“Seriously? Who told you that?”
“Sarah did. Yesterday.”
…
Zayden had only stepped out to use the restroom. When he returned, Elena’s seat was empty.
He heard the girls gossiping and suddenly felt unsettled.
Elena transferred?
Why hadn’t she said anything?
“Zayden!”
Sarah came bouncing in, cheerfully making her way to his side like always.
But this time, Zayden barely noticed her.
“Zayden? What’s wrong?”
He had been zoning out. Sarah’s voice snapped him back.
“Why did Elena transfer?”
Sarah’s smile faltered. She tried to sound hurt. “Zayden, is the first thing you ask really about her? That’s not fair.”
He’d never cared about Elena before. Sarah felt uncomfortable.
Zayden, unfazed, set down the breakfast he had prepared for her. “I was just curious.”
Seeing the familiar routine, Sarah relaxed again. “Her grades weren’t good. The teacher said she had to transfer.”
Zayden didn’t reply.
Elena’s last score was 570. Not great-but not bad enough to get bumped to Class Six.
What is she doing?
…
In Class Six, the desks were scattered, completely unorganized.
As Elena stepped inside, a dozen pairs of eyes turned toward her.
Everyone knew this was the class for underachievers, troublemakers, and kids who didn’t give a damn.
The rest of the school avoided them like the plague.
They were all rich kids who didn’t study-some of them got into fights, some stirred up chaos, and others hung around with shady people outside school.
But Elena knew the truth.
These kids? Future CEOs. The ones who’d inherit powerful companies.
Bad grades didn’t mean failure-not when they had business instincts and family backing.
These were the people worth knowing.
“This is your new classmate, Elena,” the teacher introduced her.
Silence.
The rebellious students looked her over with cold, mocking eyes.
“Class One, huh? What a rare guest.”
“Teacher, won’t she be wasted here? So well-behaved and all.”
“Yeah, don’t let our bad influence ruin her.”
The rejection was blatant.
The homeroom teacher smiled awkwardly and leaned toward Elena. “You’ll have to bear with it. But if you want to compete in the math competition, this is the only way.”
“I don’t mind,” Elena said. “I’m happy to help you out.”
Class Six was also under the Class One homeroom teacher’s care.
Every class had two competition slots. All the others had filled theirs.
Class Six was the exception-they had no one qualified.
Elena transferring in completed the pair.
“You and Nolan study hard,” the teacher said warmly. “You two are our last hope. I believe in you.”
Nolan…
The name rang a bell.
Elena looked around the classroom, trying to remember where she’d heard it before.
Suddenly, Elena’s eyes locked onto the boy surrounded by the entire class.
He was wearing the standard school uniform, but the jacket hung lazily over his shoulders. His gaze was detached, his long, narrow eyes cold and deep-danger practically seeped from them.
Elena’s breath caught.
She remembered now.
Nolan-heir to Hayes Corp. Cold, ruthless, a natural-born predator. From what she’d heard in her previous life, Nolan was infamous.
He had once been arrested for arson and murder, spent time in juvenile detention, and only transferred to Townsville High a year after his release.
In this school, the name Nolan was taboo.
No one dared go near someone so dangerous.
Back then, Elena had kept her distance just like everyone else. Their paths never crossed.
So why was he allowed to participate in a city-level math competition?
Then it clicked.
She’d seen his name before-on the school bulletin board listing the most recent exam scores.
Last time, Sarah had placed third thanks to their test swap.
Zayden was always second.
First-was Nolan.
As she stared at him, Nolan suddenly dragged a chair across the floor, the screech of it piercing through the room.
He curled his lips into a smirk. “New girl. Sit here.”
A bad feeling crept into Elena’s chest.
But it was clear-Nolan ruled this class. Everyone here answered to him.
Elena had no choice but to walk over and sit down across from him.
If this were her past life, she’d be trembling in his presence.
But she’d already died once.
This version of her had nothing to fear from a teenage boy.
Some students exchanged surprised glances.
A girl joining Class Six was rare enough.
But to not be scared of their boss?
“Elena is one of you now,” the homeroom teacher said. “Be kind. Don’t bully your new classmate. We’ll start study period soon.”
And with that, the teacher left.
Free study period was almost unheard of in a competitive school like Townsville High.
Clearly, the faculty had given up on this class.
“Hey, new girl. Why’d you come to Class Six?” a boy with a cocky smile dragged his chair over beside her.
He didn’t seem hostile-just curious.
“I want to join the math competition,” Elena answered calmly.
“You came here just to join a competition?” he said, incredulous. “Do you even know what Class Six is? Aren’t you scared?”
Everyone in this class was considered a lost cause by parents and teachers.
If their families weren’t wealthy, they’d have been expelled long ago.
Elena shook her head. “You’re not bad people. Why should I be afraid?”
The room fell silent.
Not bad people? That was… a first.
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