Chapter 17 Whispers In The Dark

Despite Leng Qingxue and Leng Qiuhan's efforts to remain unnoticed, the whispers surrounding them only grew louder.

It wasn't just their perfect scores that drew attention—it was how effortlessly they had achieved them. Their indifference toward praise, their calm demeanor in the face of jealousy, and their complete disinterest in the opinions of others made them an enigma.

And nothing fascinated—or unsettled—people more than the unknown.

The moment Qingxue and Qiuhan stepped into the classroom, they could feel the change.

The usual chatter died down as heads turned toward them. Some gazes held admiration, others curiosity, and a few—resentment. But the twins paid no mind. They walked to their seats as if the world around them didn't exist.

Leng Ruolan, sitting at the front, clenched her hands under her desk.

She had spent the entire weekend preparing, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike back. If she couldn't beat them in academics, she would use what she excelled at—manipulation.

As soon as the morning lessons ended, Ruolan acted.

She walked over to the twins' desk, her eyes shining with the perfect blend of hesitation and vulnerability. "Xue Xue, Qiuhan," she said sweetly, her voice loud enough for others to hear. "I wanted to apologize for last time."

A few students perked up, listening in.

Qingxue didn't react, simply taking a sip of water. Qiuhan didn't even look at her.

Ruolan bit the inside of her cheek before continuing, "I realized I was being too competitive. We're family, after all." She lowered her head slightly, her tone soft. "Can we be friends again?"

A few students exchanged glances.

"She's so kind."

"Yeah, she's always been the friendliest one."

"I hope the twins don't ignore her…"

Ruolan waited, her expression perfectly crafted to appear sincere. If the twins accepted, she could slowly weave herself back into their circle. If they rejected her—she would become the victim. Either way, she would win.

But Qingxue only tilted her head slightly, silver-blue eyes gazing at Ruolan as if peering straight through her act.

Then she spoke.

"I don't recall us ever being friends."

The classroom fell into stunned silence.

Ruolan's smile stiffened. "Xue Xue, I—"

Qiuhan, who had been silent until now, lazily propped his chin on his hand. "You should work on your acting skills," he murmured. "They're getting boring."

Ruolan's face paled.

The whispers started immediately.

"What does that mean?"

"Is she faking it?"

"Did she try to trick them?"

Ruolan bit her lip, forcing tears to well up in her eyes. "I… I just wanted to fix things," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I didn't mean to upset you…"

Some students looked sympathetic, but others hesitated. For the first time, doubt lingered in their minds.

Was Leng Ruolan really the sweet, kind girl she pretended to be?

And if not… what else had she been pretending?

As Ruolan stood there, struggling to keep up her façade, Qingxue calmly picked up her book and turned the page.

The game had only just begun.