School Flower and School Tyrant - Chapter 7

The Bai family, the wealthiest and most influential household in Xijiang City, had a legacy that loomed large over the city.

The Bai family’s roots ran deep, reportedly dating back to before the founding of the nation. From generation to generation, every member of the family had been a university graduate, embodying the very essence of a prestigious scholarly lineage.

Their fortune was solidified when Bai family ancestors ventured into coal mining, amassing their first pot of gold. With those initial gains, they ventured into real estate, further cementing their position as the most prominent and powerful family in Xijiang.

And Bai Yuxuan, the eldest heir to this family empire, lived up to every expectation her elders had set for her.

In terms of appearance, Bai Yuxuan could rival the leading members of any Asian boy band. Academically, since her enrollment at Sakura Academy, she had maintained an unbroken streak as the top student, consistently outscoring the second place by at least fifty points. By the age of fifteen, she was already assisting the elders with company affairs. Among the Bai family’s younger generation, there was no one who could even come close to competing with her as an heir.

“Wow, it’s Bai Yuxuan!” Just walking across the campus would provoke a chorus of shrieks from the surrounding girls.

If an ordinary boy were in her position, he would likely wake up laughing even from his dreams. But for Bai Yuxuan, these accolades were meaningless. In her heart, there was only resentment, resentment toward being Bai Yuxuan, toward being born into the Bai family.

To understand her bitterness, one had to trace it back to her childhood and her true identity. Bai Yuxuan’s real name was Bai Yuxuan, but with a different character, because she was, in fact, a girl.

Unfortunately, the Bai family tradition dictated that only males could inherit the family business. Her father, desperate to secure a successor, changed her name to the male-character version of “Yuxuan” and concealed her true gender, planning to reveal the truth only after her position within the family was unshakeable.

Thinking back to her childhood, Bai Yuxuan couldn’t help but clench her fists.

The Bai family’s standards for an heir were harsh and unforgiving. From an early age, she was taught to always stay ahead of others, never faltering.

Achieving first place in exams was the bare minimum. Finishing second? That was an unforgivable failure, and even breathing at home after such a “disgrace” felt like a mistake. Mealtimes, especially, were a trial, her father’s icy expression looming over the table like a storm cloud, a memory that still sent chills down her spine.

This was one of the reasons she despised the Bai family. In this house, there was no warmth, no semblance of home. Her parents only cared about her grades, how much she outperformed the second-place student, how many points she was ahead.

The most ironic part? Her first real glimpse into what family affection should feel like came not from her own family, but from strangers.

One day, while accompanying her father to meet a client, they stopped the car and saw a child trip and fall in front of them. The child’s mother rushed over, checking for injuries, gently brushing off the dust, and bandaging the wounds.

Such a simple act, yet it struck a chord deep in Bai Yuxuan’s heart. It was then that she realized parents and children could share such warmth and care.

But before she could dwell on it, her father’s cold voice cut through her thoughts. “What are you staring at? Do you think children from such lowly families deserve your attention? Remember who you are. You’re my child, the future inheritor of the entire Bai family!” His face was as unyielding as iron.

It was then that Bai Yuxuan fully understood her place in her father’s eyes: she was nothing more than a tool to secure his position in the family’s power structure.

Thinking about it now, Bai Yuxuan couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. Her parents’ allowance could buy her any toy or snack a child her age could want, but it could never buy her the love and care most children took for granted.

The richest pauper, that, perhaps, was the perfect way to describe herself.

At that moment, Bai Yuxuan pulled herself out of her thoughts, noticing that the classroom had suddenly become noisy. She then realized the commotion was due to a new transfer student introducing herself.

The transfer student had striking golden hair, a rarity in Xijiang City, and her appearance was stunning, far surpassing that of many current celebrity idols.

Whether due to nerves or shyness, her cheeks were slightly flushed, adding an extra layer of charm and innocence to her demeanor.

By coincidence, the teacher assigned this golden-haired girl to sit next to Bai Yuxuan.

(She’s just a pretty face, a vase at best), Bai Yuxuan thought dismissively. Still grappling with the negative emotions stirred up by memories of her childhood, she casually picked up a novel to distract herself. Just then—

“Hey, it’s class time,” the golden-haired girl whispered softly.

“I’ve already completed all the high school coursework. The teachers allow me to read during class,” Bai Yuxuan replied curtly, annoyed by the interruption. She then turned back to her book, clearly uninterested in continuing the conversation.

She despised when girls tried to make small talk or ingratiate themselves with her. They were all drawn by the aura of her looks and reputation, nothing more.

(Not a single one of them truly understands me!)

After sensing Bai Yuxuan’s cold attitude, the golden-haired girl refrained from engaging further. This left Bai Yuxuan with a slightly better impression of her new deskmate, at least she wasn’t as persistent or annoying as the others.

By the next day, however, this new deskmate seemed to have become an overnight sensation at the school. Whispers from her classmates revealed that the girl had effortlessly swept through various Sakura Academy clubs, with many organizations clamoring to recruit her.

(Looks like she’s another caged bird like me,) Bai Yuxuan thought to herself. (She must have undergone rigorous training from a young age; otherwise, it would be impossible to have such exceptional skills. After all, as the student council president, I know that Sakura’s clubs are no mere formalities.)

Just then, there was a soft “thud.” Out of the corner of her eye, Bai Yuxuan noticed that her deskmate had slumped over her desk. It seemed she wasn’t used to being the center of attention.

This reminded Bai Yuxuan of her own early days, when she, too, had struggled to endure the constant stares and whispers. For a moment, she felt a certain kinship with this girl. Perhaps, she thought, they might even have something in common.

But as quickly as the idea appeared, Bai Yuxuan dismissed it.

Her goals were already set: to meet the requirements to become the Bai family’s heir, to inherit the company, expand her influence, and ultimately break free from her father’s control. Only then could she live a life that was truly her own.

(There’s no time to waste on meaningless distractions like this. First, I need to complete my education.) With that resolve, Bai Yuxuan refocused on the college-level textbook in her hands. To her, the material taught by high school teachers had long ceased to hold any relevance.

As for the upcoming monthly exams? They were nothing more than routine report cards for her parents. Scoring fifty or sixty points ahead of second place was a given and no longer worth mentioning.