She looked at Orion's black eyes, then at the tempting Soda Iceberg. The scales in her heart began to sway violently. For a long time, she had been suppressed. A girl's curiosity, a craving for sweets, and Orion's persistence. These made her finally take the cup with some unnaturalness. She gently scooped a small piece of crushed ice from the top with a small wooden spoon. The colored syrup, mixed with slush, was hesitantly brought to her mouth.
Cold. Sweet and sour. Bubbles bursting. A wonderful sensation instantly bloomed on her taste buds. Bronya's eyes widened abruptly, and a strange sense of familiarity shot through her entire body.
"Mmm... delicious..." she murmured unconsciously. Immediately, she quickly scooped a second spoon, then a third. Her appearance was completely different from her usual unsmiling demeanor. Orion quietly watched her, only to see her face flush with surprise and delight, and a childlike pure joy flash in her pupils.
"This taste... I always feel like it's a bit familiar..." Bronya put down the spoon. She looked at Orion with a hint of confusion. She didn't even realize the inexplicable emotion in her eyes.
"Did you remember something?" Orion asked, striking while the iron was hot.
Bronya frowned and thought for a moment, but finally shook her head. "Nothing... probably just an illusion." But her expression towards Orion was clearly much softer. There was less coldness, more of an indescribable closeness, and a hint of confusion.
"Is that so... If you can't remember, then forget it." Orion didn't press her further. "It's getting late, I'll be going now."
"See you tomorrow, Bronya."
He turned and left, leaving Bronya sitting there alone. She held the remaining Soda Iceberg and looked at Orion's departing back. A small crack seemed to appear in a part of her heart that had been frozen for a long time.
A week later, the midterm exam results were announced. Orion and Bronya both scored very well. Bronya's grades had improved from before, and she was in a good mood. Orion's study methods were very effective, which made her look at him with new respect.
After class that day, Orion felt it was time. He called out to Bronya. "Bronya, are you free tonight?"
"I have two tickets to the opera house, for the newly staged fairy tale play 'Resha and Mrs. Tru.'"
"I hear the reviews are very good."
As soon as Orion finished speaking, the classroom instantly erupted! The students who hadn't left yet all looked at them.
"No way?!"
"That kid Orion actually invited Miss Bronya to the opera?!"
"Is he crazy? How many noble young masters tried to ask Miss Bronya out before and were directly rejected, couldn't even get a word in!"
A boy said sourly, "I thought he was just a bookworm who only knew how to study, how did he suddenly get smart?"
"The main thing is... what right does he have?!"
"Miss Bronya definitely won't agree!"
"If she agrees, what was all the rejection we faced before? Being outdone by a transfer student from the Underworld?"
Many girls stared at Bronya, their feelings complex. The girls in the class felt a bit resentful. Orion had been here for over a month, and though he was from the Underworld... he was handsome. And he was usually very gentle and easy to talk to with girls, recognized as the class heartthrob. Some girls even confessed to him, but he firmly rejected them all.
Hearing Orion's invitation, Bronya was stunned, her cheeks flushing. She originally wanted to refuse. Because her mother had taught her to keep her distance from classmates and participate in fewer private gatherings. But looking at Orion's smile, some blurry images suddenly appeared in her mind... the Orphanage in the evening, a broken swing, and a cup of sweet Soda Iceberg. An inexplicable sense of closeness welled up in her heart.
Bronya looked at Orion, wavering. Orion was too handsome, too refined... Although her mother had taught her from a young age not to judge people by their appearance, there was no one else in the entire academy with a face like Orion's. Not just handsome, but also a bit... captivating. He had an indescribable charm about him, especially when he smiled.
Bronya's heart trembled, and she nodded, as if by some strange impulse. "Mm..."
"You agree?" Orion asked.
Bronya's face turned even redder. She avoided Orion's gaze and whispered, "Mm... just as a thank you, for yesterday's Soda Iceberg."
"How much are those two tickets? I'll treat you."
Orion noticed the boys around him almost spitting fire, and the girls' eyes were resentful and unwilling. He turned to Bronya, smiled, and said, "No need. I said I'd treat you. Next time there's an opportunity, you can treat me."
After speaking, he suddenly turned to the entire class, his voice loud: "Classmates, I bought more than just two tickets."
"Tonight, I've booked the entire opera house!"
"If you'd like to honor me with your presence, why don't we all go and enjoy it together?"
[Wow—!!!]
The classroom instantly erupted!
"What?! Orion booked the entire opera house?!"
"Isn't he from the Underworld? Where did he get so many Winter City coins?"
A classmate revealed, "I heard he was adopted by a very wealthy noble family! Otherwise, how could he get into our academy!"
"So that's how it is, this Orion is actually a pretty good guy!"
"I thought they were going on a private date!"
Many girls breathed a sigh of relief. Then a girl who had a good relationship with Orion was the first to respond: "Okay, okay! I want to go! Thank you, Orion!" Seeing this, other girls suddenly scrambled to go as well. Once the girls started, the boys also said they wanted to go. Soon, almost all the classmates in the class participated in the opera viewing event organized by Orion.
Orion turned to Bronya and asked, "Do you mind going with them?"
"If you don't want it to be too noisy, we can reschedule for another day, just the two of us."
Bronya looked at Orion, then at the happy classmates around them. A rare relaxed smile appeared on her face: "No."
"It's good to occasionally do activities with classmates too."
"Then let's go!" Orion smiled. Then he suddenly reached out and naturally took Bronya's wrist. Bronya's heart pounded, her cheeks instantly turning crimson. She was about to pull away. But Orion merely used her to pull her up from her seat, then immediately released her hand. This, instead, caused a slight sense of disappointment to flit through Bronya's heart.
Orion waved his hand grandly at the entire class and said boldly, "Everyone, let's go!"
"Before the opera starts, I'll treat everyone to dinner at a restaurant!"
[Yay—!!!]
Deafening cheers erupted. Everyone crowded around Orion and Bronya, marching out of the school gate in a mighty procession. Orion walked in the front. He glanced at Bronya and the excited classmates behind him, a chill rising in his heart.
His goal was not just Bronya. The students in this academy, in this class, would all enter various power departments of Belobog in the future. They would become administrators, or Silvermane Guards of the Silvermane Guards, intelligence officers, and so on. They and the families behind them held the future of Belobog. Orion needed to win over these people first to make the path smoother for himself and Bronya in the future.