Leo Aetherwind sat lazily in his seat, tapping his phone with one hand while resting his chin on the other. The classroom around him buzzed faintly with low conversations, the usual post-lunch lethargy spreading across the students.

He wasn't paying much attention to the lesson or the teacher's monotone voice. His eyes were half-lidded, more focused on the bright glow of his phone screen than anything else.

Just then, a faint ding echoed — the sound of a notification popping up on his screen. The moment he saw the name flash across, his sharp blue eyes slightly narrowed. It was a message from Butler Wang.

Leo opened it, his expression remaining calm but his gaze sharpening as he scrolled through the message. Butler Wang had written in his usual precise tone:

> "Young Master, I have completed the preliminary background investigation on the individual you asked about — the one named Lu Xio."

Leo's thumb paused mid-scroll. He leaned back against the chair and continued to read the rest of the message.

> "Lu Xio is a student transferred recently from a distant country. His parents died a few years ago due to an unknown cause. He is classified as an orphan and was raised by his step-sister, who took care of him since childhood.

The sister's name is Lu Ruolan. She runs a small pastry shop near the city. She is described as a kind-hearted and beautiful young woman with gentle manners. She has no known criminal records or suspicious activity. Everything about their background appears normal."

Leo blinked, his expression flat. Then, the corner of his lips twitched slightly — a mixture of irritation and sarcasm curling within.

He muttered under his breath, voice barely audible, "So… the parents are dead, mysterious cause, raised by a kind sister, and she runs a small shop. Hah, what a standard protagonist background. Straight out of a cheap novel."

He exhaled slowly, eyes gleaming faintly with amusement. "An orphan with a beautiful, hardworking sister. How original."

Leo's gaze turned faintly cold as his mind started analyzing. Even though the information was complete on the surface, his instincts screamed something else.

The aura that Lu Xio gave him during class earlier wasn't just that of a normal student — it was sharp, instinctively hostile.

Leo had already faced enough so-called "heroes" and "chosen ones" in his life to recognize the pattern.

Even when they smiled, even when they acted innocent, there was always that deep-rooted hatred toward him.

He frowned slightly, his elegant face losing its lazy composure. "Even though the information looks clean, something doesn't fit. Why do I feel like this guy's existence itself is a provocation?"

The corner of his eye twitched as he typed a new message back to Butler Wang:

> "Investigate again. Focus on the death of his parents. Don't rely on public records — dig into hidden reports, unregistered hospital cases, and unrecorded incidents. I want the truth, not what the world sees."

He hit send, then locked his phone quietly. His fingers tapped the desk rhythmically as he leaned back, pretending to listen to the class again. The teacher was explaining something about elemental theory, but Leo wasn't listening. His sharp mind was elsewhere.

He felt it — that faint tension in the air, that invisible thread of fate twisting again.

"Another protagonist, huh…" he thought to himself, closing his eyes for a brief moment. "Why do they keep appearing around me? Is the world itself trying to challenge me?"

He let out a small chuckle — a quiet sound filled with amusement and faint menace.

Moments later, the bell rang, ending the class. The students started chatting again, filling the hall with laughter and gossip.

As Leo stood up, he heard a group of students nearby whispering loudly, unable to contain their laughter.

As the last bell rang through the academy halls, the sound of chatter and shuffling footsteps filled the air. Leo stretched his arms lazily, the corners of his lips curling into a small smirk as he prepared to leave the classroom.

His phone rested silently in his hand, the faint glint of its metallic edges reflecting the sunlight streaming through the window. Everything around him felt strangely peaceful—too peaceful for his liking.

Just as he took a step forward, a sudden burst of laughter erupted from a few students nearby. Their voices carried clear and loud across the corridor.

"You saw that Alex, right? He looked really like a monkey!" one boy said, his tone dripping with mockery.

"Yeah, I told you already," another chimed in, "he's just a show-off guy. Look at him, even after getting humiliated, he still decides to show his face again. What a thick-skinned clown."

Hearing those words, Leo's expression remained neutral, but a faint, hidden grin crept across his lips. His deep eyes sparkled faintly as if entertained by something only he could understand.

(So, even when the world laughs at him, Alex still shows up… how admirable…)

Leo thought mockingly to himself, tilting his head slightly while walking.

(Consider this my little help for you, my dear Alex. You wanted recognition, didn't you?)

A faint chuckle escaped his lips.

(Then take it—all of it. Be famous for something… even if it's just being called the Fart King.)

His thoughts were dripping with sarcasm, yet his expression showed none of it. To others, Leo looked perfectly calm and charming, almost like the main hero of a story. But to those who truly knew him—which was none—he was the villain smiling behind the curtains.

As Leo stepped out of the classroom, a sudden shadow moved in front of him. He stopped, blinking once before realizing who it was.

Roxanne.

Her long dark hair flowed softly, brushing against her cheeks as she looked up at him. Without saying anything, she suddenly stood on her toes, leaned forward, and pressed her lips gently against his cheek.

It was quick. Soft. Almost hesitant.

"See you tomorrow…" she said softly, her cheeks turning pink before she turned around and hurried away.

