The ride to school was quiet, the hum of the engine a steady rhythm beneath her thoughts. When the car finally pulled up to the gates of Fuyuan Academy, the morning bustle of students filled the air. Cars dropped off children from wealthy families, chattering groups hurried past the gates, and guards saluted respectfully at familiar faces.
But when Su Ning's car rolled in, its gleaming exterior immediately drew stares. The sedan wasn't just expensive—it was exclusive, a model whispered about even among the city's elite. Heads turned. Conversations faltered.
"Whose car is that?" a boy muttered, nudging his friend.
"Looks like… a limited edition from the Fengshang auction last year. Impossible!" another gasped.
"Could it be the headmaster's guest?"
Speculations buzzed until the car door opened.
And Su Ning stepped out.
For a heartbeat, silence crashed over the gates. Students blinked, their jaws dropping as though they were seeing her for the first time.
"That… that's Su Ning?" someone stammered.
"No way. The pauper girl?" another whispered in disbelief.
"She looks like… a completely different person."
Su Ning didn't spare them a glance. Her movements were calm, unhurried, every step radiating quiet authority. The morning sun kissed her figure, highlighting her flawless complexion and the elegant fall of her uniform. Where once her shoulders had been hunched with insecurity, now she walked straight, chin lifted, eyes steady.
A murmur rippled through the crowd—admiration from a few, jealousy from many.
"Did she… get plastic surgery overnight?"
"No, idiot. Look at her aura. This isn't just about looks… it's like she's glowing."
"I hate to admit it, but she's beautiful…"
Through the chatter, Chen Anya pushed her way toward the front. She had seen Su Ning's villa the day before, had witnessed the truth that no one else knew. But even she couldn't stop the awe that bloomed in her chest at Su Ning's transformation.
"Ningning!" Anya called, her voice soft but filled with warmth.
Su Ning's gaze softened. For the first time since stepping out of the car, a genuine smile touched her lips. She reached out and rubbed Anya's hair affectionately, a sisterly gesture that made the girl flush with both embarrassment and happiness.
"Good morning, Anya," Su Ning said gently.
Gasps erupted. The once-pitiful Su Ning, greeting someone so warmly… and with such natural authority. Students exchanged glances. Was this the same girl Shen Luoluo had always trampled?
Before the whispers could settle, another figure hurried forward. Mu Suying, dressed in her pristine uniform and carrying herself with practiced grace, came running up with a bright smile.
"Su Ning!" she called shamelessly, ignoring the stares around her. Without hesitation, she reached Su Ning's side, acting as though they had been lifelong friends.
Everyone froze.
"Did she just—?!"
"Mu Suying? The Mu family's daughter?"
"She… she's clinging to Su Ning? What is going on?"
Mu Suying beamed at Su Ning, her expression filled with forced familiarity. "I was waiting for you. Let's go in together, hm?"
Su Ning didn't even look at her. She simply kept her arm around Chen Anya, guiding her through the gates with calm authority. Mu Suying followed closely, unbothered by the whispers, as if determined to cement herself at Su Ning's side.
The effect was explosive. Students stared as the three entered together—Su Ning at the center, Chen Anya glowing from her affection, and Mu Suying shamelessly trailing along.
"She ignored Mu Suying… but Mu Suying didn't get angry?"
"This doesn't make sense. When did Su Ning become someone untouchable?"
"Her aura… it's even scarier than the ROYAL 6's!"
Even teachers at the gates were stunned. A few, who had once looked down on Su Ning, now hesitated to meet her eyes. Something in her presence warned them: she was no longer someone they could dismiss.
Inside, Su Ning remained calm. She had expected the whispers, the shock, the jealousy. But none of it mattered. For once, she wasn't entering as the bullied pauper girl. She was entering as herself—strong, untouchable, and no longer at anyone's mercy.
At her side, Chen Anya glanced nervously around, aware of the glares and murmurs, but Su Ning's quiet confidence steadied her. A warmth bloomed in her chest. Su Ning wasn't just changing herself—she was lifting her up too.
As for Mu Suying, Now, walking behind this dazzling girl, she realized just how foolish she had been.
And so, under the envious gazes of the entire school, Su Ning entered the academy—not as the poor, ridiculed girl she once was, but as someone reborn.
Someone untouchable.