Chapter 1

Samuel Girard rested his chin in his hands, his gaze fixed on the fine snowflakes drifting outside the window. His brows were slightly furrowed, as if lost in thought. A thin layer of frost covered the window frame, highlighting his handsome features: a high nose, a sharp jawline. Dressed in a custom-made black cashmere robe, he exuded an air of elegance and aloofness.

“Longlong, what are you daydreaming about?” A clear voice rang out from behind him, carrying a familiar, affectionate tone. Julian Hamp reached out to pat his shoulder gently. But the moment his fingertips touched the fabric, Samuel Girard quickly stepped aside to avoid the touch.

He turned around and saw Julian Hamp standing at the door of the bedroom. A barely noticeable hint of resignation passed across his eyes, and his tone grew colder. “Julian, what are you doing here? You entered my room without knocking.”

Julian Hamp wore a cream-colored knitted dress, with long hair flowing over her shoulders. Her eyes had a playful, innocent expression. Hearing his words, she pouted and stepped closer to him, reaching out to take his hand. “When I visited your house before, when have I ever even knocked on the door? As children, you shared a bed with me. How come you’ve become so formal now?”

Samuel Girard pushed her hand away, taking a half-step back to create more distance between them. His expression was serious. “That was when we were kids. Things are different now. We’re about to start high school. There are two things I need to make clear to you.”

Julian Hamp’s hand froze mid-air, and the smile on his face faded. He blinked at him and said, “Go ahead, speak.”

“First, stop calling me ‘Longlong’. Call me Samuel Girard, or simply Samuel.” Samuel Girard’s voice left no room for negotiation. “Second, never touch me again. At school, we’ll act as ordinary friends. No one is allowed to know our relationship.”

“Just friends?” Julian Hamp seemed to think he’d heard the biggest joke of his life. His eyes turned red instantly, and his voice trembled with emotion. “Samuel Girard, what are you talking about? We were engaged as children. I’m supposed to be your bride. How could we possibly be just friends?”

“That’s just nonsense from the older generation. Don’t take it seriously.” Samuel Girard turned his face away, avoiding her reddened eyes. His tone was somewhat harsh. “We’re only sixteen years old now. It’s time to focus on our studies. Stop thinking about such trivial things.”

“I’m not thinking about anything else. I just want to be with you.” Julian Hamp became anxious and tried to take his hand again. “I don’t care. I mean it seriously. My parents and your parents mean it too!”

“Enough, stop talking,” Samuel Girard interrupted her, his tone becoming impatient. “I need to read. You can go now.”

Julian Hamp looked at his cold profile, feeling both angry and upset. He bit his lip and softened his tone: “Alright then, I won’t bother you while you read. But we’re not at school right now. Could you go shopping with me? I want to buy a new backpack.”

“I won’t go.” Samuel Girard refused without even thinking. He turned his head away again, his gaze fixed on the window outside, never looking at her again.

Julian Hamp was so angry that he trembled all over. He glared at him fiercely, stamped his foot, picked up his coat from the sofa, and stormed out. Silence returned to the bedroom. But Samuel Girard could no longer concentrate. His fingers unconsciously traced the frost on the window frame, and a complex expression crossed his eyes.

The next morning, as dawn was just breaking, Julian Hamp, filled with anticipation, carried his own homemade breakfast and knocked on the door of Samuel Girard’s house. It was Mother Du who opened the door, her face wearing a gentle smile. “Julian has come! Come in quickly. Longlong just left not long ago. Didn’t he invite you along?”

Julian Hamp’s heart sank suddenly. The smile on his face vanished instantly. Forcing himself to stay calm, he shook his head. “Maybe I arrived too late. We must have missed each other. Auntie, I won’t go in. I’ll go to school to look for him.”

After saying that, she turned around and ran toward the school. Her heart felt sore and bitter, and even the breakfast in her hands seemed heavy. She swore to herself that she would make Samuel Girard remember their agreement. It couldn’t just end like that.

At the entrance of St. Ingel noble high school, luxury cars were parked everywhere. Students in their uniformed school clothes walked into the campus in small groups. As Julian Hamp approached the school gate, he saw a large crowd gathered not far away. There was constant chatter, and faint screams from the girls could be heard.

Curiosity drove her to push through the crowd. The moment she cleared the crowd, her heart seemed to be clenched by an invisible hand—the person standing at the center of the crowd was Samuel Girard.

