Top Student Reborn, Vocational School To Success

My brother has been reborn, too.

In our last life, the school's golden girl, Seraphina Sterling, was head over heels for meDthe cold, high-achieving genius. My brother, Jace, couldn't handle the rejection.

He ended up assaulting her in a fit of rage and died shortly after in a gruesome car accident.

Now that he has a second chance at life, he is desperately trying to mimic my every move. He smirked at me today and said, "This time, she'll only have eyes for me."

I almost burst out laughing.

Just like in our previous life, he's still a pathetic loser whose world revolves entirely around women.

A man like him will never be a worthy opponent of mine.

"Nolan is a straight-A student. It doesn't matter which school he attends; he'll succeed anywhere."

"But my grades are terrible. I don't want to rot in that vocational school anymore. I want his spot at Northridge High. Their resources are way better."

"Besides, vocational school is much cheaper. I just want to save you guys some money. I know how hard it is for you to support both of us."

The moment I opened my eyes, I heard Jace feeding this garbage to our foster parents.

My head was throbbed with a dull ache as memories of my past life rushed back like a tidal wave.

In that life, these two peopleDmy foster parentsDhad forced pesticide down my throat until I stopped breathing.

They screamed at me, "If it wasn't for you, Jace would still be alive! You're a curse on this family!"

I could still feel the phantom burn of that poison corroding my internal organs. The agony was something I would never forget.

"Jace makes a good point," my foster father said, turning his cold gaze toward me.

"Nolan, you're transferring to Valley Vocational. Go pull your registration papers from Northridge today."

It wasn't a request. He didn't give me a chance to say a single word.

In my last life, I had earned my spot at Northridge High, the most prestigious prep school in the city, through sheer hard work.

Jace had failed the entrance exams and ended up at the vocational school, where he met the school's notorious beauty, Seraphina Sterling.

He became obsessed with her, chasing her like a loyal dog.

But because I was the top student at Northridge, known for my icy and intellectual vibe, Seraphina became fixated on me instead.

She used to ditch her classes just to follow me around.

That jealousy drove Jace insane, leading him to commit a crime that eventually cost him his life in a car crash during his escape.

I looked at Jace. He was staring back at me, his eyes overflowing with hidden malice.

I realized it instantly. He had been reborn, too.

"Nolan, you wouldn't mind helping Mom and Dad save some money, right?" Jace pressed, a fake smile plastered on his face.

I let a small, mysterious smirk play on my lips. "Of course not. I'd be happy to."

Jace had no idea that this actually played right into my hands.

Valley Vocational was far away, which meant I'd have to live in the dorms.

It was the perfect excuse to get away from this toxic family and focus on my own future.

So what if it was a vocational school? A diamond still shines, even in a pile of coal.

My foster parents didn't waste a second taking me to handle the transfer.

To them, my future meant nothing. In fact, they probably enjoyed seeing me fail.

After all, I wasn't their biological son.

They only took me in because my real parents died saving them years ago. The adoption was just a show for the police and the neighbors.

Behind closed doors, they treated me like a stray dog.

I did all the chores, while Jace got the best clothes, the best food, and all the love.

But it didn't matter. I would learn to love myself. That was enough.

The next morning, as I was leaving for school, I ran into Jace.

He was wearing a crisp, clean Northridge High uniform and a pair of simple white sneakers.

He looked exactly like I did in my previous life. He was literally wearing my identity.

Back then, he hated uniforms. He used to wear nothing but designer streetwear and limited-edition Jordans.

He leaned in close, looking triumphant.

"Big brother, this time, she's going to fall for me."

"You can stay in that trashy school and rot. Have fun being a loser," he whispered, laughing as he walked away.

I didn't even give him the satisfaction of a response. I just walked past him.

What kind of idiot still looks down on vocational schools in this day and age?

At the end of the day, everyone sits for the same college entrance exams.

Plus, at Valley Vocational, I could learn technical skills that prep schools didn't offer.

I chose to major in Computer Science.

It was the same field I had excelled in during my previous university years.

The curriculum here was basic, but it was perfect for sharpening my foundations while I worked on my own projects.

