EXPULSION.

Hua Rong stood inside the cozy bakery, surrounded by the sweet aroma of freshly baked pastries. Her mother had been working here for the past eight years, becoming an invaluable employee. The shop's owner was kind, treating her mother with the respect she deserved.

Outside, a delivery truck had just arrived, and Hua Rong was busy unloading boxes and stacking them neatly inside the shop.

"You've been really helpful today," said Liu Haofeng, a middle-aged coworker who had started working at the bakery around the same time as Hua Rong's mother. Having watched Hua Rong grow up, he often treated her like his own child.

"Yeah, make sure to give Hua Rong today's treat!" Liu Meiling, the cafeteria head's wife, called out from behind the counter.

"No need for that," Hua Rong replied, brushing off the offer with a small smile. "Just make sure you all finish up and get home early."

Stepping outside, she spotted her mother, Hua Yuxi, checking the last of the supplies to ensure everything had arrived. Her mother's dark, short hair fell just past her neck, slightly wavy, with a few strands of gray showing through. The soft wrinkles on her face hinted at her age, but to Hua Rong, she had never looked stronger.

Without a word, Hua Rong stepped forward and wrapped an arm around her mother's shoulders in a firm side hug. "Mama, I'm going now," she murmured.

Her mother closed her eyes briefly, pressing a gentle hand against Hua Rong's arm. "Make sure to eat before going to school," she reminded her, her voice filled with quiet warmth.

"I will," Hua Rong promised before pulling away.

Dressed in a simple pair of shorts, a t-shirt, and a shrug thrown over it, she made her way home. Their house sat on an elevated area, making the walk a bit challenging uphill, but coming back down always felt refreshing. The night was calm, the streets quiet except for the occasional rustling of leaves in the breeze.

Upon reaching home, she reheated dinner, ate quickly, and then settled down to finish her homework. As she lay in bed, she closed her eyes, hoping that tomorrow would be better than today.

 .....

Hua Rong made her way up to the school terrace, her footsteps light against the polished tiles. The air was still, the dim afternoon sun casting long shadows across the rooftop. The terrace was quiet, save for the faint hum of students preparing for the upcoming event below. A few banners fluttered lazily on their stands, and beyond the railing, the vast city stretched far into the horizon.

She reached the terrace restroom, a small, rarely visited space. The air inside was musty, the faint scent of old paint lingering. Stacked in a corner, she spotted the old banner she was supposed to retrieve. Just as she picked it up, the door creaked behind her. Hua Rong turned to see Shen Yiren stepping in, followed by her ever-present shadows, Lin Yue and Feng Xinyue.

Something was off.

Shen Yiren's lips curled into a smirk as she pushed the door shut, the click of the lock echoing ominously.

"What are you doing?" Hua Rong's voice was calm, but her grip tightened on the banner. She already knew the answer.

"What do you think?" Shen Yiren took a step closer, her gaze glinting with something unreadable.

Hua Rong exhaled sharply. "What do you three want?"

"Nothing much, my dear," Shen Yiren drawled, bending slightly so their eyes met. Then she gave a small, deliberate nod. Lin Yue smirked, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a small, glinting blade.

A sharp wave of panic surged through Hua Rong. She turned, reaching for the door, but Lin Yue and Feng Xinyue were faster. They grabbed her wrists, shoving her back against the wall.

"Let me go!" Hua Rong struggled, but their grip tightened.

Shen Yiren leaned in closer, her breath warm against Hua Rong's cheek. "You still don't get it, do you?" she murmured. "Didn't you realize? I hate you."

Hua Rong's brows furrowed. "What?"

Shen Yiren's eyes darkened with something venomous. "Whenever my parents see you, they say, 'Be more like Hua Rong. Hua Rong is so disciplined. Hua Rong is the perfect student.' It's sickening."

Hua Rong barely had time to process that before she felt the cold press of the blade against the hem of her skirt. Shen Yiren smirked as she started to tear the fabric apart.

Panic ignited into fury.

With a sharp intake of breath, Hua Rong wrenched her leg free and kicked Shen Yiren hard in the stomach. The girl stumbled back, clutching herself with a gasp of pain.

Lin Yue and Feng Xinyue turned in alarm. "Are you okay?" Lin Yue asked, stepping forward, but Shen Yiren's eyes burned with fury.

"Grab her!" she snapped.

Lin Yue and Feng Xinyue twisted Hua Rong's arms behind her back, forcing her face against the cold, rough wall. Shen Yiren approached again, the blade glinting dangerously. "Let's see what's behind your mask," she murmured, pressing the blade against Hua Rong's neck.

No.

The thought rang like a gong in Hua Rong's mind.

No.

She wouldn't let them.

A switch flipped inside her. The fear vanished, replaced by something else. Something cold.

Hua Rong yanked her arms free with a sudden burst of strength, twisting around and slamming Lin Yue's face into the wall. The girl cried out in pain as she crumpled to the ground.

Shen Yiren stumbled back, her confidence faltering for the first time. But Hua Rong didn't stop. She stepped forward, forcing them towards the edge of the terrace.

"W-wait," Shen Yiren stammered, eyes darting to the drop behind her.

Hua Rong didn't wait. She pressed forward, her hands gripping Shen Yiren's collar, forcing her closer to the edge.

"Let go of me!" Shen Yiren shrieked, trying to claw at Hua Rong with the hand still holding the blade. But Hua Rong caught her wrist and twisted it. The blade clattered to the ground.

Lin Yue, dazed but still conscious, saw her chance and lunged forward. Hua Rong, quick as ever, yanked Shen Yiren forward and shoved her straight into Lin Yue. Both girls crashed onto the hard ground.

Shen Yiren barely had time to react before Hua Rong grabbed her again, shoving her face-first against the wall.

"Let go! Let go of me!" Shen Yiren screamed, struggling wildly.

Hua Rong wasn't listening. She grabbed Lin Yue by the wrist and twisted it sharply. A sickening crack followed, and Lin Yue let out a bloodcurdling scream.

Feng Xinyue, who had been half-unconscious from having her head slammed into the wall, suddenly scrambled to the door, flinging it open. A group of students stood outside, eyes wide with horror. One of them immediately dashed off to get a teacher.

The scene they walked into was terrifying. Shen Yiren, Lin Yue, and Feng Xinyue were all in various states of injury—bruised, bleeding, and crying.

Shen Yiren, clutching her face, saw the opportunity. "We were just playing with her, and she did this to us!" she wailed.

Hua Rong turned, breath heaving, still standing over them. Blood dripped down the side of her neck from the shallow cut the blade had made. Her hands were trembling slightly, though whether from anger or adrenaline, she wasn't sure.

Teachers arrived moments later, voices raised in shock.

"Hua Rong!" one of them barked. "What have you done?"

She opened her mouth to explain, but nothing she said would matter. Her hands were unarmed. They were bruised. They were bleeding.

But she was standing.

And they were on the ground.

There was no explanation needed

The sight alone was enough to seal her fate. Rumors spread like wildfire, twisting the truth until eighty percent of the student body demanded one thing: Hua Rong's expulsion -Hua Rong needed to be sent to Blackthorn Academy.

For a crime she never committed.

And just like that, her world crumbled.