After I Died, The Little White Flower Heroine Went Mad - Chapter 4

Who?

Hearing the questioning voice from outside the door, Li Zhu, seated at her desk, was a little surprised and instinctively turned toward the entrance.

Before her eyes landed on the person at the door, however, she remembered the plot first.

The CG had not shown much of this incident, only summarizing it in a few images, so it took her a moment to connect the dots. Only now did she recall this part of the story and realize who that unfriendly voice belonged to.

It should be that person—the one who had come to stand up for Bai Wei.

As Li Zhu thought this, her gaze had already reached the classroom’s back door. Sure enough, in the faint light at the doorway, the person walking in with irritation suppressed in her expression and her brows slightly furrowed was exactly who Li Zhu expected.

Another member of K3 besides Gu Xing. One of the three top nobles in the school. The eldest young lady of the Hua family, Hua Yi.

The Hua Yi who had recently been helping Bai Wei both openly and secretly.

And also the Hua Yi who had caused “Li Zhu” to target Bai Wei.

She truly lived up to such a pleasant-sounding name. Hua Yi was very beautiful.

She was tall, with exquisite features, and a pair of affectionate peach-blossom eyes on her face. They seemed both heartless and full of feeling, as if she looked deeply in love no matter who she looked at. Even now, when she was clearly irritated and angry, she was still incredibly attractive.

Compared with Li Zhu, who was always dressed in her black uniform jacket, cold and proper, Hua Yi was only wearing the white shirt underneath. The top two buttons were undone, and the loosely slanted tie swayed lightly with her movements, brushing past her waist. It made the pampered nobility around her seem filled with a lazy kind of charm.

The only thing slightly strange was…

Li Zhu’s quietly observing gaze shifted down a little, sweeping over Hua Yi’s hands hanging beside her uniform skirt. It was late September now, and the weather was still rather warm, yet this person wore a pair of exquisite black leather gloves that wrapped her hands tightly.

They really stood out.

Why?

A hobby? Germophobia? Was she just trying to look cool? Or was there some hidden reason behind it?

As Li Zhu thought this, the world suddenly froze.

When an important character appeared for the first time, they were always accompanied by their character introduction. Hua Yi’s character card had appeared.

A glowing white card outlined in gold popped out, landing in this world that had been paused and floating beside Hua Yi, who was walking over with a frown.

[Name: Hua Yi]

[Identity: Noble student at Nyx Academy]

[Personality: A frivolous, flirtatious butterfly]

After reading it, Li Zhu lightly touched it with her gaze, making the card flip over. On the back, which was completely dark in contrast to the front, was written:

[Can even a butterfly have one true love?]

Ew.

Li Zhu’s brow twitched the moment she saw it.

She thought, Surely not. Could it really be exactly as she had guessed, some tacky old-school story about the campus tyrants falling in love with me? Something like, the K3 young ladies who once looked down on my commoner status now regret it and chase me like mad?

Speaking of which, what exactly did this K3 that had been mentioned so many times mean?

Li Zhu understood it as something similar to the F4 in her own world, but with some differences. To understand it clearly, she first had to understand the story’s background.

The story took place at Nyx Academy, located in the heart of the nine provinces of the Holy Night Empire: Central Province.

The Holy Night Empire’s system of government was a constitutional monarchy, so kings, prime ministers, nobles, and parliament all coexisted within the empire.

Its capital, Central Province, was an extremely important political center, as well as a gathering place for nobles, ministers, and political elites.

Nyx, meanwhile, was the gathering place for the children of those nobles and elites. It was the top noble academy in the Holy Night Empire.

So calling Nyx a noble academy was truly not a joke. Most of the students inside were indeed descendants of noble families.

With nobles gathered together, and with some years even having royal children among them, it was naturally destined that this school could not possibly treat everyone equally.

The moment students stepped onto campus, they were already divided into different ranks like a pyramid because of factors such as family power.

The most obvious boundary of class division—and also the clearest form of clique-forming—was the various clubs inside the school.

