Arc 1

After the lunch break, it was self-study period. Ye Jin decided to review her high school mathematics textbook, trying to sort out her current knowledge on the subject—what she knew and what she didn't.

Merely looking at the numerous equations before her reminded Ye Jin why she'd never really liked school and mathematics in particular. It was because of those weird equations that had both alphabets and numbers.

What was it again…calculus…algebra?

"Tsk," Ye Jin clicked her tongue in annoyance. She'd never expected that what she so desperately hated and avoided would come back to bite her in the ass.

Well, she couldn't afford to slack off now. Even if she couldn't graduate as one of the best students, she should at least come out with a good grade, especially with the national exam coming up.

After spending over 30 minutes on one question, Ye Jin dropped her pen in anger.

'What kind of f*cking question is this?! Who decided that it was alright to torture kids like this? This is just plain psychopathic, sadistic behavior!'

Ye Jin felt like pulling her hair out of its roots because she was frustrated. Each time she thought she got the answer correct, it always turned out wrong.

Ye Jin suddenly had a thought. She literally had a person who had transferred from Class 1 sitting beside her, so he must be able to answer the question, right?

Ye Jin glanced over at Gu Yan's seat, but it was empty.

'Where has he disappeared to now?'

GMS 005's mechanical voice chimed in her ears: [He is currently with his best friend, Ning Yin.]

Ye Jin's eyes lit up. She also had a golden finger who could teach her this stupid math. "GMS 005, dearie," her voice, sultry, "please can you teach me?"

[I'm sorry, Host. I wish I could, but from my calculations, you would have to start from the basics of math as you lack the proper ability to understand this equation,] GMS 005 replied. Though his voice was still mechanical, Ye Jin could hear a tone of contempt in it.

Ye Jin's eyes twitched: "Then why don't you teach me the basics, then?"

GMS 005: [I really do not have the time to start teaching you 2+2=4 or -x-=+.]

Ye Jin pouted: "But…"

[I'm going back to sleep.]

Ye Jin: "..." What had she done to deserve this kind of insult? She just wanted to learn!

Ye Jin sighed in frustration and returned her attention to the equation. She had to at least achieve something.

Moments later, her concentration was broken by the sound of flesh hitting flesh. She looked up and saw a small, petite girl surrounded by a group of girls.

"How dare you, you stinking b*tch, talk to Ning Yin?" One of the girls, who seemed to be the leader, screamed at the girl while yanking her by the hair.

"I did not," the petite girl said with huge tears falling down her cheeks.

"You're still lying!!!"

'Wasn't that the female lead, Mei Yun?' Ye Jin thought. Who would have known that the female lead would be this pitiful in her high school years? This was because she was a strong support system to the male lead, and she was also a ruthless woman who was a leader in the fashion industry.

Ye Jin looked around to see if anyone would stop the girl from what they were doing, but everyone pretended as if nothing was currently going on.

Ye Jin also very much didn't care. But then, the bully's words echoed in her ears"You motherless b*tch, you should have just died when your mother died."

The girl raised her hand again, wanting to slap Mei Yun, but Ye Jin's hand shot out, gripping the bully's wrist tightly.

"That's enough," Ye Jin said, her voice low and dangerous.

The girl's eyes widened in shock, then narrowed in anger. She raised her other hand and clenched it into a fist, wanting to punch Ye Jin.

"Who the hell…"

Ye Jin threw a punch at the bully's jaw, sending the girl stumbling backward.

The classroom fell into stunned silence as the bully clutched her face.

One of the bullies found her voice, "Are you crazy? Do you know who we are?!"

Ye Jin's gaze swept over the remaining girls."Then do you know who I f*cking am?" Ye Jin muttered, her fists and feet moving with precision, leaving no room for retaliation.

She pinned one of the bullies to the ground and slapped her across the face.

"How dare…"

SLAP.

"Aghh…"

SLAP.

"Aghh…"

SLAP.

Ye Jin stood up, her eyes cold as she turned away from them, walking back to her seat as if nothing had happened.

Mei Yun, still on the floor, looked up at Ye Jin with a mix of gratitude and awe. She scrambled to her feet and hurried over.

"Thank you for helping me," she said, her voice trembling.

Ye Jin didn't look at her. "I didn't do it for you," she said flatly.

She did it for herself. She had really wanted to ignore the whole situation because she knew that if she intervened, she might enter a whole entanglement as she would be fighting people who held power and were capable of subduing her since she lacked the power, connections, and resources she once had. But what they had said had triggered her memory and that of the original owner. They had both lost their parents, and they both had endured those kinds of taunts.

"But you still helped me," Mei Yun said softly. "That's what matters."

Ye Jin finally turned to look at her. Mei Yun's sincerity was clear in her eyes. It reminded her of a certain person. But he was now dead, and he haunted her in her dreams.

Mei Yun noticed Ye Jin's book open on her desk. On the book were scribbles, cancellations, and totally wrong series of equations.

Mei Yun asked, "Are you having trouble with the math?"

Ye Jin hesitated a bit, then nodded.

Mei Yun smiled. "I can help you if you'd like."

For a moment, Ye Jin considered refusing. But then she sighed and nodded. "Fine."

As Mei Yun sat down next to her, Ye Jin couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie.

Maybe she won't be so lonely after all.

"Ye Jin, the principal is calling for you."