Ethan Brooks was naturally a gifted student—quick-witted, with a sharp memory and fast reflexes. Sometimes he answered questions purely on instinct, so he was always way ahead of the pack. Handing in his paper half an hour early had become the norm, and everyone in Class One was used to it.

However, sitting next to him was Ethan Grant.

Ethan Grant's approach to exams was quite different from Ethan Brooks's. He appeared to be meticulous and unhurried, but that was just how it looked. When Ethan Brooks was still analyzing the emotions in the last reading comprehension question, Ethan Grant had already flipped to the back and started writing the essay.

This was simply intolerable.

Ethan Brooks stopped twirling his pen and doodling stick figures, immediately perked up, and focused all his attention on speeding up. In the end, he managed to hand in his paper in the same minute as Ethan Grant.

By the time the English and Math exams rolled around in the afternoon, this silent rivalry had only intensified.

English: handed in after one hour and ten minutes.

Math: handed in after one hour and twenty minutes.

Every time the sound of two pens being set down—"pa", "pa"—came from the back corner of the classroom, two strikingly handsome figures would saunter up to the podium to hand in their papers, then amble back just as leisurely.

One would start sleeping, the other would start reading.

Their relaxed demeanor made the top students of Class One, the best of the best in the province, start to doubt themselves.

How could they finish the test so quickly?

Am I stupid?

Should I even be in Class One?

Do I even deserve to sit here?

I think I’m getting a little depressed.

:)

-

There was an hour between finishing the math exam and evening self-study.

Since it wasn’t the official start of the semester, only two windows were open in the school cafeteria. Ethan Brooks was picky about food, and just looking at the cafeteria meals killed his appetite. It was raining outside and he was too lazy to go out, so he simply skipped dinner and stayed in the classroom working through a science practice paper.

He had been a bit slower than Ethan Grant in all three exams that day. Although the final time difference was less than a minute, he knew it was only because his handwriting had become so messy it was practically flying off the page.

He’d seen Ethan Grant’s papers—clean, neat, and with elegant handwriting.

It was a little infuriating.

So he decided to warm up his hand, get into the groove, and teach a certain someone surnamed Bai a lesson that night.

That certain someone surnamed Bai clearly didn’t care what he thought. After borrowing his umbrella, he disappeared, leaving Ethan Brooks alone in the classroom, which was just as well—peace and quiet.

But at this age, peace and quiet is a myth. In the time it took to line up for food, news had already spread that the new transfer student in Class One, a super handsome Alpha, was just as much of a top dog as Ethan Brooks.

The story was mixed with the blood, sweat, and tears of Class One students and the innocent admiration of students from other classes.

The greater the gap, the less likely people are to feel jealous. In Classes Four and Five, hardly anyone could finish the test papers, so when someone handed in their paper with half the exam time left, there was no pressure—only awe.

So, compared to exam results, they were more interested in whether the new transfer student was really as handsome as rumored.

On this, the students of Class One had plenty to say—especially Henry Clark, who sat in front of the two top dogs. He was practically sticking his hand into his armpit as he said, “Of course he’s handsome. You all know our Mr. Ethan, right?”

Everyone nodded like pecking chicks, and a few girls blushed just hearing the words “Mr. Ethan”.

Henry Clark was very pleased with this reaction. “The new guy is in no way inferior to our Mr. Ethan, and he’s already a fully differentiated Alpha. He even looks a little taller than Mr. Ethan. Think about it—isn’t he the ultimate heartthrob?”

The pride in his tone sounded as if he were bragging about his own father.

Henry Clark and Ethan Brooks got along well, so if he said this, it was probably true.

Everyone started whispering among themselves.

Suddenly, a voice piped up: “Hey, you all came straight from Nanfang Foreign Language School, so you don’t even know who Ethan Grant is, yet you’re here gossiping. Let me tell you, back at our No. 1 High, Ethan Grant was both the school tyrant and the school heartthrob, always ranked first in the grade. If he hadn’t transferred to Beicheng, who knows if the top scorer in the high school entrance exam would have been Ethan Brooks?”

“……”

“Isn’t that our Mr. Ethan’s story?”

“So our Mr. Ethan has finally met his match?”

“Exciting!”

“Showdown at the Forbidden Peak!”

“Come on, place your bets—who’s going to be first in science on this placement test?”

“It’s gotta be my Mr. Ethan, three packs of spicy sticks.”

“As someone from No. 1 High, I believe in my Master Grant’s legend—six packs!”

“Count me in! Mr. Ethan, five packs!”

……

“I’m betting on Ethan Brooks. If he’s not first in the grade, I’ll buy milk tea for everyone in their class.”

The voice was soft and timid among the loud ones, but it was the boldest bet so far.

Everyone turned to look at this big spender, only to see a round-faced, round-eyed little girl.

Henry Clark raised an eyebrow. “Grace Miller, don’t be rash. I’m telling you, according to my inside info, Master Grant is probably leading Mr. Ethan by a tiny margin in answering questions.”