Chapter Two: The Elite World

Chapter Two: The Elite World

In September's blazing summer heat, the sky above Qingli Academy was a relentless expanse of blue, completely devoid of clouds. The scorching sun beat down mercilessly, turning the day into an oven of unbearable heat.

The tall sycamore trees lining the verdant pathways of the school stood as massive green umbrellas, their leaves overlapping like the fronds of a giant fan. Lydia Moore, seeking refuge from the punishing sun, stood under one of these trees. Her eyes, not particularly large, darted around nervously as she gripped the handle of a large suitcase. In disbelief, she pinched her own cheek to make sure she wasn't dreaming. The sharp pain confirmed it: starting today, she was indeed a student at Sakura Academy, a prestigious institution that rivaled Qingli in national renown.

Unlike the publicly funded Qingli Academy, which was renowned for its academically gifted students, Sakura Academy was a private institution that emphasized the cultivation of a wide range of skills beyond academics. As a result, its students were typically from wealthy or influential backgrounds, possessed outstanding looks, and excelled in at least one other field. Sakura's students were often proud, but their exceptional abilities justified their confidence. In many ways, Sakura's influence even surpassed that of Qingli.

However, Lydia Moore was the exception to this rule.

The heat was oppressive, making it hard to breathe. After waiting nearly an hour under the sycamore tree for the school bus, Lydia finally abandoned the idea of waiting any longer. She decided to carry her heavy suitcase by herself. Having rushed through her enrollment the day before, she was still unfamiliar with the school and could barely remember the route to her dormitory.

With not a single cloud in the sky and no breeze to speak of, the sun hung like a fiery orb overhead. The trees stood motionless, their leaves drooping listlessly. Lydia trudged through the stifling heat of the campus, the weight of the old-fashioned suitcase dragging her down. She wondered if students at Sakura Academy never used school buses, unlike Qingli. If only she had moved her luggage to the dormitory administrator's office last night, she wouldn't be suffering so much now. Her clothes were practically soaked through with sweat.

As she approached, Lydia's eyes caught sight of two figures in the distance, her spirits lifting slightly. Among them was a tall boy leaning against a sleek silver convertible. Just from this distance, he looked impressively built and likely very strong. Lydia felt a flicker of hope. Perhaps he would be willing to help her with her suitcase. With renewed determination, she mustered her remaining strength and staggered towards them.

"Excuse me, fellow student!" Lydia called out cheerfully as she neared them, her voice a bit too loud. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Aaron King, who was clearly already irritated by the situation, turned his face away, his brows furrowed behind his black sunglasses. He glanced at Lydia with an expression that suggested her appearance was far from remarkable.

"Excuse me," Lydia continued, breathless as she finally reached him. She dropped the heavy suitcase with a thud and took a moment to catch her breath. When she looked up, she was struck by how exceptionally handsome the boy was. His overall demeanor was flawless, and his fashion sense was impeccable. His face, revealed beneath his sunglasses, was so strikingly handsome that it seemed to outshine even the diamond earring on his left ear.

But this wasn't the time for admiration. Lydia needed to focus on her request. "Hi, could you please help me carry my suitcase to the dormitory? I'm a new transfer student in my second year." Given the apparent value of his car, she figured helping her with the luggage should be easy for him. After all, it was said that helping others was a virtue, so he had no reason to refuse. She smiled brightly, hopeful for a positive response.

However, Aaron King turned his attention away with disdain, focusing instead on the middle-aged man facing him. His impatience was palpable as he spoke. "I'll say this one last time: I'm not transferring. Stop bothering me." He chewed gum with an air of cool arrogance and swatted the man's hand away from his car.

"Aaron King, reconsider. Your runway presence surpasses even professional models. Transferring to the School of Arts and Communications could be a better fit for you," the man persisted, refusing to be deterred by Aaron's rebuff. He was determined to get the school's most promising model to agree to the transfer, but Aaron stubbornly refused.

Ignoring the man, Aaron adjusted his sunglasses and prepared to get into his car, ready to start the engine.

Lydia watched in confusion as the two of them engaged in a tug-of-war over the car, each holding onto it for different reasons. The sky above was a blazing expanse, the air thick and stagnant.

"Annoying!" Aaron snapped, turning his gaze towards Lydia, who had also latched onto the car. "You want me to help you with your suitcase?" He smirked, looking both charming and indifferent.

"Yes!" Lydia nodded eagerly, though she couldn't shake the feeling that this might not end well given his previous behavior.

"Fine," Aaron said nonchalantly, "as long as you get rid of him." His posture and tone indicated he was waiting for her to respond.

No! Lydia thought to herself. Isn't helping each other a part of student life? He was clearly trying to use her, and the man he was dealing with looked extremely difficult. She couldn't risk getting into trouble over a suitcase. Determinedly, she resolved to see it through.

Aaron was confident she would agree, and indeed—

"Deal!" Lydia quickly threw her suitcase into the backseat of his car and then hurried to confront the middle-aged man. Despite her earlier reservations, Lydia found herself outmaneuvered by a bit of promised assistance.