He was dressed in the blue-and-white school uniform, with a tall and straight posture. His hair was slightly disheveled by the morning breeze. He wore a somewhat helpless smile on his face. He was surrounded by a group of girls, caught in a difficult situation. The girls eagerly handed him love letters and snacks, their eyes filled with admiration.

“Hey, handsome guy! I’m Loretta Ship. From now on, we’ll be classmates. Can you add me on WeChat?” said a tall girl, smiling as she reached out to touch Samuel Gillard’s arm.

“My name is Elenice Walkerman. You’re so handsome! What’s your name?” Another girl with delicate features stepped forward. Her voice was soft, and her eyes sparkled as she looked at Samuel Girard.

Samuel Girard’s smile almost froze on his face. He tried to push his way through the crowd, but the girls surrounded him tightly, making it impossible for him to move. The boys around them looked furious at this scene, but they dared not intervene due to Samuel Girard’s family background. They could only grit their teeth in frustration.

St. Ing’s High School is already a place where wealthy students gather. Everyone here comes from affluent backgrounds and is full of arrogance. Now that Samuel Girard has just joined the school, his good looks have captivated all the girls. Naturally, this has sparked jealousy among many of the boys.

Julian Hamp watched this scene, trembling with rage. A sense of fury welled up from deep within her. Taking a deep breath, she pushed her way through the crowd and shouted, “Samuel Girard!”

That shout was loud and forceful. The surroundings instantly fell silent, with everyone’s gaze fixed on her. The girls looked at Julian Hamp, who had appeared out of nowhere, with eyes filled with confusion and hostility. The boys, on the other hand, were impressed—the girl before them had beautiful features and a lively demeanor, certainly no less impressive than any of the other girls present.

Julian Hamp paid no attention to the others’ gazes at all. He walked straight up to Samuel Girard, grabbed his wrist with such force that it seemed like his bones might break: “What are you doing here? Go back to the classroom immediately!”

Samuel Girard winced in pain as she grabbed him. He frowned and tried to pull his hand away. “I want to go too, but they won’t let me.”

“Not letting you go?” Julian Hamp turned his head, his icy gaze sweeping over the girls around him. Finally, his eyes landed on Elenice Walkerman. “Excuse me, who are you? Why do you keep surrounding him?”

Elenice Walker stepped forward, a provocative smile on her face. She stretched out her hand. “I’m Elenice Walker. I’d like to be friends with this handsome guy. What’s the problem? And you, who are you to him?”

“I’m his—” Julian Hamp was about to say “fiancee,” but Samuel Girard interrupted him.

“She’s my sister,” Samuel Girard said, his voice carrying a hint of deliberate distance. “Julian, stop it. I was just saying hello to my classmates.”

“Sister?” Elenice Walkerman laughed, her eyes filled with disdain. “So you’re just my sister after all. I thought you might be someone important. I guess I was overthinking things. I didn’t realize you had such ‘bro-obsessive’ tendencies.”

“I didn’t!” Julian Hamp became frantic and raised his voice. “He’s not my brother, he’s my boyfriend! Samuel Girard, please tell her that you’re my boyfriend!”

Samuel Girard’s expression darkened. He pulled his wrist away forcefully, his tone tinged with anger. “Julian Hamp, what are you talking about? I’ve already said we’re just ordinary friends. Stop acting unreasonable!”

Julian Hamp looked at his cold gaze, and his heart sank instantly. His eyes turned red. She bit her lip and reached out to pull him again. “Longlong, how can you say such things? We clearly…”

“I told you not to call me Longlong!” Samuel Girard interrupted her sharply, taking a half-step back. “Please, stop doing this. It’s embarrassing for me.”

Elenice Walker stood aside, a smug smile on her lips. She said deliberately, “Hey, handsome guy, it seems like your ‘sister’ feels something special for you. How about we go to the classroom first, so we won’t be bothered by certain people?”

Julian Hamp was so angry that he trembled all over. He reached out to push Elenore Walkerman, but Samuel Girard stopped him immediately: “Julian Hamp, don’t go too far!”

At that moment, Julian Hamp watched as Samuel Gerard protected Elise Walker. All her resentment and anger welled up inside her. Tears welled in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall. Staring intently at Samuel Gerard, she said, “Samuel Gerard, you’ll regret this.”

After saying that, she turned and ran away. Her slender and resolute figure disappeared into the crowd. Samuel Girard watched her retreating figure, a hint of guilt flashing in his eyes. Yet, Elenore Walkerman pulled him along toward the classroom. What he didn’t know was that this seemingly random encounter was merely the beginning of a lifetime of entanglement between them. In the shadows, however, there were eyes that watched them intently, plotting a scheme.