Everyone else just watched quietly as Chloe dragged Aiden inside, but seeing him retreat, their opinions of him dropped even further. Especially for those who had been first rank on their respective days, they now felt that if they had been present on that day, they would have been the true Rank 1, not him.

    They all sneered and then left with the same thoughts in their minds, ''Enjoy your rank for three months only, Aiden.''

    As they were leaving, suddenly a murderous intent filled the surroundings. They all looked at the source and found it was Ramona.

    Many gulped, intimidated by her presence.

    After glaring at Aiden, she left without a word.

    "Why do you think she''s that angry?" someone asked as she stormed off and entered her room.

    "Why else? Definitely because that coward is Rank 1," another student snorted.

    "Yes, after all, she was the Rank 1 of the second day. Maybe she''s angry she lost her position to a coward," another chimed in, as if flattering her despite her absence.

    Many sneered, nodding in agreement, and talked among themselves. By nightfall, rumors had spread throughout the academy that this year''s top ranker was a coward who had won his position by luck.

    It was all fueled by the idiots who fancied Ramona, thinking their actions would earn her favor. How pitiful they would feel if they knew the truth. Ramona was actually angry at Chloe for occupying Aiden''s attention. If they realized this, they might have been driven to despair.

    The only reason Ramona showed animosity was because she was furious with Chloe, not Aiden. She believed Chloe was stealing what was hers. Ramona''s anger simmered because she knew Chloe was Aiden''s childhood friend and also one of his future wives.

    Therefore, she left with anger instead of barging into Aiden''s room and throwing Chloe out.

    Others misunderstood her anger and spread those false rumors, painting Aiden as a coward.

    The next morning, Aiden came out of his room and knocked on Chloe''s door. After some talking, Chloe had left for her room the night before, telling Aiden to wake her up in the morning.

    Now, Aiden was doing the same thing, having woken up early and reached Chloe''s room.

    "What is it, Aiden?" Chloe opened the door after some time, rubbing her eyes cutely and yawning.

    "Go get ready. Tomorrow is our first day after all," Aiden said with a smile, amused by her sleepy demeanor.

    Chloe nodded and then closed the door. "Don''t go back to sleep again!" Aiden shouted from outside before heading back to his room.

    Chloe groaned softly, but she knew Aiden was right. She quickly got ready, her mind filled with anticipation for the day''s events. As she dressed, she thought about the rumors that had spread the night before. She knew they were baseless and intended to undermine Aiden''s position, but it still bothered her.

    Meanwhile, Aiden prepared himself, mentally going over the speech he had to give at the freshman party.

    "Hah, why do I have to go through this again?" he muttered to himself, looking into the mirror with a helpless sigh.

    Many times Chloe almost fought with them, but Aiden always restrained her. "It''s okay," he said.

    "How can you not be angry at them?" Chloe asked angrily.

    "Well, they are lying, so why would I be angry at baseless rumors?" Aiden replied nonchalantly.

    Chloe rolled her eyes at Aiden and said, "Then what about the time when you almost fought with our fifth brother when he lied about you stealing his cake?"

    Hearing her, Aiden''s calm face broke into an embarrassed smile.

    "Ahem, I was angry for a different reason," Aiden replied in his defense.

    "Yes, yes, if it helps you save face, why not," Chloe snorted and then began to walk ahead, leaving Aiden behind.

    Aiden looked at her back, scratched his head, and then began to follow her.

    But as he was moving, someone suddenly grabbed his hand and interlocked their fingers with his.

    Aiden looked to his side and found a red-haired beauty in a black dress like Chloe''s.

    "I didn''t even sense her," Aiden thought, frightened, as he hadn''t been able to sense her approaching, much less her interlocking her hand with his.

    "It seems your dress is one of the Rank 1 perks," Ramona said, looking around at the other boys'' outfits.

    Like Chloe or any other student, everyone else''s dress was black and red-themed. Only Aiden''s dress was white and red-themed, with the dragon and flower pattern.

    "Hmm, though I have to say it suits you," Ramona''s soft, raspy voice tickled his ears as she said this.

    Aiden tried to pull his hand away from her, but she didn''t let go.

    "Why are you so eager to get away from me?" Ramona pouted and pushed herself closer to Aiden. "It''s not like I''m going to eat you," Ramona said, licking her lips.

    "Please eat me... No, I meant, why the fuck is a six-year-old''s body this developed? It seems it is true people here mature at the age of ten," Aiden mentally cursed himself. In a swift motion, he managed to slip away from Ramona.

    Ramona, noticing his discomfort, laughed softly. "Aiden, you really are amusing," she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

    Aiden, now free from her grasp, maintained a safe distance. "I have somewhere to be," he said, trying to sound calm and composed.

    Ramona smiled, a knowing look in her eyes. "Don''t worry, Aiden. I''ll see you at the party," she said, her tone both playful and serious.

    Aiden nodded and then ran ahead after Chloe.