The morning sun spilled across the campus, but today felt different.
When Ethan stepped into school the next morning, he instantly felt something was different.
Eyes.
All around him—eyes.
Not hostile. Not curious.
Worshipping.
The corridors buzzed with whispers like mosquitoes after a thunderstorm.
He didn't even make it past the school gate before students started pointing.
"There he is!"
"That's him! The Eggxucutioner!"
"I heard he has a secret mafia boss, sugar mommy!"
"Rumor says he's Jasmine's bodyguard... no, her secret boyfriend."
"I heard he is also dating Rhea."
"He's dating both of them! At the same time!"
"Bro, my grandma even had a crush on him."
Ethan walked with a lazy expression, hands in pockets, but inside, he was struggling to hold in his laughter.
"...What the hell is wrong with this school?" Ethan muttered.
Rhea was already waiting near the entrance, leaning casually against a pillar with a cold drink in hand. When she saw him, she smirked.
A student wearing round glasses and an oversized school blazer crept up behind them. "Excuse me Sect Leader, are you... are you accepting disciples?"
"Disciples? Sect Leader" Ethan blinked.
"Yes! The way you humiliated that scumbag teacher, it was... legendary!" he whispered with sparkling eyes. "Please teach me the art of face-slapping!"
Ethan waved his hand. " Just do your homework and get good grades and make your parents proud. That's the ultimate face-slap."
"Wise words! As expected of the sect leader" The student bowed like he'd heard a Daoist proverb and ran off to spread the gospel.
Rhea was already waiting by the classroom door. When she saw him, she smirked.
"Well, well, look who's suddenly the man of the hour."
He waved casually. "You're not jealous, are you?
She didn't answer and they both entered class together, where many students believed it was a rumor about their relationship, and now started thinking it was actually true.
In class, things got noisier.
"Ethan! My man! That thing with Mr. Green? Legendary," a classmate laughed, trying to high-five him.
Ethan just nodded. "Hmm."
"Hey, hey, I always knew you weren't ordinary!" another one said, overly eager.
"You once said I should go mop floors," Ethan replied flatly. The guy blinked and backed away.
A few girls looked his way, whispering with excitement. One even wrote "Ethan" in her notebook and quickly hid it when he turned.
He ignored it all and sat in his seat like usual.
Inside the class, even the usually annoying students looked at Ethan differently.
Andy, the class gossip king, pulled out his phone and whispered to everyone around him. "Guys, Look at all the memes about Ethan, It's so ridiculous and funny."
Ethan blinked." What Memes?"
Ethan saw a meme where the teacher twerking, Ethan was slapping him with a board which says Eggxactly.
What the fuck?
Another student chimed in, "Someone threw a watermelon instead of an egg. Got him right on the nose!"
Ethan's face twitched. "Watermelon? Where did they even get that?"
"Cafeteria auntie. She said, 'This one's on the house.'"
During break, Ethan and Rhea decided to go to the cafeteria, Jasmine also joined them.
The cafeteria lady called him instantly.
"You! Hero boy! Come here!"
She handed him a tray that looked like a king's banquet. Even a mini cake.
" Eat well. Stay healthy. And-," She whispered."Have you done deeds with those pretty girls?"
Ethan choked. "Auntie—!"
The nearby aunties all laughed. One of them said, "My daughter's single, you know."
Is anyone in this normal? Ethan sighed.
Just then a group of female students surrounded their table.
"Excuse me?"
"Is it true you slapped a teacher and got him arrested?"
"Are you single?! Asking for a friend! That friend is me!"
"Can I have your autograph? On my shirt?"
Ethan's eye twitched. "What is happening right now…"
Rhea pulled his collar like a bodyguard. "Out of the way."
The girls squealed and scattered.
After the cafeteria's chaos was over, but of course peace never lasted long.
Lucien strutted over like he owned the place, flanked by two goons,the human equivalent of rotten breadsticks.,. His dyed blond hair flopped like a wet mop, and his expensive but fake sneakers squeaked with every step.
He looked at Ethan with a sneer.
Ethan looked up.
"Well, well, well… if it isn't the poor loser pretending to be a hero.
Lucien's face twitched. "Don't get cocky just because you pulled some tricks. Everyone knows, President Jasmine's the one who called her family. What did you do? Carry her purse?"
Ethan calmly sipped his juice box.
Then he stood up. Slowly. Deliberately.
He walked toward Lucien, leaned in, and whispered, "Want to test that theory? I'll even tie one hand behind my back."
Lucien paled a bit. "Tch… violence again? That's all you are — a brute. You think this school runs on fists?"
Ethan tilted his head. "Well… it sure doesn't run on your grades."
That earned a few snickers from the nearby tables.
Lucien growled. "You think you're something now, huh? Just because you have rich girls around you? Let me tell you, President Jasmine and Rhea just pity you, huh? Must feel nice having girls pretend to like you for attention."
Laughter from his lackeys. The nearby students started murmuring.
He leaned forward, trying to intimidate Ethan. "Let me give you a reality check—"
SLAP!
No warning. Just the loud, crisp sound of a palm smacking ego.
Ethan smiled. He turned to the onlookers. "Reality check delivered. You're welcome."
Lucien held his cheek, trembling in embarrassment. "Y-You hit me—!"
"Lucien. Right?"
Lucien turned, his smirk freezing.
Jasmine stood there with her usual elegant aura, eyes cold, arms folded.
"Grandpa wanted to hire a professional cleaner to wash his car. I should tell him to hire you instead,since a trash can clean trash easily."
The students who overheard all coughed violently. The burn was too real
Lucien froze in place, his cheek reddening like a tomato in shame.
He couldn't bear the shame. Lucien ran off, face red, his two sidekicks scurrying after him like roaches after the lights turned on.
The cafeteria erupted in laughter.
Someone shouted, "Ethan sama! You're my idol!"
A girl whispered, " Ethan, please take my virginity."
Another girl shouted at her," Bitch, shut up. You can't handle him,he likes it rough."
" Shut up, how do you know?"
Ethan sighed," Maybe I should go home."
After school, the trio walked out together.
Jasmine stretched. "I'll be leaving by car. My grandfather's driver is here."
Rhea nodded. "."My father is also here. I'm also leaving, we are going to pick my mom."
Ethan? He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked up at the sky.
" Do you both wanna eat rameyon?"
Jasmine blinked. "If it's just ten minutes, then sure."
Rhea laughed. "Let's go. Dad can wait a little."
As the three of them walked off into the sunset, school was still buzzing behind them, students were still gossiping, and Lucien was still nursing his pride. Ethan thought to himself:
"Thanks for this chance, Author."