Zoey was actually deep in thought, hoping everything she'd said to the boy earlier was enough to deter him and didn't realize when she got to class.
The map of the school was at the front, so she saw it as soon as she walked in and knew where to go.
Hearing Kate's pesky voice, she lifted her eyes, only to meet dozens of eyes peering back at her.
Standing beside the chalkboard was a female teacher.
Kate exhaled heavily, appearing distressed as she continued, "I know you're not used to new things, but this is your life now. Here, we don't live without regard for other people like how you do in the countryside."
"So from now on, you can't tell the driver to take you somewhere else when he brings us to school!"
That was all her classmates needed to connect the dots.
Just a few weeks ago, Kate 'mistakenly' mentioned the Smith family's biological daughter in the countryside would be returning in a while and the entire class used every opportunity they got to assure her Zoey wouldn't be able to take her place.
So realizing this was the Smith family's biological daughter, many of them scrutinized her.
"So this is Kate's sister?"
"Didn't you hear? The Smith family had their daughter switched at birth and only found out about it recently as the footage of the nurse switching them surfaced online."
"But why bring her back after eighteen years when they already have such a perfect daughter like Kate?"
"Hmph! They must think blood is everything. I hope they don't start neglecting our Kate because of this delinquent."
"I've been thinking, if she's a country bumpkin, why does she have such fair and smooth skin?"
"Now that you mention it, she does have a pretty face. And look at that body, she must be really athletic."
Hearing the last person, Kate huffed inwardly.
Annoyed, she forced a straight face and snapped back, her voice trembling just enough to seem sincere.
"Don't say things like that. Sister looks athletic because they do a lot of farm work in the countryside."
"And Mom and Dad sent her some skincare products after finding her, knowing her skin would be a mess."
"We're all really happy she takes after Mom. That's why she has such a pretty face and fair skin."
One of Kate's minions popped to her side in an instant to counsel her, "Oh, Kate, you're so good to her, but she actually left this morning without telling you where she was going?"
"She's your sister, so she should be good to you. Or is she looking down on you since she's the biological daughter of the Smith family?"
Kate inhaled sharply and bit down on her lower lip, her eyes jerking toward Zoey like she was suppressing saying something.
Like she hoped, they gradually began exchanging worried glances, convinced she was being bullied by this biological sister of hers.
But the next second, she smiled softly.
"Don't say things like that. I know sister didn't mean to leave this mornining, she's just impulsive because of how things are in the countryside where she grew up."
The words had barely left her mouth when Zoey stepped into the classroom to announce, "I went to have ice cream. I would've gotten one for you too if it wasn't going to melt, but I can buy you one on our way home after school."
Her sudden retort threw everyone off course.
A few mouths hung open in surprise.
Kate almost scoffed.
This little…
She carefully built up the perfect tempo, then gave it the final push needed to explode catastrophically in Zoey's face only to have it disrupted like this?
Her genius plan to bury Zoey in the ruble then play the savior was disrupted by such casual words?
How irritating!
If she'd managed to pull this off, not only would Zoey's life at school be ruined, she'd never get the chance to rise above her anywhere else.
Kate's eyes dimmed and she parted her lips to say something else when Zoey began strutting toward the teacher.
"Good morning, ma'am. I'm Zoey Smith and I apologize for being so late on my first day. I'm also willing to be punished for disrupting the class."
The teacher stared at her in surprise, slightly taken aback.
How responsible.
Most students wouldn't even acknowledge her presence and proceed to go about their day without caring, but this student actually…
Kate's small voice suddenly broke through her thought, "Ms. Dunphy, Sister has this habit of doing however she pleases. If you don't punish her now, it's most likely she'll repeat the same thing again."
The class went silent, the students' eyes shifting toward Nia Dunphy.
No one noticed, but Kate's shoulders lifted proudly, her nose high up in the air as she awaited the teacher's response.
This was an advice from her.
Her, Kate Smith.
Top of her class for the past six years.
Every teacher's favorite student.
She received an award for the best behaved student in the entire school, not once but three times.
Though she refused to be class president to deepen her humble image, her words carried more weight than those of the actual class president.
Usually, everyone listened to her, as her suggestions had never gone wrong.
However, Nia Dunphy merely waved her hand at Zoey, sending her to her seat with a strict warning, "The next time you come late to my class, I won't let you sit in. Now go take your seat and turn to page 30 in your psychology textbook."
Kate's face darkened.
What? This wench didn't even acknowledge her advice.
Equally surprised, the other students turned to look at her, and she forced on a smile again, her eyes following Zoey as she walked to her seat without sparing anyone a glance.
"She's new, Ms. Dunphy. She doesn't have a textbook yet. She should've come early to get them from the school, but my sister was so fascinated by ice cream she let it get to her head."
"Someone like that, you should punish for being late, not give her a free pass into your class."
The class immediately nodded in agreement.
"Look at her, she doesn't even have a notebook to take notes."
"She came with nothing, but herself. Kate, is this sister of yours a dullard? Only dullards go to such lengths so their parents don't get disappointed."
Kate pretended to glance at Zoey worriedly, then retorted hesitantly, "Mom and Dad don't know either. But how good can the schools in the countryside be?"
"I'm sure they only have one, and everyone goes to it. For such an overcrowded school, I doubt she learned much, if anything at all."
Scattered laughters instantly filled the classroom as they finally realized what was going on.
"Hah! No wonder she's trying to make it clear now so the teachers and your parents don't have any expectations for her."
"I mean, she still has to take the school's entrance exam to be fully enrolled. Not that her score matters, but I bet she'll score the lowest."
Nia Dunphy cleared her throat noisily to grab the students' attention.
Succeeding, she stared at Zoey with a straight face.
"Zoey Smith, after this class, run to the principal's office to get your things. As your homeroom teacher, it's my responsibility you settle in well."
Zoey nodded, "Yes, Ms. Dunphy."
Despite how much she'd prompted the others to taunt her, Kate was unsatisfied seeing how unbothered Zoey remained.
Maybe it was because the teacher hadn't said anything about her lateness?
Forget it.
Nia Dunphy was from the countryside as well. She was no different from this country bumpkin. No wonder they were getting along so nicely.
She had no doubt the next teacher whose class they'd have wouldn't be so easygoing if Zoey still didn't have her materials.
To make that happen, she had to cling tightly to her during the few minutes' break before the next teacher arrived.
With that in mind, she returned her attention to the class.
Nia Dunphy's class ended a few minutes later, and Kate quickly turned to Zoey, intending to go to her side, only to see her placing her head on her desk to sleep.
The next moment, she sneered inwardly.
She had clearly overestimated this skank.
No matter how nonchalant she acted, she was and would always remain a skanky countryside bumpkin.
With that thought, she began revising her notes.
Seeing this, her classmates clicked their tongue in pity.
"What a huge contrast. One sister knows better to revise her notes while the other who came late and doesn't have the necessary materials, sleeps."
"She must think now being in a wealthy family means she can slack off and sleep."
"Hey, let's forget about that loser. We have drama class next. Which character are you auditioning for?"
"The female lead will be Kate as usual. Who I'll play? I really don't know. Whichever one Prof. West asks me to."
"By the way, is the professor still intent on finding the author of Day of Reckoning?"
"Isn't that author dead? They were invited to speak at a school as big as ours, but surprisingly hasn't responded. Last I heard, they haven't responded to anything after dropping Day of Reckoning."
Zoey's phone pinged at that moment, and she tiredly opened one eye to check the notification.
The other immediately flew open, lighting up excitedly when she saw it was the paid royalty from Day of Reckoning.
Leaning back on her seat, she began booking a flight to the countryside.