The two strolled along the lakeside path, heading toward the School of Finance building. It was like every other department building on campus, modern, well-equipped, and bustling with activity.
What set these buildings apart, however, were the training rooms on every floor, a mandatory addition made nationwide the year prior. Physical fitness and combat training had become a compulsory subject for all college students, surpassing even the most theoretical cultural courses in importance.
Inside the classroom Lyla was heading to, Ethan peeked through the window. His brow lifted. Sure enough, the rumors were true, this department was packed with women. Out of a class of forty students, only three were male. Ethan couldn't help but wonder: did those guys end up adapting to the estrogen-heavy environment, or did it eventually turn them into cross-dressing divas?
He chuckled to himself, though a pang of bitter nostalgia hit him. His ex-girlfriend, Ivy, had been the campus "queen" in this department. Not once had she let him accompany her to class, making this his first time seeing the "paradise" she used to describe.
But as Lyla waved goodbye and walked into the room, the charm of the place dimmed. The other women paled in comparison to Lyla's graceful elegance, like a rare orchid amidst ordinary blooms.
Yet Ethan knew better than to be fooled by appearances. Lyla wasn't just some harmless girl-next-door type.
He'd seen the truth in his last life.
Three thugs had burst into his old apartment, pinning him down and shattering his legs. But Lyla had been there too, and she'd snapped.
One slap cracked a thug's skull. One punch left an arm bent at an insane angle. One kick shattered a kneecap.
In the end, the three assailants walked away worse off than Ethan himself.
And then there was him, a failure at combat training, barely passing his freshman year. Now a sophomore, he still wasn't sure how to scrape through this year's classes.
His problem? He'd grown up malnourished, his body never properly developing. Sure, it wasn't immediately obvious from his height, but inside? He was weak.
Even Celeste Hawthorne, the cold and merciless senior who served as the combat class assistant, didn't have the heart to go hard on him. Her verdict? "Hopeless."
Desperate, Ethan had once sought advice from a local holistic doctor. The old man's diagnosis still rang in his ears: "Congenital malnourishment, compounded by years of neglect. Exercise lightly or risk permanent damage."
He shook his head, banishing the thoughts. If weakness defined his past, it wouldn't dictate his future.
Ethan wandered out of the finance building, found a shady bench by the lake, and sat. His classes didn't start until the afternoon, so he figured he'd wait for Lyla to finish her lecture and grab lunch together.
The campus was picturesque, with a sprawling lake at its center. Teaching buildings circled the water, while lush gardens lined its shores. Rows of willow trees swayed gently in the breeze, their reflection rippling across the lake's surface.
At the lake's heart lay an island covered in peach trees. Every spring, the blossoms filled the air with their sweet fragrance, earning the spot its nickname, Peach Blossom Island.
Everything looked just as he remembered, yet it all felt different now. His rebirth had altered more than just the timeline; it had fractured the nostalgia that clung to this place.
As he rested on the bench, the quiet serenity of campus life began to lull him to sleep.
---
Ethan didn't know how much time had passed when a sudden kick jolted him awake.
Blinking, he looked up, half-expecting to see Lyla. Instead, his stomach dropped.
"Ivy?"
The familiar face froze him in place, stirring a mix of disbelief and resentment. Memories he'd tried to bury surged to the surface, and Ethan shot to his feet.
Before he could speak, Ivy's sharp voice cut him down.
"We're done, Ethan! Why are you here? Stalking me won't change anything!" She jabbed a finger at him, her expression twisted with disdain. "Do yourself a favor and disappear. Now!"
Ethan's hands trembled as he fought the urge to retaliate. Logic told him to let it go, to rise above the pettiness. But another part of him wanted to lash out, to make her pay.
If it hadn't been for her spilling his address to Zachary, he wouldn't have ended up living like a stray dog.
Nearby whispers reached his ears:
"Wait, that's Ivy's ex?"
"No way! I thought she was dating Zachary now?"
The whispers from the crowd grew louder.
"Hey, wasn't that guy always hanging out with Zachary? Weren't they, like, best friends?"
"Oh, yeah! Now that you mention it…"
"Wow, this is some juicy gossip. The student council president, Zachary, picking up his own buddy's leftovers? Talk about scandalous."
The murmurs clearly reached Ivy's ears as her face stiffened.
Ethan stood silently, watching her expression shift between anger and embarrassment. She'd always kept their relationship hidden, even when they'd dated for a year. No one had known except Zachary.
At that moment, a sleek sports car pulled up nearby. It idled for a moment, the low hum of its engine drawing everyone's attention, before driving off without anyone getting out.
Ethan's eyes narrowed. He knew exactly who was in that car, Zachary.
Ivy must've realized it too. Her face paled, then darkened, and she pointed at Ethan, her voice trembling with fury.
"You—"
Before she could finish, someone bumped into her from behind, sending her stumbling. Her sunglasses fell to the ground, and she nearly lost her balance.
"Oh no! I'm so sorry, ma'am!" A cheerful, apologetic voice rang out.
Ivy's anger flared as she spun to face the intruder. But before she could unleash her fury, her face froze in shock.
A young woman, stunning, radiant, and easily outshining Ivy in every way, was now holding Ethan's arm, their fingers interlocked as if they'd done it countless times before.
"Who are you—?" Ivy's voice faltered.
It was Lyla.
"Bro, why's this lady screaming?" Lyla's sweet smile was laced with playful innocence. She clung tighter to Ethan's arm, dimples forming on her cheeks as she looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes.
Ethan's anger melted in an instant, replaced by amusement. The way she held his arm… tickled him.
"She's your sister?" Ivy asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
"Yes."
"No!"
Ethan and Lyla spoke at the same time.
Lyla grinned mischievously and tilted her head. "Ma'am, are you feeling okay? Do you really think siblings act like this?" she teased, snuggling even closer to Ethan.
Ethan froze as he felt her pressing against him. His arm, caught between her, told him all he needed to know, Lyla had Ivy beat in more ways than one.
Ivy's face turned pale, then flushed red with frustration.
Ethan had seen enough. "Let's go grab lunch, Lyla."
"Sure, Ethie!" Lyla chirped, tugging on Ethan's arm as they turned to leave.
But as Ethan stepped forward, a loud crunch echoed under his foot.
Everyone's eyes turned to the ground.
Ivy's sunglasses, now in two shattered pieces, lay beneath his shoe.
"Oh no!" Lyla gasped, quickly crouching down to pick them up. She examined the broken frames, feigning curiosity. "Wow, these are LessThanHuman glasses! Ma'am, I didn't expect you to have such good taste. But… why are they different from the pair Ethie bought me?"
Ethan blinked. 'When did I ever buy her sunglasses?'
But he couldn't ruin her act now. Lyla reached into her small bag as if to grab something, continuing her charade.