Back in the classroom, I sit down at my desk. Not long after, Ivy walks over with a blush on her face and sets a cup filled with hot water down on my desk with a thud. This time, her face is completely flushed. She doesn't dare say a word and rushes back to her seat.
I stare at the cup of hot water, completely stunned. I know she means well, and honestly, I am a bit thirsty, but in my current condition, it's really inconvenient. Even going to the bathroom is a struggle. Do I really need to drink more hot water? As expected, apparently every problem can be solved by drinking more hot water, right?
I finally make it through the rest of the afternoon's classes. Then I see a message from Nina. She asks if I want to eat at the cafeteria later, or if she should just bring food back for me. But I don't want to be gawked at while standing in line at a food stall, so I decisively reply, "Just bring the food back for me. I'll wait for you at the campus square."
Once most people have cleared out, I limp my way to the bathroom, then slowly make my way to the campus square. Nina arrives right around this time too. She's carrying two lunch boxes. The two of us sit down at a stone table and start eating.
Nina talks as she eats. "If you need anything these next few days, just tell Jenny. You know, Jenny from your class. She's my best friend."
I keep eating and say in a flat tone, "I'm fine, really. My knee will heal up in a couple of days."
Then I hear Nina say, "Oh, right. My mom was asking if you're settling in okay as an exchange student, how school's been going. I didn't tell her about you getting hurt, though. But I heard her mention a client recently who happens to be at our school. She was asking if you'd still take on the job."
Then Nina glances at my bandaged, bun-shaped hands and remarks, "Honestly, I think you should just rest. It's not like you're short on money right now."
I pause for a moment to think, then casually ask, "Is the client from our school? I don't really remember anything about this."
"Yeah, they're from our school. They reached out before, but back then we were still in Baichang and it was too far anyway, so nothing came of it. But now that you're back as an exchange student, they reached out to my mom again to make the connection."
I don't respond. I just reach out my hand and say, "Nina, send me the client's info. Let me take a look."
As she talks, Nina sends over the file. "It's here, but my mom doesn't recommend you take this job right now."
After looking through the file, I say, "This client's actually solid. Low demands, high pay. This is basically an angel client. I'm taking it."
Nina hesitates for a long moment and says, "Ethan, do you really not want to rest for a while before taking this on? Does it have to be right now? You're seriously obsessed with money."
Once the afternoon classes end, I don't rush off. Ryan stays behind to wait for me too. Once most people have cleared out, Nina shows up. To my surprise, Ivy and Vera trail in right behind her.
Vera feels responsible since I got hurt because of her, and by any measure, she can't just ignore it. But the moment I see them, I get a headache.
The campus is full of people coming and going. Nina supports me on one side with two stunning girls trailing alongside, making it look like some scene of a star surrounded by admirers. This scene couldn't be more pathetic. It's exactly the classic opening for a villain second male lead in a power fantasy novel. The more glamorous things look early on, the harder and more brutally it all falls apart later.
With Nina holding me up, I just want to pass out on the spot. Just thinking about my tragic fate as cannon fodder, and looking at these clueless female leads around me, fills me with a wave of sorrow. Life just feels like one blackout after another right now.
Back in the dorm, I add the contact Nina sent over. The other person accepts instantly and even arranges to meet up the day after tomorrow so we can check each other out. Once I'm done with everything, I let out a sigh of relief and plan to relax a bit.
But to my complete surprise, at eight that night, the campus forum absolutely explodes. Someone posted a photo of me falling. It instantly sets the whole school on fire. In the photo, loose strands of hair cover half my face. Whoever secretly snapped it even captioned it, "You're welcome."
The forum instantly erupts. Some people go completely gaga.
"I'm officially declaring him my new obsession. His looks are definitely campus heartthrob material."
"Oh my god, that vulnerable, disheveled look of his is just too swoon-worthy."
Then there are the skeptics who show up in full force.
"A bunch of brainless people. Can't you all see through this cheap trick? This guy's looks are just average. Honestly, nowhere close to Jonathan."
Of course, there are also bystanders who just love stirring up drama. The sourness is practically dripping off the screen.
"The new kid sounds like his family background's pretty average, right? How could he ever compare to Jonathan? Jonathan's parents are literally at the top of the Baichang wealth rankings. Plus, he and Vera grew up together as childhood sweethearts. What could this exchange student possibly have to compete with our Jonathan?"