Chapter 5 of "The Exchange Student Chasing Dreams"

　　"So, our class's Halloween activity in a week will be at a horror-themed restaurant."
　　The teacher announced this, just as the bell rang. The students cheered. Matt even whistled and kicked Xia Meng's desk, while ordering one of his classmates to be quiet.
　　"How about we, the lucky underachievers, have a fair competition?"
　　"Huh?" Why are they picking on her? "
　　For Halloween, we'll each play a role. Whoever receives the fewest flowers or skulls has to stand during class, nap, and meals for the entire semester! Are you in?"
　　Xia Meng thought it best to learn from past mistakes and refuse, but the whole class had already started to jeer. A popular figure on a certain campus forum quickly posted a thread: "The ultimate showdown between the 'European Little Tyrant' and the 'Asian Little Sheep' has officially begun!"
　　Even the news department, passing by the classroom, barged in with cameras, snapping close-up photos of Xia Meng and Matt, and announcing: "On [date], please look forward to the exciting program presented by the news department: (Who will be crowned the Halloween Horror Star?)!"
　　Applause erupted, and surrounded by students betting on the outcome, only Xia Meng looked bewildered.
　　That evening, the three sisters dragged Lu Bin into a heated discussion about whether to cultivate Xia Meng's charm or her horror. According to the rules, to get the most roses, she had to go for the charm route; to get the most skulls, she had to go for the horror route. They had to win at least one to avoid losing.
　　The foreign girls' enthusiasm made it impossible for Lu Bin to remain a quiet, handsome young man; his opinions rained down on the most irrelevant "Lu the Passerby," completely ignoring the person in question.
　　However, Xia Meng was currently lost in thought. More than a week had passed since her birthday party, and Matt hadn't done anything to harm her. At most, he'd give her a mocking smile, but most of the time he treated her like she wasn't there.
　　Xia Meng, who usually cared a lot about what others thought, was surprisingly magnanimous, showing no resentment. The memory of being bullied when she first entered school had taught her that it was best for them to go their separate ways and not interact at all! Xia Meng
　　cherished every minute of this hard-won peaceful life, fully enjoying her time abroad.
　　Almost every day, as soon as she opened her eyes, walked down the spiral staircase, through the courtyard garden, and stepped through the eight-meter-high gilded gate, she would habitually greet the person with the surname "Thomson" engraved in English on the doorplate, get into the luxury car that would pick her up and drop her off at school on time, and enjoy all the privileges reserved for the wealthy.
　　Currently, everything seems too perfect, and there's something strange about it. She thought that even without making a mistake on the exam, her grades wouldn't be better than Shuqin's and the others. She still hadn't met Mr. Thomson and couldn't ask him the real reason she became an exchange student.
　　She couldn't believe she was sitting here, but she didn't want it to be just luck.
　　Therefore, initially, spurred on by Matt, she frantically tried to change his perception of her through hard work, desperately trying to find her strengths to prove that her selection was justified.
　　So, Matt's indifference over the past week was actually a little disappointing for her.
　　Lu Bin, overwhelmed by the three sisters' succession, asked, "Xiaomeng, what do you think?"
　　Yes, what did she really think? Xia Meng clearly realized that she still wanted to change Matt's opinion of her; she had to win this contest decisively.
　　"Success is the only option; failure is not an option!"
　　Suddenly, Xia Meng's pre-battle declaration echoed deafeningly throughout the entire building.
　　"Slay them all!"
　　On Halloween night, the Blue Maple Noble Academy was teeming with demons, awaiting an international version of the "Who Will Win the Horror Star" competition.
　　"Whoosh—"
　　Surrounded by "green tree spirits," the "Werewolf King" lay sprawled on the teacher's desk, his cloak billowing, chin raised at a 45-degree angle, letting out three high-pitched howls.
