Ficorpio
Chapter 1
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First Edition
In my senior year of high school, I was falsely accused of having a puppy love with the school bully. The teacher called my parents in.
When my mom saw the other parent, she snorted coldly and pulled me closer.
“Nina, call him Dad.”
1
This whole thing started two months ago.
That day after school, I was cornered by the school bully, Ryan, right outside the boys’ restroom.
“Is that you, Nina?”
Ryan, who towered over me by a head and a half, frowned as he looked down at me.
I glanced at his fist, which was as big as a sandbag.
Well, I can’t win a fight anyway. Maybe I should just make a run for it?
Before I could even shift my feet, Ryan pressed his hand on my shoulder.
The only person who would go through so much trouble to get Ryan to scare me was probably my arch-nemesis, Lily.
Just thinking about Lily made my blood boil.
Since freshman year, she had been bullying me with her friends, all because we wore the same outfit on the first day of school.
Mine was the genuine article, worth tens of thousands, while hers was a counterfeit.
I had fairer skin and was taller than her, so many classmates compared us.
As the saying goes, the one who looks worse feels awkward. She cried all morning, her delicate little face streaked with tears, looking truly pitiful.
Many classmates who didn’t know the truth began siding with her, accusing me of bullying Lily.
Ever since then, all sorts of rumors about me have spread through the school.
My family was poor, so I could only wear hand-me-downs.
I used to sell drinks at bars after school.
My mom and I depended on each other, living a miserable life.
I admit we depended on each other, but my mom wasn’t living miserably.
Chapter 2
Aside from taking care of me, she spent her days getting manicures, practicing yoga, and going for beauty treatments.
Every now and then, she’d even leave me behind to go traveling.
I began to suspect my mom had won the lottery—until I met my dad. That’s when I realized my mom had landed a rich man.
The more I thought about it, the angrier I became. Stomping my foot, I pointed right at the school bully’s nose and shouted, “Did Lily send you to scare me? Do you really think I’m afraid of you?”
The school bully blinked, his eyes filled with confusion. “Song who? What?”
I: “…”
The school bully, usually so domineering, softened his tone. “I just wanted to ask you a few questions.”
“Is your mother’s name Yvonne?”
“Have you never met your father?”
“Do you have a birthmark on your left butt cheek?”
I: “Huh! Huh? You… you pervert!”
I slapped him without thinking, then covered my flushed face and ran back to the classroom. Lily, who had a crush on Ryan, happened to witness the whole scene.
From then on, another rumor about me began to spread.
I was desperately chasing the school bully, and when I failed, I flew into a rage out of humiliation.
Meanwhile, Ryan started bringing me breakfast every day, giving me an umbrella when it rained, and buying me ice cream when it was hot.
Soon, the rumor that Nina, the model student, was having a puppy love spread like wildfire and reached our homeroom teacher’s ears.
The teacher immediately had me call my mom right in front of him.
On the other end of the line, my mom laughed so hard she could barely catch her breath. Before she could finish laughing, I awkwardly hung up.
2
This incident caught the principal’s close attention.
But it wasn’t out of concern for me, the model student—it was because of Ryan.
Ryan’s father was a well-known and wealthy businessman. To transfer Ryan to our school, he donated over 80 million.
Our school wasn’t even the best in the city, so when I heard about it, I thought his dad had lost his mind.
Later, I realized it was I who had lost my mind.
I stood in the corner with my head down, trying to make myself invisible.
Chapter 3
I knew this wasn’t my fault. I had reason on my side, so I wasn’t afraid.
But I couldn’t stand the principal’s flying spit. If I didn’t keep my distance, I was afraid my clothes would get soaked.
“Nina, why aren’t you focusing on your studies? What’s all this about puppy love?”
“And with Ryan, of all people? How could you even compare to him? What kind of car do his parents drive? What kind of car does your mom drive?”
“Just wait until your mom gets here. I’ll show you…”
Before the principal’s spit could even hit the ground, a commotion erupted outside.
“Ryan, that must be your dad. Quick, come with me to greet him.”
I stood by the window and watched as the principal, wearing a sycophantic grin, dragged Ryan by the arm toward a red Ferrari.
My mom stepped out of the Ferrari wearing ten-centimeter platform heels.
The principal pushed up his five-millimeter-thick glasses and squinted as he sized up my mother.
“You… you’re Ryan’s mom?”
My mom hooked her slender finger under her sunglasses and slowly parted her lips.
“Right now, I’m Nina’s mom. Where’s my daughter?”
Before the principal could even close his gaping mouth, he turned to look at me through the window.
I quickly ran out and stood by my mother’s side. When I saw her hand with the half-finished manicure, my heart warmed.
My mom still cares about me.
But the next second, I watched as my mom hugged Ryan, laughing so hard she nearly doubled over.
“Hahaha! Good, very good! You’re so handsome.”
The principal cleared his throat twice.
“Madam, please be mindful. Your daughter’s puppy love situation is quite serious. We must address it strictly today.”
I saw Lily standing behind the principal, a wicked smirk on her face as she raised an eyebrow to taunt me.
Ryan’s dad walked over to Ryan’s side and looked me up and down with an expression I couldn’t quite decipher.
Hearing the principal’s words, my mother finally remembered me and snorted softly.
“Deal with my daughter? On what grounds?”
My mom took my hand and walked over to Ryan and his dad.