After hearing Gu Xizhou’s statement, 0820 fell silent for a moment before responding with extreme composure, “Fine. But that is a childishly naive delusion.”
“When you grow up, you’ll understand just how revolting mediocrity, incompetence, and ordinariness truly are.”
The entire history of ABO society is the oppression of two genders by one. The tolerance shown by the dominant party towards the weak is merely a form of pity.
But this pity, hailed as a “radiance of humanity,” is profoundly unreliable.
Rather than hoping for mercy from the powerful, it is better to forge a strong self.
At least, that was what 0820 thought.
Clearly, Gu Xizhou’s current thinking was diametrically opposed to 0820’s.
Gu Xizhou ignored 0820. When Su Zhiyi finished her self-introduction to thunderous applause, she walked into the classroom.
Her intrusion was like a small pebble thrown into a pot of boiling water—it caused barely a ripple.
Su Zhiyi, standing at the podium, turned her head and glanced at her, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.
Looking over along with Su Zhiyi was the young homeroom teacher, Song Qiao. The elegant Beta woman spotted Gu Xizhou with the delight of finding a missing fish. “Alright, the last student in our class is here too.”
Gu Xizhou halted mid-step, and Song Qiao called her out. “Gu Xizhou, you’re the only one left. Come up and introduce yourself.”
The students below turned their heads in unison to look at Gu Xizhou.
Gu Xizhou immediately clutched her backpack straps. She turned her head instinctively, her eyes darting towards Su Zhiyi in the audience like a young deer lost deep in a forest, filled with panic.
Perhaps it was an illusion, but in that instant, she thought she saw a flicker of complex pity in Su Zhiyi’s eyes.
Su Zhiyi’s lips curved into a smile for her. She said gently, “Come on up, classmate. It’s your turn.”
Gu Xizhou stared at her blankly for a moment before nodding and walking onto the podium.
—
The first day of school didn’t require formal classes, only self-introductions and meeting the teachers. The first lesson for these senior students was: carrying their own textbooks.
Class 17 had 40 students, each averaging over twenty books. Almost everyone needed to haul their textbooks back from the library.
To protect the Omegas, when Song Qiao assigned students to fetch books, she only called on Alphas and Betas. However, because Su Zhiyi had been late that morning, Song Qiao gave her a minor punishment: she had to go to the library with the Alphas.
At half past ten in the morning, the scorching late-summer sun baked the earth without mercy. The area in front of the library bustled with students wearing differently colored ties, carrying books between the academic buildings.
Gu Xizhou emerged from the library holding a towering stack of books, walking towards the teaching building under the blazing sun without much difficulty.
The high stack of textbooks blocked her view. She had to peer out from the side of the pile, carefully watching the path ahead.
As she walked forward in silence, a gentle voice sounded beside her. “That stack is way too high. Can you even carry that?”
The voice struck like a sudden thunderclap in a dark sky, startling Gu Xizhou so badly her heart nearly leaped out of her chest.
Gu Xizhou stumbled, almost falling.
The girl next to her quickly cried out, “Ah… careful…”
A hand reached out from the side and grabbed her firmly.
Gu Xizhou staggered forward a few steps, just managing to steady herself before turning her head to the girl beside her. “Thanks…”
The moment she looked up, Gu Xizhou saw the girl clearly: a delicate face, fair skin, and long, straight hair.
It was none other than Su Zhiyi.
Su Zhiyi held a few books in one hand and clutched the hem of Gu Xizhou’s blazer with the other, smiling with remarkable warmth. “You’re welcome.”
Su Zhiyi released Gu Xizhou’s blazer and reached for the towering stack of books, taking some off the top while muttering softly, “That librarian is really something… knowing you’re an Alpha, they still gave you so many books.”
“Someone as small as you, how could you carry all that?”
Su Zhiyi pulled seven or eight books off the stack before stopping, holding them with both hands. She smiled at the stunned Gu Xizhou. “Okay, classmate, let me share the load.”
Gu Xizhou stared at her eyes, curved like crescent moons, her mind drifting. Does Su Zhiyi smile this much?
But in the dream… even when she smiled, it was shy, restrained, and faint.
Seeing Gu Xizhou’s dazed expression, Su Zhiyi called out with concern, “Classmate… classmate…”
Gu Xizhou snapped back to reality. She looked at the books in Su Zhiyi’s hands, slightly conflicted. “It’s not heavy. I can manage.”
Although she was currently short, after differentiating into an Alpha, her physical strength had improved. Tasks that were once burdensome had become easy.
But Su Zhiyi…
Gu Xizhou hesitated for a moment before saying to Su Zhiyi, “Won’t that be heavy for you? Maybe you should give them back to me.”
Su Zhiyi shook her head, smiling. “It’s fine, I can carry them. Let’s head back.”
She took the lead, walking ahead. Gu Xizhou watched her back, said, “Oh,” and belatedly followed.
Walking one after the other, Gu Xizhou watched the girl’s lithe figure, her straight, long hair, and smelled the pleasant fragrance emanating from her. She couldn’t help thinking: Even though they’re twins, Su Zhiyi and Su Nanfeng don’t seem alike at all.
