That afternoon, the dismissal bell had barely rung when the halls of Saint Aurelia Academy filled with the sound of footsteps and laughter.
Felicia calmly closed her locker. Her textbooks were already neatly arranged inside her bag. Beside her, Evelyn was still busy sliding several photocopied pages into a transparent folder.
"You're not hurrying home?" Evelyn asked.
Felicia shook her head. "Dad has a meeting."
"Oh."
Evelyn adjusted her glasses. "I always forget that rich people have working fathers too."
Felicia gave her a flat look. "That's the weirdest thing I've heard all day."
"You haven't heard the conversation the seniors were having earlier."
Felicia let out a soft sigh.
They walked side by side toward the school's main gate. The afternoon sun hung low over Shen Bay, casting a golden glow across the academy's walls. But Felicia's steps gradually slowed.
The Lee family's black sedan was parked in front of the gate. Their family driver, Ji Yan, stood beside the rear door with his usual formal bearing.
But Serena got there first. She had just come out of the main building, laughing with several elite students.
A cream-colored leather bag hung from her arm. Felicia recognized it at a glance because it belonged to her. It had been Felix's birthday gift to her two months ago.
"Serena, your bag is so cute!"
"Yeah."
"It's the latest release, right?"
Serena lowered her head shyly. "Oh, it's nothing special."
"Did you buy it yourself?"
Serena gave a small laugh. "Not exactly." Her deliberately vague answer was enough, and it always ended there.
"Oh my gosh."
"It must've been a gift from Mr. Felix."
"You two are really close."
Serena smiled. She didn't confirm what they were saying, but she didn't deny it either, allowing everyone else to fill the silence with their own assumptions.
Felicia watched from a distance. Back then, she would've assumed Serena had simply forgotten to return the bag. But now she knew the truth. Serena deliberately let people believe it because perception was the most valuable currency of all.
"You're not angry?" Evelyn whispered.
Felicia stared straight ahead. "I am."
"Then?"
"I'm counting."
"Counting what?"
"How far she's willing to go."
As if answering that question, Serena walked toward the Lee family's car. Ji Yan immediately greeted her respectfully.
"Serena."
Felicia's heart pounded. Serena stopped in front of the car. Her gaze briefly fell on Felicia, who was still standing some distance away, and then that gentle smile appeared.
"Mr. Ji Yan," Serena said softly.
"Yes, Serena?"
"I have an extra tutoring session scheduled."
Ji Yan hesitated. "But I was instructed to pick up the eldest daughter, not to pick you up or drive you anywhere."
Serena dipped her head slightly. "Feya's with her friend, right?" Her voice sounded cautious. "Besides... wouldn't it be rude for my friends to see me waiting alone?"
Ji Yan fell silent.
"I need to get home soon, too." Serena gave a small smile. "Dad must be waiting for me."
Dad—a simple word Serena had never corrected anyone for using since the very beginning. She thoroughly enjoyed the effect it created afterward. Ji Yan looked torn, while several students around them began to pay attention.
"Serena's car is so cool."
"That's the Lee family's car, right?"
"So it really is true..."
"Serena really is Mr. Felix's daughter."
Ji Yan let out a quiet sigh. "All right, Serena."
The rear door was opened, and Serena smiled warmly. "Thank you."
With graceful poise, Serena climbed into the limited-edition car—a car that wasn't hers, a status and social life that weren't hers either.
Felicia stood frozen. Beside her, Evelyn slowly removed her glasses. "Fey, can I kill someone?"