Chapter 1

I'm a straightforward, love-struck girl who only falls for powerful people.

The brilliant, unattainable genius shamed me for my bad grades. I thought he was so charming.

My fault, I'm too dumb. I'll learn.

My super-handsome first love cheated on me with a glamorous, curly-haired woman. I thought he had great taste.

My fault, I'm too lacking in competitiveness. I'll learn.

My rich ex-boyfriend dumped me for being too broke. I thought he was so smart.

My fault, I wasn't working hard enough. I'll learn.

But then, the three of them got into a huge fight over who would get back with me, and I just felt annoyed.

Like I said, I'm a straightforward, love-struck girl who only falls for powerful people.

But now I'm good-looking, rich, and talented. I'm the most powerful!

The day Ethan transferred to our school, the whole class buzzed.

He looked handsome and refined, tall and well-built, with fair skin.

In our small town, where two-thirds of the class were from less affluent backgrounds, he truly stood out.

The entire class instantly fell for him, except for me!

My deskmate, Sophia, nudged me, her face flushed.

"He looks like an actor from a TV show!"

I didn't pay attention.

Because I was busy carefully changing my 30-point math test to an 80-point.

There was no room for error.

If my mom found out, my favorite snack for tonight would be gone.

But just as I was in the zone, making the change look completely natural,

Ethan bumped my desk — and my snack fell.

I stiffly looked up, watching him take the seat in front of me. He casually glanced at me,

then meticulously wiped his desk with a fragrant tissue.

What a jerk!

That was my first impression of him.

This class was a test, and Mr. Harrison, our homeroom teacher, handing out the papers stopped the trash talk forming on my tongue.

I quieted down because I was waiting to copy Sophia's answers.

Mr. Harrison went to the restroom midway through, and Ethan's deskmate bravely spoke to him.

"Only twenty minutes, and you finished?"

"Too easy."

What a show-off!

That was my second impression of him.

Ethan's deskmate asked hopefully.

"Then, can I copy yours?"

"Whatever."

Ethan's answers quickly spread throughout the entire class, even Sophia copied them.

But I found him smug and arrogant, and still held a grudge over my snack, so I unilaterally decided we were enemies.

Stubbornly, I decided to write my own answers!

As a result, that day, everyone in class passed or got high scores, except for me.

And me? Mr. Harrison dragged me to his office.

He yelled, asking if I'd answered the test with my feet to get a 15.

I hung my head, listening with one ear and letting it out the other, my mind on Ethan.

I was shocked he really got a perfect score on the physics test in twenty minutes.

So impressive!

That was my third impression.

When I returned to the classroom, my seat was already taken.

A crowd eagerly surrounded Ethan, their eyes gleaming with admiration.

It was the first time I'd seen such expressions on my usually lifeless classmates.

Ethan sat back, arms loosely crossed.

He'd glance at a question and casually answer the problems, whether simple or complex.

His handwriting was beautiful, his voice clear, and his appearance outstanding.

The golden-orange sunset cast a glow on his features.

He seemed to sweep his eyes over me.

A never-before-seen charm impacted my heart.

I was captivated.

Ethan's name spread throughout the school, love letters rained down like snowflakes.

"Hey, can you give this love letter to Ethan for me?"

Returning from the restroom, a girl blushingly handed me a pink envelope.

I blushed too.

Deliver a love letter? Then I'd get to talk to him!

So I took on the task.

Yes, I was an introverted person, and despite being captivated, I still hadn't managed to talk to him.

I mentally prepared myself, cleared my throat, and called him.

"Ethan."

He casually looked my way.

The words I'd planned stumbled out, a nervous mess.

He saw the letter in my hand and paused.

His gaze then swept over my 15-point test on my desk, and he raised an eyebrow in surprise.

He scrutinized me as if I were a rare specimen.

"15 points? Are you a paramecium?"

Suppressed laughter erupted around us.

The glaring red numbers suddenly felt piercing.

My face burned. I quickly mumbled, head down.

"It's a love letter. A classmate from the next class asked me to give it to you!"

"Oh."

Ethan shrugged.

"Could you do me a favor and throw it away?"

Ethan was different from others.

Even when he mocked me, he had extraordinary charm.

I felt self-conscious and blamed myself.

I couldn't live so miserably under his nose, breathing the same air as him.

So I decided to study hard.