"So… you're aware of your situation," Headmaster Jian said with that ever-irritating smile that made Hua Rong want to set the whole academy on fire.
Yes, she was aware. Painfully aware.
How could she not be?
The biggest mistake she made last night—aside from being very publicly drunk and semi-scaling a wall like a criminal on the run—was forgetting to turn off that cursed school-issued watch. Not only did it allow her points to drop into the void after her time limit passed, but worse, it had a location tracker.
Yes. A tracker.
It helpfully broadcasted her drunken adventure to the school's system like it was the season finale of a drama.
Still, Hua Rong managed to smile back at the Headmaster, tight-lipped and calm, like a model student who hadn't just destroyed her entire academic standing.
He wasn't impressed.
"Well?" she said, trying to stall. Trying to find words. Or maybe just hoping the floor would swallow her whole.
"Well," he echoed dryly, raising an eyebrow. "I made the mistake," she admitted at last.
"How obedient of you to accept your fault," he said, leaning back in his chair with a smirk that screamed trap.
And then he dropped it—like a bomb casually tossed across a battlefield.
"Now, let's talk about your punishment."
Punishment? Wait, punishment?! Hua Rong's eyes widened. She'd already suffered. Weren't the minus three thousand points, a hangover, and public embarrassment enough?
"Seems like you're not quite enjoying your time as a disciplined student in this academy," he said, voice soaked in sarcasm. "That's probably why you committed such a grand violation."
Ugh. What does this man know? Probably never climbed a wall or drank bad convenience store wine in his life.
Without another word, he reached into his drawer and slid a paper across the desk. "From now on, you're the prefect of this academy."
…What.
What?!
WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL?!
Hua Rong stared at the paper like it was crawling with bugs. Prefect? Of these chaotic, testosterone-fueled boys?! Had he lost his mind? She could barely perfect herself!
"I will not!" she declared, sliding the paper back like it was cursed.
"No one is asking for your permission," he replied with a satisfied grin. "This way, you'll have to report to me every day—with data—and I can keep a nice little eye on you."
Brilliant. Just brilliant. Now he wanted to babysit her like she was a lab rat.
Seething, Hua Rong snatched the paper and stormed toward the door, frustration simmering like soup left on high heat.
"Hua Rong!" he called just as she reached for the handle. She turned, barely keeping her expression neutral.
"How did you even enter the academy last night? The guards said they didn't see you."
Oh no.
He really expected her to answer that?
She gave him her best fake-smile—the kind that screamed 'you don't pay me enough for this'—and turned on her heel.
"Hey! I said answer!" he yelled behind her.
But Hua Rong didn't stop
Headmaster Jian huffed as he dialed Jiayi's number, barely waiting for her to pick up before launching into his grievances.
"What happened now?" Jiayi asked, clearly exhausted before the conversation even began.
"Why do these students not respect me at all?" Jian cried out like a man on the brink of an emotional breakdown.
There was a pause.
Then, she hung up.
Jian stared at his phone, blinking.
"She cut the call again..." he muttered, devastated. "No one fears me in this school."
.....
Hua Rong slumped over the cafeteria table in the dormitory, her forehead pressed dramatically to the surface like the world had just betrayed her.
And in a way… it had.
Her tray sat untouched beside her, and her fingers curled loosely around the form Headmaster Jian had handed her—the one that screamed Congratulations, You're the New Prefect! In bold, mocking letters.
"Drink some water?" Lin Zeyan passed by casually, holding out a bottle like he was offering a miracle cure.
"No," she snapped, barely lifting her head. "It's not going to help. Water can't wash this humiliation away."
He raised a brow and kept walking.
Then came Bai Xinchen, all sunshine and misplaced optimism, plopping into the seat beside her. "Don't worry, Hua Rong, we're with you!" he said cheerfully, giving her an enthusiastic pat on the back—one that nearly knocked her into her tray.
She groaned. "Do you really think they'll listen to me? These boys? Please. Never. The last time I became a prefect, it was at an all-girls school, and even then, I had to deal with bullies, drama, and a girl who thought glitter bombs were an acceptable way to protest curfew."
She looked up, eyes dark with frustration. "But at least they were girls. This? This is a reform school full of delinquents with zero respect for authority—especially my authority."
Bai Xinchen blinked. "Well… yeah. That's fair."
Lin Zeyan, who had made the mistake of sitting nearby, suddenly leaned back and crossed his arms. "But don't you want to leave this place? You said you wanted to be out before your mom comes back. If you pull this off, you get five thousand points. Per day. That's a golden ticket out of here."
Hua Rong blinked.
Oh.
Right.
Breaking free from this place.
The golden word echoed in her head like a sacred chant.
Out of here. Before Mom shows up.
She sat up straighter, her eyes focusing on the form in front of her like it had just transformed into a sacred scroll.
"So this is what they call destiny," she muttered dramatically, grabbing the pen like it was a sword and she was marching into battle. "Fine. I accept my fate."
"We'll protect you!" Bai Xinchen declared, puffing out his chest like he was volunteering for war.
"Don't include me," Lin Zeyan said immediately, side-eyeing him.
"What?" Bai Xinchen turned. "Will you not support her?"
Lin Zeyan looked caught, his ears turning slightly pink. "I—I will. Of course I will. Why wouldn't I? I'm her… friend."
Hua Rong raised an eyebrow but said nothing. She didn't have to. Lin Zeyan was already regretting his words.
With a small, tired smile, she finally signed the form.
"There. If I die, bury me with this paper so I can haunt Jian in the afterlife."
"Deal," Bai Xinchen said with a salute."You're all insane," Lin Zeyan muttered—but didn't leave.
And maybe, just maybe, that was what made it feel a little less impossible.
Just as Hua Rong clicked the pen shut, her signature still fresh and slightly crooked from her dramatic flair, a loud, piercing voice echoed through the dormitory speakers:
"All students report to the main hall immediately. Repeat: all students appear in the hall!"
The intercom crackled off with an ominous buzz.
The cafeteria fell into a hush. Trays clattered. Conversations died mid-sentence. Even the vending machine, which had just whirred to life, seemed to pause in suspense.
"Oh great," Hua Rong muttered, standing up slowly. "Now what?"
"Maybe it's a welcome speech," Bai Xinchen offered with a hopeful grin."Or maybe someone set the gym curtains on fire again," Lin Zeyan muttered, standing as well. "Second time this month, honestly."
Hua Rong stuffed the form in her pocket like she was concealing a top-secret mission.
As they made their way out of the cafeteria with the tide of students, Bai Xinchen leaned in and whispered, "If this is some public announcement about your new prefect status, try not to faint in front of everyone."
"If they announce it, I'm jumping out the nearest window," she replied, completely deadpan.
Lin Zeyan raised a brow. "Again?"
"Windows are the only way to escape fate, Zeyan. You'll understand when you're the prefect."
"I'd rather mop floors for eternity."
"Same thing," she sighed.
They stepped into the hallway, swept along by the crowd, all of them headed toward the main hall, where, if Hua Rong's gut feeling was right, chaos (and probably Headmaster Jian's smug grin) was waiting with open arms.