Chapter 7 Moving on

    After the physical fitness tests were completed, the physical education teacher immediately dismissed everyone, even though there was almost an hour left. Lucy's first thought was the library, for its serene silence. She got up from her line and walked towards the school building to change her clothes, but after a few steps, she was blocked by the Student Council President. It was shocking enough that she wanted to scream, Oh my god!! Today marked a day of many firsts, including the President blocking her path to talk. Previously, he would always run away every time he saw her. But what now? He stood in the way, dumbstruck like a toddler learning to talk. What a waste of time.

    "What do you want?" Lucy asked curtly. The President looked slightly shocked before quickly adjusting his expression and asking,

    "Your head, is it alright now? Does it still hurt?"

    "Hit my head yesterday and you think after resting for one night, I'd wake up all healed? What a silly question, of course, it still hurts. If that's all you asked, you can move aside." The President couldn't help but look bewildered when confronted with Lucy in such a state. Just as she attempted to walk past, she was held back by him.

    "The side effects must be significant, making you seem... more standoffish. You should see a doctor and get checked again."

    "What's going on?" Lucy turned to look at the Crown Prince, unable to suppress eyes roll. Huh, people disappeared like a debtor dodging creditor, when you were obsessed with them, but approached when you were just minding your own business. Had it been before, she wouldn't have been able to contain her excitement, but not now, sorry. Lucy shrugged off the President's hand, then had an idea.

    Now that Lucy's notoriety was varied, why not seize this opportunity to rectify it? At least, it might give her father an excuse to offer to others. But what excuse should she create to reinvent Lucy as a new person? Ah-ha! A villain must have the skill to bluff. Lucy crossed her arms, looking at the President with a cold gaze.

    "No need to take me to the doctor. And what's so strange about it? I'm just tired of playing the dumb Lady role, so I decided to reveal my true nature," she emphasized the word ‘true’.

    "What do you mean?" the Crown Prince asked. Lucy couldn't help but glance at him briefly. Giving a hint like this and still couldn't decipher it? Why so... like this.

    "It means, all those traits like chasing after men, being lazy, that were all false acts. You really thought someone could naturally be that stupid? Spending days chasing after men, not studying, acting foolish. Such people might exist, but not in high society family. I was just having fun seeing what it's like to do something ridiculous," Lucy seemed to cringe after fabricating big lies. Admitting her past behavior was truly embarrassing, but now it was time to replace that poor image with a new one. The President, the Crown Prince, no, everyone around, looked incredibly skeptical. Lucy's behavior in the past seemed to stem from her inherent nature.

    "And if it was, um, like that, why did you want to change?" the Crown Prince inquired with evident doubt. From the moment he met Lucy at his ten-year-old birthday celebration, he saw her obsessively chasing after handsome boys in a foolish and unbelievable manner. If what Lucy said was true, then she had an extraordinary talent for acting. How could she endure it for five or six years?

    "It's because I've not been enjoying myself since the accident where I fell down the stairs and hit my head," Lucy said, her gaze icy as she looked at the President. She deliberately deflected any blame. A villainess would not be at fault, remember that, hero.

    "I...," the President felt dejected under Lucy's cold stare. Realizing the accident wasn't intentional, Lucy didn't truly hate the President. She understood her own behavior had been irritating and tiresome, but that didn't justify the President scolding or mocking her publicly, often leaving her embarrassed and the butt of jokes. Lucy wasn't just chasing after any handsome guy; those she pursued, besides being attractive, also came from notable families or were particularly distinguished — her standards were high. However, the President was an exception; though he wasn't from the noble blood or a celebrity, Lucy persistently chased him. Reflecting on this, Lucy felt a pang of sympathy for her past self.

    The guys she chased were merely crushes, but her feelings for the President were of genuine love. She just didn't know how to stand out and catch the attention of her secret love, resulting in her attention-seeking behavior. Others' insults never hurt as much as the President's did. The more she thought about it, the more it irked her, prompting her to seek revenge. Lucy, with a smirk, confidently approached the President, sweeping her gaze over him.

    "Really, Mr. President, aside from being good-looking and smart, what else is there to you? Absolutely nothing. There are plenty of people like you out there, easily found. Do you seriously think I was so infatuated with you? How ridiculous. If it wasn't for me randomly picking from a list with my eyes closed, I wouldn't have wasted my time chasing you," she lightly jabbed his chest.

    "It's not just you who finds me annoying. I want to let you know I find you equally annoying," Lucy pushed him away, stepping back. Then, pausing for a moment, she added,

     "From now on, please address me as Lady Luciana. I hope you won’t forget the school's rules — ordinary students must show respect to nobility’s children by prefixing 'Lord' or 'Lady' to their names unless the noble doesn't wish so. But sorry, I do. So, call me by my proper title. We’re not close, so kindly refrain from using just my name casually. I dislike it," Lucy walked away, not waiting for a response. Changing her clothes in the locker room, she couldn't help but gently touch her chest, feeling as if something was squeezing her heart, causing a sharp pain. Though her mind was set on moving on, her heart refused to comply. Sigh, love isn't easily forgotten after three, nearly four years. She could only hope time would heal her wounds while still adhering to the goals she had set for herself.

    Upon closing her locker, she encountered Angela, who was looking displeased. Lucy furrowed her brows, scanning the empty surroundings — what an opportunity for someone, she thought disdainfully. Encountering Angela alone like this was the last thing she needed. Lucy crossed her arms, slinging her bag over her shoulder, and looked at Angela with annoyance. What a heroine, resembling a pest, always buzzing around incessantly.

    "What's the matter?"

    "You shouldn't hurt the President's feeling like that. Show some respect to the President. Your actions are very terrible. I hope you will apologize to him," Angela said, prompting Lucy to burst out laughing.

    "What's so funny?!" Angela, the supposedly virtuous heroine, couldn't contain her irritation.

    Lucy stopped laughing and looked at Angela with an indifferent gaze.

    "What does it have to do with you, huh? Whatever I do is my business, not yours. Who do you think you are to judge what someone else does as bad? Do you think you have the right? Oh, just because others keep repeating that you are the school's star, the school's angel, so, you get deluded into thinking you're some princess here with the right to decree what's good or bad? Ridiculous!" Lucy couldn't help but wonder why the heroine had to drag herself to become her target once again.

    "I never thought like that," Lucy whispered into Angela's ear.

    "Have you forgotten? It's because of my father's donations that you could afford to study here. If you want to show off, make sure you do it to the right person, Angela."