The so-called K, whose full name was KILLER, was precisely the club at the very top of Nyx’s pyramid.

In the early days after Nyx was founded, it had been created by several of the school’s highest-ranking nobles. It was the most elite club, and every member not only had a prestigious background, but was also extraordinarily gifted.

It represented the glory of those who came before, passed down from generation to generation, and as it was passed down, it became a symbol of status and position.

To this day, K had completely become a representation of class. Only the very top nobles or people with exceptional ability could join the club.

At the same time, its members also enjoyed the highest privileges.

For example, being able to enter K was itself a kind of glory. For another, club members could use it to access more connections and exchange benefits. Their authority was great enough to mobilize school resources at will, and small enough to casually enjoy the rooftop garden restaurant whenever they wanted.

As for those poor students… to put it politely, they were called special-admissions students. They could only eat on the basement level.

By the time it reached “Li Zhu’s” year, the three most prestigious members of K were Gu Xing, Hua Yi, and Wen Yan. That was why they were called K3.

The remaining club members were neither many nor few, and like a pyramid, they were further divided into layers. “Li Zhu’s” family background was slightly lower, so she counted as second-tier. Li Nali could just barely squeeze into the second tier as well.

Qian Duo, by relying on her position as a lackey, had managed to get into the very bottom tier. That was already enough for her to be proud of, because even more people did not have the qualifications to enter K at all.

From this, one could also see just how bold Bai Wei, a special-admissions student from the slums, had been to dare clash with Gu Xing right after entering school.

In fact, at first, this matter had nothing to do with Bai Wei. A special-admissions student in the same class as her had caused trouble by accidentally spilling a drink on Gu Xing, dirtying Gu Xing’s clothes—especially her shoes.

Miss Gu was famously insane. Her expression immediately darkened. She did not demand that the girl pay money. Instead, she wanted the girl to kneel down and wipe her shoes clean bit by bit.

Who could have expected someone to charge in halfway through like an unexpected hero? Bai Wei could not bear to see a girl being forced to kneel, and even more so, she could not stand the ugly faces of these nobles standing high above others and humiliating people. She rushed over, pulled the girl up, and harshly scolded Gu Xing.

Fortunately, the class bell rang then. The always-strict Professor Zheng Zhengrong was about to arrive, so the battle that had been on the verge of erupting was temporarily stopped.

But the grudge had been thoroughly formed.

Gu Xing’s personality was tyrannical. After being scolded by Bai Wei in front of so many people, of course she would not easily let this bold special-admissions student off. She immediately began looking for trouble with Bai Wei.

After that came her group of admirers, who joined in bullying Bai Wei in order to curry favor with Gu Xing.

No one helped Bai Wei, and no one dared help Bai Wei.

Most people watched the show. The rest watched coldly or timidly.

Until one night, when Bai Wei was bullied again and maliciously locked in the library. There, she unexpectedly encountered Hua Yi, who had also been mistakenly locked inside. Only then did things begin to gradually change.

That night, the two of them did not talk. They simply sat alone, as if on opposite ends of the world, peacefully coexisting for a period of time.

But after that, Hua Yi would help Bai Wei out, intentionally or unintentionally.

It was only to that extent.

But it still provoked the dissatisfaction of Hua Yi’s childhood friend, “Li Zhu.”

“Li Zhu” was someone with an extremely strong possessive streak. Whatever she considered hers, she had to hold tightly in her hands.

Unfortunately, Hua Yi had a flirtatious personality, so “Li Zhu” always tried to control Hua Yi and threatened those who dared approach her.

This time, seeing that Hua Yi had changed tastes and was actually paying attention to a commoner, “Li Zhu” felt disdain in her heart, and of course she would not let Bai Wei off.

Thus came “Li Zhu’s” first warning to Bai Wei.

At the time, Bai Wei’s reaction had been indifferent. She said she and Hua Yi had nothing between them.

“Li Zhu’s” tone had been even colder as she said that was for the best. The two parted unhappily.

