The halls of the academy buzzed with hushed murmurs as the students caught sight of the newest addition to their ranks. Tall, composed, and exuding an air of refined confidence, Leng Yiran walked through the corridors like a specter from the past. His features carried the distinct sharpness of the Leng bloodline—midnight-black hair, piercing dark eyes that held a quiet storm beneath their surface. He wore his return like a carefully tailored suit, slipping back into their world as if he had never left.
Yet, Qingxue knew better.
She sat in the VIP section of the academy's grand atrium, legs crossed elegantly, her silver-blue eyes cool as she observed from above. Next to her, Qiuhan leaned against the marble railing, silent. Their presence alone was enough to draw attention, but today, the real spectacle was playing out below them.
Leng Yiran moved with purpose, his every step deliberate. He greeted old acquaintances with a polite nod, ignored the curious stares, and, most importantly, walked as if he belonged. But the thing about ghosts was—they didn't truly belong anywhere.
Ruolan, standing amidst her usual circle of admirers, wore an unreadable expression. Qingxue caught the flicker of something in her cousin's eyes—surprise? Annoyance? Or something deeper? It was clear that even she hadn't fully anticipated Leng Yiran's return.
The question remained: who had given him the stage?
Leng Yiran finally lifted his gaze, meeting Qingxue's across the vast space between them. He smiled. Not an arrogant smirk, not an expression of challenge—just a smile. It was almost too casual, too familiar.
A statement.
He had returned, and he was watching them just as they were watching him.
Qiuhan's lips curled slightly, but there was no warmth in the gesture. "How long do you think he'll keep up the act?"
Qingxue tilted her head slightly, her gaze thoughtful. "That depends."
"On?"
"Whether he came back as a fox—" Qingxue's smile was sharp. "—or a wolf."
Because in this game, foxes could be outwitted.
But a wolf?
A wolf had to be put down.