Lost the Golden Ticket, Found My Own Path

I simply smirked, not even feeling the urge to argue back.

They sneered at Harrington University as a "no-name trash school". However, in my previous life, its alumni founded the nation's top AI robotics company and steered the industry for years to come.

I packed up my bag and was about to leave when the back door of the classroom was suddenly slammed open with a loud bang.

A figure in a studded leather jacket with a punk hairstyle stormed in aggressively. It was none other than the notorious school bully, Yale, who also happened to be Nicole's true love in her previous life.

His eyes blazed with fury and violence as he strode straight toward Nicole.

"Nicole, what the hell do you mean by this? Yesterday, you were in my arms, swearing we'd drop out together and saying these bullshit schools weren't good enough for us!

"And now you have accepted Westbridge University's offer? Are you taking me for a fool?"

The entire class erupted in shock, and every pair of eyes instantly snapped toward Nicole.

Her face immediately drained of color.

The confidence and pride she had flaunted just moments ago vanished, leaving only embarrassment and panic at being exposed.

She instinctively stepped back and asked, "Yale, what nonsense are you spouting?"

"Nonsense?" Yale let out a furious, mocking laugh. Then, he suddenly kicked the empty desk beside me.

The loud bang made the entire classroom fall silent.

He pointed a trembling finger at Nicole and roared, "You liar! You said you'd run away with me! And now you're betraying me for that pretty boy Spencer?"

The more he spoke, the angrier he became.

He raised his fist, about to strike Nicole, when a cold voice suddenly rang out.

"Stop!"

Spencer had appeared at the doorway at some point. He rushed in and pulled Nicole behind him without hesitation to shield her from Yale.

His gaze was sharp as he stared at Yale, carrying an uncommon force for someone his age.

"What do you think you're doing? This is a classroom!"

"Spencer!" Nicole grabbed his arm tightly like a lifeline, trembling as she hid behind him.

Yale's eyes reddened at the sight. He pointed at Spencer and shouted, "You damn pretty boy! You tricked Nicky! Get the hell out of my way."

As he spoke, he tried to push past Spencer to grab Nicole.

The classroom instantly fell into chaos.

Spencer kept shielding Nicole while blocking Yale. Only when the teacher arrived was the commotion finally put to an end.

When Spencer was comforting Nicole, he happened to sweep his gaze over my desk, which had been knocked askew in the chaos.

On the edge of the desk was a small butterfly I had doodled out of boredom, simple in form yet faintly defiant.

Spencer's gaze lingered on the butterfly without him realizing it.

"I feel like I've seen this butterfly somewhere before," he said with a slight frown, as though puzzled.

Though his voice was quiet, it clearly reached Nicole, who was pressed close to him. She suddenly jolted, and following his gaze, she saw the butterfly too.

In an instant, a wave of panic seized her.

In her past life, it was this so-called impostor she had always looked down on who eventually took everything, including Spencer, from her.

"Spencer, let's go! Now!" Nicole practically screamed, yanking Spencer's arm to break his gaze and drag him out. She was desperate to cut off any chance of him noticing me.

The live comment feed, which had briefly paused during the chaos, now exploded across the screen again.

"Holy crap! This school's bully is totally mad! Nicky, run!"

"Okay, Spencer's such a protective boyfriend who would even fight for Nicky! I definitely ship them!"

"Wait. Did Spencer just look at Gloria's desk and say that the butterfly looked familiar? What's going on here? Did they know each other before?"