"Lila… you really think you can avoid me?" Derek sneered, stepping closer.
Lila raised an eyebrow, her calm composure unwavering. "Derek… you've made your arrogance very clear," she said softly.
Derek smirked and tried to intimidate her further. "Arrogance? I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget."
Before he could act further, Lila's hand shot out, slapping him sharply across the face. Derek stumbled back, his face flushed with shock and rage.
"You—" he started, raising his hand to strike her.
But Lila reacted instantly, delivering a precise kick that sent him flying several meters back. Derek crashed into a pillar, groaning in pain.
Gritting his teeth, he struggled to stand, his eyes blazing with fury. "You… won't get away with this, Lila! I'll make you pay!" he threatened, his voice trembling with anger.
Lila adjusted her outfit, her gaze icy. "I'll be waiting," she said calmly, and turned to leave, her demeanor cold and unbothered, leaving Derek seething in the middle of the hall.
Meanwhile, Mo Ying, the daughter of a nouveau riche Mo family, eager to flatter Serena, trailed behind her.
"Miss Goon, you are truly radiant tonight! Your elegance… I wish I could be as graceful as you!"
Serena waved her off with a small laugh, shaking her head.
"You exaggerate. Come on, I'll drop you off later."
After dropping Mo Ying at her home, Serena drove Lila back to the Liang Mansion. Once home, Lila took a long bath to wash away the day's stress. Feeling exhausted, she lay down on her bed and fell asleep almost immediately, her body finally at ease.
Back at the Chen household, Mr. Chen had arranged a surprise for Lila in celebration of her top scores.
Lila's eyes widened as she saw a gleaming red Ferrari parked in the driveway.
Her face lit up with joy.
"Father… it's beautiful!" she exclaimed, hugging him lightly.
Vivian, watching from the side, burned with intense jealousy. She clenched her fists, her mind already plotting how she could take everything from Lila when the time came.
Mrs. Chen, equally displeased, smiled pretentiously, hiding her true frustration. Mischief sparkled in her eyes as she silently plotted her schemes.
With the school on holiday, Wang Bo's punishment for mocking Lila was postponed. She would have to publicly apologize to Lila during the school assembly and read a self-criticism when the final senior class resumed.
Wang Bo seethed at having no choice but to comply.
During this time, a student uploaded footage of Lila receiving her scholarship award. Everyone who saw it, including the Weibo community, was shocked.
The footage spread like wildfire.
Online reactions exploded:
@ExamExposer:
"Vivian Chen sabotaged Lila's exams. She's nothing but a green tea manipulator!"
@JinlingTruthSeeker:
"It's hilarious how Vivian parades herself as the eldest and only daughter of the Chen family. Everyone Lila is the eldest! They are sisters, yet she acts as if she owns the Chen family name!"
@ScholarshipReveal:
"And let's not forget Vivian stole Lila's fiancé, Derek Wang—what a scumbag scheme."
@TopStudentWatch:
"Derek Wang, how could you support Vivian and hurt Lila? Pathetic!"
@ExamRankingKing:
"Derek Wang is a scumbag!"
@LilaFanArmy:
"Lila Chen, the true queen of Jinling Imperial Academy! Beauty and brains!"
@TopScoreQueen:
"Vivian acts like a white lotus, but she's actually a green tea bitch."
@ScholarLegend:
"Lila's scholarship speech was powerful. She deserves every bit of her success."
Because of the scandal, Vivian's followers dropped drastically, while Lila's followers surged past 950,000, gaining support from students and netizens across the country.
Meanwhile, at the Li family estate, patriarch Li Zhongyuan spoke with his long-time butler, Old Fu Shi.
"That Lila Chen… she is remarkable. Ethan has truly found someone exceptional," he said warmly.
Smiling, he picked up the phone and called Ethan.
"Ethan, my boy! Congratulations on your good eye. Bring my granddaughter-in-law home this weekend and accompany me for dinner."
Ethan was momentarily stunned.
"Grandfather… you called Lila my granddaughter-in-law?"
"Yes, of course," Li Zhongyuan replied happily. "Bring her with you. We shall have a proper family dinner."
Ethan agreed, and they hung up. He then informed Lila, who happily accepted the invitation.
After hanging up, Li Zhongyuan nodded contentedly and instructed Old Fu Shi to assist him to his room, which the loyal butler promptly did.
That weekend, Lila and Ethan arrived at the Li ancestral home.
The grand estate was quiet yet majestic, filled with an aura of history and prestige. As soon as Li Zhongyuan saw them enter, his face brightened with genuine happiness.
"Lila, come, come!" the old man called warmly.
The dining table had already been prepared with exquisite dishes personally arranged by the Li family chefs.
During dinner, Li Zhongyuan insisted that Lila sit beside him.
"Eat more," he said kindly, placing food on her plate. "A young girl studying so hard must take care of her health."
Lila smiled politely.
"Thank you, Grandpa Li."
Ethan watched the interaction quietly, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.
The old man chatted happily throughout the meal, clearly enjoying Lila's company.
"You must come visit me often," Li Zhongyuan said after dinner. "This little brat Ethan rarely comes to accompany this old man."
Lila laughed softly.
"Of course, Grandpa. I will visit whenever I have time."
Ethan nodded.
"Grandfather, I'll bring her more often."
Li Zhongyuan snorted lightly, but his eyes were full of satisfaction.
"Good. At least you are sensible and filial… unlike that useless cousin of yours, Eric Li from the second family branch."
The old man clearly favored Lila and Ethan, and the atmosphere of the Li ancestral home that night was warm and lively.