Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The moment I arrived at my sister’s classroom, I sensed something was off.

Everyone treated me with abnormal coldness, as if I didn’t exist.

When no one was around, I cornered Wang Weiwei in the bathroom-the friend my sister had mentioned in her letter.

Wang Weiwei shoved me away and looked around in terror. Only when she saw that no one was nearby did she let out a small breath of relief.

Her expression was uneasy, her tone hesitant.

“Chen Wan, you… you should drop out. Otherwise, Zhang Wenxuan and the others won’t let you go.

“If you don’t leave, the Hunt will continue.

“Everyone’s saying they’ve come up with something new to use against you.”

My pupils contracted sharply.

…Hunt?

These people treated my sister like prey?!

I had heard of Zhang Wenxuan.

He was the leader of the very top circle in this private high school.

His family background was illustrious. His father was a banker, and his mother was on the school board. In this school, his family could cover the sky with one hand.

Not only that, but his grades were excellent too. In the eyes of teachers and classmates, he was a blessed favorite of heaven.

Before my sister was admitted as an exception, Zhang Wenxuan had always been first in the grade.

But my sister didn’t like him.

She couldn’t explain why, but every time Zhang Wenxuan smiled and greeted her, or came over to ask her how to solve a problem, the hairs on her body would instinctively stand on end.

I clenched my fists and asked Wang Weiwei what the Hunt was.

She was just about to speak when someone suddenly came in through the door.

Wang Weiwei’s face went deathly pale. She shoved me away and fled in a panic.

I had only posted the note on the bulletin board during the long morning break, and already, someone couldn’t hold back.

At noon, I went to the cafeteria to eat.

Everyone kept far away from me, as if I were the source of some infectious disease.

I couldn’t have cared less. I took a long table all to myself and lowered my head to eat.

Suddenly, a box of maggots was dumped over my head.

They writhed and squirmed. Some slid down my collar and into my school uniform, while others fell straight into my tray.

Qi Shan from Class Three came over with two lackeys in tow, grinning as she said, “Chen Wan, people who live in the gutter don’t deserve to eat the same food as us. You should be eating these maggots instead.

“I heard your dad got laid off recently and started going out with your mom to collect junk and pick through trash. Ew. Digging around in garbage cans all day-doesn’t that get dirty? Don’t you carry some kind of disease?

“Can you take your tray and eat outside? Because of you, the whole cafeteria reeks of poverty. It’s so disgusting I can’t even eat.”

Qi Shan was an arrogant, overbearing rich girl who had admired Zhang Wenxuan for a long time.

She might not necessarily like what Zhang Wenxuan liked.

But whenever Zhang Wenxuan hated someone, she was always the first to charge in.

My gaze fell on my tray.

White maggots crowded together, thrashing and wriggling among the green vegetables and steaming white rice.

Qi Shan and her two lackeys stood in front of me with their chins raised high.

The vast cafeteria was utterly silent. The faces around me were filled with gloating delight, all waiting to see me make a fool of myself.

Calmly, I picked up my tray and flung the entire thing-soup, food, and bugs-straight onto Qi Shan from head to toe.

She let out a shriek and jumped in place, desperately slapping at the maggots that had landed in her hair and on her body.

Her two lackeys retched a few times, exchanged a look, and quietly backed away.

Qi Shan was a complete mess. She pointed at me with a trembling finger, her voice warped with rage.

“Chen Wan! You… you dare splash that on me? No one has ever dared lay a hand on me since I was little! You… just you wait!”

I smiled faintly.

“There’s a first time for everything. Since your parents never taught you any manners, I’ll reluctantly do it for them.”

Qi Shan went mad with fury and raised her hand, about to rush up and hit me.

I grabbed a handful of maggots from the table and spread them out in my palm.

“Don’t move, okay? Otherwise, I’ll stuff these bugs into your mouth. Maggots are tender, juicy, and very fragrant when you chew them.”

The cafeteria filled with waves of retching.

Beyond Qi Shan, who was bent over vomiting, I raised my head and met Zhang Wenxuan’s gaze across the room.

Light flashed off the thin gold rims of his glasses. Slowly, the corners of his mouth curved upward, his face brimming with interest.