In the end, less than two days later, “Li Zhu” saw Bai Wei and Hua Yi chatting and laughing together.

Compared with her childhood friend’s heart changing, a paranoid person like “Li Zhu” was even more enraged that these two people actually dared ignore her words and continue interacting privately.

And so came today’s second warning in the restroom at noon.

Li Zhu, who had already replaced “Li Zhu” and become the new vicious supporting character, sat in her seat, looking at Hua Yi’s character card and the frozen scene around her while recalling the story background and the later plot.

Afterward—

Who could have expected that “Li Zhu” had only bullied Bai Wei at noon, and Hua Yi found out that very evening?

The animated CG had shown that there really was nothing between Hua Yi and Bai Wei.

It seemed Hua Yi had simply remembered that they had once been locked in together, and that this person was rather pitiful, so she had helped Bai Wei twice.

Not wanting to embarrass her friend, Hua Yi had not even helped too openly.

Yet in the end, she was still bitten and refused to be let go by this lunatic “Li Zhu”!

Hua Yi was truly very annoyed by this so-called childhood friend of hers. Ever since they were young, “Li Zhu” had been gloomy and domineering. When she wanted something, she would obtain it by any means necessary. If she could not obtain it, then even destroying it was better than letting someone else have it.

Perhaps she did not like Hua Yi at all. From beginning to end, it was only her possessiveness acting up. She was simply used to warning and attacking anyone who dared approach Hua Yi.

Hua Yi had had enough.

Before, she had cared about the relationship between their families and had not wanted to embarrass “Li Zhu.”

But her tolerance had only made “Li Zhu” go further and further overboard, so she also grew increasingly unable to endure it.

Until this time, when “Li Zhu” committed yet another excessive act. Hua Yi, who had long endured enough, finally decided she would not tolerate it anymore.

Today, Hua Yi stood out for the first time to oppose “Li Zhu.”

This was also the first time Hua Yi openly stood up to protect Bai Wei.

Only…

Seated at her desk, Li Zhu’s gaze flickered faintly as she looked at the still image of Hua Yi walking toward her, her eyes full of irritation. Li Zhu let out a soft sigh.

That sigh was for Bai Wei.

Because Hua Yi stepping out this time still did not change Bai Wei’s situation. Instead, it made Bai Wei’s circumstances even worse.

This was not because Hua Yi had no power or that her words were useless. Rather, it was caused by many different factors.

First, there was the fundamental contradiction that could not be reconciled: the conflict between nobles and commoners.

Inside the academy, people were divided into ranks. True nobles naturally looked down on commoners.

Especially when Bai Wei was not only a commoner, but a poor one. This year, third-year admissions had expanded, and she had been recruited from a slum like Taiping District—a poor person among poor people.

Second, the more noble students looked down on special-admissions students, the more they would feel: what right did a mud-legged person like Bai Wei have to receive Miss Hua Yi’s favor?

They felt Bai Wei was unworthy. They felt Bai Wei might have used some kind of trick. Naturally, they hated Bai Wei even more.

Finally, there were the twin lunatics, Gu Xing and “Li Zhu.”

Gu Xing had already formed a grudge against Bai Wei.

And as for “Li Zhu,” Hua Yi herself had said “Li Zhu” was a possessive lunatic. Could a lunatic who had been humiliated really stop? She would only go even crazier!

Gu Xing was already targeting Bai Wei, and Hua Yi’s protection would only create more disaster. “Li Zhu’s” anger had been completely ignited, not to mention there was also Wen Yan faintly mixed up in all of it.

The situation from here on out could only be described as a chaotic mess.

Fortunately, she was here now.

Li Zhu lowered her eyes and thought. Whether for selfish reasons or because she could not stand the chaos in this academy either, she would personally pull Bai Wei out of this whirlpool, hand in hand.

The things she had recalled and thought through seemed numerous, but in reality, they had merely flashed through her mind. Not much time had passed in the outside world.

