As the eldest daughter of the Xia Family and the campus belle of Jiangcheng University, Xia Miao was naturally the center of attention.
Every day when she walked into the classroom, her sycophants would scramble to offer her the best seat, treating her like a queen surrounded by admirers.
Today, Xia Miao wore a bright yellow dress—a new-season piece from a luxury brand. From the crystal hairpin nestled in her seaweed-like tresses to the diamond-studded necklace around her neck and the bracelet on her wrist, everything about her screamed extravagance. The moment she appeared in her petite heels, she radiated an unapologetic aura of opulence.
The young mistress was dazzling, almost painfully so. Though many whispered behind her back about her ostentatiousness, no one could deny she was born with a princess’s fortune.
"Miao Miao, this is the best seat—I saved it just for you! Come sit here!"
Surrounded by her entourage, Xia Miao strode to the middle row but didn’t immediately sit down. Instead, she cast a glance at the chair.
Someone quickly caught on, pulling out tissues to wipe the seat until it gleamed.
"All clean! Not a speck of dust—it won’t dirty your dress, Miao Miao!" the sycophant beamed.
Only then did Xia Miao leisurely take her seat, crossing her right leg over her left. She lifted a hand to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her arched brows and haughty gaze exuding an air of superiority.
"Not bad." She pulled a few tickets from her bag. "Share these among yourselves."
Luo Xiaoluo shrieked in excitement, "They’re tickets to Li Zhijue’s concert! We couldn’t even snag one, but Miao Miao just casually has so many!"
Others chimed in, equally thrilled, "We were about to pay scalpers for terrible seats!"
"And Miao Miao’s tickets are for the best spots!"
Xia Miao leaned back comfortably in her chair, swinging one foot lazily. Her beautiful eyes curved with pride. "Tickets? I can get as many as I want. If word got out that my besties had to sit in the nosebleed section, it’d be my reputation on the line."
"Miao Miao, you’re the best!"
"You’re literally my goddess!"
"What would I do without you?!"
"Ugh, being your bestie is the luckiest thing ever!"
The chorus of flattery was as over-the-top as Xia Miao’s own flamboyance. Onlookers didn’t find it insincere—just unbearably enviable.
Xia Miao was infamous at school for being high-maintenance. Self-centered and disdainful, she looked down on everyone, yet people lined up to be her lackeys.
Rumor had it that once, someone complimented her hair, and their meal card was loaded with a decade’s worth of credit.
Another remarked on her flawless skin, calling her a fairy—and suddenly received an internship offer from the Xia Family’s company.
Then there was the senior who declared that if perfection existed, it would be named Xia Miao. Soon after, the struggling graduate received a massive investment for her startup.
And now, tickets to Li Zhijue’s sold-out concert—snapped up in seconds—were being handed out like candy to her "besties."
So, was being Xia Miao’s lackey really just being a lackey?
No. It was providing emotional value to the young mistress and boosting economic growth.
But Xia Miao’s standards were sky-high—not just anyone could be her "bestie."
Noticing Xia Miao’s boredom, Luo Xiaoluo waved dismissively. "Miao Miao wants to rest. Everyone, back to your seats!"
Instantly, the fangirls fell silent and scattered in perfect order.
Without sharp observational skills, one couldn’t hope to be Xia Miao’s "bestie." It wasn’t a job for amateurs.
Luo Xiaoluo sat beside Xia Miao, gossiping about the latest news. "I heard our class is getting a transfer student."
Xia Miao pulled out a compact, adjusting her hair. "Boy or girl? Attractive?"
"A boy. They say he’s... unforgettable at first sight."
Xia Miao perked up. "Unforgettable?"
Luo Xiaoluo didn’t understand her sudden interest but nodded. "That’s what I heard."
Xia Miao set down her mirror, pulse quickening.
That damn system had tasked her with seducing a "special" man but vanished without naming names. She’d met plenty of handsome guys lately, but none fit the bill. Could this new student be her target?
Though Jiangcheng University was a college, it retained some high-school-style management.
Before class, the homeroom teacher ushered in a boy.
"Everyone, meet our new transfer student—Fu Lan." The teacher’s voice softened to a saccharine whisper. "Fu Lan, don’t be nervous. Everyone here is kind. If anyone bothers you, tell me, and I’ll make sure they regret it."
The lanky teen smiled. "Thank you, Teacher."
At his smile, the teacher’s expression grew disturbingly besotted, his obsequiousness glaringly out of place.
When the boy turned to the class, revealing his face fully, the room collectively held its breath.
He wasn’t conventionally handsome, yet his features were mesmerizing—pitch-black eyes like light-devouring voids, the corners tinged with an eerie red hue. A tear-shaped mole beneath his right eye resembled a dab of dark rouge, sending hearts racing.
"I look forward to being your classmate," he said, voice pleasant.
But as his gaze swept over the room’s hungry stares, the curve of his eyes dripped with mockery. Malice clung to him, thick enough to manifest—black streaks oozing from his smiling eyes, tracing his tear mole, as if his pale face might fracture into grotesque distortions any second.
Xia Miao did remember him instantly. But soon, irritation prickled—everyone’s attention had been stolen!
Arms crossed, she glowered, eyes sharp with rivalry.
At that moment, the young man also noticed the center of attention in the class. His gaze met Xia Miao's, and after glancing at the sycophants surrounding her from all sides, he flashed a pure, innocent smile.
