Aiden James naturally knew who Zoe Quinn was.
In the entire School of Arts at New York State University, there were only a handful of students who didn't. She was the kind of girl whose reputation preceded her, brilliant, beautiful, and just a bit untouchable.
Vice President of the Student Union.
President of the Dance Club.
A frequent host at every major university event.
She sang beautifully and even had a Level 10 piano certificate.
But all of that wasn't what made her unforgettable.
It was her face, the kind of beauty that made people stop mid-step, that made even the most cynical student believe in love at first sight.
Many said Zoe Quinn was even more stunning than the hottest Hollywood idols. And they weren't wrong.
Before meeting her, you might not understand what it meant to fall for someone instantly.
After seeing her once, you'd never be able to lie to yourself again.
But beyond her charm and elegance, Zoe came from money serious money.
And that was exactly why, despite her popularity, very few dared to pursue her.
Most guys took one look at her dazzling aura and immediately thought: I don't stand a chance.
Even Aiden James once felt that way.
Back when he was still chasing after Emily Rose, he already thought she was out of his league.
But Zoe? She was someone he didn't even dare to approach.
Yet now… things felt different.
After all, it wasn't his money anymore.
It was eight o'clock in the morning when Aiden walked into the lecture hall.
He wore the new outfit Ivy Mae had helped him pick the night before, slim-fit jeans, a soft white shirt, and a tailored jacket that framed his tall, lean figure perfectly. His messy hair was gone, replaced by a clean, tousled look that made him look effortlessly handsome.
"Whoa, who's that guy?" one girl whispered.
"He's kinda cute. Why haven't I seen him before?"
"Wait, oh my god, that's Aiden James! The same guy who used to hang around Emily Rose all the time?"
"No way! He looks completely different! I didn't realize he was actually handsome under that mop of hair."
"Guess the breakup glow-up is real!"
A group of girls whispered among themselves, sneaking glances toward Aiden's seat.
And then, just as the chatter died down, Emily Rose walked in with her friend Sophia, both dressed stylishly, both effortlessly drawing attention.
Emily's hair was tied into a neat ponytail, her white sneakers spotless, her fitted jeans emphasizing the graceful lines of her figure. She looked every bit like the campus sweetheart she was.
Her eyes landed on Aiden.
She froze.
For a full two seconds, she just stared, almost not believing that the unkempt, awkward boy she once looked down on could look like that.
Emily Rose: Favorability +10
Emily Rose: Favorability +10
Emily Rose: Favorability +10
Aiden nearly rolled his eyes.
Three years of trying, begging, and bending over backward for her, and she'd barely looked at him.
Now he cleaned up, and her affection shot up thirty points?
Women are such superficial creatures, he thought with a wry grin.
Emily and Sophia sat down right behind him.
That, in itself, was unbelievable. Back when they were together, Emily would've avoided sitting this close to him in public.
"Did you see Shark's stream last night?" one of the guys nearby whispered excitedly.
"Bro, it hit two billion views! Some rich dude sent her five thousand rockets in half an hour!"
"Five thousand? That's like, ten million dollars!"
"Ten million for a streamer? My god, that's a whole townhouse in Manhattan!"
Another student laughed. "You think rich guys are that dumb? There's always a deal behind the scenes, either a business collab or… something else."
Aiden smirked to himself.
Wasn't the 'rich guy' they were talking about sitting right next to them?
Hearing his own story trending across social media gave him an odd thrill.
He almost wanted to stand up and announce, "Yeah, that was me! The mysterious donor!"
But that would just sound lame.
And then, the entire room fell silent.
Two girls had just entered.
The first was tall, about 5'8", with a cropped haircut and a confident, almost boyish aura.
The second… was Zoe Quinn.
She didn't need to wear anything flashy.
A simple cream blouse and black jeans were enough. Her every step, every turn of her head drew eyes.
She had that kind of quiet, effortless beauty that demanded attention without ever asking for it.
"God, Zoe Quinn's stunning," someone whispered.
"Her skin, her figure, her face… she's perfect."
"No wonder people say she's already taken. I heard she got picked up in a Rolls-Royce last week."
"Man, stop making stuff up!"
As murmurs spread, one bold student, Ethan, suddenly stood up and walked toward her.
"Vice President Quinn," he said nervously, "may I… uh, add you on WeChat?"
"Holy crap," someone muttered, "he's actually doing it!"
"Ballsy move, man. I respect it."
Before Zoe could respond, her short-haired friend stepped forward, blocking his path.
"What are you doing?" she asked coolly.
"Uh… I just wanted to apply for the Student Union. And since Vice President Yu is in charge, I thought..."
"Then go fill out the application form like everyone else." Her tone was icy. "You've been here three years and never joined, but today you suddenly want to apply? Be honest, are you here for the Student Union or for her?"
The room went dead quiet.
Ethan's face flushed red. "I… I just…"
He trailed off, humiliated.
Aiden leaned back in his seat, watching the scene unfold with faint amusement.
So this is Zoe Quinn, he thought. Beautiful, sharp, and completely out of reach.
Or maybe… not for long.