The morning sun was golden and gentle, filtering through the treetops like blessings from the heavens. Birds sang softly, and the air held the fresh scent of dew and pine. But despite the peaceful setting, tension pulsed like electricity through the summer camp.
Whispers followed Song Mei like shadows. Heads turned when she passed, only to pretend indifference when her cold eyes swept across them. Last night's bonfire confession still echoed through the camp like an aftershock.
"If I had to name someone I hated most in this life… it would be my so-called family. And above all—my sister, Song Ning."
No one had expected her to be so bold. So unapologetically honest.
Even now, students shifted uncomfortably when she walked into view. The carefully maintained social balance had been shattered by her words.
She sat near the edge of camp, under a tree, notebook in hand—but her pen barely moved. Thoughts buzzed in her mind louder than any insect in the forest.
Until a shadow fell over her.
"Song Mei."
She looked up. Not Song Ning. Lin Jia, Song Ning's ever-loyal friend.
"Whatever you think you accomplished last night," Lin Jia said coldly, "you only succeeded in humiliating Ningning. She didn't deserve that."
Song Mei's eyes flicked back to her notebook. "Then maybe she should have stayed in her golden palace and not pretended to care about a sister she never protected."
"She cares more than you think," Lin Jia hissed. "You hate her because she's loved."
"No," Song Mei said, snapping the notebook shut. "I hate her because she pretends that love makes everything okay."
Lin Jia blinked, taken aback.
"She watched me being crushed by her family's favoritism and still smiled at me like we were equals. We were never equals. She had everything handed to her. I had to crawl for scraps of affection."
Lin Jia opened her mouth, but no words came.
"Go back to her," Song Mei said. "Keep playing the kind defender. But don't expect me to play along."
And with that, she turned away.
Later, when the hiking groups were announced, Song Mei found herself assigned to the same trail as Lin Jia, Song Ning, and several other students from prominent families. Song Ning looked up with her usual innocent, grateful smile.
"I'm so happy we're in the same group, Meimei," she said gently.
Song Mei paused. Her eyes glinted. but just turned around as she didn't want to face song ning at all.
As they trekked into the woods, sunlight broke through the canopy in golden shards. The scent of pine was thick, but the air felt heavier the deeper they walked.
Song Mei hung at the back of the group, her mind a whirlpool of old pain.
The trail was familiar. Too familiar.
Her steps slowed.
This is it.
The path from her past life.
The cliff up ahead was the same one where, years ago, Song Ning had fallen—where everyone had accused her of pushing her.
As the group moved ahead, Song Mei heard hushed voices just off the trail. Three girls, whispering behind a tree.
Curious, or maybe cautious, she moved closer—silent as a shadow through the trees, her senses on high alert.
Then she heard it.
"Song Lei said to just teach her a lesson. But honestly, if we push her enough... maybe she'll snap and do something stupid."
It was a girl's voice—sharp, smug.
Another voice responded. "You mean provoke her into doing something to Song Ning?"
"Exactly," the first voice replied, full of twisted satisfaction. "You all know what always happens right? Song Mei pushed Ning down the cliff in anger. She can do it again."
Song Mei's blood ran cold.
They're trying to frame me.
There were three girls—Jiang Shixue, the leader, and her two loyal shadows. They were in the same grade, and she'd noticed them often trailing behind Song Lei like hopeful puppies.
Jiang Shixue continued, "So here's the plan. We push her buttons, make her lose her cool—just like before. She gets angry. She snaps. She pushes Song Ning—boom. Then we act like the heroes, rush in and 'save' Ning."
The second girl hesitated. "But what if Song Lei finds out? He might be upset if Ning gets hurt. She is his cousin, after all."
Jiang Shixue laughed. "That's why Ning won't actually fall. We won't let it go that far. Just enough to make Song Mei look like a ticking time bomb."
"And what do we get from this?"
Jiang Shixue's tone turned giddy. "Think about it. I 'save' Song Ning, become the talk of the camp, and most importantly, Song Lei sees me as brave and dependable. He already notices me—this will seal it."
The third girl giggled. "You really think he'll fall for you after this?"
"Oh, he will," Jiang Shixue said confidently. "And Song Mei? Her reputation will be destroyed again. No more mysterious beauty. Just the same crazy villain as always."
Song Mei had heard enough.
She remained hidden, her breath shallow. Their laughter chilled her to the bone.
"After what she said last night, no one will even doubt us."
"I can already hear Song Lei saying, 'Good job protecting your cousin from that troublemaker.'"
Song Mei's vision went red.
So this was it.
Even now, in this new life—this second chance—they were trying to paint her as a monster. Still trying to make her the villain in Song Ning's fairytale.
Silently, she pulled out her phone, already recording.
Her heart pounded—not with fear, but fury. Fury at Song Lei for enabling this. Fury at Jiang Shixue for using Song Ning as a pawn. And fury at the fact that everyone still saw her as the villain.
She waited until the girls walked away, still laughing, before stepping out from behind the trees.
She stared at the trail in fury.
They wanted to ruin her. Again.
But not this time.
She clenched her fists and stepped out from behind the tree.
But the rage simmered inside her.