EPISODE 2 UNEXPECTED COMPANY

Lucien stared at the boy standing in front of him.

"Adrian Ashford."

The stranger smiled.

"Lucien Vale."

The two exchanged a brief handshake before falling into silence.

For a few seconds, neither knew what to say.

Fortunately, Adrian didn't seem bothered by awkwardness.

"So..."

He glanced at the campus map in Lucien's hand.

"Still lost?"

Lucien lowered his gaze.

"...Maybe."

Adrian laughed.

A genuine laugh.

Not mocking.

Not rude.

Just amused.

"Don't worry."

"You're not the only one."

Lucien found himself relaxing slightly.

At least he wasn't suffering alone.

The two eventually decided to search for Hall C together.

Unfortunately, neither of them had a good sense of direction.

Twenty minutes later, they were even more lost than before.

Adrian sighed dramatically.

"We might die here."

Lucien looked around.

"We're on a university campus."

"I know."

Adrian nodded seriously.

"But we can still die from embarrassment."

"..."

For the first time that day, Lucien smiled.

A small one.

But a smile nonetheless.

Adrian immediately pointed at him.

"There!"

Lucien blinked.

"What?"

"You smiled."

"..."

"You should do that more."

Lucien instantly looked away.

The smile disappeared.

Adrian grinned.

Interesting.

This new friend of his was surprisingly easy to tease.

Before he could continue, another voice interrupted them.

"Adrian."

The cheerful atmosphere vanished instantly.

Adrian froze.

Lucien turned toward the speaker.

A tall young man stood a few meters away.

Perfect posture.

Sharp features.

Expressionless eyes.

Student Council badge.

Aurelian Ashford.

Lucien recognized him immediately.

The same senior from earlier.

Adrian looked like someone facing a natural disaster.

"...Brother."

Brother?

Lucien blinked.

Aurelian's younger brother?

Suddenly several things made sense.

The surname.

The appearance.

The intimidating aura.

Well...

Maybe not the aura.

Adrian clearly didn't inherit that.

Aurelian's gaze shifted briefly toward Lucien.

Only for a second.

Then returned to Adrian.

"Orientation starts in fifteen minutes."

His voice remained calm.

Cold.

Controlled.

Adrian groaned.

"I know."

"Then why are you wandering around?"

"..."

"Good question."

Aurelian looked unimpressed.

Adrian immediately straightened.

"Actually, I was helping a lost freshman."

Aurelian's eyes moved toward Lucien again.

Lucien politely bowed.

"Thank you for earlier, Senior."

Aurelian nodded once.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

Then he turned around.

"Follow me."

Adrian looked relieved.

"Saved."

Without another word, Aurelian began walking.

Adrian quickly followed.

Lucien hesitated before walking after them.

The journey was surprisingly quiet.

Aurelian walked ahead.

Adrian whispered beside Lucien.

"My brother is scary, right?"

Lucien considered the question.

"...A little."

"A little?"

Adrian looked betrayed.

"Only a little?"

"You have no idea."

Lucien almost laughed.

Almost.

A few minutes later, they finally arrived at Hall C.

The large building was already crowded with freshmen.

Students filled the seats.

Faculty members stood near the stage.

The orientation was about to begin.

Aurelian stopped near the entrance.

"Go inside."

Adrian saluted dramatically.

"Yes, President."

Aurelian ignored him completely.

Lucien watched the interaction quietly.

For someone feared by the entire university, Aurelian seemed surprisingly patient with his younger brother.

Eventually, Aurelian left.

The moment he disappeared around the corner, Adrian released a breath.

"I'm alive."

Lucien stared.

"He's your brother."

"Exactly."

Adrian looked horrified.

"You don't understand."

Before Lucien could respond, another voice joined them.

"Adrian."

A tall boy approached.

Messy brown hair.

Confident grin.

Troublemaker energy.

"Leo."

Adrian pointed at him.

"Perfect timing."

The newcomer looked toward Lucien.

"Oh?"

"New friend?"

Adrian nodded proudly.

"Lucien Vale."

"Freshman."

Leo immediately offered his hand.

"Leo Sterling."

Lucien shook it.

Something felt familiar.

Sterling...

Where had he heard that surname before?

Then realization struck.

Cassian Sterling.

The football captain.

Lucien looked at Leo.

Then remembered Cassian.

The resemblance wasn't as obvious as Adrian and Aurelian.

But it was there.

"Oh."

Leo laughed.

"You figured it out."

"My brother is Cassian Sterling."

Lucien silently accepted this information.

Apparently every person he met today was related to a campus celebrity.

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

Neither Lucien nor the two boys noticed the figure standing on the second-floor balcony overlooking the hall.

Aurelian Ashford glanced toward the crowd below.

His gaze briefly landed on Adrian.

Then on Leo.

Then—

For the briefest moment—

On Lucien.

The quiet freshman standing beside them.

Nothing special.

Just Adrian's new friend.

Aurelian looked away.

And yet...

For some reason...

He remembered the name.

Lucien Vale.

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