Chapter Forty-Two: The Woman Jealous of Flowers

Just as Class One was ignited with a flurry of discussion about Xiao Lin's ascent to the Cloud Ranking, in the classroom of Class Five, a single heart was ablaze with jealousy, burning hotter than a thousand fires. Meng Ranjan stared at the pink letter in her hand, her face twisted into a terrifying grimace. With a sharp snap, she crushed the letter into a ball and hurled it to the floor, stomping it twice for good measure, as if such violence could trample Wang Yuqing—the one who had stolen her title of campus belle—underfoot.

"Wang Yuqing, you really have some nerve, daring to take my place. Those idiots on the review committee must have lost their minds—a new generation of campus belle, indeed. Wang Yuqing, you wretched woman, what right do you have to be called campus belle? Only I, Meng Ranjan, am worthy of that title!"

At this moment, Meng Ranjan felt murderous intent toward Wang Yuqing. She had been pampered since childhood, with a privileged background, top grades, and striking beauty. Boys pursuing her could have lined three streets, and this had fostered her arrogant, self-important nature. In her eyes, everyone should revolve around her; she was born superior. Before Wang Yuqing transferred in, Meng Ranjan believed that no other girl in Innovation High could compare to her—at least, in her own view. She had always held the top spot on the campus belle list, strutting through school daily with the pride of a swan, even walking on tiptoe.

But after Wang Yuqing arrived, it took only a few days for rumors to reach her ears—a beautiful girl had transferred into Class One. Meng Ranjan dismissed such talk, convinced those people lacked taste; they called any girl pretty. And even if Wang Yuqing was attractive, surely she couldn't surpass Meng Ranjan.

Later, Wang Yuqing went to the broadcast station to find Liu Minru. The first time Meng Ranjan saw her, she was surprised to find that Wang Yuqing’s looks truly matched her own. What shocked her even more was Wang Yuqing’s recitation of a poem—she and Liu Minru were both swept up in the poem’s evocative atmosphere. Yet as she regained her composure, she heard Liu Minru praise Wang Yuqing, which made her deeply uncomfortable. Then Gao Zheng arrived, treating Meng Ranjan with indifference but showing warmth to Wang Yuqing, which fueled her resentment. Meng Ranjan liked Gao Zheng—he was handsome, cultivated, from a distinguished family, the very model of a perfect prince.

Then came the lecture. When Yan Zheng announced he needed outstanding student representatives, the students below shouted, "Gao Zheng! Meng Ranjan!" Her heart soared, and she straightened her clothes, preparing to take the stage. Suddenly, a few students began calling for Wang Yuqing, and their voices grew until her own name was drowned out. Wang Yuqing took the stage, standing with poise and grace, winning a chorus of howls from the boys below. Meng Ranjan left the auditorium with a dark expression.

On the mock exam, Wang Yuqing ranked second in the whole school, once again overshadowing Meng Ranjan. Then came the turnover in the campus belle ranking. The most unbearable blow was that Meng Ranjan didn’t even make the list, and she was convinced Wang Yuqing had done it on purpose, provoking her. Wang Yuqing had come to Innovation High solely to steal her place—how could Meng Ranjan possibly accept this?

Everyone in Class Five was discussing the latest rankings from various lists, occasionally glancing in her direction. Meng Ranjan met those strange looks, gritting her teeth so hard her silver molars crackled.

"Hey, Ranjan, how did they decide the rankings this time? Is there some shady business going on? Otherwise, how could a new transfer snatch the campus belle title?" A girl with an oval face and freckles, Zhang Lili, spoke to Meng Ranjan.

Zhang Lili was one of Meng Ranjan’s followers—petty and narrow-minded, always her staunch supporter.

"Hmph, no one can take anything from me. Who does she think she is?" Meng Ranjan turned, her voice venomous.

Zhang Lili shrank back, intimidated by Meng Ranjan’s fierce demeanor. Despite her ladylike appearance, Meng Ranjan could be ruthless, disowning friends and family when angered. Zhang Lili spoke softly, "So, Ranjan, what will you do? Should we call a few girls?" She gestured, implying they should rough up Wang Yuqing.

"Beat her up? Hmph, that’s far too lenient. I want her to remember forever that Meng Ranjan is not to be trifled with. I want to ruin her reputation so she can’t stay at Innovation High." Meng Ranjan waved Zhang Lili off with a sinister look. She no longer resembled a beauty, but rather a scheming villain.

"Hey, Lili, who’s the biggest troublemaker at our school right now?" Meng Ranjan asked.

"The biggest troublemaker?" Zhang Lili pondered, then recalled someone. "It must be Sun Feifei."

"Sun Feifei." The name conjured an image of a sharp-faced, monkey-like boy in Meng Ranjan’s mind.

"Ugh, him," Zhang Lili sneered, clearly unimpressed.

"Ranjan, I heard he has connections with street thugs," Zhang Lili added.

Upon hearing this, Meng Ranjan’s eyes lit up—connections with thugs suited her plan perfectly. She remembered Sun Feifei once slipped her a love letter, but in her arrogance, she hadn’t even glanced at it before tossing it in the trash. "Heh, looks like it’s time to find him."

"Ranjan, why do you want him?" Zhang Lili asked, puzzled.

"You don’t need to know. Just follow me when the time comes, and call Liu Fang to come with us to Class Thirteen to find Sun Feifei—he’s in Class Thirteen, right?" Meng Ranjan didn’t explain.

"Alright, got it. Yes, Sun Feifei is in Class Thirteen," Zhang Lili replied. Though she was curious about Meng Ranjan’s intentions, she dared not ask further, suspecting it involved Wang Yuqing.

Meanwhile, Wang Yuqing sat in her classroom, unaware that a plot against her was quietly unfolding. Gentle by nature, she could never have imagined that she had unwittingly offended Meng Ranjan. She still thought well of Meng Ranjan, since they both worked at the broadcast station. Yet sometimes, trouble appears before you realize it—whether you intend it or not, there are always people in this world who refuse to be reasonable.