I'm Not Close to Her

"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.