Chapter 3: Disgraced Genius

The Yoon family has always stirred away from the cruel high society. Though it looked glamorous from an outsider's point of view, the core is rotten and full of schemes. It's a society full of fake smiles and flattery. 

Families who were involved would always be wealthy and powerful. They make connections for the sake of business and making money. 

Five years ago, when her father's company was usurped by his “best friend” she was labeled as a poor daughter of a bankrupt businessman. 

The same rumors are spreading again this time. But with a twist. 

She now became a measly professor of a university with a son who has no father. 

Rui Yoon, who just came out of the university after settling the contract, was held back by her high school classmates. 

She was dragged to attend dinner with them. 

“Rui, I heard from Jane that you have a son already? Congratulations!” one of her old classmates asked. She did not even wait for Rui to answer but she already assumed that she is a single mother. 

'Jane must have seen me with Eon at the airport' she thought. 

Rui just responded with a smile. She did not care about useless flattery. 

Rui knows that they are talking to her not because they missed her, but because they wanted to flatter Shane Smith and Lianna Johnson. The people who betrayed her. 

The Smith family is the wealthiest in East City. Although they were the top here, they can't be compared to the richest family in the country that is residing in Dixon City. 

In East City, they were high profile and dealt with everything in a high key manner. 

Shane, the next household head, is her ex-boyfriend who is now married to her ex-best friend, Lianna Johnson. 

Since she was the daughter of the CEO Steven Yoon, she was respected and accepted as his girlfriend. They started dating when they were in university and they lasted for three years. 

Rui, Lianna, and Shane were good friends back in high school. 

Rui is the top student. 

She was the ace for mathematics and science competitions. Every time she competes, she always gets first place. Perhaps if she's not the top student and a rich young lady, she wouldn't even catch Shane's attention because of her aloof personality. 

Lianna Johnson is a typical delicate young lady of a rich household. 

She has a gentle temperament, the kind of girl who evokes a person's drive to protect her. Compared to Rui who was beautiful and intelligent, she was average both in looks and in intelligence. The only charming attribute of her is her friendly personality and kindness. 

Shane Smith always comes next to Rui in grades ranking. 

His handsome features combined with his cold temperament made him look even more attractive. His accomplishments in both physical and written activities are also top-notch.

Shane and Rui were dubbed as a power couple because they always occupy the first and second spot of the ranking. Because of their reputation in school, they never encountered any disagreements with their relationship; everyone rooted for them.

Since Rui was an overachieving student back in high school, people had high expectations of her. Even her classmates before wanted to see how far she could go. 

But now that the rumors about her were starting to spread again, they can't help but be disappointed in their aloof goddess. 

Perhaps, she was also a human who makes mistakes. But being a single mother without a husband is a disgraceful status to have here in Centriona. Citizens here are conservative and value marriage and honor more than anything else. 

Rui Yoon just remained silent even after she heard the sarcastic remarks of her old classmates. 

She neither affirmed nor denied the gossip. 

They noticed that Rui Yoon did not change her character at all. She was still cold and aloof like when she was in high school. 

Soon after, the banter quieted down. 

They were intimidated by Rui's cold gaze. 

This would always happen back in high school. Her presence is oppressing, unlike Lianna who was like a bright sun that warms the room. 

The private room opened and all the eyes turned to look who entered the room. 

It was the couple, Lianna and Shane. 

Lianna searched the whole room and saw Rui at the corner. 

She was even more beautiful than before. 

Rui's piercing cold eyes met Lianna's gaze. She did not waver nor break away from their eye contact. 

Lianna, who couldn't take Rui's intimidating gaze, hid behind Shane. 

But she soon composed herself because she heard Rui is just a small professor. 

She approached Rui gently and smiled at her. “Rui, you're back! We missed you!”

Rui just looked up at her and smirked. 

Still silent. 

Lianna continued, “Brother Shane and I got married. We sent you an invitation but your butler said that you were working overseas…”

Rui looked at Lianna and Shane who were now in front of her. “Congratulations,” she said plainly. 

“Rui, we heard you had a son already? Can we meet your husband?” Lianna asked with her sweet voice. 

Rui stood up and towered over Lianna. She looked down on the elegantly dressed woman in front of her, “It's none of your business whether I have a son or a husband.”

She left the private room and headed to the comfort room. 

When she passed by the huge mirror on the wall, she saw herself. 

Compared to her classmates who were wearing the latest fashionable clothes, she was wearing cream white chiffon long sleeves tucked in black high-waisted trousers and a pair of slingback heels. 

She looked plain. 

The only redeeming feature of her is her face. 

She let down her hair that was tied up in a bun and fixed them with her fingers. 

Lianna soon followed her in the comfort room and there she saw the long-haired Rui. 

Back when they were still friends, Rui hated keeping her hair long. She always keeps a medium hair length. 

The Rui who was standing before her looked even more gorgeous. 

She hated Rui even more because of her outstanding appearance. 

But a mere professor can't be compared to her. Not only is she the wife of a rich business tycoon, but she is also one of the top actresses in the country. 

Though she hated Rui's beauty, she still held her chin up and flushed her fakest smile, “Rui, how are you? I heard college professors are not well paid. Are you earning enough?”

Lianna continued, “I can give you clothes to wear. That way your students will see you wearing fashionable dresses when you're teaching them.”

“Oh, how about your son? How about I give him some of my son's toys? He's now 2 years old.”

Rui just ignored Lianna and took out her liquid lipstick. She applied a matte red liquid lipstick on her bow-shaped lips that made her look sexy yet daunting. 

She packed up her things and gave Lianna who was standing next to her a side glance. “Tell them that I'm heading home now.”

The tall and beautiful Rui exited the comfort room and headed out to call for a taxi. 

When she was in the lobby waiting for the taxi she booked, a tall man approached her. 

“Rui?”

She looked up and saw the man she…

She felt as if all her blood was drained when she saw the man she spent the night with five years ago.

With wide eyes, she covered her face and took her bag to leave. 

Chase grabbed her wrist to stop her from leaving. “No way, you're leaving me again?”

“I don't know you, sir.”

He sneered, “Then why are you leaving?”

“I have urgent matters to attend to.”

Just before Chase was able to say something, Rui's phone rang and displayed an unknown number. 

She quickly declined the call and typed a reply to the number with only one hand. 

“Sir, can you please let me go?”

“Not until you leave me your contact details.”

She looked at him in disbelief. 

He was certainly not letting her go this time. 

Rui sighed and gave him his number. 

Chase, who was still not letting her wrist go, called the phone number she gave. 

Seeing that the phone in Rui's hand rang, he let her wrist go. “Save my number. My name is Chase in case you forgot.”