The next morning, the academy buzzed with excitement.

Rumors about yesterday’s encounter between Xia Zhiwei and the Crown Prince had spread like wildfire.

—“Did you hear? Lady Xia rejected His Highness to his face!” —“She even said she had ‘moved on’! Can you believe it?” —“I heard the Crown Prince laughed! What does that mean?!”

Inside the elegant tea pavilion, a group of noble ladies and young masters whispered among themselves, throwing quick glances at Xia Wei.

As for Bai Yueru?

She sat stiffly among them, her delicate fingers tight around her teacup, as if she hadn’t just crushed her favorite snack into dust.

“Oh my, Lady Bai, you don’t look well,” Xia Wei said, setting down her tea with an innocent blink. “Are you ill? Or… did something upset you?”

Bai Yueru’s smile was stiff. “Not at all.”

Not at all?

Not at all?!

She had been losing sleep over this villainess, and Xia Zhiwei still had the audacity to act innocent?!

Bai Yueru took a deep breath. No. She wouldn’t let this get to her.

She was the heroine—gentle, kind, and universally adored. She had spent her whole life crafting the perfect reputation.

And she would not let Xia Zhiwei ruin it.

“Actually, Lady Xia,” Bai Yueru said, voice gentle, “I was only worried about you.”

“Oh?” Xia Wei’s lips curled slightly.

“Yes.” Bai Yueru let out a small sigh, her expression carefully sorrowful. “After all, you once loved the Crown Prince deeply. If you are truly ‘moving on’ as you claim, then I can only pray that your heart will not suffer too much pain.”

—Whisper, whisper.—

“Lady Bai is so kind… Even to her rival…”

“Truly, a noble heart…”

Xia Wei almost rolled her eyes.

This again?

Bai Yueru loved playing the misunderstood saint, painting herself as the fragile beauty who never wished harm on anyone.

Unfortunately for her—Xia Wei was already three steps ahead.

She sighed dramatically, shaking her head.

“Oh, Lady Bai…” she murmured, voice full of deep regret.

Bai Yueru’s brow twitched. “Yes?”

Xia Wei looked up at her with clear, sorrowful eyes.

“You must be terribly heartbroken.”

Bai Yueru froze. “What?”

Xia Wei tilted her head, as if pitying her. “Loving someone who does not love you back… It must be difficult.”

—WHISPER. WHISPER.—

“Wait—what does she mean?” “…Isn’t Lady Bai the one His Highness favors?” “…But why does Lady Xia sound so sad for her?”

Bai Yueru’s face darkened.

“That’s not what I—”

“Ah.” Xia Wei suddenly gasped, covering her mouth with a soft, understanding smile. “Could it be…?”

She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice just enough that everyone still heard her.

“Lady Bai… have you still not won His Highness’s heart?”

—Silence.—

Bai Yueru’s mind went blank.

What?!

WHAT?!?!

—WHISPER. WHISPER.—

“…Wait, that’s true! His Highness has never formally announced Lady Bai as his choice…” “…And yesterday, he left the garden with Lady Xia…” “…Then… has Lady Bai been chasing him all this time?”

Bai Yueru felt the stares.

She could already see the rumors forming in their minds—the humiliation building.

No. No, no, no!

Xia Zhiwei just flipped the entire narrative!

Before Bai Yueru could react, a low chuckle sounded from behind.

“I see you’re enjoying yourselves, Lady Xia.”

The voice was familiar.

The crowd shifted.

And standing there, in all his golden-robed, sharp-eyed glory, was—

Crown Prince Li Xuan.

And he was smirking.

—

The Crown Prince’s Mischief

“Your Highness!” Bai Yueru immediately stood, bowing gracefully, hoping to regain some control.

Xia Wei, however, stayed seated.

She merely gave the prince a small, polite nod, as if his presence was no more surprising than a passing breeze.

Li Xuan’s gaze flickered.

Ah.

She wasn’t desperate for his attention anymore.

How… interesting.

The whispers only grew louder as he walked closer, his sharp golden eyes assessing the situation.

He glanced at Bai Yueru, then at Xia Wei, before speaking lightly—

“Apologies, Lady Xia, I couldn’t help but overhear your earlier conversation.”

“Oh?” Xia Wei arched a delicate brow. “Did something in particular interest you, Your Highness?”

His lips curved slightly.

“Just your deep concern for Lady Bai.”

Bai Yueru stiffened.

But Li Xuan was still looking at Xia Wei, his voice mocking.

“I never knew you were such a kind soul.”

A few people laughed.

Bai Yueru’s face burned.

Xia Wei, meanwhile, sighed softly and placed a hand over her chest.

“Well, Your Highness,” she said, voice gentle, “I can’t help but empathize.”

“Oh?”

She tilted her head, looking at Bai Yueru with deep pity.

“After all, I know what it’s like to waste years chasing a man who never loved me back.”

—GASP.—

Li Xuan let out a low chuckle.

Bai Yueru’s world shattered.

The whispers around them turned into full conversations.

“…Wait… Was Lady Xia… actually pitying Lady Bai all this time?” “…Isn’t that even worse?!” “…So Lady Bai has been chasing the Crown Prince all these years, but he still hasn’t given her a title?”

Bai Yueru gritted her teeth.

She wanted to scream.

She wanted to slap that fake, innocent smile off Xia Zhiwei’s face!

But she couldn’t.

She could only sit there, her reputation crumbling while Li Xuan—

Li Xuan was smiling.

And watching Xia Wei.

With a dangerous glint in his eyes.

—

End of Chapter 8

(Small theater)

Xia Wei: Step six: Destroy the heroine’s reputation? ✅ Bai Yueru: This isn’t happening. This isn’t happening. THIS ISN’T— Li Xuan: The more she ignores me, the more I want to lock her up… Interesting.

—

Sky~