Chapter 14: The Sisterly Facade

As Feng Yue entered the classroom, her eyes immediately began searching for the familiar figure of Feng Yan. But what she saw left her momentarily frozen in place. The girl who used to hide in the corner, barely noticed by anyone, was now the center of attention. Feng Yan, with her radiant beauty and newfound confidence, stood out like a shining star amidst the dull crowd.

A surge of jealousy and hatred swelled within Feng Yue's heart. *How dare she?* Feng Yue thought bitterly. *She's just an adopted daughter, brought in to ward off bad luck—what right does she have to be the center of attention?* The sight of Feng Yan, who was supposed to be insignificant, now drawing all eyes to her, filled Feng Yue with an uncontrollable rage.

Meanwhile, Bai Shuang, who had been left humiliated and unsure of what to do after Feng Yan's sharp retort, saw her salvation in Feng Yue's arrival. She quickly ran to her, desperation evident in her eyes. However, Feng Yue, consumed by her own anger and jealousy, barely spared her lackey a glance. She had no time to deal with Bai Shuang's petty concerns; her focus was entirely on making Feng Yan look bad in front of the class.

Putting on a worried expression, Feng Yue approached Feng Yan, her voice dripping with false concern. "Sister, where did you go last night? Were you alone, or with someone? It's dangerous for a girl to be out by herself at night."

Her words, seemingly innocent, were laced with insinuation. As soon as Feng Yue spoke, the entire class turned their eyes towards Feng Yan, their gazes filled with disdain and suspicion. The implication in Feng Yue's question was clear—she was suggesting that Feng Yan might have been involved in something scandalous.

Feng Yan, however, was not the same naive girl who would fall for Feng Yue's hypocrisy. In her past life, she might have believed that Feng Yue genuinely cared for her, but now, she saw through the facade. *If I hadn't been reborn,* she thought, *I would have been fooled into thinking she actually cared.*

Slowly, Feng Yan turned towards Feng Yue, her cold eyes locking onto her so-called sister. Feng Yue felt a chill run down her spine, an ominous premonition stirring in her heart as she met Feng Yan's icy gaze. This was not the reaction she had anticipated.

"What right do you have to ask about my whereabouts?" Feng Yan's voice was calm, yet it carried a sharpness that cut through the air like a blade.

Feng Yue, caught off guard, quickly put on a facade of hurt. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she sniffled, her nose turning pink as if she had been genuinely wounded by Feng Yan's words. "But we're sisters," Feng Yue whimpered, her voice trembling with feigned emotion. "Even though you're adopted, our parents care about you the most. I'm only worried about you."

Her act was convincing; tears streamed down her cheeks, and she looked every bit the image of a concerned, loving sister. The class watched, some of them clearly moved by Feng Yue's display, their disdainful eyes now questioning Feng Yan's harsh response.

But Feng Yan was not swayed. She had seen this act too many times before, and she knew better than to fall for it again. She could see through Feng Yue's crocodile tears and the manipulation behind them.

A cold sneer curved Feng Yan's lips. "Sisters?" she echoed, her tone mocking. "Is that what you call yourself? A sister who doesn't care when I'm being sent away, who only shows up to act worried when it's convenient for her?"

Feng Yue's face paled slightly, her tears momentarily forgotten as she struggled to maintain her act. The shift in the atmosphere was palpable. Feng Yan's words, combined with her unyielding gaze, made it clear that she was no longer the timid girl who could be easily pushed around.

"Enough with the crocodile tears, Feng Yue," Feng Yan continued, her voice cold and unrelenting. "If our parents cared so much about me, they wouldn't be trying to get rid of me. And as for you, stop pretending you're worried about my well-being. We both know the truth."

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence. The students, who had been ready to believe Feng Yue's act, now found themselves questioning her sincerity. Feng Yue, for her part, was left speechless, her mind racing to come up with a response. But the cold, knowing look in Feng Yan's eyes told her that any further attempt to deceive would be futile.

For the first time, Feng Yue felt cornered, exposed for the manipulator she truly was. And as she looked into Feng Yan's eyes, she realized that her sister was no longer someone she could control.