Chapter 114

Amber bit her lip. “How did she know what I was thinking?”

She hadn’t spoken a word—had barely even breathed the thought aloud.

Yet Sienna had caught it anyway, sharp as a blade catching light. Instinct like that was almost scary.

“You’re still up studying at this hour?” Sienna asked, raising an eyebrow.

She plopped down on Amber’s bed. There was a faint crunch—she must’ve sat right on top of a book.

Amber denied instantly, “I wasn’t studying! I just can’t sleep. That’s all.”

Amber barely held back a scoff. Studying! Seriously? As if she’d ever admit to that.

But before she could retort, Sienna’s eyes flickered—first to the ink smudged across Amber’s cheek, then to the pen jutting from her pocket.

Amber crossed her arms. “What’re you doing here?” she asked, tilting her head in mock curiosity.

A wild thought crossed her mind: was Sienna here to share her bed? If so, she wouldn’t exactly say no.

“You inhaled that dinner fast enough to give me whiplash,” Sienna remarked, turning toward the door. “Get some rest.”

Amber’s pulse jumped. She threw out an arm to block the exit. “Wait! I was actually studying earlier. Got a few problems I can’t figure out.” She bit her lip. “Help me?”

As soon as she finished speaking, she quickly averted her gaze.

“So you were studying, huh?” Sienna said with a teasing smile, and Amber instantly flushed with embarrassment.

The lie had barely left her mouth before it collapsed under Sienna’s knowing look. Amber chewed her lip, equal parts embarrassed and defiant.

“Well? Are you gonna help or just stand there!”

Sienna had just dozed off for a bit and wasn’t sleepy at all now—might as well take this chance to see what Amber’s study skills were really like.

Amber quickly gathered up all the books and notes she’d stashed away in every nook and cranny.

She sat down meekly, like a good girl.

Sienna pulled up a chair and sat beside her. She saw Amber take out some test papers; clearly, Amber was working through practice problems. The notes in her books were all brand new; it was obvious she’d really been studying a lot.

“Grade these for me.” Amber handed over some test papers she’d just finished.

Sienna checked them and found only three mistakes in each paper, so all the scores were above ninety.

Sienna couldn’t help but suspect whether she copied from the textbook or just wrote down the answers from somewhere else.

It was essential to distinguish between a student with learning difficulties and one who was unwilling to study. And Amber turned out to be the latter.

The stuff in the textbooks was so basic, she honestly had no clue what everyone else kept poring over day after day.

Aside from a couple of key points the homeroom teacher hammered into her, the rest was child’s play—she knew it all like the back of her hand.

“Amber, did you really do all of this on your own!” Sienna asked, sounding a bit skeptical.

Amber puffed out her chest, looking proud. “Of course I did it myself! What, you don’t trust me? Go ahead, give me a question—I’ll show you.”

Sienna wavered a bit in disbelief. She never expected Amber to turn into some top student—she just wanted her to actually care about studying again.

Who would’ve thought Amber was a hidden study ace all along!

Sienna gave her a few international math competition problems. Then she was impressed to see Amber write out the correct answers in just a few...

She genuinely praised Amber, “Amber, you’re amazing.”

Amber felt like her heart was about to burst with joy—she was so thrilled she could barely contain herself.

Her lips curling up into an adorable, toothy grin.

But she still put on a tough front. “Obviously! Who do you think I am?”

When Winifred heard Sienna’s name, she couldn’t help but clench her fists. Sienna… what an annoying name, she thought to herself.

“Winifred, they’re back again,” Ryan reported.

Winifred stood up, placing her hand on the table. The thin black snake quickly slithered over and coiled itself around her arm.

“Since they’re so eager to die, let’s grant their wish. Move out!” she ordered coldly.

“Yes, Winifred,” came the immediate reply.

It was late, and the whole street was dead silent. Winifred and Ryan slipped into the farthest alley on Culturein Street, a spot tucked away behind a big, leafy tree—pretty well hidden from prying eyes.

A group of guys loitered nearby, their rainbow-dyed hair competing for attention with their unfortunate dental work. Their cheap, tarnished necklaces might have been fashionable—if this were a 90s rap video and they weren’t missing half the links. The whole ensemble looked like someone had challenged a blindfolded clown to style them.

As soon as Winifred and Ryan showed up, the leader—a guy with cantaloupe-colored hair—tossed his bangs and swaggered over.

“Hey, little witch, didn’t we already agree? The left side of the street has nothing to do with you! What, you trying to go back on your word now?” he sneered.

Winifred stayed silent, her gaze coolly assessing the group of guys waving their pathetic fake knives around like they meant something. These idiots really must have a death wish, she mused, already calculating how many seconds it would take to put them all on the ground.

“What’s wrong with us collecting a little protection fee? Those half-dead old folks wouldn’t have made it this far without us watching their backs. Some clueless little girl mouthed off at us, so we just gave her a couple of slaps. Why are you making such a fuss?” the leader said, shrugging.

Ryan jabbed a finger at them, shouting, “You guys have no shame! You just waltz into their shops, grab whatever you want, eat for free, and don’t pay a dime. Then you try to pin it all on us? Just count how many people you ripped off already!”

“Hey, Ryan, that’s not how it is. Those are all my family! What’s wrong with me asking them for a little cash? You think we’re like you—just a bunch of unwanted orphans?” the leader mocked.

“Yeah, that’s right! All you do is trail after this little witch all day—what are you, her kept boy or something? Hahaha,” another guy jeered.

“You punks!” Ryan was shaking with rage. Before any of them could even react, Winifred lunged at them.

With a sharp cry, she lashed out with her whip, sending the leader flying.

The rest of the guys were still in a daze when the whip lashed out again, striking them hard. They twisted and squirmed on the ground like maggots, screaming in agony.

“Well, I’m actually in a pretty good mood tonight, so I’ll have some fun with you losers. How many times do I have to say it? I run this street. You really have the guts to mess with me, huh? The devil knows better than to pick this fight.

“You dared to lay a finger on my people. Tonight, I’m gonna skin you alive,” Winifred said coldly.

“Ah! Ah! Somebody help! Murder! She’s gonna kill us!”

“We were wrong! We’ll never do it again!”

“Boss, little witch, please–have mercy! Stop hitting us!”

“Not my gorgeous face! You ruined it!”

“My ass is in pieces! Please, stop! No more!”

The alley was filled with their nonstop screams and desperate cries for mercy, echoing again and again through the night.