Irene and Bella's smiles froze like someone had slammed a cold hand on them. The night air, which had felt light and freeing moments ago, suddenly grew heavy, suffocating. Across the parking lot, a figure leaned casually against a sleek black car, surrounded by her minions.
Haoxiaoyi.(: She's a spoilt heiress from a rich family who is close to yuan's family.she totally hates Irene for her guts .She's a really mean person but in front of Yuan she acts very kind like an angel but he can see through her but she doesn't know. She's bossy , sassy , rude and doesn't care about anyone but herself and yuanmi. she's obsessed with him but it's not the same for him.)
Her presence alone could make the boldest heart hesitate. Everything about her screamed perfection—her designer outfit hugged her figure flawlessly, her wavy, chestnut hair bounced just right as she moved, every strand gleaming under the dim parking lot lights. Her sunshades caught the last of the neon glow, giving her a sort of untouchable, untamed glamour. Everyone knew her. The perfect angelin public eyes. Everyone adored her. Everyone, except Irene.
Haoxiaoyi's smirk curled as she slowly removed her sunglasses. "Well, well, well," she said, each word dripping with venom. "So now, anyone is allowed on stage… even a wretched… slut? Oh, how didn't I know?"
Irene felt her blood boil. Her chest tightened, her teeth grit together.
"How could you know when you know nothing!" she shot back, voice trembling—but strong enough.
Haoxiaoyi's grin widened, cruel and infuriating. "What did you say? Repeat it. No, you know what? I can't waste my time on a broke, motherless b****."Irene's hands curled into fists. Her first instinct was to lash out, to slap the girl whose every movement screamed superiority, the girl everyone worshiped, the girl who hated her with the force of a storm.
"Don't…" Bella hissed, grabbing Irene's wrist.
Irene froze. Bella's hold was firm, and though it restrained her, it also stopped her from walking into a disaster. But oh, did that restraint make her blood burn hotter.
Haoxiaoyi laughed, a sound so sharp and mocking it made Irene flinch. "You wanna hit me?" she taunted. "Go ahead. Let's see what happens."Irene struggled, trying to free herself. Bella's grip held firm. Irene's frustration built, ready to explode—but Haoxiaoyi just smirked and turned away, her minions following. The sound of her laughter lingered, twisting in the night like smoke.
Irene spun to Bella, eyes blazing. "Why didn't you—why didn't you let me—?"
Bella raised her hands, calm as ever. "Irene, relax. I got the whole conversation on record. Haoxiaoyi? That girl wants you to lose it. She's rich, powerful, untouchable. If anything happens to you, no one would believe you. You need to control your temper around her."Irene blinked, realizing the truth of Bella's words. Slowly, she let the tension leave her shoulders. "Okay," she murmured, her voice softer now. "Thanks, Bella. I… I'm sorry I almost lost it."
Bella smiled. "Apology accepted. Let's just go home before she thinks she won."
Home was quiet. As usual. Her father was still at work on his night shift asba doctor, and Jim was likely out with friends—or someone's girlfriend, or studying, or who knows. Irene climbed the stairs, her legs heavy. She collapsed on her bed, letting the exhaustion of the night hit her.
After a while, she got up, and freshened up, and went downstairs to fill her belly with something nourishing. A warm meal, a comforting movie in the background, the world outside her window muted. The night was hers.
Once her stomach was full, she returned to her room, snack pack in hand, and logged into her E-Sports account.
"Boss is online. We are saved."
Her fingers flew over the keys, each click sharp, deliberate. Her team greeted her excitedly: as she helped them in the final minutes of their match.
"Hurray, Master! You're the best!"
"I want to be like you and be so good!"
Irene smirked, leaning back slightly. Hmph. They're lucky I even notice them.
"Master," a teammate typed, "there's a battle against Shadow Byte—he's one of the toughest we've ever faced. We believe you can beat him."
Irene paused, pretending to consider it. "I… don't know."
"Master! You have to show him who's boss! Make him regret underestimating you and your apprentice!"
A sly grin curled her lips. "Alright."
She logged into the arena. Shadow Byte,notorious for arrogance and trash talk, was waiting. Irene let him make his moves, pretending to play casually, letting him think he was in control.
"Pathetic moves," Shadow Byte typed, smirking at his own brilliance. "You're weak. Your strategy is garbage."
Irene's fingers danced over the keys silently, every move calculated, every attack precise. In three perfectly executed strikes, Shadow Byte froze. His face turned pale, disbelief flooding him.
All his years of gaming, all his confidence—it crumbled before her.
Sensei… he typed, speechless.
Irene smirked, leaning back. Hmph.
Her team erupted, cheering and screaming, their nervous tension melting into pure excitement.
The victory felt electric. Irene, LavenderQuin, the mysterious Master of the E-Sports world, had done it again.
And Shadow Byte? He had no idea that this Master, who had crushed him with moves beyond imagination, could also be the same girl who had just faced Haoxiaoyi in the real world—the girl no one suspected, the girl everyone thought was innocent.
Later, far away, in the dark of his own room, Shadow byte—sat in silence. A soft, satisfied smile spread across his face as he replayed the moves LavenderQuin had made. Every calculated strike, every flawless move—it had surprised him complete. So… LavenderQuin, he murmured, you're even better than I imagined.
And somewhere, unseen, someone else was watching too. Patient. Calculating. Smiling.
The game—and everything else—was far from over.