Speaking of which, what does Su Nanfeng even look like?
After just one summer vacation, she had almost forgotten.
As she was thinking this, a group of aggressive people approached from ahead. The second person from the left spotted Su Zhiyi like a rare treasure and shouted, “Sister Zhiyi!”
Hearing that voice, Gu Xizhou’s entire body stiffened, and she nearly stopped in her tracks.
It was Ding Yi!
If Ding Yi was here, that meant Su Nanfeng was too.
All the blood in Gu Xizhou’s body froze. She looked up numbly towards the source of the voice.
As expected, she saw that nightmare-inducing, cold face. Standing in the crowd with her arms crossed, Su Nanfeng was surrounded by followers like stars around the moon. She cast an arrogant, disdainful glance down at Gu Xizhou.
Gu Xizhou felt like a frog targeted by a venomous snake, completely paralyzed.
A year and a half of bullying was a poison that had seeped into her bones, eroding all her courage and self-esteem, leaving only cowardice and despair.
She stopped, like a cat seized by the throat, unable to make a sound.
Gu Xizhou’s head buzzed, and she couldn’t hear a word they were saying.
Just then, Su Zhiyi took a step towards her, seemingly shielding her. She smiled and said to Su Nanfeng, “Sis…”
Su Nanfeng was also surprised to see her, but with years of estrangement and being in front of her lackeys, she merely grunted “Mm” and asked extremely coldly, “What are you doing here?”
Su Zhiyi chuckled softly. “I got in.”
Su Nanfeng nodded indifferently, then arrogantly raised her chin and ordered Ding Yi and the others, “Go help her with the books.”
Ding Yi, very perceptive, immediately rushed forward with zeal. “Sister Zhiyi, those books are too heavy, let us help you.”
Holding her books, Su Zhiyi shook her head and smiled gently. “No need, we’re almost there. I can carry them up with my classmate.”
Her words were soft, but her gaze was extremely firm. It made Ding Yi’s heart jump, and she could only retreat awkwardly.
After refusing Ding Yi, Su Zhiyi turned her head and called out to the distracted Gu Xizhou. “Xizhou…”
Gu Xizhou looked up, dazed, into those clear, soft eyes. She heard Su Zhiyi say, “Let’s go back to the classroom.”
Gu Xizhou finally came back to her senses, nodded, and left with Su Zhiyi.
But as they brushed past Su Nanfeng’s group, Gu Xizhou felt a chilling gaze land on her back. Like a malevolent ghost, it followed her like a shadow.
At the same time, 0820 shouted in her mind, “See! I told you Su Nanfeng would be here!”
“Even if things change a little, everything else remains the same.”
You will still be trapped under the shadow named Su Nanfeng.
—
Encountering Su Nanfeng again sent Gu Xizhou’s mood plummeting. Fear tormented her stomach; she ate very little at lunch before rushing to the restroom to throw it all up.
In the female Alpha restroom on the third floor of the teaching building, Gu Xizhou pushed open the stall door and stumbled towards the sink. She turned on the faucet and, listening to the rushing water, washed her hands in a daze.
As she washed, she pondered: What if Su Nanfeng comes looking for trouble later?
Should she just hit Su Nanfeng?
But she was so small and weak…
Thinking of this, Gu Xizhou knitted her slender brows, her face paling further.
Generally, Alphas were tall and had superior physiques, but after her differentiation, she had only barely managed to match the height of most Omegas.
This was because during middle school, Su Nanfeng had never given her a chance to eat a proper lunch. Not only was lunch disrupted, but any pocket money she had was also thoroughly extorted.
With irregular meals, the young Gu Xizhou not only lacked proper nutrition but also developed a stomach condition. Whenever her mood soured, her stomach would become unbearably uncomfortable.
But even as weak as she was, she didn’t want to be bullied anymore.
Thinking this, Gu Xizhou clenched her small fists, her eyes gradually filling with determination.
She scooped up a handful of water, splashed it on her face, and rubbed her face vigorously, cheering herself on silently. “You have to work hard, Gu Xizhou!”
Suddenly, a scoff came from the restroom entrance.
Like chalk screeching against a blackboard before snapping, the sharp sound made goosebumps erupt all over Gu Xizhou’s body.
A stress response froze her in place. She dared not turn around.
Su Nanfeng, also with long, straight black hair, walked in clicking her leather shoes. She slowly stepped up behind Gu Xizhou and grabbed her by the collar.
Gu Xizhou shuddered, nearly jumping out of her skin.
Su Nanfeng’s tall figure loomed over her from behind, almost pinning her down. Gripping the back of her neck, Su Nanfeng laughed coldly. “Gu Xizhou, you’ve gotten quite bold.”
“How dare you block me? You really don’t learn from a beating, do you!”
Su Nanfeng reached out, grabbing Gu Xizhou’s chin and forcing her head up.
Gu Xizhou looked up at the vanity mirror above the sink and met a pair of malicious eyes.
In Gu Xizhou’s terrified gaze, the reflection of Su Nanfeng, like a demon, intimately wrapped an arm around her shoulder and squeezed her neck tightly. A deeply wicked smile spread across her face. “Tell me, how should I punish you, Gu Xizhou?”