Leo blinked once, surprised, then let out a small laugh under his breath. His fingers brushed the spot where she kissed him, and a faint smirk spread on his lips.

(What an innocent girl…)

He thought calmly, shaking his head.

(Truly, she's a rare one in this chaotic academy.)

He could still feel the faint warmth on his cheek, though he didn't think too deeply about it. Roxanne was sincere—too sincere for a world like his.

However, just as he began walking again, a slight frown appeared on his face.

(Wait… where is Selena?)

He scanned the corridor, his sharp eyes searching through the students. She wasn't anywhere nearby.

Leo's instincts instantly told him something was off. Selena was never the type to disappear without saying anything, especially when she enjoyed clinging to him like a cat.

And then, as if answering his unspoken question, a small commotion echoed from inside the classroom he had just left.

Curious, Leo turned slightly and peeked through the door.

Inside, the students were whispering and giggling, forming a half-circle near the back row. And there, standing awkwardly yet confidently, was Lu Xio.

The same ordinary-looking boy who had caught Leo's attention earlier that day—the so-called "Protognist."

Leo's gaze sharpened.

(So, the act begins.)

Lu Xio, despite his simple appearance, wore a faint, confident smile. His black hair was slightly messy, and his uniform was perfectly neat, as if he cared too much about first impressions.

He was standing near Selena, who was sitting calmly at her desk, scrolling through her phone with no expression at all.

"Um… classmate," Lu Xio said with a faint crooked smile—the typical expression of an overconfident nice guy protagonist. "I'm new here. I hope you can guide me from now on."

He paused for effect, pretending to be shy, before continuing, "I'd like to have your contact information, if that's alright."

The entire class went silent for a moment.

All eyes turned toward Selena.

Selena slowly raised her head, her icy blue eyes locking onto Lu Xio's face. Her lips curled slightly—not into a smile, but into something resembling disgust.

For a few seconds, she said nothing.

Then, she spoke, her tone colder than a winter night.

"Go away, you idiot," she said flatly. "When did I ever become so approachable to guys like you?"

Her words cut clean through the silence like a blade.

Gasps echoed around the class.

Lu Xio froze. His confident expression faltered for a brief moment. He didn't expect such a harsh reply—especially from a girl he had already decided would be "his destined heroine."

Selena stood up, brushing her hair elegantly behind her shoulder, and began walking away.

But before leaving, she turned once more toward him, her gaze sharp and venomous.

"Oh, and another thing," she added in a disgusted tone. "You smile like a creep. Don't ever smile near me again."

Her words struck like thunder.

The room fell silent again.

Lu Xio's face twitched slightly, his lips tightening in frustration as he forced himself to remain calm. His mind screamed, but his expression remained that of a forced smile.

He clenched his fists tightly at his sides, his knuckles turning white.

(Why… why does it always start like this?)

(She's supposed to be the kind one… the one who helps me adjust here. Why does she look at me like that?)

His eyes shifted toward Leo, who had now leaned casually against the classroom door, his face unreadable but his presence dominating the entire scene.

Selena, noticing Leo, immediately brightened up. Her icy demeanor melted instantly into warmth and affection.

Without hesitation, she walked straight toward him and, to everyone's shock, wrapped her arms around Leo's right arm, snuggling close like a kitten seeking warmth.

Her cheeks pressed softly against his arm, and her smile shone brightly.

"Leo~ let's go!" she said cheerfully, ignoring the stunned gazes of her classmates.

Leo chuckled lightly, his free hand resting casually in his pocket. His eyes, however, briefly flickered toward Lu Xio, whose expression had gone completely stiff.

(Ah… there it is.)

(That familiar protagonist expression—the mix of envy, disbelief, and forced pride.)

Lu Xio stood frozen, his mind racing with frustration. He tried to rationalize what just happened, but deep down, something darker brewed in his heart.

(It must be Leo's fault…) he thought bitterly. (He must have told Selena something about me. That's why she reacted like that…)

He looked at Selena once more, still clinging happily to Leo's arm, her face full of affection.

(Selena… I'll definitely win your heart. No matter how much you hate me now… I'll make you see me differently. I'll make you fall for me, just like in every other story…)

As the sunlight dimmed and the students began to leave one by one, Lu Xio stood silently at the back of the class. His eyes darkened—not with sadness, but with the first seed of obsession.

Meanwhile, Leo, unaware—or rather, uncaring—walked away calmly with Selena by his side.

His mind wandered briefly back to Butler Wang's earlier message.

(Lu Xio… orphaned… mysterious parents… a kind, beautiful step-sister named Lu Ruolan, working in a pastry shop…)

Leo's lips twitched again in amusement.

(Truly, the most standard protagonist setup ever.)

(But still… there's something about him. That faint hostility, that strange aura… It's like fate itself is trying to provoke me.)

His eyes gleamed faintly as he walked toward the sunset-lit path outside theacademy.

(Well then… let's see what kind of 'story' this new protagonist will bring into my world.)

And just like that, another chapter in Leo's fate began—one filled with twisted irony, mocking destiny, and the ever-present smirk of a man who stood far above the script of fate.

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End of Chapter

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