Su Xiaoyu → Amelia Su
Counselor Cao stood at the front of the classroom with a big smile and encouraged everyone, "Alright, don't be shy! This is your new life—college is the perfect time to make new friends and start fresh."
That was all it took.
The boys practically leapt out of their seats to introduce themselves.
It wasn't about nerves. It was about opportunity.
Specifically, an opportunity to look good in front of a certain someone.
Sure, on the surface, everyone acted polite and proper, greeting their classmates warmly, like proper gentlemen. But if you looked closer, their eyes told the real story.
Every time they introduced themselves, their gazes drifted toward one direction—toward Alexis Lane.
It was painfully obvious.
They weren't just introducing themselves for the sake of friendship. Their real goal was to impress the class beauty. It was almost laughable how transparent they were.
People listed their Talent level, profession, combat experience, hobbies, even their height and strength stats, trying to casually humble-brag their way into attention.
Zach Darnell, Leon Graves, and Noah Chen all went up when their turns came, each giving short, decent intros.
Then it was Lucas's turn.
He stood up and walked casually to the front. "Hi everyone, my name's Lucas. I'm an assassin class. My hobbies are singing, dancing, rap, and playing basketball. Thanks!"
His line drew laughs from half the room—the boys, especially. They were convinced he was trying to act cool.
That old internet meme-style intro?
They all gave him side-eyes like, We see what you're doing, smooth talker.
But just as the room calmed down, Alexis Lane stepped onto the stage.
Her introduction was short and to the point. Her voice was calm, composed, but carried a presence that made the entire classroom fall quiet.
And then… the boys howled.
Not literally, but the enthusiasm was deafening. A few claps were a bit too loud. Someone even muttered a "Wow" under their breath.
Because now the entire class knew:
Not only was Alexis stunning, but she was also incredibly talented.
For many of the guys who had earlier been showing off, it felt like a punch to the gut. Their confidence took a serious hit.
"She's way out of my league."
"Why did I even bother talking about my swordsmanship?"
Reality had set in for them, and it wasn't pretty.
Meanwhile, the girls? They were relieved.
Alexis was so far above the curve in every way—beauty, talent, aura—that she didn't even feel like competition. She was in a league of her own.
When the introductions wrapped up, Counselor Cao returned to the stage, clapping lightly.
"Great job, everyone. That wasn't so bad, right?"
He then launched into the usual counselor talk—campus rules, class procedures, what to expect in the first week, and reminders about safety.
To most of the students, it was background noise, but they nodded politely all the same.
"This class meeting is just to get us all familiar with each other," he explained. "No pressure."
But before dismissing them, he added something important.
"Also, think about whether you'd like to volunteer as a class representative. We'll be holding elections at the next meeting, and I hope you all actively participate."
Lucas quietly tuned out. He had zero interest in class committee stuff.
He was here to grow stronger, to train and advance—not to worry about attendance rosters and school event planning.
That was someone else's headache.
Then Counselor Cao mentioned one more thing.
"Don't forget! Tonight at 8 p.m., we're holding the Freshman Welcome Party in the university auditorium. Attendance is mandatory. Make sure you're there on time!"
With that, the meeting was adjourned and students began to leave in groups.
Lucas stretched, ready to head out, but before he could leave, Counselor Cao called out his name.
"Lucas, hang on. Come with me to the Academic Affairs Office."
"...Huh?"
Lucas blinked in confusion. Why am I being summoned on the first day?
Did they already discover he was a "scumbag," as he called himself?
He said goodbye to Zach, Leon, and Noah, then followed the counselor out.
---
They walked across campus, and before long, Lucas found himself standing in the office of the Dean of Academic Affairs.
Sitting at a desk across from them was a tiny, nervous-looking girl with pale skin and large eyes. Her posture was stiff, and she looked fragile, like a bean sprout trying to survive a windstorm.
Counselor Cao gave Lucas a quick nod, then stepped outside and closed the door, leaving Lucas with the girl and the serious-faced dean.
Lucas had no idea what was going on.
The dean gestured politely. "Please, Lucas, have a seat."
Lucas did as he was told, still puzzled.
Then, the dean smiled and finally got to the point.
"You've been selected as one of this year's freshman representatives," he explained. "Based on your exceptional entrance performance, we'd like you to speak at tonight's Freshman Welcome Party."
"...Wait, what?"
Lucas stared blankly. "You want me to give a speech? Tonight? At 8 p.m.? You're telling me this now?! It's already five!"
He hadn't even had dinner yet!
The dean remained calm. "Yes, I understand it's short notice. But don't worry—we've prepared some sample speeches from past representatives. You can use them as reference."
He handed Lucas a few neatly printed pages.
Lucas took them and skimmed quickly. They were all very formal and a bit boring, but at least they gave him a framework to follow.
Alright… I'll just wing it. It's not like anyone's expecting Shakespeare.
"Also," the dean added, motioning toward the girl across from him, "this is Amelia Su. She'll be joining you on stage as the other freshman representative. But don't worry—she won't be speaking. She'll just be standing beside you."
Lucas's eyes widened.
"Wait a second… Is she the SS-Level Talent? The Transcendent-Level freshman Shield Knight?"
The dean raised an eyebrow. "You know?"
Lucas nodded slowly, looking over at the girl.
She looked back at him—then immediately looked down, flustered. Her hands fidgeted in her lap, and she hunched her shoulders as if she wished to disappear.
Lucas stared in disbelief.
So this… this shy little bean sprout… was the legendary SS-Level recruit?
The Dean sighed, noticing Lucas's expression. "Yes, she's the one. She's incredibly gifted. But... she's also painfully shy. That's why we want her to just stand on stage for now. It's a kind of gentle exposure therapy."
Lucas nodded, trying to keep a straight face. Honestly, I thought the SS-Level Shield Knight would be a tank built like a fortress—not someone who flinches at eye contact.
"Well, I guess we'll be sharing the spotlight tonight," he said finally.
The dean smiled. "Exactly. You two should get to know each other a bit. I'll leave it to you."
---
The two of them stepped out of the office together, walking down the hallway in silence.
Lucas looked over at Amelia, wondering if she would say anything. She didn't. Her head was lowered, and her steps were slow and timid.
He stopped walking.
Bump!
She hadn't noticed and walked right into his back, stumbling a little. She squeaked softly and rubbed her forehead.
"Ah—sorry! Are you okay?" Lucas asked, turning around quickly. "That was my bad."
Amelia shook her head, still not saying a word.
"Your name's Amelia Su, right?"
She nodded.
"I'm Lucas," he said gently. "I was actually heading to the cafeteria. You want to come with me?"
She hesitated. But after a moment, she gave a small nod.
Lucas smiled. "Alright, let's go. Don't worry—I don't bite."
He could see how nervous she was and decided to dial back his usual sarcasm. He put on his kindest face and walked a little slower, letting her catch up.
This girl… might be hard to talk to, he thought. But something tells me… she's going to surprise all of us.
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