章 15: Chapter 15: The Reversal
As Feng Yan's cutting words echoed through the classroom, a murmur of disbelief and confusion swept through the students. Feng Yue's tears and trembling voice had already stirred feelings of sympathy among many of her classmates, especially the boys, who had long admired her beauty and charm. They had always seen Feng Yue as the epitome of grace and kindness, the class beauty who treated everyone with a gentle smile. Now, seeing her tear-streaked face, their protective instincts flared.
One of the boys, Liu Wei, a tall, athletic student who had always harbored a crush on Feng Yue, stood up from his desk. "Feng Yan, how could you speak to your sister like that? She's only worried about you! You're being unreasonable." His voice was filled with indignation, as if he couldn't believe that anyone could treat Feng Yue so harshly.
Another boy, Zhang Ping, who was equally smitten with Feng Yue, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Feng Yan, we all know how much Feng Yue cares about you. She's been nothing but kind to you, and this is how you repay her?"
Feng Yue, noticing the boys rallying to her defense, allowed herself a small, triumphant smile that she quickly disguised as a pained grimace. Her tears continued to flow, and she subtly bit her lip, making her appear even more vulnerable. The sympathetic murmurs from the class grew louder, with more students casting accusatory glances at Feng Yan.
Seeing this, Feng Yue decided to further solidify her position as the wronged, loving sister. She took a shaky breath and spoke, her voice quivering with emotion. "I… I was so worried about you, Feng Yan. When you didn't come home last night, our parents were frantic. They didn't know where you were, and I was scared something might have happened to you. We… we care about you so much, and you just left without saying anything."
Her words were carefully chosen, designed to paint Feng Yan as the rebellious child who had run away from the family that had taken her in, cared for her, and loved her despite everything. The implication was clear: Feng Yan was ungrateful and undeserving of the care she had received.
Feng Yan's eyes narrowed as she listened to Feng Yue's carefully crafted narrative. She could see the way the story was shifting in Feng Yue's favor, the way her classmates were buying into the facade. But instead of feeling cornered, Feng Yan felt a cold anger rising within her. She had seen this all before—the way Feng Yue manipulated those around her, twisting the truth to suit her needs, all while playing the victim.
In her past life, Feng Yan had been too naive, too trusting, to see through Feng Yue's act. She had believed that Feng Yue truly cared for her, that her adoptive parents had her best interests at heart. But now, with the clarity that came from reliving those painful memories, she could see the truth. Feng Yue wasn't worried about her; she was worried about maintaining her own image, about keeping Feng Yan in a position where she could be used and discarded as needed.
Feng Yan's lips curled into a sneer as she faced her sister. "So, that's the story you're going with, Feng Yue? That our dear parents were 'worried' about me? That you were scared something might have happened to me?"
The disdain in her voice was unmistakable, and it caused a ripple of unease to pass through the classroom. Feng Yue, seeing that her usual tactics were not working as effectively as before, felt a flicker of doubt. But she quickly suppressed it, knowing she couldn't afford to lose control of the narrative now.
"Yes, that's exactly it," Feng Yue insisted, her voice gaining a hint of steel. "We were all worried about you. You've always been a bit… difficult, but that doesn't mean we don't care."
Feng Yan let out a short, humorless laugh, a sound that sent shivers down the spines of those who heard it. "Worried? Is that what you call it when you're planning to send someone away to a mountain, far from anyone they know? Does that sound like care to you?"
The question hung in the air, a sharp contrast to Feng Yue's carefully cultivated image of concern. Feng Yue's face flushed with anger and embarrassment. She hadn't expected Feng Yan to bring up the plan to send her away so openly, and certainly not in front of their classmates.
"That's not… that's not what you think," Feng Yue stammered, her composure slipping for the first time. "Our parents were just trying to protect you. If you were more disciplined, they wouldn't have had to take such drastic measures."
