The final bell of the day rang through the halls of Wolven High.
Ren was slow to pack her bag. She moved with a deliberate lethargy, shoving books into her backpack without checking if the corners were bent. By the time she slung the bag over one shoulder and walked out of the classroom, the hallways were mostly empty.
Downstairs, the autumn wind was picking up. Two figures were waiting by the school gates.
One was Moyra, Ren's cousin who had previously tried to distance herself. The other was Nan, Moyra's older brother. Nan was a quiet, brooding boy known as the "Ice Prince" of the freshman class.
"Cousin Ren," Moyra called out. Her voice lacked its usual sharpness.
After the incident with the forum post—where the rumors about Ren and the Mayor were scrubbed from the internet by "higher powers"—Moyra looked at Ren with a mixture of fear and awe. She no longer dared to roll her eyes or make snide comments.
Ren nodded at them, her expression unreadable under the brim of her black cap. "Let's go."
They walked together toward the intersection where their paths would diverge. Nan walked silently beside Ren, his presence unobtrusive but protective.
Just as they reached the corner, a deafening roar tore through the quiet street.
*Vroom—!*
It was the aggressive, throaty growl of a modified heavy motorcycle engine. A sleek, electric-blue motorcycle drifted around the corner at a dangerous speed. The rider braked hard, the tires screeching as the bike came to a halt directly in front of Ren, blocking her path.
Moyra gasped and grabbed Nan's arm, pulling him back. Her face went pale.
"It's Wes!" Moyra whispered, trembling.
Wes was a local legend, but not the good kind. He was the "School Tyrant" of the vocational high school next door. Rumor had it his family had deep ties to the city's underground organizations. He got into fights weekly, and no teacher dared to discipline him. To the sheltered students of Wolven High, he was a terrifying figure of chaos.
The rider kicked down the kickstand and pulled off his matte black helmet. He shook out his dyed blue hair, revealing a handsome face with a sharp, aggressive jawline.
He scanned the group of students, ignoring the terrified Moyra and the stoic Nan. His eyes locked onto Ren.
The terror in Moyra's heart peaked. Had Ren offended the triad prince? Was this the end?
Then, the impossible happened.
The terrifying Wes broke into a wide, eager grin. The menace vanished, replaced by the enthusiasm of a loyal golden retriever.
"Sister Ren!" he shouted, his voice full of respect.
Moyra's jaw dropped. *Sister Ren?*
Ren didn't flinch. She stood with one hand in her pocket, looking at the notorious gangster as if he were an annoying puppy. "What do you want?"
"I heard about the forum post," Wes said, his expression darkening instantly. "Some rat was spreading rumors about you? Just give me the word. I'll trace the IP and break the legs of whoever posted it."
"No need," Ren said coolly, stepping around the front wheel of his bike. "It's handled."
"Handled?" Wes blinked, then shrugged. "Alright. Hey, I got my hands on that new Kawasaki modification. It's a beast. Want to take it for a spin tonight? The guys miss you."
"No," Ren said, not breaking her stride. "My hand hurts."
Wes's face immediately filled with concern. He turned the bike around, walking it alongside her, abandoning his cool biker image entirely. "Still hurts? Who did it? You never told me. I swear, if I find out who messed up your hand, I'll—"
"Go away, Wes. You're loud," Ren said, waving him off.
"Fine, fine. I'll bring you some high-grade bone-knitting wine tomorrow! It's from my dad's private stash! Don't refuse it!" Wes yelled after her. He put his helmet back on, revved the engine, and sped off in a cloud of exhaust.
Moyra stared at Ren's retreating back. The image of the terrifying school tyrant bowing and scraping before her cousin burned into her mind. First the Principal, then the Mayor, and now the underground prince?
Ren wasn't just a student. She was the queen of a world Moyra didn't even know existed.
***
While Ren was dismissing local warlords, a different kind of drama was unfolding at the Royal Hotel in the city center.
The Royal Hotel was the pinnacle of luxury in Moon City. Faye stepped out of the Lane family car, clutching her violin case. She wore a tailored white dress that made her look like a delicate lily. Her mother, Vera, walked beside her, looking nervous but proud.
Tonight was a private dinner hosted by Mrs. Fitz, the wife of the Mayor.
Faye knew the stakes. The Violin Association tryouts were next week. Mrs. Fitz was a known patron of the arts and had a direct line to Master Wei, the violin virtuoso Faye desperately wanted to study under. If she could impress the Mayor's wife, her spot in the Association would be guaranteed.
Inside the private VIP room, Mrs. Fitz sat with a few other high-society ladies. They were drinking tea and discussing art auctions.
"I heard Faye is preparing for the Association exams?" Mrs. Fitz asked politely as they entered.
