"Austin, if you're just going to mess around, I'm not helping you anymore," Chloe said, huffing as she crossed her arms. Her cheeks were slightly flushed from the focus she'd put into explaining the last calculus problem.
"Mess around? Chloe, look at my eyes. Do these look like the eyes of a liar?" Austin leaned in closer, his voice dropping into a playful, lower register. "I saw how jealous Vincent was. I'm just worried he'll try to 'correct' my learning by feeding me wrong answers. That's why I only trust you."
Chloe bit her lip. She'd noticed Vincent's dark looks lately. He'd been acting like a possessive boyfriend despite the fact that she'd never even given him a phone number. "Vincent... he's been a bit intense. But I didn't say I disliked you coming to me for help."
"Wait, did you just say you like me?" Austin grinned, looking like a wolf that had just found a stray lamb.
"No! I mean—" Chloe's face turned a brilliant shade of crimson. "I meant I like... helping you with questions! If you twist my words one more time, Austin, I'm blacklisting you from my desk!"
"Alright, alright. I was just excited," Austin laughed, scratching the back of his new buzz cut. Over the past few days, he'd discovered that Chloe wasn't just a 'Goddess' on a pedestal; she was smart, quick-witted, and surprisingly patient with his teasing. He'd even managed to get her to accept the nickname 'Chloe-Babe'—well, mostly by just ignoring her protests until she gave up.
"By the way, Chloe-Babe," Austin leaned back, spinning his pen. "Is your dad really ugly?"
Chloe blinked, completely thrown by the sudden change in topic. "My dad? Ugly? What are you talking about?"
"Think about it," Austin said with mock seriousness. "Your last name is Chen, and your middle name, Meng, means 'Dream,' and Yan means 'Beautiful.' Put it together: Chen dreams of being beautiful. That implies your dad—the original Chen—must be a real ogre if he spent his whole life dreaming about beauty."
Chloe stared at him for a long, silent moment, completely stupefied. She'd heard a thousand compliments about her name, but never a 'logical' breakdown that resulted in her father being called an ogre.
"Austin!" she finally burst out, half-laughing and half-annoyed. "You're unbelievable! My dad is very handsome, thank you very much. And stop overthinking names. You should be overthinking these math problems instead. If you don't get into a decent university, don't even think about... well, anything."
"Is that a promise?" Austin's eyes sparked. "If I get into the same university as you, do I get to officially pursue you?"
"I said I'd consider it," Chloe said, looking away to hide her smile. "Consider giving you a chance to be on the waiting list."
"Perfect. I'm the first-tier suitor then," Austin declared. "Anyone else who tries to cut in line has to go through me first."
While Austin was enjoying his victory in the classroom, Vincent was in a dark corner of the school corridor, his face twisted in a sneer as he gripped his phone.
"Biao, is everything ready?" Vincent whispered.
"All set, Young Master," the voice of his bodyguard crackled on the other end. "I've got two guys from the streets—tough ones. They're waiting at the north gate. As soon as Austin walks out for lunch, we'll jump him."
"Make it look like a random mugging," Vincent instructed, his eyes cold. "Break a few ribs. Make him spend a week in the hospital so he stops sticking to Chloe like glue. But don't kill him—I don't need the police crawling all over my father's business."
"Understood. I'll send you the 'after' photos."
Vincent hung up and walked back into the classroom, casting a glance of fake pity toward Austin. Enjoy your last healthy meal, loser, he thought.
Austin stood up, stretching his arms. Using his God-Eye, he noticed Vincent's subtle, smug grin. Something's up, Austin thought. The golden boy looks way too happy.
As Austin walked toward the school gates, he activated his vision. Telescopic: 10x Zoom. Wide Spectrum. He saw a black sedan parked a block away. Inside was Biao, the bodyguard. And standing by the gate were two familiar silhouettes. Austin almost burst out laughing. It was Leon and his partner—the two 'robbers' he'd pulverized in the alley a few days ago.
Vincent hired these two clowns? Small world.
Austin walked out the gate with his hands in his pockets, looking like the easiest target in the world. Biao signaled from the car. Leon and his partner lunged forward, ready to vent their frustration on a 'helpless student.'
But as soon as Leon got close enough to see Austin's face, he froze. His eyes bulged, and he nearly tripped over his own feet.
"A-A-Austin?!" Leon stammered, his dislocated shoulders still aching from their last encounter.
"Hey, Blondie," Austin said, tilting his head. "Back for more? I thought your nose was still out of commission."
The lanky partner turned pale. "Leon... this is the kid? The one who broke the brick with his back?"
"The very same," Austin smiled, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
Biao, seeing the delay from the car, stepped out and shouted, "What are you waiting for? Take him down!"
"Take him down?!" Leon turned toward Biao, his voice cracking. "Forget the money! I'm not fighting this monster again! Biao, you can keep the thousand dollars. I'm going back to the hospital!"
Leon and his partner didn't just walk away—they ran as if the devil himself were chasing them. Biao stood there, stunned, holding his sunglasses as his 'muscle' vanished around the corner.
"You want to try, suit-guy?" Austin asked, taking a step toward Biao.
Biao hesitated. He was a trained guard, but seeing the pure terror in the street punks' eyes made him pause. He didn't know Austin's 'God-Eye' capabilities, but he knew a dangerous predator when he saw one. He let out a cold snort, got back into the Mercedes, and sped away.
Austin didn't go home for lunch. Instead, he turned around and walked back into the classroom.
Vincent was sitting at his desk, staring at his phone, waiting for the 'mission accomplished' text. When he saw Austin walk in—completely uninjured, not even a hair out of place—Vincent's jaw nearly hit the floor.
"Austin? You're... you're back?" Vincent stammered.
"Yeah. My house is empty today, so I figured I'd stay for lunch," Austin lied, walking straight up to Vincent's desk. He leaned in, his shadow looming over the 'Golden Boy.' "Hey, Captain. You look a little disappointed. Expecting someone else?"
"N-no! Why would I be expecting anyone?" Vincent's eyes darted around nervously.
"Good. Because I was going to head out to that new bun shop across the street, but I forgot the name. You seem like a guy who knows the neighborhood. What's it called?"
Vincent was desperate to get Austin out of the building and back into Biao's reach. "Oh! It's 'Oriental King of Buns'! It's right next to the pharmacy. They have amazing spicy sprouts. You should go right now. It's really far... like, two blocks away. Go! Fast!"
Austin stared at him for a long beat, his God-Eye detecting the frantic thumping of Vincent's heart and the sweat breaking out on his brow.
"Spicy sprouts, huh?" Austin smirked, patting Vincent's shoulder with enough force to make him wince. "Thanks for the tip, Vincent. You're a real pal. Truly... a 'one-of-a-kind' friend."
Austin turned and walked away, his laughter echoing in the quiet classroom. He didn't need a confession. Vincent's pathetic attempt at a trap had told him everything he needed to know.
The war is on, Vincent, Austin thought. And I can see every move you make before you even think of it.