Saira pitiable?
Was she pitiable for enjoying only a dozen years of wealth and prosperity, while the rest of her life promised the same?
Did that mean Zuri deserved to have her nest taken over? To suffer in her place?
She was simply reclaiming what was rightfully hers, yet in their mouths, it sounded as if she was stealing.
Utterly laughable.
They pitied Saira for losing the title of the Lin family's biological daughter, but they never considered what Zuri had lost.
Over the years, Zuri lost not just family affection but also top-notch education, etiquette, and other invaluable things money couldn't buy.
What had Saira lost? Only the title of the Lin family's daughter; she suffered no other loss.
Compared to Saira, who was the real winner here?
Seeing their faces and hearing their words, Zuri felt both amused and sad.
Amused by their selective blindness.
Sad for her past self, who to please her parents, obeyed Dalia's request to avoid any conflicts at school, constantly repressing her anger, allowing others to bully her more viciously.
This life, she wouldn't endure anymore.
Zuri looked at the bustling crowd not far away, at Arthur surrounded like a prince in a fairy tale, and the excited men and women around him, her cold eyes grew icier.
In her previous life, everyone who had bullied and humiliated her, she would settle accounts with in this life, no one would escape.
Zuri withdrew her gaze and turned away from the lively place.
Turning into a shaded path, halfway down, a girl in a white T-shirt and jeans blocked her way, her delicate face full of anxiety.
"Excuse me, student ahead, please wait a moment." Rhea nervously called out to the beautiful and elegant girl in front, her heart uneasy, fearing displeasure.
She had heard that students at Windsor Academy were very rebellious and hard to talk to.
She hadn't wanted to bother anyone, but time was running out. If she missed the registration, the school might cancel her admission.
Her parents would kill her.
Hearing the familiar voice behind her, Zuri stopped, turned slowly, and looked at the anxious girl in front of her with a faint smile.
Surprises were indeed everywhere; she hadn't expected the first person she'd meet here to be her childhood best friend, Rhea.
The best friend who ate her food, used her things, and always hid under her wing.
She would never forget the look on her face the last time she saw her.
In her previous life, when she found out the Lin family was sending her to a notorious old pervert in Oceanic City, she escaped desperately.
With no one to turn to, she sought out Rhea, hoping she'd lend her some money to leave Oceanic City.
But this woman, who had promised to help, immediately revealed her whereabouts to the Lin family.
When they came to take her away, Rhea stood by, shedding crocodile tears, saying, "Zuri, Uncle and Aunt Lin are your parents; they wouldn't harm you. Look, they've even found a wealthy man for you despite your ruined appearance, showing how much they care. You're blinded by jealousy and can't see their kindness. As their child, how can you blame them? I'm your friend; I don't want to see you go astray."
She knew perfectly well that the so-called wealthy man was an old pervert old enough to be her grandfather.
She knew that old pervert had tortured over a dozen women to death. She knew the Lin family sending her there was a death sentence.
Yet she could put on an innocent face, under the guise of 'for her own good', and push her to her doom.
This was the best friend she had grown up with, who stabbed her in the back in her most helpless moment, pushing her into the abyss.
In her past life, when her parents were sick and hospitalized, she paid all the exorbitant medical bills. When she was bullied at Windsor Academy, Zuri stood up for her.
When she was bullied by a scumbag, Zuri defended her.
When she had no money for food, clothes, or school activities, Zuri covered all those expenses.
Under her wing, she lived better than many rich second-generation kids.
Zuri thought she had done nothing wrong to her, but never expected such betrayal.
At that time, she didn't understand why she would treat her like that.
Later she realized, Rhea had always been jealous of her. In her eyes, Zuri should have lived in the same gutter, but she got lucky and became the Lin family's daughter.
For this ridiculous reason, she wasted their years of friendship.
Perhaps there was never any real friendship, just exploitation.
She hated Saira, but she hated the ungrateful Rhea even more.
Zuri despised betrayal and ingratitude the most, and Rhea embodied both.
This life, she would see, without Zuri's protection and support, if she could still wear nice clothes and live comfortably at Windsor Academy.
Rhea, upon seeing Zuri, was full of surprise and then joyfully approached, "Zuri! Oh my god, I never expected to see you here."
After the initial surprise, Rhea noticed her attire and asked in astonishment, "I heard your biological parents took you back; I thought I'd never see you again. I'm so happy we can be classmates again."
Rhea seemed to think of something and asked, "Zuri, what do your parents do? They must be impressive to send you to Windsor Academy."
She stepped forward to link arms with her, but Zuri deftly avoided her.
Rhea was taken aback, then looked hurt.
"Zuri, are you still mad at me? If I could, I'd give up my spot for you; I don't want to be distant from you." Rhea bit her lip in aggrieved sadness, "Please don't be mad at me, okay?"
Zuri calmly said, "Aren't you going to the registrar's office?"
She raised her hand and glanced at the time, "If you don't go soon, you'll be late. I heard Windsor Academy has strict rules; if you're late on your first day, you might get expelled."
Rhea remembered she had something important to do.
"I'll go now. I'll find you later."
Watching Rhea leave, Zuri leisurely headed to the registrar's office in the opposite direction.