　　The classroom, now transformed into a spooky dining room, was shrouded in the eerie light of pumpkin candles. Students dressed in outlandish costumes, some waiting for food and others drawn by the spectacle, held roses in one hand and skulls in the other, eagerly anticipating the first contestant's appearance that evening. The
　　"Werewolf King," neck outstretched, displayed the wildness of a wolf, tail curled proudly, mouth agape to accompany a real wolf howl hidden in a player.
　　Some students were stunned by the piercing howl, clapping and cheering.
　　A dark gray fur collar, a black and red leather jacket, a wolf tail coiled around her waist, bronze skin, and exquisite features, with captivating eyes adorned with deep purple veils—this person, seemingly transported from an ancient kingdom, bore no resemblance to a naive, innocent Eastern girl.
　　"Gentlemen, I deeply miss you all." "Ahhhhhh!"
　　A burst of frenzied shouts erupted from the audience.
　　The "Werewolf King," Xia Meng, grabbed a handful of rose petals and tossed them down, supported by a masked "wolf cub" behind her, as she walked offstage.
　　Lu Bin, concealed behind the "wolf" mask, was utterly embarrassed and deeply ashamed. He couldn't believe it had actually caused a reaction. At this moment, he was quite glad he was wearing a mask, allowing him to shamelessly cooperate with Xia Meng's act.
　　Xia Meng was also giving her all to interpret and perform this role, determined not to let down the three sisters who had dressed up as "tree spirits" to accompany the village—this was their masterpiece after a whole night of hard work. From the moment Xia Meng decided to go for the alluring route, they had a plan. Unlike the deep and flamboyant features of Westerners, they dressed Xia Meng in an androgynous way, giving her a mysterious charm.
　　"Beautiful lady, may I have this rose?"
　　"Take it!"
　　A girl from another class who had come to watch the spectacle excitedly threw a rose at Xia Meng's face.
　　That incomparably handsome face was instantly pierced with two cuts.
　　The three sisters behind her were so angry that the branches on their heads trembled violently, their inner roars echoing: How dare they ruin their work!
　　"Werewolf King" Xia Meng waved her hand magnanimously, saying, "It's nothing, just a ripple on my future journey."
　　Her domineering lines and brilliant performance drew cheers from even the most rational and calm onlookers. Some girls had already offered her flowers, and the students who had bet on Xia Meng were now looking at her with newfound respect.
　　"Werewolf King" was secretly pleased, but as she reached out to take a flower, the girl suddenly withdrew it. Xia Meng noticed that the girl in front of her was staring intently at the direction behind her, her face filled with rapture.
　　Gasps and exclamations of surprise rose from the surrounding area. Xia Meng was bewildered, only knowing that even the "green tree spirits" around her seemed to have been bewitched and were ready to betray her at any moment.
　　Amidst a series of suppressed screams of excitement, Xia Meng felt a hand on her shoulder. She couldn't help but turn around—
　　oh my god, it was dazzling! The men inwardly exclaimed. "Move aside,"
　　a languid, seductive voice sounded behind her. Xia Meng felt as if she were hypnotized, unconsciously shifting her body.
　　The newcomer smiled coldly, then sat down on the medieval European bench carried over by "Bat's" subordinates. The man had deep red eyes, long blond hair, wore a magnificent, retro medieval robe, and a smirk revealing two sharp teeth.
　　Indeed, this was Matt playing the vampire. By fate, he and Xia Meng had become destined rivals.
　　Matt, the "vampire," tapped his fingers twice on the armrest, instantly radiating an aura of absolute dominance ten meters around him. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes gently closed. No one could enter his line of sight. His
　　"Bat" subordinates busied themselves, first bringing in an eight-meter-long square dining table, then setting out over a dozen dishes, all covered with domed lids. Once everything was ready, Matt opened his eyes, his narrow eyes slightly narrowed, a captivating smile playing on his lips.
　　"If you wish to dine with Earl Matt, simply present him with the flowers you hold," one of the "Bat" subordinates announced loudly.