The morning of the first day of school:

  In a luxurious room. A room that heirs of famous Tycoon would typically live.

  Modern, bright, and fancy.

  Standing in front of a full-length mirror, fifteen-year-old Jin-Woo adjusted his uniform. He adjusted his collar, his buttons, and checked if his name tags were properly on. He looked at himself in the mirror one last time.

  “I’m too handsome,” he thought, smirking.

  After that, he picked up his leather backpack and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

  Downstairs, a maid was busy mopping the floor. She looked up as he descended, her face brightening.

  “Good morning, young master. How are you feeling today?” she said, smiling brightly.

  “I’m good, nanny. Is my mom still home?”

  The nanny walked over to his side and adjusted his name tag with the name Jin-Woo on it. Then, she proceeded to do the same for his tie.

  “I already…” Jin-Woo murmured. He is not a kid anymore. So why is she treating him like someone who can’t even put on clothes himself?

  “It’s fine. It’s fine, young master,” the nanny said, waving her hand like it’s no problem. “Your mom should be in the living room. You should go and have breakfast with her.”

  “I know, nanny,” he said, but scoffed secretly. How he wished his mom weren’t home.

  “There, young master, all done,” the nanny said, pushing Jin-Woo away to tell him to go on his way.

  That, he did.

  By the time he arrived, his mother was sitting silently on the sofa. With food ready on the table.

  She wasn’t a beautiful mature woman. Not at all. She was slightly chubby, just like most woman who were in their forties. Unlike how moms usually looked in manhwa or webnovels, she wasn’t young-looking or was she beautiful, but she carried herself with an affectionate charm that made her look kind. At least to strangers…

  “You’re here?” she said, glancing up at him from her newspaper. “Go ahead and eat while it’s still warm.”

  “Yes, mom” he said before taking a seat.

  The meal was fancy and nutritious, but for some reason, it just didn’t activate his appetite. Though he still ate it anyway. Carrying himself with a manner fitting of a young master.

  “Eat quickly. It’s your first day of school. You must not be late,” his mom said, her expression solemn. “You’re in high school now. Whatever silly activities you have been doing before, stop doing them and focus on your studies.”

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  She glances at him from her newspaper.

  “If you think I’m being mean, you’re wrong. I’m saying this for you. I have been ignoring your antics for a while, and perhaps I haven’t been a strict enough parent.”

  He tried to focus on his meal. Closing his eyes in order to block out his mother’s words.

  “That’s why your grades have been decreasing,” she continued, dropping the newspaper onto the table with a slap. “I don’t want that to happen in your high school year, do you hear me?”

  “Yes, Mom.” He didn’t even dare to look her in the eyes.

  “Look at me when I talk, Jin-Woo.”

  He hesitated. The spoon trembled in his hand. Slowly, reluctantly, he lifted his head to meet her gaze.

  “Take your brother for example. He’s already learning how to take over your dad’s businesses. Even if you can’t be as good as him, you should at least be able to do well in your studies,” she said, looking as though she really cares about his well-being. “After all, your brother is…”

  Before she could say the word, she stopped herself. Knowing that it was wrong to say so.

  “Adopted? While I’m the one with your actual blood?” he said, his tone carried a hint of mockery. “Do you feel embarrassed having a son like me?”

  “No, why would you think so? I’m only saying this for your own good!”

  At this point, he doesn’t even want to eat anymore. He stood up from his seat and walked out.

  “Jin-Woo, I’m talking here!”

  "Young Master…" The nanny appeared in the doorway, her face creased with sympathy. She reached out a hand, wanting him to turn around, to go back, to sit down and finish the conversation like a proper family. But he’s not the type to do that.

  He walked past her without a word.

  ******

  Outside.

  The front door closed behind him, and the morning air felt especially refreshing.

  “Finally, I don’t have to listen to her yapping anymore,” Jin-woo said, breathing a sigh of relief.

  He marched toward the waiting black sedan. As soon as he slid into the backseat, the mask of the perfect son crumbled. He loosened his tie, undid the top button of his collar, and slumped against the leather seat.

  “Good morning, young master,” the driver said, greeting him politely.

  “Drive,” Jin-Woo commanded, staring out the window. His mood is already not good. Why is his mother home now of all day? “Go fast.” He continued.

  Jin-Woo is the kind of man who loves the power he has outside of his family. To him, living with his family was suffocating. Restricting. There, he was no less than a failure. Outside? He is a king. He can do whatever he wants.

  Or so he thought.

  Screeeeech!

  The car suddenly came to a stop. So quick, the tire left a mark on the road.

  Jin-Woo was thrown forward, his face slamming into the back of the driver’s seat.

  “I’m so sorry, young master! Are you okay?”

  “What happened? You don’t even know how to drive?” he barked, his nose already starting to bleed. Can his day get any worse?

  The driver: “...” Aren’t you the one who told me to go fast? What an unruly young master!

  But it’s not like he could say that.

  “It’s my fault, young master,” the driver said, as he pulled down his window to say sorry to the sibling he almost hit.

  Jin-Woo, who sat in the backseat, also sneaked out his head to see who it was. Outside, two people stood. One boy and one girl. His eyes glossed over the boy who he deemed as unimportant, but stay on the figure of the girl.

  She’s beautiful, he thought. His eyes mesmerized by her appearance.

  Even with her messy hair and angry expression, she was still the prettiest girl he had ever seen. He continue to glance her up and down.

  Jin-Woo: Look at that bust… impressive. High school girl really is a different breed.

  Or is that just her?

  At this point he didn’t know yet that his aesthetic had already been skewed beyond measure. For a moment, he thought that if he were to offer her some money, maybe she could be his girlfriend. Since she was going to school on a bike, she must be poor. It will be her honor. Before he know it, a smirk already escaped his lips.

  But his fantasy quickly vanished.

  “Just because you have a fancy car doesn’t mean you own the road!” the girl barked, steam coming out of her head.

  She were simply to foul, he thought. He would much rather preferred a girlfriend who’s more obedient. A girl like this should be teached a lesson.

  “Mr. Driver, you don’t have to apologize to the like of her. She will never be able to understand this kind of luxury anyway.”

  “What did you sayyyy?” The boy right next to the girl stepped forward, looking menacing. To Jin-Woo, he was just pretending to be tough.

  What a joke, he thought.

  Bothering with these kind of people would only lower his brain cells, if he had any to begin with, so he closed his window. Ignoring the barrage of curses by the girl outside.

  Ji-Woo: “Fuck**. You son of a *****, opened your window! I’m going to **** your ***”

  Jin-Woo: “...” truly, this girl’s mouth is too foul! She would have been his ideal girl if she had never spoken. What kind of girl acted like that? At this point, any previous positive thought he had about the girl had disappeared.

  “Drive” he told the driver, rubbing his temple to ease his headache. Staying there any longer, he fear he would get infected by her madness.

  But–

  THWACK!

  A sound came from behind his car. He turn back to take a look.

  “How dare she?! Did she just threw her shoe at my car???”

  The driver: ‘…Master, pleased come down,’ he felt like crying.