Her words were meant to turn the situation around, to paint Feng Yan as an unruly child who had forced her adoptive parents into making difficult decisions. But the veneer of her story was cracking, and Feng Yue could feel it. The unease in the classroom had shifted slightly, with some students beginning to question the situation.
Feng Yan's expression remained cold and unyielding. "Protect me? By sending me away from everything I know? You mean to tell me that abandoning me was for my own good?"
The directness of Feng Yan's question left Feng Yue scrambling for a response. She couldn't let Feng Yan turn the tide against her, not when she had worked so hard to secure her place as the beloved daughter of the Feng family. But she could feel the control slipping through her fingers.
"Yes!" Feng Yue blurted out, her voice rising in desperation. "They were doing it to safeguard your innocence, to keep you from making mistakes. You were becoming rebellious, and they just wanted to help you before it was too late."
Feng Yan's sneer deepened. "Rebellious? What exactly have I done that's so rebellious, Feng Yue? That I'm not willing to be your puppet anymore? That I'm no longer content to be the shadow of your so-called perfect life?"
Her words struck a chord, not just with Feng Yue but with the entire class. The image of Feng Yue as the kind, concerned sister was beginning to fray, and the students could sense the tension between the two girls.
Feng Yue, seeing the shift in the room, tried to regain control. She quickly forced more tears to spill from her eyes, hoping to rekindle the sympathy she had initially garnered. "Feng Yan, please," she said, her voice trembling with feigned hurt. "We're sisters, no matter what. I only want what's best for you. I'm begging you, don't push me away."
Her tearful plea might have worked on Feng Yan in the past, but now it only fueled her resolve. Feng Yan stepped closer to Feng Yue, her presence imposing and unyielding.
"I'm not the one who's pushing anyone away, Feng Yue," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "You and our so-called parents have done everything in your power to make me feel like I don't belong, to break me down until I'm nothing more than a tool for you to use. But I'm done playing that role."
Feng Yue's eyes widened, panic flashing across her face as she realized that her usual tactics weren't working. The class was watching, and Feng Yan's words were starting to sink in. The boys who had leapt to Feng Yue's defense earlier were now silent, their earlier confidence shaken.
Seeing her position weakening, Feng Yue made one last desperate attempt to regain control. She turned to the class, her voice pleading. "Please, everyone, understand that I'm just trying to help. Feng Yan has been going through a lot, and our parents have done everything they can to support her. But she's been so difficult lately… I'm only trying to do what's best for her."
Feng Yan's laugh cut through the air, cold and sharp. "Do what's best for me? You've never cared about what's best for me. All you've ever cared about is maintaining your perfect little world, where I'm nothing more than an accessory, something to be used and discarded when it's convenient."
Her words were like daggers, each one striking at the carefully constructed image Feng Yue had built over the years. The class, which had once been firmly on Feng Yue's side, was now split, with some beginning to see the cracks in her facade.
Feng Yue, seeing that she was losing control of the situation, tried to fall back on her usual tactic—playing the victim. She let out a soft sob, her tears flowing more freely now. "Why are you doing this, Feng Yan? I've only ever wanted to be a good sister to you. Why are you pushing me away?"
But this time, her tears didn't have the same effect. Feng Yan's unwavering gaze and the cold truth in her words had already planted seeds of doubt in the minds of their classmates.
"Save your tears, Feng Yue," Feng Yan said, her voice ice-cold. "I'm done falling for your lies. From now on, I'll make my own choices, and I won't be swayed by your manipulations. If you want to play this game, then be prepared to lose."
With that, Feng Yan turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Feng Yue standing there, her tears drying on her cheeks, her carefully crafted facade crumbling around her. The class was silent, the weight of the confrontation settling over them like a heavy blanket.
Feng Yue had always been the class beauty, the beloved daughter of the Feng family, the one everyone admired. But now, that image was tainted, and for the first time, she realized that she might not be able to control Feng Yan.
週次パワーステータス
-- 推薦
ランキング 
-- 推薦
チケット