BLACKTHORN ACADEMY.

Hua Rong sat in the Blackthorn Academy cafeteria, absently stirring the lukewarm tea in her cup. The bitter aroma filled the air, mixing with the low hum of students chatting in the distance. It had been weeks since her transfer, but the weight of everything that led her here still clung to her like a shadow.

Staying in Dihua High School during those last few months had been nothing short of a nightmare. One mistake, and suddenly, years of hard work and a spotless reputation meant nothing. The whispers, the stares, the way students looked at her as if she had committed some unspeakable crime—it had all become unbearable.

"Fake." That was the word they threw at her the most.

What did they mean by that? Had someone spread rumors? If so, the answer was obvious—Shen Yiren.

The memory of her last day at Dihua resurfaced. Feng Xue had been crying, clutching onto her sleeve with trembling hands.

"Rong!" Feng Xue had sobbed, her voice thick with guilt. "I'm sorry... I couldn't do anything to help you."

Hua Rong had placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "There's nothing to apologize for, Xue. This isn't your fault."

Bai Qinyue had stood beside them, silent at first, before suddenly stepping forward and embracing Hua Rong tightly. "I'll visit you every week. Don't worry, you won't be alone."

Hua Rong sighed, her chest tightening with a mix of gratitude and unease. "Is that even allowed?"

"Yeah, it is," Bai Qinyue had assured her, stepping back. "And I'll come with her."

That part had surprised her. Why would Bai Qinyue want to visit? She wasn't particularly close to Hua Rong before this. But at that moment, she hadn't had the energy to question it.

Then came the suffocating part—Feng Xue tightening her hold like she never wanted to let go.

"Xue! Let go of me!" Hua Rong gasped, prying herself free.

Before she left, a few juniors had come to see her off. Unlike the others, they don't believe Shen Yiren's lies. They admired her, not just for being a top student but for the strength she had shown. "A student who can fight and still be number one? That's so cool!" one of them had said. But Hua Rong had wondered—was it really a good thing?

In the end, thanks to her reputation, she had convinced the teachers to keep her transfer a secret from her mother.

Hua Yuxi, her mother, had been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—her bakery, Cake Cove, had been selected to showcase its work abroad. She and her team had already left, and they wouldn't be back for at least a year. By then, Hua Rong would have graduated.

She exhaled slowly, the steam from her tea rising into the air.

Now, here she was.

In Blackthorn Academy.

A place for delinquents, misfits, and those society had already given up on.

Hua Rong's grip on her cup tightened.

"What's the point of being virtuous when one mistake is all it takes for everything to crumble?"

The thought was bitter, but she swallowed it down, just like the now-cold tea in her hands

Surprisingly, Blackthorn Academy wasn't as bad as Hua Rong had expected.

The place was strict, yes, but it was far from chaotic. Everything followed a set routine—organized, efficient, and well-maintained. CCTV cameras were installed everywhere, keeping the students' behavior in check. But the most intriguing thing was the watch strapped to her wrist. It tracked every movement, monitored activities, and awarded points for good behavior.

Hua Rong still wasn't sure what those points were for, but she had a feeling they held some significance.

As she pondered, her eyes landed on a familiar figure. Lin Zeyan.

She waved at him, feeling a small sense of relief. At least she had made one friend. Well, if she could even call him that. From the very first day, Lin Zeyan had shown an unusual interest in her. Unlike the other students, who were too caught up in their own pride to approach her, he had no such reservations.

"You!" He pointed at her, his dark brown eyes brimming with curiosity.

"How did you end up here?"

Hua Rong studied him for a moment. Tall, slim, with sharp features and an almost perpetual smirk—Lin Zeyan looked like the kind of person who enjoyed meddling in other people's business.

At first, she considered brushing him off. But after holding everything in for the past four days, the words spilled out before she could stop them. She told him everything.

When she finished, Lin Zeyan let out an amused laugh, shaking his head.

"I still can't believe they sent you here for that!" he said, grinning.

Hua Rong knew exactly what he meant. Compared to the other students in this academy—many of whom had done far worse—her so-called mistake seemed trivial. But in the end, who cared?

Making a friend here, even if it was someone like Lin Zeyan, had proven to be unexpectedly useful.

Hua Rong's gaze drifted across the academy grounds. Blackthorn Academy was home to exactly one hundred and fifty students—the lowest number in the past ten years. The school's structure was also quite unique.

There were three buildings, each with three floors:

The middle building served as the school itself, where classes were held.The left building was the student dormitory. The right building housed massive auditoriums, each dedicated to different extracurricular activities.

Despite being reform students, they were still connected to their original schools academically. Many students here were skilled in sports like football and basketball, while others were musicians and dancers. Each auditorium catered to a specific discipline, providing proper space for practice.

But the most exciting part?

The three buildings were connected by glass bridges.

Crossing them, especially at night, felt like walking through a suspended pathway in the sky. The lights of the academy reflected on the glass panels, creating an almost surreal atmosphere. It was the one part of the academy Hua Rong genuinely found fascinating.

Maybe, just maybe, Blackthorn Academy wasn't going to be as unbearable as she had first thought.

"Look, she's smirking."

A voice from a group of boys cut through the air, drawing unwanted attention toward Hua Rong.

Her smile vanished instantly. Seriously? Were they so bored that they had nothing better to do than comment on her expressions? If anything, they were even more annoying than the girls at her old school.

Choosing to ignore them, Hua Rong stood up and made her way toward the dormitory.

Her room was on the second floor, one of many identical doors lining the long, well-lit corridor. Each dorm was meant for two students, but since her assigned roommate hadn't arrived yet, she had the entire space to herself. She didn't mind. Having a room of her own was actually a luxury in a place like this.

She glanced at the nameplate on the door—a standard white plaque with two names engraved in black letters.

Hua Rong. Xu Lingwei.

She paused.

Xu Lingwei...?

The name tugged at something in her memory. It felt oddly familiar, yet she couldn't quite place where she had heard it before.

Instead of dwelling on it, she shrugged off the thought and stepped inside. The room was minimalistic but comfortable. Two beds, two study desks, two wardrobes—everything was neatly arranged, untouched. The empty bed across from hers served as a reminder that sooner or later, her roommate would arrive.

For now, though, she had the space all to herself.

Hua Rong spent the rest of the evening just as she had for the past few days—quietly blending into the routine of a 'virtuous' student. Attending classes, keeping her head down, earning discipline points, and staying out of unnecessary trouble.

But later that night, as she lay in bed staring at the ceiling, the name resurfaced in her mind.

Xu Lingwei...

Why did it sound so familiar?

A strange sense of unease crept up her spine. Who exactly was this person?

Hua Rong could only wonder how her soon-to-be roommate would turn out.