As Zuri approached the registrar's office, she heard the dean's scolding through the door crack.
"What's wrong with you? Don't you have any sense of time? Do you think Windsor Academy is your home, where you can come and go as you please?"
"Sorry, Director, I got lost." A weak girl's voice followed.
"If you know you're bad with directions, why didn't you come earlier?"
Her explanation didn't appease Director Wang, who only got angrier.
"You're just a student from a poor background with no insight, thinking Windsor Academy is the same as your previous insignificant school?"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Rhea kept apologizing, tears of grievance in her eyes.
At that moment, someone pushed open the office door, startling the two inside. They both turned their heads.
Seeing it was Zuri, Rhea was shocked. Embarrassed by her pathetic state being seen, but quickly realizing Zuri's arrival could divert the director's anger, her shame turned to relief.
Director Wang was about to scold, but seeing the girl's LB clothing and the watch worth tens of thousands on her wrist, he swallowed his words.
"Student, who are you?"
"Zuri."
Director Wang was stunned, surprised at the girl before him.
Wasn't this girl just brought back from outside? She looked nothing like someone from a slum, but rather like a well-cultivated young lady from a grand mansion.
The Lin family was a famous wealthy family in Oceanic City, and Zuri was their eldest daughter. Director Wang naturally didn't dare to scold her.
Director Wang was known in the school for his snobbishness, always treating wealthy and powerful students well, while looking down on those from ordinary families.
A typical sycophant, but very favored because he knew how to get along with people.
In her past life, with Zuri's protection, Director Wang never yelled at Rhea. From today, Rhea would experience the life that originally belonged to her.
Director Wang recovered and warmly greeted, "Zuri, please have a seat."
Zuri, not being polite, walked past Rhea and sat on the sofa, leisurely watching her.
Rhea hadn't expected this outcome, thinking Zuri would help bear the director's anger. She didn't anticipate the director being so sycophantic.
"Zuri." Rhea looked at her with wet, aggrieved eyes.
Director Wang was puzzled, "Do you two know each other?"
Rhea quickly said, "Yes, Zuri and I have been best friends since childhood."
Director Wang's attitude towards Rhea immediately changed, with a few more smiles on his face.
Seeing Director Wang's huge change in attitude, Rhea knew she had found the right direction. With Zuri as her backing, those people wouldn't dare bully her.
"Don't be late again, understand?" Director Wang said kindly.
Rhea was overjoyed and nodded obediently, "I'll be careful."
As they exchanged pleasantries, a cold voice interrupted them, "Director Wang, I'm not very familiar with this student."
Rhea's face changed, looking at Zuri in disbelief, her wide eyes seemingly saying, 'How could you say that?'
Director Wang was stunned, then felt the anger of being deceived, especially by a student he always looked down upon.
Noticing Director Wang's drastically changing expression, Rhea panicked.
"Zuri, how can you do this? We've been friends since we were kids," Rhea's voice choked with emotion, tears welling up in her eyes, filled with grievances.
"You've been taking advantage of me since we were kids. I remember. No need to remind me," Zuri replied.
"How... how can you say that? You helped me voluntarily," Rhea hastily defended herself, fearing the director would believe Zuri's words.
Zuri snorted dismissively and looked up at Director Wang. "Director, I'm busy."
Director Wang wasn't a fool. Seeing the dynamics between the two, it was clear their relationship was far from friendly, perhaps even hostile.
Damn it, I was almost deceived by that pauper.
Suppressing his anger, Director Wang turned to Zuri with a smile, handing her some documents. "I'll have someone escort you over."
He immediately made a phone call. Ten minutes later, the office door swung open.
Seeing the bespectacled, scholarly young man standing before her, Zuri's eyes grew moist. In Windsor Academy, if anyone had shown her genuine kindness, it was Mr. Jason.
A young, gentle teacher, passionate about his students and his job, Jason's career was cut short by a scandal in his third year of teaching. Faced with widespread condemnation, the school dismissed him, ending his career and leaving him with enormous debts.
At the time, she couldn't believe he would do such a thing, but the irrefutable evidence left no room for doubt. Years after graduation, she accidentally overheard a conversation between Saira and the girl who had accused him, revealing the truth. Jason had been innocent, framed as revenge for thwarting their attempts to harm Zuri.
Jason had always been upright, never fearing authority. But in the eyes of Saira and her group, he was deliberately siding with Zuri. Their resentment led them to trap Jason, ruining his career. Burdened with unjust debts, Jason worked three jobs and eventually died in a car accident while delivering food on a rainy night.
The person who had been kindest to her died because of her. This regret had always tormented Zuri, making it hard to find peace.
Seeing Jason alive and well in front of her again, Zuri's eyes brimmed with tears. She swore not to let the tragedy repeat in this lifetime.
Jason found the girl's gaze peculiar but thought nothing of it as Director Wang gave instructions.
"Mr. Dou, this is Zuri, a new student in your class. Please take good care of her and help her catch up with her studies."
Director Wang then kindly addressed Zuri, "If you have any questions, feel free to ask your teacher or me."
Jason nodded and led Zuri out of the office. As soon as they left, Director Wang's furious yelling resumed, and it was evident Rhea was being scolded harshly.
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