1. Just a Poor Student

A cold morning at one of the most prestigious campuses in London.

The morning air felt as if it were piercing the skin, cold and damp, sweeping across the pavements of the University of London campus, which was beginning to fill with students. A thin mist still hung between the old stone buildings that stood majestically, as if concealing the long history and hidden stories behind their walls.

Cassie walked quickly, almost running, along the pavement towards the main lecture building. A worn black backpack hung on her back, and the thin grey jacket she wore looked faded, a stark contrast to the expensive coats and branded bags used by most of the students on campus.

She checked her somewhat faded digital watch, seven fifty-eight. Two more minutes before her business class started. She bit her lower lip, hoping to get in before the notoriously strict lecturer closed the door.

However, Cassie's steps suddenly halted when three female students stood in front of her, right near the entrance stairs to the lecture building.

"Look who's in a hurry. The scholarship girl," sneered a blonde girl in a white fur jacket that was clearly very expensive. Her name was Melisa. Beside her, her two best friends, Amy and Judith, giggled.

Cassie was silent. She knew this would happen again. This kind of thing wasn't the first time they had mocked her. The girl took a deep breath and tried to walk past them without saying a word.

But Melisa stopped her by raising her hand. "Where do you think you're going? Aren't you going to greet us rich kids first?"

Amy laughed cynically.

"Ha-ha-ha. Yeah, Cassie. You should be grateful you can still study here. Without us upper-class kids, you wouldn't get a scholarship at this campus, you know?"

Judith added, "Look at her clothes, they look like they're from a thrift store. Do you live in an old house on the edge of town?"

Cassie was still silent. Her eyes were downcast. Her trembling hands gripped the straps of her backpack tightly. Her heart ached, but she knew that retaliating would only make things worse.

Melisa then took something out of her tote bag. A plastic bag filled with flour.

"Hey, Amy, you know what? They say flour can make people look more expensive! Ha-ha-ha!" Melisa exclaimed, laughing.

Before Cassie could move back, the white flour was already flying into the air, covering the front of her jacket and her hair.

Cassie froze, holding her breath. Her long black hair was now covered in white dust. The loud laughter of the three girls echoed in the campus hallway, which was beginning to fill with other students who only watched but didn't dare to intervene.

"It suits you perfectly. Now you look like poor bread. Ha-ha-ha!" Amy exclaimed, giggling.

Cassie closed her eyes for a moment, calming herself. She held back the tears that were welling up in her eyelids, then exhaled deeply. Without saying a word, the girl walked past them, towards the lecture building.

Several other students watched her pass with pity, but no one said anything. This world was unfair, and Cassie was used to it.

Someone suddenly tapped her shoulder gently.

"Cassie!" The man's voice was soft but sounded concerned.

Cassie turned around. It was Alan, one of her classmates who was known to be smart and friendly. He looked at Cassie with a worried expression.

"Are you okay? They're going too far!" he said.

Cassie shook her head. "I don't want to be late for class," she said softly.

Alan opened his jacket and offered it to Cassie.

"Wear this first. Your clothes are really dirty. Let's walk together, okay?"

Cassie was silent, staring at Alan for a moment, before finally nodding slowly. She accepted the jacket and put it on, even though there were still traces of flour in her hair.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"You don't have to keep quiet, you know? They don't have the right to treat you like that."

Cassie just smiled faintly.

"I know. But I'm not here for revenge. I'm here to learn. I have a dream, Alan. And I won't let them destroy it."

Alan nodded, impressed by Cassie's resilience.

As they arrived at the classroom door, the bell rang, signaling the start of the lecture. Their lecturer, Prof. Charles Bliss, had just opened the door.

"Come in," he said briefly, staring sharply at Cassie and Alan.

"Don't be late again."

Cassie sat down at her desk quietly. Inside the classroom, the atmosphere was much more peaceful. She took out her notebook, which, although worn, was always neat and full of writing. The flour on her clothes was no longer very visible under Alan's jacket, but in Cassie's heart, there was still a lingering pain.

But in between that pain, there was a burning determination. Cassie promised herself that one day, she would prove that a person's worth is not determined by the clothes they wear, but by their heart, perseverance, and the dreams they strive for.

That morning, the atmosphere in the business class felt warm even though the weather outside was foggy. The room was filled with students sitting neatly in rows of chairs, notebooks open, and most of their gazes directed at the man standing in front of the class, Professor Charles Bliss.

Wearing a dark grey suit and a dark blue tie, Prof. Charles stood tall in front of the digital whiteboard. His eyes were sharp, full of charisma. Every movement had precision, every word he spoke sounded like an undeniable command. Not only intelligent and successful, Prof. Charles had handsome features and an athletic body that made most of the female students silent when he entered the class.

Cassie sat in the third row from the front. Her eyes were glazed, her head almost bowed. She tried to take notes, but her eyelids felt heavy. The girl had just come home from work at two in the morning.

Last night, the bar where she worked was very crowded. Cassie had to wash glasses, serve customers, and help in the kitchen. She did all that to survive in this city.

Beside her sat Alan, who seemed friendly on the outside. But since this morning, Alan's gaze was different. His eyes were secretly assessing Cassie, and his smile held something that wasn't entirely sincere.

Alan leaned towards Cassie and whispered softly,

"You look very tired. Can you still focus on Prof. Charles' explanation? If not, let's go to the cafeteria with me!"

Cassie just smiled faintly, shaking her head slightly. She didn't reply to Alan's comment. But in her heart, there was an odd feeling. Since last night, Alan has started sending strange messages often. And this morning, he deliberately offered his jacket so he could get closer to her. Cassie hadn't had time to think further because her mind was too tired.

"Alright." Prof Charles' voice sounded firm throughout the room.

"We will go into today's topic, Global Market Strategies and Multinational Business Expansion. Pay close attention. I don't want anyone to be left behind."

Cassie tried to focus. But slowly, her vision began to blur. Prof Charles' voice sounded like a distant echo. Her head began to bow. Within minutes, she was no longer fully conscious.

In her reverie, Cassie saw Prof. Charles' face again. But now not as a lecturer, but as a more personal figure. In her imagination, she and Charles were alone in the classroom. Charles took off his jacket, rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, and approached Cassie. His voice was no longer formal, but gentle and full of attention.

"Cassie," he said in her dream.

"You deserve more than all this suffering. You are so beautiful! I am so fascinated by you."

Cassie looked at him. They stood facing each other in front of the classroom desk. Charles touched her cheek gently. Cassie felt a warmth that she had never felt before.

Then the two were involved in a fierce kiss. Prof. Charles devoured Cassie's lips. Even the professor's hands began to slip into her clothes and began to squeeze her twin peaks. Which made Cassie float to seventh heaven.

But suddenly,

Bang!

A loud bang on the desk woke Cassie from her reverie. The girl was startled, and the whole class turned to her. Prof. Charles stood in front of her, his face angry, his jaw clenched.

"Cassie Florence!" Prof. Charles' voice sounded firm.

"Do you want to study? Or do you want to sleep in class?”