At dinner time, the maid came to my room, her smile radiant: “Zhixia, the Young Master prepared a big gift for you. Come see!”

I had no interest in anything from the wolf.
She pushed me to the dining table, where the wolf and I locked eyes.
Instinctively, I dodged his gaze, wanting to flee, but the maid blocked me: “Just take a look.”

She grabbed a document folder from beside him, urging me to open it.

I dodged her and bolted back to my room.
Soon, she followed, holding the folder, carefully opening it with delight: “Zhixia, you can go to school!”

She approached, expecting me to smile with joy.
I froze, then climbed into bed, wrapping myself in the blanket, though my heart stirred faintly.

She pulled the blanket off, dumping a pile of documents on the bed: “Here’s your ID, student card. From now on, you’re a student at North High. When do you want to register?”

I偷瞄了一眼.
The ID read “Ye Zhixia.”
I shared the wolf’s surname, Ye—I’d only told them “Zhixia,” but he’d added his surname, claiming me.

“Don’t want to go to school? I’ll take these back then.”
She started gathering the papers.
I panicked: “No…”

I fell for her bait, always swayed by her child-coaxing tricks.
This was my lifelong dream, one I thought I’d never achieve.

She handed me the student card: “Zhixia, are you happy?”

My hands trembled as I looked at it.
It was all so sudden, my heart conflicted.
I couldn’t kill the wolf, and he’d put a tracker on me—it was unbearable.
My life would likely be lived under his shadow.

But school could mean fewer encounters with him.
With an official ID, I could get a part-time job, save money, and escape far away.
If things went well, I might even dream of university—or better, killing the wolf to make him pay with his life.

I made up my mind, forcing a smile: “Happy.”

The maid said my smile wasn’t genuine but didn’t press further.
I was now a North High student.
Would I see Gao Yang and the others?

The next day, she took me to register for a driver’s license.
I didn’t understand why, but she said I should learn to drive so I could have a car later.

Then she took me to buy stationery and get a haircut.
I didn’t want my hair shortened, but she had the barber shave the front, turning my center part into arched bangs.
I felt heartbroken watching my hair fall.

“The old style looked better,” I muttered, smoothing my bangs.

She smiled faintly: “This makes you look like a student.”

She had ulterior motives—she didn’t want me to stand out too much.
I didn’t know that then, but I was still super cute, drawing eyes on the street.

I was entering sophomore year with no academic foundation.
The maid assured me she’d tutor me, seeming capable of anything—graceful in public, skilled in the kitchen, remarkable.

At dawn, I stood before a full-length mirror, wearing a crisp white short-sleeved shirt, a perfectly fitted black pleated skirt, and a pink ribbon at my chest, brimming with youthful energy.

I touched the mirror, stunned.
The person staring back was equally shocked.
My education was limited to scavenged sixth-grade textbooks; I lacked the words to describe my own beauty.
Men would surely be smitten, and even I felt my heart race, like I was in love.

I touched my face: “Unbelievable.”

Combing my hair, I sat at the vanity, noticing a sticky note on the mirror: “Don’t look back. Grandma’s gone.”

I froze.
Who left it?
Why did the handwriting look like mine?

The maid knocked, startling me.
I tore off the note, stuffing it into my pocket.

She entered with a pair of safety shorts: “Zhixia, wear these to prevent exposure. No PE until your wound heals.”

“Okay.”
I took off my underwear, and she tugged at it: “Wear them together.”

“Oh, like that.”
Being a woman felt complicated.
Why wear safety shorts and underwear?

We went downstairs for her breakfast.
The wolf was in the dining room, staring at me with his usual menacing gaze.

I sat cautiously, my wound faintly aching, and hurriedly ate a bowl of noodle soup before bolting.

The maid called after me: “Zhixia, there’s more in the pot!”

I didn’t respond, leaving without looking back.

At the door, I adjusted my tie repeatedly.
The wolf and maid came out together.
I turned to face the wall, avoiding the beast.

“Zhixia, the Young Master says he’ll drop you off on his way.”

I froze: “I-I… I’m not going to school.”

Stammering, I turned to flee upstairs, but the wolf grabbed my hair.
I cried out: “It hurts!”

He pulled harder.
I clutched my hair, resisting: “Let… let go!”

My scalp felt like it was tearing, tears welling.
The maid urged: “Young Master, let go first.”

He released me suddenly.
I stumbled, falling on my backside, pain turning my face green.
My good morning mood was gone!

The wolf left on his own.

I stood, rubbing my backside—thankfully, no serious harm.

In the maid’s car, I touched the jade pendant hidden under my clothes, closing my eyes to silently pray: To Grandma, I’m on my way to school. This morning, the wolf tormented me again. I hope one day I can kill him.