Chapter 4

The discipline office was packed.

Mom and Dad sat on the principal's left. Mom's eyes were red, gripping my hand so tight her knuckles were white. Dad's face was grim, not saying a word, but I could tell he was holding back rage.

The seats on the principal's right were empty—Derek's parents hadn't arrived yet. Derek hid behind his group of troublemakers.

Ms. Smith sat in a chair nearby, head wrapped in gauze with blood seeping through. She refused to go to the hospital, insisting on staying to "watch this delinquent student be dealt with."

The principal sat behind his desk, Mr. Anderson standing beside him.

Several class officers stood behind me, along with some classmates who'd helped shield me—boys and girls, not one had left.

The door burst open.

Derek's dad stormed in holding up his phone—the screen showing a live stream, comments flooding past. His mom followed, immediately rushing to Derek and crying:

"My baby! My baby, are you okay?! Mommy's here, don't be scared!"

Derek's lip quivered and he burst into tears, mother and son crying together.

His dad swept the phone camera around the discipline office, finally shoving it in my face.

"Everyone look! This girl right here—she attacked my son! My Derek is only ten years old, and she beat him black and blue!"

The comments went wild:

【Who is this girl, acting so tough】

【Beating up an elementary kid, shameless】

【Call her parents in】

【No home training, she'll never find a husband】

...

Mom couldn't take it anymore, standing up abruptly. "What are you doing?!"

Derek's mom whirled around, first rattling off a string of curses in dialect, then wailing: "What am I doing?! My son was beaten by your daughter—I'm here for justice! Look at my son—fingers bent like that, knees covered in bruises—is your daughter even human?!"

Ms. Smith clutched her forehead, looking weak, and staggered toward the camera.

"Mr. Walsh, Mrs. Walsh, please calm down. The school will handle this..."

She paused, eyes suddenly welling up, voice choking.

"Actually, I noticed problems with Madison from the start. First day of school I could tell something was off—dressing up all flashy, always hanging around the boys. Today you saw what happened—she led a gang of male students to fight, beat Derek like this, and when I tried to intervene, she attacked me with a flower pot!"

She pointed at her head, gauze stained with blood.

"I've been teaching for fifteen years. I've never seen a student like this—rotten to the core, completely out of control!"

The comments exploded:

【Holy shit she attacked a teacher?!】

【Expel her! She has to be expelled!】

【Abnormal kids should be sent to special schools, why should they be allowed to harm normal teachers and students!】

I stared coldly at Ms. Smith's performance, unconsciously running my tongue over my canine teeth.

How could... how could anyone be so viciously jealous of someone?

From the first day of school, I'd noticed Ms. Smith had it out for me.

That day I wore my new school uniform—skirt to the knees, hair in a ponytail, standing in the middle of the line. She suddenly walked over, looked me up and down, and said sarcastically, "Did you shorten your skirt?"

I looked down at my skirt and everyone else's, not understanding how anyone could be this blind.

"No."

She snorted, warning me she'd be watching me, telling me not to pull that kind of trick.

Later I learned she disliked me because of my mom.

The day I registered, Mom came with me, wearing a floral dress and light makeup.

Ms. Smith was at the door greeting people. Mom smiled and said hello. She smiled back, all fake.

Once we were far enough away, I heard her tell another teacher: "You can tell she's not a decent person, dressing like that. The daughter's probably no better."

I didn't tell Mom what she said.

But I remembered it.

The first week of school, I was made Chinese class representative—personally appointed by Ms. Smith.

I thought it was a good sign.

Later I realized she just wanted someone easy to push around.