Ren was getting a lot more looks as he entered the academy, and he knew today was the day he would change his curriculum to train alongside his female classmates. The thought was absurd to him—soon he would be stepping into the world of guilds and dungeons, surrounded by powerful people who would no doubt try their best to claim him. After all, a man with powers was far more valuable to the great families than anything else.
He already knew what awaited him: to become nothing more than a breeding stallion for those families. But that was exactly what he wanted. Through that role, he could meet the most powerful women in this world—and with his unique power and technique, he planned to show them pleasures they had never experienced.
Most men in this world, including the Ren of the past, could last only one or two minutes at best. None of them were capable of truly satisfying a woman. On top of that, most men had little to no interest in sex to begin with, their sex drives pitifully weak. In this one area, however, Ren was blessed.
While Ren was thinking about all sort of things including his previous blue balling incident with his adopted sister, academy courtyard was buzzing with life that morning. Students in crisp uniforms hurried across the paved path, their chatter rising and falling like waves. Ren walked among them, hands in his pockets, catching curious looks from every direction.
His two best friends flanked him on either side—Kaito, tall and lanky with a mischievous grin, and Greg, the rounder, calmer one who always carried a book under his arm.
"So," Kaito began, his tone heavy with mock seriousness, "this is it, huh? You're abandoning us. Off to join the 'elite female squad,' leaving your poor brothers behind."
Greg nodded solemnly. "You'll miss the best classes, Ren. Cooking, laundry techniques, even household repair—do you know how important those are for survival? What's the point of fighting monsters if you can't even stitch your own pants?"
Ren rolled his eyes. "I'll manage."
"No, you won't!" Kaito snapped, pointing a finger at him dramatically. "You'll burn water the first time you try to boil it!"
Greg sighed. "He's right. Remember the last time you tried to cook rice? We had to throw away the pot."
Ren shrugged, smiling faintly. "That's why I have you two. I'll just steal your food when you're not looking."
Both friends stopped, staring at him with watery eyes.
"You idiot," Kaito muttered, rubbing his eyes. "You really don't care, do you?"
"You've changed, Ren," Greg sniffled, pretending to wipe away tears. "Leaving us behind for women… what about our brotherhood?"
Ren smacked both of them lightly on the back of their heads. "I'm not leaving, guys. I'm just changing a few subjects. We'll still see each other every day."
Kaito blinked. "Wait. You're serious?"
"Of course. What were you thinking? I'm going to change class or something?" Ren smirked. "You two cry like abandoned puppies."
Ren always felt different from these two—different from the normal men in this world who didn't act like the men he remembered, yet not quite feminine either. It was something in between, something he didn't exactly hate but didn't like either. Still, these two were his friends, and he valued them. Whatever else he thought, he knew they were good friends.
The three of them burst into laughter, their voices echoing through the courtyard. But just as quickly, the laughter faded.
Because she was there.
Standing at the far end of the path, hands clasped elegantly behind her back, was Lady Lan Meiling. Dark hair tied as a traditional bun gleaming under the sunlight, sharp eyes locked on them, her posture proud and untouchable. The mere sight of her made students step aside instinctively, as if her presence alone commanded the air.
The three boys froze.
"Lady Lan…" Greg whispered.
Kaito straightened his uniform nervously. "She's coming this way."
Her steps were measured, graceful. When she stopped before them, she bowed her head ever so slightly—a gesture of respect that felt heavier than any command.
"Kaito. Greg," she said, her voice clear, refined, yet soft. "May I borrow Ren for a moment?"
The two exchanged glances, then identical grins spread across their faces.
"Of course, Lady Lan," Greg said smoothly.
Kaito winked at Ren. "Go on, man. We can't let Lady Lan of all people wait for you."
Ren shot them a sharp look. "Don't get the wrong idea—"
But they were already backing away with wide, knowing smiles.
Ren sighed. "I knew they were not stupid to believe my friend story."
"Shall we?" Meiling asked, turning slightly.
Ren nodded and walked beside her.
At first, silence hung between them. Her steps were unhurried, elegant, but Ren couldn't help sneaking glances. Her dark hair shifted with each movement, catching the light, her posture perfectly straight, her chin tilted in quiet pride. She looked like she belonged in a portrait, not among noisy students.
And yet—every time Ren looked at her, he caught something. A flicker. A sideways glance, quickly stolen, then quickly averted the moment their eyes almost met.
He smirked. So she's not as unshakable as she looks.
They reached a quiet hallway, far from the main path, and finally entered a familiar classroom. Ren's eyes scanned the room, and his lips curved.
"This place," he said softly. "It has a lot of memories, doesn't it?"
Meiling stiffened, her hands tightening behind her back. She finally turned, her gaze sharp. "What do you want, Ren?"
Ren tilted his head. "What do I want? Isn't it obvious? You."
For the first time, her eyes widened. Then she composed herself, lips pressed thin. "You're playing a dangerous game."
"I like dangerous games."
"This isn't a joke!" Her voice cracked like a whip. "I don't know which family told you it would benefit you to pursue me, but listen carefully—it's a lie. All of it."
Ren raised a brow. "Family? Who said anything about family?"
She didn't answer immediately. Instead, she drew a long breath, her eyes softening for a fleeting moment. "Let me tell you a story."
Ren leaned against a desk. "Go on."
"There was once a girl," she began, her voice quieter now, "who had a pet she loved dearly. A gift, brought to her by one of the greatest hunters in the city. She cherished it, cared for it, treated it like family."
Her lips trembled faintly.
"But one day… she found it dead. Not from illness. Not from accident. It was killed. Deliberately."
Ren's smirk faded. He already knew—this story wasn't just a story.
Meiling looked straight at him now, no longer hiding. "That girl was me."
Silence.
"My family," she continued bitterly, "is built on cruelty, jealousy, and control. Love is weakness. Attachment is weakness. And weakness is punished. Do you understand? Declaring that you want me isn't bold—it's suicide."
She paused, eyes distant. "To this day, I still don't know who killed my pet. Or who killed my best friend in middle school. But I know… it was someone from the Lan family. Because no one else would care enough to instill fear like that."
Her words hung heavy in the air.
Ren finally spoke. "If that's true… then aren't you the same? You're a Lan too."
Her expression faltered. For a moment, the proud mask cracked. But then she straightened, her voice cold again. "You can think whatever you want."
She stepped closer, her amber eyes sharp. "Listen to me, Ren. Whatever motives you have for getting close to me, drop them. They're not worth your life. Stay away from me."
Ren stared at her silently. Seconds stretched. Then, without a word, he turned and walked toward the door.
His hand touched the handle, but he stopped. Slowly, he glanced back.
"I won't be joining the Lan family," he said softly. "Or Guild Sirius. None of that interests me."
Meiling's breath caught.
"My interest," Ren continued, smiling faintly, "lies with you."
The smile wasn't arrogant. It wasn't mocking. It was warm, sweet, almost boyish.
And Meiling—stoic, untouchable Meiling—felt her heart stutter. Heat rushed to her cheeks, and she lowered her gaze quickly, unable to meet his eyes.
He chuckled lightly. "See you later, Meiling."
With that, he left, the door closing gently behind him.
Inside the silent classroom, Lady Lan Meiling stood frozen. Her hands, usually folded so perfectly behind her back, now trembled slightly. Her face, always proud and composed, was flushed red.
"…Idiot," she whispered, pressing a hand against her chest, feeling the rapid beat of her heart.