chapter 1

I woke up early this morning, like I do every day. I got out of bed and stretched, feeling the warmth of the sun on my face. It was a beautiful day outside, but I knew that I couldn't enjoy it just yet. I had to get ready for school.

My name is Lin Wu, and I'm a high school student. But that's not all I am. You see, I'm actually a billionaire. I inherited my wealth from my parents, who were both successful entrepreneurs. But I don't want anyone to know that. I don't want to be treated differently because of my wealth. So I keep it a secret, even from my closest friends.

As I got dressed, I chose my clothes carefully. I put on a worn t-shirt and a pair of faded jeans, trying to look as unremarkable as possible. I picked up my backpack, which had seen better days, and headed out the door.

At school, I tried to blend in with the crowd. I wasn't the most outgoing person, but I had a few friends that I hung out with. One of them was Linda, a girl in my class who was always surrounded by people. She was bubbly and outgoing, the kind of person who could make friends with anyone.

But Linda didn't know my secret, and I intended to keep it that way. I didn't want her to treat me differently because of my wealth. So I kept my distance, trying not to draw too much attention to myself.

As I walked into the classroom, I saw Linda sitting at her desk, chatting with her friends. They were all laughing about something, and I felt a pang of envy. I wished that I could be a part of their group, but I knew that it wasn't possible. Not with my secret hanging over my head.

As I took my seat, I tried to disappear into the background. I didn't want anyone to notice me, especially not Michiel. Michiel was the class clown, a guy who loved to make fun of people. He was always looking for a new target, and I had a feeling that I was next on his list.

Sure enough, he made his way over to me. "Hey there, Lin," he said, grinning from ear to ear. "What's up with the rags you're wearing? Did you pick those out of a dumpster?"

The other students started to snicker, and I felt my face grow hot with embarrassment. I knew that Michiel was just trying to get a rise out of me, but I couldn't help but feel hurt.

But then something inside of me snapped. I stood up, towering over Michiel. "You know what, Michiel? You're right. I am poor. But at least I'm not a jerk like you."

The room fell silent as Michiel recoiled, clearly taken aback by my outburst. I grabbed my backpack and headed for the door, feeling a sense of satisfaction that I hadn't felt in a long time.

As I walked out of the classroom, I could feel the stares of my classmates following me. I had a feeling that things were going to be different from now on. Maybe, just maybe, it was time for me to start being true to myself.

The rest of the day went by without any incident, and I was able to make it through all my classes without any more trouble. But the encounter with Michiel had left me feeling shaken. I couldn't believe that I had actually stood up to him like that. It was a bold move, and I wasn't sure if I was ready for the consequences.

After school, I walked home, lost in thought. I wondered if my secret would still be safe after what had happened in class. I had always been careful to keep my identity hidden, but now I wasn't so sure if that was still possible.

As I entered my house, I was greeted by my butler, Mr. Li. He had been with my family for years, and he was the only person who knew about my true identity. He gave me a knowing look, and I knew that he had heard about what had happened in class.

"Is everything alright, Lin?" he asked, concern etched on his face.

I nodded, trying to put on a brave face. "Yeah, everything's fine. I just had a run-in with Michiel today."

Mr. Li nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "You did well to stand up to him, Lin. It's not easy to be true to yourself, but I believe that it's the right thing to do."

His words gave me comfort, and I felt a renewed sense of confidence. Maybe it was time to start being more open with my friends, to let them see the real me. It wouldn't be easy, but I knew that it was the right thing to do.

As I sat down to do my homework, I felt a sense of excitement for the first time in a long time. Maybe, just maybe, things were starting to change for the better. And I knew that I had Mr. Li to thank for that.