After brief consideration, Sam decided to do nothing and quietly lowered his head, taking out his textbook and pen.
Leaving right now would undoubtedly leave a bad impression, and if she truly was one of the female leads, it would be sowing seeds of trouble for himself.
If he rushed to strike up a conversation with her, it would come off as frivolous.
Even if this method of interaction wasn’t ideal, it was the only option for now.
Sophie across from him seemed to glance at Sam. She paused for a moment before calmly sitting opposite him.
The girl, aloof in demeanor, didn’t spare Sam another glance, just as Sam didn’t pay her any additional attention.
The quiet study room began to fill with a strange atmosphere.
Only the sound of flipping pages remained, with no other sounds. Sam didn’t look at his phone, restraining his curiosity from glancing up.
How long this prolonged silence lasted, Sam couldn’t tell. He seemed to be completely absorbed in his studies, forgetting that he was in a study room.
Opposite him sat a girl with a uniquely distinctive aura, silent and uncommunicative, treating Sam as if he were invisible.
It wasn’t until Sam had thoroughly reviewed his mathematics that he took a deep breath and closed his book.
Lifting his head subconsciously, he saw Sophie in front of him drinking from a water bottle.
Noticing Sam’s gaze, she stopped.
She didn’t speak, but her look at Sam clearly conveyed disdain.
Sam calmly shifted his gaze and began to pack his bag, step by step.
Unaffected by her gaze, he prepared to leave without a word, not allowing Sophie to have any lasting impression of him.
Unexpectedly,
“Bang!”
The classroom door was abruptly kicked open, the sound shockingly loud.
It was startling enough to make anyone jump.
Sam looked towards the door and saw three male students with unfriendly expressions storm in.
One shorter student, hands in his pockets, said to a taller one, “See, I told you this guy was in the classroom. I saw him come in!”
The tall student in the middle, with an arrogant demeanor, disdainfully asked, “Are you Sam?”
Sam, puzzled by these three sudden intruders, asked, “What’s the matter?”
The shorter student approached Sam, visibly angry.
“Listen, kid, when our boss asks you something, you answer straight. You looking for a beating?!”
Sam glanced at Sophie sitting next to him. She was looking down at her book, seemingly unaware and uninterested in what was happening around her.
Sam turned back, casting a glance at the shorter student.
“First off, this is a school, and secondly, I don’t know you. Kicking in the door like that, I don’t see why I should be polite to you.”
At that moment, a burly student from the back came forward, cursing under his breath.
“In this school, you seem to be the first person I’ve seen with such arrogance. You think there’s a right place to teach you a lesson? I don’t care if this is a school or not!” he said with extreme arrogance.
It looked like trouble had found Sam out of nowhere.
This muscular guy seemed eager to teach Sam, who remained calm and fearless, a lesson right there and then.
However, at this moment, the one they called the boss, smiled and intervened.
“Hold on,” he said.
Asher approached Sam, tilting his head up as if he could only look at people through his nostrils.
“You’re Sam, right? I’m Asher.”
Sam shook his head.
“Sorry, I don’t know you.”
Asher couldn’t help but laugh.
“So, there really are people in this school who haven’t heard of me… but you’ll know soon enough. Just come with us quietly.”
He smiled as if trying to appear gentlemanly.
But Sam wasn’t about to comply. He retorted, “We can talk right here. What do you want?”
Asher looked amused at Sam, patting him on the shoulder.
“Do you really think we came all the way here just to offer you a little treat? But saying it won’t change anything. The only difference is whether you choose to be humiliated here or elsewhere in silence.”
“It sounds like you guys are planning to beat me up,” Sam remarked with a hint of irony.
Asher sneered, “What else did you think? A treat? Have you decided yet? Where do you prefer it?”
Sam faced the arrogant look on Asher’s face. “Any reason for this? I don’t believe I’ve had any interaction with you guys.”
Was it just because he looked good, and that annoyed them enough to beat him up?
Clearly, that didn’t make sense.
Asher sneered.
“Usually, I only reveal such details after teaching someone a lesson. Don’t overthink it. Even if you beg for mercy right now, it won’t help. And don’t even consider telling a teacher, because if you do, you’ll soon find out that you have no safe haven, not just in school, but outside as well.”
Sam remained silent, calmly observing Asher.
Asher began to show signs of impatience. “Such a disgusting look in your eyes… Seems like you’re asking for a lesson right here. Let’s just treat him like an idiot.”
Just as the other two students were about to make a move, Sam spoke up. “Let’s go somewhere else. After all, this is a classroom, and there are others studying here.”
Asher gave a signal with his eyes and then said, “Let’s go, take him to the usual place. Give him a proper welcome.”
Once Sam was taken away by the trio, the classroom fell silent, leaving Sophie alone in her chair.
At that moment, Sophie looked up, her expression suddenly one of shock.
“Wow, sister. The boys in this school are really going all out to get your attention now! They’re even bringing drama into it!”
But there was clearly no one in front of her, no one to converse with.
Then, in the next instant, Sophie’s expression turned cold as she lowered her head.
“Maybe it wasn’t anything intentional. He just got himself into trouble.”
Her tone completely changed.
Sophie’s expression and tone began to alternate between naturalness and cold indifference.
“Ah? Is that so? Why didn’t you react at all, sister?”
“Why should I react?”
“He doesn’t seem like a bad kid, and he’s really handsome. I sneakily took several glances just now.”
“It’s not necessary. People in this world are selfish and indifferent, ready to betray anything to avoid getting hurt, even their closest kin.”
“Sister…”
“Just like no one reached out to help us in the beginning. We only need to protect ourselves and care about nothing else.”
Her expression was one of extreme coldness, involuntarily clenching her fists.
