บท 58: Chapter 58: The Schemes
The date for the entrance exam had finally been announced, and the air around the school was charged with anticipation. All five participants who had been chosen for the competition were completely immersed in their preparations. Each of them knew that only the top two would be selected to represent the school at the national competition, and with the recommendation letter from Imperial Capital University on the line, the stakes couldn't be higher.
Feng Yan, however, was calm. Her previous life had been filled with intense study, and she had already mastered the subjects that would be tested. Still, she wasn't one to underestimate her opponents or grow complacent. She sat at her desk diligently practicing math question papers, her brow furrowed in concentration. Her fingers moved swiftly as she solved complex problems, her mind sharp as ever.
Feng Yue, on the other hand, couldn't help but stare at Feng Yan from across the room. Her eyes filled with jealousy, her heart consumed with bitterness. The sight of Feng Yan calmly preparing for the exam infuriated her. Despite Feng Yue's best efforts to undermine her sister, Feng Yan was still standing tall, her focus unshaken.
Feng Yue's expression twisted with malice as she watched Feng Yan. Her once pretty, innocent face became contorted with hatred. The jealousy burned within her, fueling her desire to stop Feng Yan at any cost. But she quickly masked her emotions, her face reverting to an innocent smile. No one else needed to know the darkness that lurked behind her seemingly kind demeanor.
Determined to stop Feng Yan from participating in the exam, Feng Yue decided to take matters into her own hands. She couldn't do it alone—she needed the help of her parents. Her mind raced with schemes as she hurried home, eager to set her plan into motion.
At the Feng family manor, Feng Yue's return was met with the usual display of luxury and wealth. Servants bustled around, attending to the household's every need. But today, Feng Yue needed privacy for what she had to discuss. She wasted no time in ordering the servants out of the room, and they hurried away without question. This was a family matter, and Feng Yue made sure no one would overhear.
Once the room was cleared, Feng Yue called her parents. It didn't take long for them to arrive, both of them rushing to her side. Gu Li, her mother, immediately saw the distress on Feng Yue's face and her own heart clenched with worry.
"My darling, what's the matter?" Gu Li cooed, her voice filled with concern as she reached out to comfort her daughter. Feng Liang, Feng Yue's father, also stood nearby, his eyes narrowing as he waited for an explanation.
Feng Yue sniffled, wiping her eyes dramatically before launching into her tale. "Mother, Father... Feng Yan is going to take the entrance exam for the Imperial Capital University competition!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with carefully crafted emotion.
Gu Li's face darkened instantly, her delicate features twisting with malice and hatred. "That ungrateful wretch!" she spat. "After everything we've done for her, she's trying to throw you off track again, Yue'er? How dare she! I knew that girl would be nothing but trouble!"
Feng Yue's eyes gleamed as she watched her mother fume. It was exactly the reaction she had hoped for. Gu Li had never liked Feng Yan, not since the day she had been brought into the Feng family. She had always seen her as an intruder, someone who didn't belong. Feng Yue had grown up hearing her mother's disdain for Feng Yan, and over the years, that disdain had transformed into bitter hatred.
Gu Li continued to rant, her voice rising in anger. "She's ungrateful! She thinks she can outshine you, my precious daughter? I won't let that happen. Not while I'm still breathing!"
Feng Yue bit her lip, pretending to be deeply upset, though in reality, her mind was working fast. She turned to her father, Feng Liang, hoping for a more calculated response from him. "Father, what are we going to do?" she asked, her voice soft and filled with despair. "If Feng Yan wins the competition and gets that recommendation letter... she might break away from us. She's already moved out of the house and has no intention of sharing the benefits with the family. She's acting like she's better than us, like she's some sort of butterfly ready to fly away."
Feng Liang, who had been silent until now, frowned. He was a man of strategy, not emotion. While his wife and daughter often acted impulsively, he preferred to think things through carefully. Still, what Feng Yue said struck a chord with him. Feng Yan had indeed grown distant from the family in recent months, and if she truly succeeded in securing a recommendation from Imperial Capital University, she could slip out of their control entirely.
"She's dangerous, Father," Feng Yue pressed, seeing the gears turning in her father's mind. "If she wins, she'll leave us behind. She won't need our family anymore. And if she breaks free from us... who knows what she might do? We've invested so much in her, and she needs to understand that only our family can provide her with stability. If we let her succeed, she'll think she doesn't need us."
Gu Li, still seething, nodded vigorously. "Yue'er is right! Feng Yan needs to know her place. She can't be allowed to surpass Yue'er and abandon the family. We raised her; she owes us everything!"
Feng Liang took a deep breath, considering his options. He knew that if Feng Yan won the competition, the family's influence over her would weaken considerably. She would gain access to opportunities beyond their control, and there would be no guarantee that she would remain loyal to the Feng family. Despite Gu Li's hatred for the girl, Feng Liang had always seen potential in Feng Yan. But potential that couldn't be controlled was dangerous.
"You're right, Yue'er," Feng Liang finally said, his voice calm but firm. "We can't allow Feng Yan to think she can leave this family behind. She needs to understand that everything she has, she owes to us. If we let her win, she might break free from our influence, and that could spell trouble for all of us."
Feng Yue's heart soared with victory. Her father had always been the more rational one, and if he was on her side, there was no way Feng Yan could succeed.
"So, what do we do, Father?" Feng Yue asked, her voice sweet but filled with anticipation.
Feng Liang's eyes gleamed with cold calculation. "We'll ensure that Feng Yan doesn't make it to the competition. I'll use my connections to make sure the exam doesn't go in her favor. We'll keep her in check, but we'll make it look like a natural failure. That way, she won't suspect a thing."
Gu Li clapped her hands together in delight, her eyes glittering with malice. "Oh, that's brilliant, darling! Yue'er will have nothing to worry about. Feng Yan won't be able to compete, and our Yue'er will have the chance to shine."
Feng Yue smiled brightly, her innocent façade firmly in place. "Thank you, Father. I knew you would help me."
Feng Liang gave his daughter a small smile. "Anything for you, Yue'er. But remember, we have to be subtle. If Feng Yan suspects we're involved, it could backfire."
Feng Yue nodded eagerly. "Don't worry, Father. I won't let anything slip."
As the family finalized their plans to sabotage Feng Yan's chances, Feng Yue felt a sense of triumph. She had successfully turned her parents against her cousin, and soon, Feng Yan would be out of the competition for good.
Little did she know, Feng Yan's strength went far beyond what she or her parents could ever comprehend.
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