But Jiangg Ning was not one to be outdone, merely giving her a contemptuous glance.
For some reason, both sisters felt certain they would be the final winner.
It seemed they were already prepared to watch the other walk away in tears and defeat.
...
「Early the next morning.」
The morning sun shone on the sprawling canopies of the trees on campus. South of the Second Academic Building, rows of old pagoda trees and cypresses had sprouted new, tender green leaves. Sunlight filtered through the needles, dappling the spotlessly clean paths with light.
Landa University was among the last to start the semester; schools elsewhere in the country had begun their academic year several days earlier.
Even so, banners had already been hung along the tree-lined avenues, and many cleaning staff were busy around campus. Swarms of little bees buzzed before the stone-altar garden, their round, striped bottoms sticking up as they buried their heads in the flowers.
