Today was only Orientation and classes will start from tomorrow students began leaving Westbridge International University in large groups.
Some discussed today's Orientation.
"You saw today how beautiful Claire Anderson is."
"Yes, she possesses all the qualities that a leader should have."
"Today Ethan was going to beat that student but he was saved by his luck."
Others talked about clubs and future plans.
Luxury cars lined up outside the university gates while drivers waited for the wealthy heirs.
Lucas walked alone through the University, his hands were in his pockets as he quietly reflected on the day.
Westbridge was exactly as overwhelming as he expected. Like a whole new world for him yet strangely...he didn't feel inferior to them.
Perhaps because he had already experienced enough hardships growing up.
As he approached the university gate, a familiar voice called out.
"Lucas."
Lucas stopped walking and looked at back Adrian Reed stood a few meters away.
His expensive uniform was perfectly neat as always.
Several female students secretly glanced at him while walking past.
Adrian smiled warmly.
"Let's go home together."
Lucas hesitated slightly.
This was probably the longest conversation Adrian had initiated since his arrival at the Reed Family.
Still, he nodded.
"Sure."
The two began walking side by side.
At first, the atmosphere was calm.
Adrian asked about classes.
"How do you feel about being able to attend this university? It was the dream of many common people but not everyone was able to attend."
Lucas answered casually.
"Yes, you are right this is my luck that I finally able to find my biological parents."
To outsiders, they looked like normal brothers talking.
But Lucas couldn't shake a strange feeling inside his heart.
Something felt off.
They finally reached the parking zone where luxurious cars are parked.
Lucas frowned slightly.
"The car isn't over there."
"I also don't know."
Adrian smiled and took out his phone from pocket to call the driver.
"Hello, where are you?"
The old man's voice came from the other side of the phone.
"Young Master, there is some problem with the car suddenly leaking fuel."
"Okay."
He hung the call and told Lucas.
"You call a taxi to go home."
Lucas asked him.
"You are not coming?"
He replied with a shy tone.
"I have to date today...you know."
"Okay."
Then Lucas decides to take a shortcut to go home from inside the alley.
After 15 minutes he stopped walking, he looked in front of him and a group of five people was standing, it was clearly blocking his path.
The group clearly wasn't interested in having a friendly conversation with him.
The leader of the group smirked and said in a voice thin with mockery.
"So you're Lucas Reed?"
Lucas looked at them calmly. He doesn't want to be involved with any fight that only affects his new life that he has started now. So, he asked in a very polite way.
"Yes, what does matter?"
Laughter and exchanged looks. Their surprise felt like a small victory. They expected a show, not silence.
One cracked his knuckles. The sound was bright and ugly.
"We heard the Reed Family recently found their missing son in the dumpyard."
Another one laughed and said to him in a mocking tone.
"You look pretty ordinary for a rich young master of the Reed family."
Lucas immediately understood this conversation will end with violence instead of peace.
Whether they came on their own or were encouraged by someone else didn't matter. If Lucas fights then he will become a thug's impression on his first day.
They were here to provoke him continuously.
"Even my servants wear better clothes than you do; you look even worse than them."
"Your luck is truly unmatched—straight from a trash bin to a palace."
"I've heard you studied alongside the scum of the earth—I mean, poor kids."
This would end in fists if it ended at all. His new life did not need scars from strangers. His jaw worked once; politeness felt like a prayer.
"If you don't have anything important to discuss... then please step aside."
The leader stepped forward and stood in front of him face to face.
"No greeting for your seniors?"
Lucas sighed.
His patience was already running low.
"If you don't have anything important to discuss...then please step aside," he said again in a quieter sound with a firmer tone.
The smile disappeared from the leader's face and his eyes full of anger.
"What if we don't?"
Leader look at him with anger expression.
He look at him with calm expression but he also have some patience.
For several seconds, nobody moved from their place it like world stop and atmosphere around them became tense.
Lucas understands one thing that they're target him like in childhood other kids target him.
He has been living alone since he was a child in an orphanage. Everyone was stronger than him, so he became an easy target to entertain them.
But one day he met her, she had told him to keep his head not because of fear but because of dignity.
He clenches his fist in anger and looks into their eyes with calm facial expressions yet his eyes are giving cold vibes. When they're looking at him it feels like a different person who fights through many bottles.
He slowly took off his backpack and put it beside a nearby light pole.
The leader also noticed his eyes then he signalled others to ready for fight with him.
But suddenly a voice came from behind them.
"Well, things look interesting here."
Everyone turned to look who interfered with them. One figure appears to be wearing a WIU(Westbridge International University) uniform.
Ryan Carter walked toward them calmly and said in a funny tone.
"Well…I have to admit that you all have the guts to attack students of Westbridge International University."
He glanced at the group blocking Lucas.
Then at Lucas.
Then back at the group.
Inwardly, his thoughts moved rapidly.
'These guys sent by Adrian to teach a lesson to Lucas who is the young Master of Reed family. If Lucas fights and beats these guys then he claims that Lucas was a thug. In both ways Lucas got a bad reputation.'
In the original novel, Lucas often faced trouble after returning to the Reed Family. Every day he spent like living hell, his old life where he lived in an old apartment is more comfortable than a luxurious villa.
Ryan didn't know if help would affect the plots of the story but he saw an opportunity.
'If I help him now to deal with this situation then we can become friends.'
Without hesitation, Ryan placed his backpack beside Lucas's.
He rolled up his sleeves then he loosened his necktie with the help of right hand and stepped forward to fight.
Lucas blinked seeing his actions and asked him.
"...What are you doing?"
Ryan answered honestly.
"Helping."
The leader of the group laughed loudly.
"You want to fight too little bart?"
Ryan smiled slightly with confidence in eyes.
"Depending on the situation , if you leave now then can we pretend this never happened?."
They can come here with the intention to pick a fight so, answer was obvious.
"No."
Ryan sighed dramatically.
"Then I guess we're done with talking, let's do some action."