a deep voice:
"Good afternoon. Today, we will start with an open question:
'Is belief in reality a choice or a constraint?' Who wants to start?"
Without thinking, Blacke Virell raised his hand:
"The belief in reality is binding because we can only interpret the world through what we have learned and experienced. Choice is just an illusion created by society to make people feel free."
Valmont nodded, but Knox immediately spoke up:
"But it is also a choice because people have the ability to reflect. We can reject reality if we have enough will."
The lecturer laughed, "Interesting… who else?"
Easton raised his hand:
"If reality is a system, then the one who understands how it works is the one who is free. As Plato said, the person who steps out of the cave will see the light, but will he want to go back?"
Valmont: "Good! A connection between Plato and the power of knowledge."
Zane lazily spoke from the back of the class:
"As for me, whether or not we believe in reality is not important. What is important is whether reality believes in us."
The whole class burst into laughter, the lecturer also smiled: "Hargrave, this is the first time you answered in such a… poetic way."
Zane winked: "I must have been sunburned."
Valmont looked at Aurora, who had been silent all along.
"And you? Aurora, right? What do you think about reality?"
Aurora looked up, her green eyes filled with the whole forest, and answered concisely:
"Reality is a double-edged sword. Those who do not believe in it… will be swallowed by it."
The whole class was silent. Valmont pondered, then nodded with interest.
The class continued with heated philosophical debates, all F4 members took the right to answer, even "questioning back" the professor, making the class bustling and shocking even the new international students.
Aurora remained calm. But the eyes of F4 were gradually shifting away from the theories of Plato, Descartes or Kant… and towards her. As if between her and this world, there really existed another philosophy that was both strange and attractive.
End of class
Knox nudged Aurora's shoulder as the group left the classroom:
" Sunday, 7am. Baifeng Mountain. You promised."
Aurora did not look at him, just softly said "Yes."
Easton reminded again: "And the contact number too…"
Aurora sighed, took out a hologram card from her pocket, scanned it into Easton's device, and automatically saved it to all four devices.
"Just for climbing."
Zane narrowed his eyes: "First time a girl gave us her number as a warning…"
Blacke concluded:
"But she's Aurora. So, exceptions are required."