S International High School, a few hours ago.

Li Caiyi packed her things quickly as soon as the bell signaling the end of the school rang. She wanted to talk with her brother once more before he talked to their father. After bidding goodbye to her friends, she walked out of her classroom.

However, she bumped into a group of unpleasant people when she was in a hurry.

"Where are you going right now? That isn't the way to the gate."

When Li Caiyi was about to go upstairs, the group of Meng Renshu's fans blocked her way with raised chins. They stood several levels higher from where Li Caiyi stood, and they didn't have a friendly expression.

Li Caiyi groaned inwardly as she cursed her bad luck. Out of all times, why did she have to bump into them right now?

"I'm sorry, but I'm in a hurry right now. Can you make way?"

"Not until you tell us what kind of business you have in the third-year's area?" One of the girls replied curtly.

"I bet she is going to flirt with Senior Meng again. Hmph, she was so eager she ran as soon as the bell ended."

The same curly-haired girl from before snorted, hearing her friend's murmuring. She glared at Li Caiyi arrogantly before spatting out, "Come to think of it, we still had unfinished business last time, didn't we? Let's settle this now."

Li Caiyi didn't like where this was going, especially when these girls blocked the way and caused unwanted attention to her from students who passed by.

"I don't have any business with Brother Renshu. I was just trying to search for my big brother. You can follow me if you don't believe me."

"Now you are trying to make Senior Li your shield! Unforgivable!" Another girl, who seemed terribly offended for some reason, lashed out. This group also had her brother's fan among them. Now, this has turned out unnecessarily troublesome.

Li Caiyi sighed in exasperation. She probably should have just waited for her brother on the way home.

"Fine, I won't go up anymore. You guys do as you please." Li Caiyi said and was about to leave, but the curly-haired girl held her back by her hand.

"Where are you going?! Didn't I say we should settle our unfinished conversation now? If you run away now, I'll make sure to bother you in your class every day starting from tomorrow!"

Li Caiyi frowned and snatched her hand back roughly before speaking impatiently. "I don't have an obligation to agree to your unreasonable demand. I have already said I'm in a hurry. If you are bored, find something else to do rather than inconveniencing other people."

"Wow, that coward girl who always cowered whenever our gazes met in the hallway really thinks she turned into a phoenix now that she got Senior Meng's attention. I really can't stand a girl like you!"

"The feeling is mutual. I don't understand why you keep bothering me when I have done nothing wrong to you. If you want his attention so much, ask him to give you attention. Why complain about it to me?"

Li Caiyi's words seemed to have infuriated the curly-haired girl since she stomped her feet angrily with her face reddened from anger.

"How dare you! I don't want to hear that from a lucky bitch like you! Don't get cocky just because you are his childhood friend. If we had known him as long as you, he would never have paid attention to a nobody like you. Don't act like you are some special person to him. It pisses me off!"

She hissed fiercely like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Li Caiyi was surprised by it and unconsciously took a step backward, but doing that only agitated her opponent more.

"Where do you think you are going? Wait there!"

Li Caiyi was creeped out by her frenzied state and did the first thing her instinct told her: run.

"Hey, she is running away! Go after her!"

Li Caiyi really had rotten luck this time. These girls would never leave her alone, even if she tried to ignore them. Their jealousy ran deep, and jealous women were the scariest.

She found the situation very ridiculous. When she got rebirthed, she would never imagine being stuck in the middle of cliche school drama. Her high school days in her previous life went by without anything worth remembering, as she was a replaceable side character. But now, she became the main target of hate because the school prince just happened to take an interest in her, like the story's heroine.

Li Caiyi found it laughable.

She ran in the direction of the back gate and almost lost her breath when she arrived at the area near the storage room. Li Caiyi didn't actually think much about the direction since she only focused on running away, but these girls were more persistent than she thought.

"Can't run anymore?" The curly-haired girl said haughtily, but it was clear that she looked as exhausted, or perhaps more exhausted than Li Caiyi.

"What do you guys want from me, exactly?" Li Caiyi asked warily.

"Stay away from Senior Meng, or we'll turn your school life into a nightmare."

Li Caiyi snorted. "You sure have confidence saying that. I wonder what Brother Renshu would think if he knew about this?"historical

The curly-haired girl snorted. "I knew you would say that. But it doesn't matter. Even if it means we can't admire him anymore, we'll drag a pest like you with us!"

She raised her hand high to slap Li Caiyi, but Li Caiyi caught her hand before she could swing it down. Her opponent was furious because Li Caiyi was trying to fight back, so she called out to her friends.

"What are you doing? Hold her!"

Li Caiyi looked around and found that she was surrounded. She was significantly outnumbered, and after running, her stamina depleted a lot. No need to be a genius to know she was at a disadvantage.

Li Caiyi noticed two people moved close in to her and tried to grab her, so she evaded to the side. But before she could do more, someone had pulled her hair harshly, prompting a painful groan to come out of her mouth.

"Ouch!" Li Caiyi yelped when her ponytail hair was tugged.

"Where are you trying to go, you bitch?! We haven't finished with you! Try to speak arrogantly like you did earlier if you dare!" The curly-haired girl glared fiercely, and Li Caiyi could almost see the blazing fire in her eyes.

But that wasn't important right now because she felt like her scalp would tear apart if this went on. "Let go of me!"

"Girls, hold her and teach her a lesson!"

Li Caiyi couldn't move anywhere, so two girls quickly caught her from each side. They locked her hand so she wouldn't be able to struggle.

The curly-haired girl smirked sinisterly as she caressed Li Caiyi's chin. "Now, no one is coming to save you. You are ours to play today!"

Her opponent raised her hand again, and Li Caiyi shut her eyes tightly, preparing for the incoming attack. However, nothing happened even after a few seconds passed. She could hear some gasps of shock, so she carefully pried her eyes open to check.

In front of her, the curly-haired girl had her handheld back by a familiar person. He had a pretty face, but his eyes shone with a dangerous glint. His lips pressed into a hard line, and it felt like the temperature dropped from how cold his gaze was.

"What is going on here?" Meng Renshu asked in a low voice.