My name is Xianhua.
I was transferred to NYX High School at exactly 2:00 a.m.
It sounds normal, right? If this were my autobiography, you'd probably think it wasn't worth writing down-nothing special, nothing strange.
But it wasn't just extraordinary.
It was terrifyingly beyond extraordinary.
Rumor had it that students admitted into NYX High School during the midnight hours-specifically between 2:00 and 3:59 a.m.-were not accepted by the official deans of the school, but by unknown sources.
Unknown sources.
Some said they were the Night Deans.
Some said it was the spirit behind the school-after all, the school was named NYX, meaning Night.
Others whispered something far more extreme.
They said it was the goddess of the night herself-Nyx.
I never cared about rumors. Never believed in them. They were nothing more than words idle people used to pass time.
And yet, as I stared at my phone, waiting, my head went completely blank.
A strange sensation crept up my spine-the hair at the back of my neck slowly rising. It was a feeling I hadn't experienced since the death of my mother.
That fear had long been replaced by her final word to me, a word I carried like a shield:
Courage.
The sounds of laughter from the living room-loud, careless, alive-slowly faded into the calm and cold of the night, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I stood and walked toward the living room.
On the floor lay two women. One was my stepmother, Yu Bai. The other, her daughter, Nian Quiana-ironically, my sister. They slept peacefully, as though tomorrow had already been promised to them.
Empty bottles of alcohol were scattered across the floor.
They had been celebrating.
They had wanted to stay awake until my admission letter arrived. They were certain-absolutely certain-that I would receive it at the rumored time.
It was almost a pity they couldn't stay awake long enough to see it.
I turned to leave, not intending to wake them, but my hand brushed against a glass lamp.
It slipped.
Shattered.
The sound rang sharply through the room.
"Who's there?!" Yu Bai shouted, startled awake.
Silence.
"I have a pistol-" xiao Yan began.
"It's just me," I said calmly.
"Xianhua?" Yu Bai asked.
"Mm."
The malice in her eyes surfaced instantly. "You-what have you done now?!"
I said nothing. Was there even anything to defend?
Just as she opened her mouth to curse, I spoke the words they had always wanted to hear.
"I got admitted."
Silence swallowed the room.
For a brief moment, I caught a glimpse of unmistakable joy flashing through xiao Yan's eyes.
"You... you..." she stuttered. "A-at what time?"
"At exactly 2:00 a.m."
They froze.
"You-at 2:00?" Xiao Yan asked again, as though hoping she had misheard.
I nodded.
"Xianhua, are you joking?" Yu Bai asked, her tone suddenly cautious. "You wouldn't joke about something like that... would you?"
Why would I joke with people like you?
The words stayed locked behind my teeth.
Instead, I remained silent, watching as their expressions twisted into something they tried-and failed-to hide.
Joy.
Hope.
Relief.
Yu Bai quickly composed herself and rose, her face shifting into one of an exaggerated concern as she approached me.
"Xian... Xianhua," she said softly. "You don't believe in rumors, right?"
Was that even a question?
"Don't mind them," she continued quickly. "They're just words idle people make up to scare others."
Idle people believe them too, I thought.
"People always create
unpleasant rumors when they see something flourishing," she added with a forced smile.
"Yes, Xianhua," Yan xiao Yan chimed in smoothly. "I believe in you. I'm sure you'll succeed-be the best, even in the whole world. And when you do, you won't forget us, right?"
Her performance was flawless-so flawless I almost wanted to applaud. With talent like that, she would have thrived in the entertainment industry.
Almost.
At first, I was surprised by their sudden warmth. They had never gone this far to pretend they cared.
Then I saw it.
Xiao Yan's phone.
Recording.
Of course.
They intended to play this conversation for my father later-after they had already sent me away. He wouldn't feel guilty then. After all, hadn't they comforted me so well?
Smart fools.
I turned to xiao Yan. "Sister."
The word tasted sour on my tongue.
"Don't worry. Just as you said, I'll be the best-and I won't forget you."
She paused, sensing something strange beneath my tone, then brushed it off as naivety.
I turned to Yu Bai.
"Mother."
The bitterness clung even more tightly to that word.
"Don't worry about me either. I don't believe in rumors. Just as you said-only idle people make them."
A faint twitch crossed her brow.
"Idle people receive them too," I added softly.
"Rumors mean nothing... right?"
"Y-yes. Of course," Yu Bai stammered.
Whatever the case, they would celebrate tonight. They were finally sending me off to my death.
"Good," Yu Bai said quickly. "Very good. You've prepared already, right? You're leaving tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" I asked quietly.
"Yes."
"But the school hasn't even-"
Her eyes burned into mine.
Give in already.
They knew my father would give me a large sum of money for my upkeep. Sending me away quickly meant keeping it for themselves.
I swallowed my words.
"Alright, Mother," I said instead. "Thank you for your comforting words. Thank you for enrolling me in the best school in the country."
I smiled faintly.
"Thank you for giving me courage... to face life and death."
Her gaze sharpened, suspicious.
The recording was still running. I had to be careful.
"I love you, Mother. Sister."
The words made me nauseous.
"Oh, we love you too, dear," they replied in unison.
Then-
A knock sounded at the door.
Sharp.
Sudden.
At this hour of the night.
We all froze.
Who could it be?
---