Seraphina Sterling took a few twists and turns before ducking into a small alley.

"You’ve been following me for long enough. Time to come out, don’t you think?" Seraphina Sterling had specifically chosen a deserted alley. This way, even if she got a little carried away, there would be no witnesses.

A group of young men appeared, dressed in ridiculously flashy clothes. They had it all: multicolored hair, earrings, and tattoos. More importantly, each of them gripped a wrist-thick iron pipe, glaring menacingly at Seraphina Sterling.

"Well, well, little lady. Not bad. You actually knew we were following you! Looks like you know you’ve done something you shouldn’t have!"

Looking at the white-haired punk, Seraphina Sterling flashed a warm smile. "I really have no idea what I could have done to get on your bad side."

"It’s not us you’ve got a problem with. You messed with someone you shouldn’t have! So young, yet you already love being in the spotlight. Today, someone sent us to deliver a message: just because you get good grades doesn’t mean you can be so damn arrogant! If you don’t have the status, you should learn to keep your head down! Today, we’re gonna teach you a lesson!"

With a look from the white-haired leader, the other punks swung their iron pipes at Seraphina Sterling!

Seraphina Sterling didn’t even blink. She shot a kick at the white-haired punk. A sharp CRACK echoed, followed by his shriek. "My hand! My hand! It’s broken!"

"Guys, get her! Beat the crap out of this bitch!" Seeing their leader injured, the punks surged forward all at once, driven by some misplaced sense of gangster loyalty.

Seraphina Sterling didn’t even consider them a threat. A single kick sent one flying. A single punch was met with the CRACK of bone. She was actually having fun. Even surrounded, she handled them with ease.

In that moment, she was once again grateful for her foresight. ’Thank goodness I learned some self-defense,’ she thought. ’Otherwise, facing this many punks, I would have been in for a world of hurt!’

Gazing at the moaning figures on the ground, Seraphina Sterling still wore that same warm smile. "Go back and tell Willow Hale I have no interest in competing with her for anything. She’d be wise not to provoke me again. I’ll let it slide this time; I’m magnanimous enough not to hold a grudge against petty people. But if there’s a next time... she can wait for my retaliation!"

The downed punks looked at each other in confusion. They hadn’t mentioned Miss Hale’s name once. ’How the hell did this little brat know Willow Hale sent us to teach her a lesson?’

’And another thing—didn’t Willow Hale say Seraphina Sterling was just some fragile, clever little girl? Can someone please tell me why the hell she’s such an amazing fighter? Her moves are so sharp! Her reflexes are so fast! And she’s absolutely ruthless!’

’Not a single one of us could even get close to her! We’re all busted up, and we didn’t even lay a scratch on her. To top it all off, *we’re* the ones who got a warning!’

’Are we the most pathetic thugs in history? If a girl this tough is considered ’fragile,’ then there are no tough people left in this world!’

After that fight—or rather, that one-sided beatdown—the frustration in her heart had dissipated considerably. Seraphina Sterling’s steps grew lighter, and her pace quickened without her realizing it. She had paid so much in tuition fees; she had to learn every skill Terrence Grant possessed!

’And there was an even more important matter to consider.’ Her house was so large, and in such a prime location. Plus, she was Terrence Grant’s student. ’Shouldn’t the demolition compensation be increased a little?’