Kael returned to the dorm.
Mason was bruised and wiping blood from his face with a tissue. The second roommate glared at him with murderous eyes.
The tension between them was thick—they had clearly just fought, and Mason, the local boy, had gotten the worst of it.
"You just wait! I'm from Veyra! You think some outsider can push me around?!"
"Quit acting tough! You want another round?!"
"Just you wait till tomorrow!" Mason snarled, holding up his phone like he was about to call people.
The oldest roommate was Nathan—a tough, dark-skinned twenty-one-year-old from a rural background who had repeated two years. He stood between them, ready to stop another fight.
The second roommate was Uyghur. His full name was so long no one could remember it, so everyone just called him Second.
Kael sat down on his bed, lit a cigarette, and watched them bicker with a faint smile.
"Kael… you look different," Mason blurted out mid-rant, staring at him in surprise. "Did you get better-looking?"
The others turned to look.
All of them sensed that Kael seemed more attractive than he had during the day.
Kael blinked in mild surprise.
He immediately realized it was the permanent charm point the system had rewarded him with earlier.
Naturally, he wasn't about to tell them about his system.
"When have I not been good-looking?"
His roommates just grunted but didn't argue.
As much as they hated to admit it, Kael was easily the best-looking guy in the dorm—great face, height, build, and presence.
Mason ignored the topic. "Kael! You're local too, right?!"
"Why?"
"I'm asking you—one of our own got beat up! Are you gonna back me up?!"
Everyone turned to Kael, especially Second, who tensed up.
Second wasn't really scared of Mason. Mason was all loud talk and fake confidence, no real bite.
But Kael? Quiet, unreadable, impossible to ignore.
Kael took a drag. "Why don't you tell me what the fight was about first."
Second spoke up at once. "Mason's a bastard! He tried to steal my girl!"
"Bullshit!" Mason shot back. "Lina Ba said you two aren't even dating!"
"I chased her all the way to Veyra! We were almost there! And you, my own roommate?!"
"You think I even wanted you as a roommate?!"
"You wouldn't even know she existed without me!"
"Oh, so thanks a lot, then!"
They were about to lunge at each other again.
Kael nodded at Jasper, the youngest.
"You tell it."
Jasper swallowed nervously.
"Uh… it's kinda related to you, Fourth Brother. Remember you asked me to look up Aurora Hale? There was almost nothing on her in the school database, so I checked her roommates. One of them is Lina Ba—super pretty, almost as good-looking as Aurora. Their dorm's full of hot girls."
Kael's expression darkened. "Get to the point."
"Right! Lina Ba's Uyghur, really beautiful. She was specially admitted three years ago for the National Traditional Arts program. Second said she's his girlfriend—that's why he worked so hard to get into Havenshire."
Jasper rushed on. "To help you find info on Aurora, Second took Lina Ba out. But she said they're not dating, just childhood friends. Then Mason said he wanted to pursue her. She said she wants to be a big star. Mason bragged he knows directors and could make her famous."
"And then… Mason got punched by Second."
Great.
Kael extinguished his cigarette. Classic messy drama.
Second glared daggers at Mason.
"All your stupid bragging I could ignore—but you try to lie to my girl?!"
"Fuck off! Lina said she's not yours!"
They tensed up again, but for some reason, both kept glancing at Kael. Their anger seemed to dim under his stare.
Once he understood, Kael spoke calmly.
"Second. Is she actually your girlfriend?"
Second's face fell, looking miserable.
"We went to school together. She promised she'd be my wife! But… I know she still loves me!"
"Yeah, right, I'm sure she's in love with me too!" Mason scoffed. "She wants to be a star in Veyra! What can you even give her?"
Second ground his teeth but had no comeback.
Kael nodded.
"If you two aren't officially together, then it's fair game. If you think she loves you, fight for it. If you think you're better for her, Mason, then pursue her. Both of you seem confident enough."
He passed cigarettes to both men, then to the others.
None of them smoked except Kael, but only the fifth roommate refused politely. The rest lit up awkwardly.
"As for you getting beaten, Mason—you had it coming."
Mason immediately protested. "Kael! How can you say that?! You're not gonna stick with your own people? I can spread word you're a traitor!"
Kael said evenly, "You wouldn't even know her if it wasn't for Second. Getting hit was your entry ticket."
Mason blinked.
...It did kind of make sense.
The argument died down, though the two still glared at each other, both determined to outdo the other.
Mason pulled out his phone. "Add me on QQ, Kael!"
Once they were friends, his first message popped up instantly:
"Bro! Since we're both Veyra locals, help me out! How do I win Lina Ba? She's so fine!"
Kael replied:
"You're at a disadvantage. You barely know her. If Second takes her out alone, what can you do? Maybe just give up."
"No way! C'mon, help me! I'll treat you to dinner at Yanhuang First Tower!"
Kael smiled coldly.
This kid really knew how to lie through his teeth.
Yanhuang First Tower only accepted VIP reservations. Everyone knew it hosted foreign leaders and top officials. He had zero intention of actually paying.
"...I do have an idea. Organize a dorm double date. Movies, karaoke. Bring both dorms. That way you can invite her normally."
"Two dorms… that'll cost a lot."
"What, scared to spend money, rich boy?"
"No way! Thanks, bro! I'll set it up!"
If Mason hesitated over money, Kael would have even covered it.
Let the two idiots fight over Lina Ba.
Kael had his eyes on Aurora Hale, her roommate.
He'd been looking for a way to get close—and now the opportunity landed right in his lap.
Right after that chat, Second crept over to Kael nervously.
"Kael…"
Mason in the upper bunk immediately stared daggers.
Kael looked at Second.
Everyone was calling him 'bro' now.
"What?"
Second glanced up at Mason. "Can… can we talk outside?"
Kael thought for a moment, then got off the bed.
On the rooftop, Kael pulled out a cigarette. Second quickly held out a lighter.
"Just say it."
"I… I'm scared Lina Ba will fall for that loser Mason."
He was surprisingly honest.
Kael's eyes flickered. "Then ask her out more. But… wouldn't it be awkward if it's just you two?"
Second frowned. "Probably! I feel like things aren't as easy between us anymore."
"Then bring someone. Girls like bringing their roommates too. You take Jasper."
Kael deliberately named the pimply, awkward little tech nerd.
Second pictured Jasper and immediately shook his head.
Lina Ba already thought he was too much. Bringing a creepy-looking guy? He'd lose for sure.
Not Jasper.
Nathan? Solid guy, but had a rough, country vibe. Good for working, not dating.
Mason? Rival. No way.
That left only Kael and the fifth roommate, Felix.
Felix was gentle and feminine-looking, but he was so quiet he barely spoke ten sentences a day.
Kael leaned against the rail, smoking, looking out over the campus.
He'd known exactly what Second would choose the second he mentioned Jasper.
Sure enough, after circling through all the options, Second smiled awkwardly.
"Kael… you wanna come with me?"
"Me?" Kael acted surprised. "I'm pretty busy. But… you know I want to meet Aurora Hale. If you can get her to come… I can get four tickets for the Grand Theater concert hall. If Aurora can't make it, never mind."
Second's face lit up.
"Yes! Yes, I can! They're arts students—they'll definitely want to go! I'll make it happen!"
Kael clapped him on the shoulder, smiling.
"Then it's a plan."