The orientation ceremony finally came to an end. Everyone slowly began leaving the massive auditorium hall. They were having exciting conversations among them echoes throughout the hall.
Boys are talking about which club they should join.
"Which club are you going to join?"
"Hmm, it's a basketball club."
Suddenly another boy interpreted them by saying.
"Hi, you guys know the ranking of goddesses in our department."
Both of them looked at him with serious expression.
"We discussed the future but you are interested to know who is the most beautiful girl in our department."
"Yeah, this university is difficult to deal with."
Sophia was walking towards the exit of the auditorium. Beside her a girl was walking with her and she was her best friend Emily Scott.
"Hi, which Young Master do you like?" Emily asked her .
"Shut up, I am here to study and I don't have time for doing these childish things." She frowned and replied to her.
Meanwhile, Ryan stood up from his chair and quietly walked through the crowd while observing everyone calmly.
Then—
His footsteps suddenly stopped, he saw a student(boy) who was walking through the exit of the auditorium.
He was someone who looked familiar to him. He has black hair, a calm face and a simple appearance compared to the flashy rich heirs around him yet strangely eye-catching.
Ryan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"The protagonist…"
Lucas Reed.
The main male lead character of the 'Summer of Youth' novel.
Unlike the wealthy young masters of wealthy families surrounding him, Lucas came from a Millionaire Reed family. He was treated as trash in the Reed family because of his brother(adopted by Reed family when Lucas was gone missing in childhood.
At the start everyone believed that he was useless but slowly everyone was surprised by him because he possessed something far more dangerous among elites in Westbridge International University that is his talent almost comparable to Claire Anderson and charisma compared to top celebrities.
And that's the natural ability that makes him attract people's attention.
In the original story of the novel where almost every important female lead character eventually developed feelings for him.
Sophia Laurent, Claire Anderson and several others.
Ryan quietly observed him from a distance.
Right now, Lucas looked like a completely ordinary student like others. There is no overwhelming aura and no dramatic entrance.
'This perfect time to become best friends with him can benefit me in future.' Ryan thought.
Just another freshman walking out of the auditorium.
But Ryan knew better.
"That guy is basically the center of this world."
Lucas suddenly started walking toward the exit.
Ryan immediately followed him.
He wanted to become a friend or sworn brother of the protagonist so he can use his connection to grow his own business empire.
Unfortunately—
BAM!
Ryan accidentally crashed into someone hard.
The impact almost knocked him backward, making him unbalanced and fell on the ground.
Before he could react, a cold irritated voice reached his ears.
"Can't you watch where you're going, you filthy gutter worm?"
Ryan looked up instantly after hearing and his body froze slightly after seeing him.
Tall figure.
Sharp handsome face enough to make any girl crazy for him.
Expensive black blazer that gives a full elite feeling.
Naturally intimidating aura around him.
Ethan Vale and Eldest son of the Vale family. The Vale family was the 3rd largest richest family in the entire country.
And he is also one of the major villain characters of the novel.
The obsessive heir who constantly pursued Claire Anderson. Anyone who goes near her or tries to impress her then he will make them pay with their lives.
At that moment, Ethan's expression looked visibly annoyed.
Several students nearby immediately became nervous after recognizing him. They'll step back and make a circle
Everyone was watching, no one dared to speak because nobody wanted to provoke the young master of the Vale Family.
Ryan inwardly sighed.
"Of all people…"
'Damm, how terrible is my luck! there are so many people here—I could have bumped into anyone—but I ended up bumping into *him*.' he thought while looking at the floor.
Ethan was about to continue speaking coldly—
But suddenly, his gaze shifted behind Ryan.
His expression immediately changed.
Ryan blinked slightly before turning around.
Claire Anderson was talking with some teachers in the auditorium nearby.
The moment Ethan noticed her presence—
His cold aura disappeared almost instantly but still his eyes were full of anger.
He quickly reached out his hand toward Ryan.
"Are you alright?"
Ryan stared blankly.
"…What?"
Ethan frowned slightly.
"I asked if you're hurt."
Then he helped Ryan stand up properly and even adjusted the sleeve of Ryan's uniform casually.
"You should pay more attention while walking."
Ryan genuinely looked surprised.
This was not the arrogant villain image described in the novel.
Instead, Ethan appeared unexpectedly polite.
Then Ethan pulled Ryan towards him and whispered in his ears in a low and cold voice.
"If this happens next time…you look smart to understand right?"
Nearby students looked equally shocked; this was unexpected for everyone.
"Did Ethan Vale just help someone?"
"That's rare…"
"I thought he'd start yelling."
"Yesh, even I call ambulance."
Meanwhile, Ethan maintained a calm gentleman-like expression.
'What the fuck, this is clearly warring but why he act like gentle-man instead of villian.' he thought
He looked around then his eyes caught someone then he quickly understood the reason behind his actions.
Claire was watching him.
'For a few seconds it felt like a good person, what an acting bro but inside he was still a villain.' He thought.
Ethan clearly wanted to maintain a good image in front of her.
Still…
Even if it was partly an act, Ryan could tell Ethan wasn't completely fake either.
At least he didn't humiliate weaker students for no reason like many arrogant heirs.
Claire slowly approached them.
"Is something wrong?"
Her calm voice immediately drew attention again.
Ethan's expression softened slightly.
"Nothing serious. He accidentally bumped into me." said in a soft voice.
Claire looked toward Ryan briefly.
"You should be careful."
Ryan nodded calmly.
"Sorry."
"If you have eyes then use them properly." Ethan looked at him and said in a mocking voice.
Ryan becomes more nervous but maintains his calm expression.
For a brief second, Claire's eyes lingered on him slightly.
Perhaps because unlike other students, Ryan didn't look nervous while standing beside Ethan Vale.
Then her attention returned to Ethan.
"I heard your family recently invested in the northern project."
Ethan's eyes immediately brightened slightly.
"Yes. My father personally handled it."
The two naturally continued talking while walking together.
Ryan quietly watched them leave from there.
Then he suddenly realized something in the original novel—
Claire and Ethan actually looked quite compatible together because they grew up together as childhood sweethearts.
Both came from powerful families Vale are 3rd richest family and Anderson are 4th richest family in the entire country.
Both were talented from their childhood.
Claire has natural leadership qualities and Ethan has natural talent but it's not shown in the novel because the author shows him as arrogant, scumbag and obsessive villain of the original novel.
Unfortunately, Ethan's obsessive behavior later destroyed everything.
Ryan sighed softly and whispered to himself.
"What a waste of a family's fortune."
At that moment, Jack suddenly appeared from nowhere and wrapped an arm around Ryan's shoulder dramatically.
"Brother!"
Ryan almost jumped.
"Where did you even come from?"
Jack looked at him emotionally and with a joking smile.
"You know, I thought that it was your last day in the auditorium."
Then he lowered his voice seriously.
"Do you realize how terrifying that combination is?"
Ryan looked at him strangely.
"…You sound like you just saw two final bosses."
Jack nodded immediately.
"Exactly, compared to their families here no one dared to say a word outside of anything they did to you here."
Ryan laughed slightly before glancing toward the auditorium exit and seeing them leaving.
But Lucas Reed, the protagonist of the novel, had already disappeared from his sight.
'Dmm I miss this chance,' he thought.
Ryan narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
"The main story is already moving forward…"