"Yes," Vera beamed, nudging Faye forward. "She has been practicing day and night. She even adapted a piece specifically for the audition. Perhaps you would like to hear a preview?"
"That would be lovely," Mrs. Fitz smiled.
Faye took out her violin. She took a deep breath, composed herself, and began to play.
The piece was technical and demanding. It required fast finger work and precise bowing. Faye executed it perfectly. She had practiced this specific arrangement for months, ever since she heard a recording of a mysterious violinist online—a recording she didn't know actually belonged to Ren.
The music filled the room. The ladies nodded in appreciation. When Faye finished, holding the final note with a dramatic flourish, polite applause broke out.
"Wonderful," Mrs. Fitz said. "Your technique is flawless. You will certainly pass the audition."
Faye curtsied, her heart swelling with pride. "Thank you, Madam."
Mrs. Fitz took a sip of tea, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Though... it's strange. The style of your adaptation... it feels very familiar. It reminds me of someone, but I can't quite place it. It has the structure of Master Wei, but the spirit is... different."
Faye froze for a second. *Different?* She had copied the style meticulously. But she quickly hid her panic. "I have always admired Master Wei. I tried to pay homage to his style."
***
As the dinner wound down, the conversation shifted. Faye sat quietly, but her mind was racing. She couldn't get the image of Ren and the Mayor out of her head. The forum post had been deleted too quickly. The school's reaction had been too fearful.
She needed to know. She needed to expose Ren, or at least confirm that Ren was nothing more than a charity case or a scandal. She needed to see Mrs. Fitz's disgust to feel better about herself.
"Mrs. Fitz," Faye spoke up during a lull in the conversation, her voice innocent and sweet.
"Yes, dear?"
"I... I have a question, but I'm afraid it might be rude," Faye said, lowering her eyes. "It's about my sister, Ren. There are rumors at school that she... well, that she knows Mayor Fitz. Some people were saying nasty things, implying she was bothering him."
Vera stiffened next to her. She tried to signal Faye to stop, but it was too late.
Faye continued, looking up with wide, concerned eyes. "My sister grew up in the countryside and doesn't know the rules of polite society. I'm so worried she might have offended the Mayor. If she has, please tell us, and we will apologize on her behalf."
The room went silent. The other ladies exchanged glances. Bringing up such a personal rumor was a bold move.
Mrs. Fitz set her teacup down slowly. She looked at Faye, then at Vera.
For a moment, her expression was unreadable. Then, to everyone's surprise, she laughed.
It wasn't a mocking laugh. It was a laugh of genuine amusement.
"Oh, you mean Little Ren?" Mrs. Fitz chuckled. "You don't need to worry about her offending him. In fact, it's the other way around."
Faye blinked. "Excuse me?"
"My husband," Mrs. Fitz said with a sigh that sounded more affectionate than annoyed, "has been suffering from headaches lately because of that girl. He keeps trying to invite her to dinner to thank her for something, but she refuses him every time. She says he talks too much."
Faye's smile faltered. "She... refuses him?"
"Yes," Mrs. Fitz continued, clearly enjoying the story. "Last week, he heard she hurt her hand. He was so worried he drove to the school himself to give her some documents and check on her. He came home fuming because she wouldn't get in the car. He spent the whole night pacing the living room, terrified that if anything happened to her hand, he wouldn't be able to explain it to the people in the Capital."
Mrs. Fitz looked at Faye, her eyes twinkling. "So, no, she isn't 'bothering' him. She's practically a little ancestor that he has to coax and pamper. If she's willing to talk to him, he considers it a good day."
Vera dropped her fork. It clattered loudly against the china plate.
Faye sat frozen in her chair, the blood draining from her face.
She had expected Mrs. Fitz to be disgusted. She had expected a confirmation that Ren was a pest.
Instead, she learned that the Mayor—the most powerful man in the city—was practically begging for Ren's attention.
*A little ancestor.*
*He was terrified of her getting hurt.*
*He had to explain to people in the Capital?*
The gap between Faye and Ren suddenly felt like a canyon. Faye had to practice for months just to play a song that might please the Mayor's wife. Ren only had to exist, and the Mayor himself would lose sleep over her well-being.
"I... I see," Faye managed to whisper, her voice hollow. "I didn't know they were so close."
Mrs. Fitz smiled, oblivious to the emotional devastation she had just caused. "Ren is a special child. You should be proud to have a sister like her."
Proud?
Faye gripped her dress under the table.
She didn't feel pride. She felt a cold, consuming darkness spreading through her chest.
Ren had everything Faye wanted, without even trying. And the worst part was, Ren didn't even seem to care.
**[Chapter 53 End]**