After stepping out of the bathroom, Lilith flopped onto her bed and stared at the ceiling above her, her mind calm despite the strange and confusing situation. While it raised many questions, she wasn’t particularly eager to understand it. There were countless things she couldn’t explain, and this was just another one to add to the list. Since her rebirth and the strange ability to see the identities and characteristics of others, she had grown far more tolerant of the bizarre. Her ability to be surprised had diminished considerably. Even if the news suddenly announced an alien invasion, with extraterrestrials abducting humans for experiments, Lilith would simply roll her eyes, unbothered. A sense of pride swelled inside her. In the past few days, she had been sleeping soundly, free from strange dreams, waking up every morning feeling refreshed and at ease. To avoid running into Winona again in the study, Lilith decided to make a list of the books she needed to read. She planned to gather them from the study and bring them back to her room. She didn’t run into Winona that time. In fact, the Joneses had multiple studies, and the one she typically used felt more like a formal library or archive. The chances of encountering Winona were slim. They didn’t even live in the same villa, and reaching Winona’s main building required walking through a vast garden and courtyard. The incident she’d experienced before was probably just a coincidence. So, Lilith gathered the books and returned to her room, ensuring nothing was left to chance. She lay on the carpet, reading quietly. The curtains were still open, and the room was cool from the air conditioning. Outside, the sun beat down fiercely on the glass windows, and the harsh light made Lilith’s vision blur. She shifted, taking a sip of watermelon juice, then adjusted her position, settling back onto the carpet, feeling utterly content. It was a peaceful life, and Lilith couldn’t help but wish it would last forever. Then, an idea suddenly struck her. She jumped up from the floor in a rush, almost knocking over the glass of juice and the fruit plate on the low table beside her. Grabbing her phone, she opened the website, typing in her name and ID number. As the page loaded, a wave of dizziness hit her. Maybe too many people were trying to access the site at once, causing a delay. After a short wait, the familiar interface finally appeared. Lilith focused, checking her scores and rankings. She stood there, frozen for a few seconds, before bursting out laughing. How ridiculous. She wasn’t sure whether to feel amused or frustrated. If only she had stayed awake for a few more minutes during the exam, she could have finished a major question and boosted her rank by over a hundred places. She remembered the painful bite marks she had left on her arm from the stress of the exam. Looking at her arm now, she noticed they had faded with time. She scrolled through her phone, double-checking her scores to confirm their accuracy. Though still not great, it was a noticeable improvement. With a deep sigh, Lilith closed her phone and flopped back onto her bed. The sunlight streamed through the window, blinding her and making her squint in discomfort. She should be content, but a part of her sadly longed for more moments of clarity like this. If only she had more of them, maybe things would have turned out differently. Maybe she wouldn’t have felt so embarrassed, like someone with no talent, no future, and no hope of ever improving. Lilith had once attended a prestigious private high school, known for its high success rate of students advancing to top universities. Most of her classmates were either wealthy or influential, with a small handful earning their spots purely through academic excellence. Lilith could easily picture herself blending into the school, unnoticed by most. However, that wasn’t what concerned her. What truly weighed on her mind was the vivid image of the various versions of the main characters—both the protagonists and the extraordinary side characters—who were bound to appear. Even the smallest of background characters, she knew, would stand out and be far superior to her own role as a mere supporting figure. Given her academic record, Lilith would never have been accepted into such an elite institution on her own merit. But her family’s status, even in a school of this caliber, was undeniable. To spare the Joneses from further embarrassment, Adrian had easily secured her a place at the school, enrolling her in the highest class with a mere snap of his fingers. For the next three years, Lilith would go largely unnoticed, with few true friends and even fewer happy memories. While there were many unpleasant experiences, Lilith had learned the art of selective memory—choosing to forget them before they could weigh too heavily on her. She had no intention of continuing in this fashion. Lilith had resolved to seek out a more ordinary school, even if it meant moving far away from home. The future was uncertain, but it was a change she could welcome. Sometimes, the only way to stop something from happening is to start fresh. With only days left before the new term began, the Joneses had finally returned from their vacation at the seaside. Lilith had no idea what Adrian and Catiana had planned for her school arrangements. Her heart raced with anxiety as she made her way down the long hallway, eventually pushing open the door. The family’s butler, Joe, gave her a courteous nod. The living room was empty, likely because dinner was still being served. Lilith sat down on the couch, feeling like an uninvited guest in her own home. About 20 minutes later, the dinner was over. Hadden was missing, probably tied up with business at the company. Since his time in college, he had become heavily involved in the family’s corporate affairs, now holding significant influence in the business world. Garrick, on the other hand, was nowhere to be seen, probably off indulging in some pursuit of pleasure. A large chandelier hung above, its crystal lights throwing beams in every direction, sharpening the features of everyone beneath it. The light seemed to accentuate the sharpness of their faces, making them appear more imposing. Lilith nervously twiddled her fingers, then slowly stood up and walked toward Adrian. When she was about three feet away, Adrian, clearly irritated, spoke first, “What is it?” She paused in place, gathering her thoughts before replying. “School starts soon. I wanted to ask … where will I be going?” “Gleamwich High.” “Can I go to another school? I think a regular one would be—” Before she could finish her thought, Adrian interrupted her. “No.” As expected. For the sake of appearances—both for the Jones and Payne families—she could never be allowed to attend a simple, lesser-ranked school. Even if she amounted to nothing, her family’s reputation had to be upheld. “Then can I change to a different class?” Lilith persisted, her voice soft. “Just put me in a regular class.” “No.” It was Catiana’s voice, firm and unwavering. Despite the repeated rejection, Lilith maintained her composure, her face calm and her posture straight. She met Adrian and Catiana’s gaze directly. “Why?” she asked, her voice steady but carrying an edge. The room fell into silence. With Winona and Alexis having already retreated upstairs, only the three of them remained. The soft ticking of the old wall clock filled the quiet space, its rhythm marking the passage of time. Taken aback by Lilith’s boldness, Catiana’s patience wore thin, and her tone grew colder. “There’s no reason.” Lilith wasn’t satisfied with this vague response. For the first time in a long while, defiance flared within her—strong and unrelenting. “I want a real explanation. If you can’t give me one, then please grant my request. If not, I’ll go to the homeroom teacher during enrollment and apply for a classroom change myself.” She finished in one breath, an unfamiliar tightness in her chest. With a slight bow, she turned and walked out of the room without looking back.