After picking up my textbooks from the advisor, I headed to my new classroom.

The moment I pushed the door open, a thick cloud of vape smoke hit me.

A group of kids in expensive clothes were huddled around the teacher's podium.

Sitting right on top of the desk was a girl in micro-shorts with a prominent tattoo on her arm.

I recognized her immediately. Seraphina Sterling.

She shot me a sharp, sideways glance and suddenly hurled a heavy chalkboard eraser at my head.

My reflexes were sharp. I tilted my head, and it zoomed past me.

She hopped off the desk and marched over.

"Who told you that you could dodge?" she snapped, her eyes full of disdain.

With a sudden, violent shove, she knocked the stack of books right out of my hands.

"Oops. My hand slipped," she sneered.

"No problem," I replied calmly.

I knelt down, picked up my books one by one, and then slammed the entire heavy stack right into her chest.

As the books scattered across the floor, I looked her dead in the eye.

"My hand slipped, too. My bad."

In my last life, Seraphina had found me through the school's online forums.

Students at Northridge used to post my photos constantly, calling me the "Ice King."

She had made a huge scene trying to win me over back then.

But in this life, she was targeting me from the very first second.

It didn't take a genius to figure out that my dear brother had whispered something in her ear.

"Are you freaking crazy?!" Seraphina screamed.

Her little henchmen immediately surrounded me, looking like they were ready to throw down.

Right then, the teacher walked in.

"Class is starting. Everyone, take your seats."

Seraphina clenched her fists, glaring at me with pure hatred.

As she brushed past me, she hissed, "You're dead meat. Nobody messes with me and gets away with it."

Seraphina wasn't just the school beauty; she was the undisputed bully of Valley Vocational.

Her family had serious money and influence, which she used to torment anyone she didn't like.

I remembered a friend telling me about her in my previous life.

That friend was her neighbor. He told me that Seraphina actually had an arranged marriage waiting for her.

Her pursuit of me back then had just been a game to herDa way to rebel.

Now, thanks to Jace, the game had changed from "seduce" to "destroy."

Over the next few days, she went all out. She put superglue on my chair and dropped dead roaches in my water bottle.

It was like something out of a clich high school bully movie.

But I wasn't afraid of her. A man who has already died once doesn't scare easily.

I swapped our chairs when she wasn't looking, leaving her stuck to the seat.

When I found the roaches, I didn't throw them away. I waited for her to walk by and dropped them right down the back of her shirt.

She turned pale and started screaming, jumping around like a lunatic while her cronies tried to fish them out.

I told her flatly, "This is what happens when you mess with me."

Being kind is a choice, but hitting back is an instinct. I don't believe in being nice to predators.

Seraphina finally went quiet for a while, staying out of my way.

I used the peace to dive into my studies.

I went to my advisor and signed up for the regional Computer Science Skills Competition.

Winning first place came with a massive cash prize and a major boost to my academic record.

The day before the competition, my advisor, Ms. Miller, called me into her office for a pep talk.

She was a young, enthusiastic teacher who had just graduated herself.

She carefully wrote down a list of tips for me.

"Nolan, give it your all tomorrow."

"If you win this, you'll shut up everyone who says vocational students are bottom-tier."

Her eyes were shining. She was one of the good ones.

I nodded and took the list.

As I headed toward the stairs, I bumped into a classmate.

It was Hazel, the girl who was always quiet and top of our English class.

She was clutching her faded uniform tightly, looking nervous.

"Do you need something?" I asked.

"Seraphina is going to jump you after school today," she whispered. "She wants to stop you from going to the competition."

"Walk out with me and the other girls. We'll keep you safe in a group."

She was thin and looked a bit malnourished, but her eyes were incredibly bright and determined.

I was stunned.

I thought everyone in this class was too terrified of Seraphina to even look at me.

I didn't expect someone to be this brave.

I gave her a small smile. "I appreciate the offer, Hazel. But this is my problem. I don't want to get you guys dragged into it."

I walked down the stairs, leaving her standing there.

...

After the final bell, I grabbed my bag and headed out.