At this moment, Hua Yi’s character card had only just faded away, and the whole world had only just awakened from its stillness.

The classroom’s back door was not far from Li Zhu’s seat, and the slightly angry, irritated Hua Yi was walking rather quickly. So just as the world resumed motion, in the blink of an eye, this person had already rushed up to Li Zhu.

Compared with Gu Xing’s arrogant tyranny and Wen Yan’s melancholic gentleness, Hua Yi, this elegant butterfly, did not seem irritable even when she was angry. Speaking loudly outside the door earlier had already been her limit.

Now, standing before Li Zhu with her brows lightly furrowed, the faint helpless anger in her eyes instead made them seem even more charming.

“I already told you there’s nothing between Bai Wei and me. I told you not to trouble her. Why won’t you listen?”

Her tone did not sound especially harsh, but the impatience in it was obvious.

It was currently dismissal time, and many people in the classroom had not left yet. Questioning someone like this in front of so many people, to be honest, already counted as making things difficult for her.

Li Zhu placed the book in her hand back on the desk and slowly stood up. Looking at Hua Yi, who was slightly taller than her, she did not feel much about all of this in her heart.

Although the other party was speaking to her, she still felt somewhat like an outsider and did not feel that the words were truly directed at her.

The ones who felt it more deeply were instead the onlookers. The other students in class heard the commotion and instinctively looked over.

Li Nali, on the other hand, stood firmly on Miss Li’s side. Seeing that these people’s gazes were not behaving, she lightly snapped at them, protecting Miss Li’s face.

“What are you looking at? School’s over. Did none of you grow legs? Can’t you leave?”

They really did not dare look.

Miss Hua Yi and Miss Li Zhu were actually clashing over a poor student, and it looked like they were about to argue. Who would dare watch that?

To survive at Nyx, one had to follow Nyx’s rules. The people who should be bullied could be bullied, but the excitement one should not get involved in must never be approached.

The other people in the classroom hurriedly withdrew their gazes, lowered their heads cautiously, and quickly left through the door. In an instant, they scattered completely.

Bai Wei seemed to feel that she was an outsider as well. Acting as though she had not seen this tense scene, she packed her things and was about to leave.

But when she passed by, Hua Yi stopped her.

“Bai Wei, don’t go yet.”

After saying that, Hua Yi turned her gaze to Li Zhu.

“You know very well what you did to Bai Wei at noon today.”

“Li Zhu, you’re really getting more and more excessive. Apologize to Bai Wei.”

The named Li Zhu glanced at Hua Yi, then her gaze fell on Bai Wei.

Her original intention had indeed been to apologize to Bai Wei on behalf of what had happened at noon today. But if she said sorry only after being forced like this, would that not make it seem like it was not from her heart and lacked sincerity? It would be better to find time to talk to Bai Wei privately later.

She was still thinking when she never expected Bai Wei’s voice to sound first in apology.

Seeing that she had been stopped and could not leave, Bai Wei sighed, turned around, looked at Li Zhu, and actually opened her mouth to apologize.

“There’s nothing between Hua Yi and me.”

“We’ve only met twice. We don’t even count as friends. There’s no need for you to overthink it.”

“You warned me, targeted me, locked me in the restroom, and poured water on me. That was your fault. But in this matter, since I caused the two of you to argue, that part really was my fault. I’m sorry.”

“In the future, I’ll stay away from Hua Yi. If I happen to run into her, I’ll do my best to avoid her too. You can rest assured.”

What a righteous person. What a proper and sensible few sentences.

And because of that, Li Zhu seemed all the more malicious, dark, insane, paranoid, and domineering.

The sky had completely cleared.

Sunlight shone in through the glass window behind them and fell onto Bai Wei.

Li Zhu looked at the heroine before her. Bai Wei was still gentle and beautiful. When the evening breeze brushed lightly past and made her hair flutter faintly, her bright eyes and willow-like figure made her truly seem like a soft, harmless, pure, and upright little white flower.