Near the school garden, I spotted Hazel and another girl hiding behind a tree, watching me anxiously.

Something shifted in my chest.

They were clearly terrified of Seraphina, yet they were still looking out for me.

Suddenly, a hand clamped over my mouth.

Two guys dragged me into an empty classroom and kicked me to the floor.

The lights flickered on with a loud click.

I wasn't just looking at Seraphina. Jace was there, too.

He stood beside her, still wearing that pristine Northridge uniform, looking like the perfect golden boy.

Seraphina grabbed my chin and smirked. "Where's that big mouth of yours now, Nolan?"

I knew what she was talking aboutDthe roach incident.

I shoved her hand away and laughed. "What, you want more bugs in your clothes?"

She stumbled back, her face turning a deep shade of purple.

"You little... Get him! Break hisD"

"Seraphina, wait. Maybe we shouldn't," Jace interrupted, putting on his best "kind soul" act.

He looked so soft and patheticDthe complete opposite of the arrogant jerk he used to be.

Rebirth had definitely made him smarter.

He knew Seraphina had a thing for the "sensitive, misunderstood genius" type.

He lowered his eyes and sighed. "If your friends hurt him too bad, he won't be able to compete tomorrow. I'd feel terrible."

Seraphina let out a cold, mocking laugh.

"Even better. Send him to the hospital for six months. I'm sick of looking at his face."

"Do it! Give him everything you've got!"

Her thugs started closing in.

Jace's eyes sparkled with a sick kind of joy, and a tiny smirk began to form on his lips.

I sat there on the floor and started laughing out loud.

"You guys are so incredibly stupid."

"What?!" Seraphina shrieked. "Are you mocking me?"

My laugh got louder.

"I'm laughing because you're being used as a pawn and you don't even realize it."

"If I were you, Seraphina, I wouldn't be causing a scene right when your family is choosing their next heir."

Her eyes widened. She froze.

Before she could respond, the classroom door swung open.

It wasn't who I expected.

It was Hazel and the other girl.

I thought they'd be too scared to come in. I was wrong.

Kind people are often the bravest.

Hazel was holding her phone, her hands shaking violently, but she stood her ground. "We... we called the teachers!"

Seraphina acted like she'd heard the funniest joke in the world.

"Oh, I'm so scared!" she mocked, walking toward them with terrifying confidence.

"The principal literally bows to my father. You think some low-rent teacher can stop me?"

Hazel bit her lip, unable to find the words.

"How about me? Can I stop you?"

A woman's voice boomed from the doorway.

A middle-aged woman draped in expensive furs walked in, her face like stone.

Seraphina's smirk evaporated instantly.

"Mom..."

Mrs. Sterling's voice was vibrating with rage.

"You know exactly what's at stake for our family right now. I told you to keep your head down. Did you forget?"

"But he started it!" Seraphina pointed at me, desperate.

"I don't care. You're an adult now; you need to see the bigger picture. We're leaving."

Mrs. Sterling grabbed her arm and shot a disgusted look at Jace.

"And stop hanging out with such low-class trash."

Jace's face turned an ugly shade of green.

The Sterling guards cleared the room, and Seraphina's little gang scattered like rats.

"Nolan, I underestimated you. I didn't think you had the guts to call her mother," Jace spat, glaring at me.

Then, he started to chuckle.

"You're back, too, aren't you?"

"Doesn't matter. Seraphina loves me now."

"And once she's officially the heir to the Sterling empire, she can erase you from existence, and no one will dare to report it."

He looked so sure of his victory.

I wondered how he'd feel when he found out about her secret fianc.

Would he have a total mental breakdown?

Jace stormed out, leaving me alone with Hazel and her friend.

"Thank God you're okay," Hazel sighed, finally letting out a breath.

The other girl smiled. "Yeah, her mom showed up just in time."

They didn't know that I was the one who sent Mrs. Sterling an anonymous tip.

Thanks to my memories, I knew that the Sterling patriarch was dying of cancer and currently vetting his successors.

Seraphina had two half-sisters who were hungry for the spot.

There was no way her mother would let her jeopardize the inheritance over a high school grudge.

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