"Is Kenneth crazy?" Tiffany thought, a laugh escaping her lips in anger. She'd blocked his number long ago. Now, the bastard had even changed his number just to call and yell at her.

"What a lunatic," Tiffany snorted, hanging up and blocking him again. She then slept from noon until midnight.

When she woke, a handsome man lay on her bed. His cold, well-defined face seemed slightly gentler in the light; his features elegant, his eyes dark, his thin lips curving upward slightly. He was breathtakingly attractive.

Tiffany blinked, remembering the phone call. With an aggrieved expression, she immediately hugged Richard's arm. "Richard, I was bullied."

She complained, as she always did. "I was very sleepy this afternoon and about to nap when someone called to threaten and yell at me. I'm so pitiful…" she sobbed, feigning weakness and helplessness.

She tried to cry, but failing, she jumped into Richard's arms, whining, "Richard, you must stand up for me!"

Richard raised an eyebrow. He knew Tiffany; her cute whining usually meant exaggeration. If she'd truly suffered, she wouldn't complain—she'd retaliate. Still, he wanted to protect her. "Who's the bastard who bullied you?" he asked.

"That bastard, Kenneth," Tiffany complained. "He threatened and scolded me. You must yell at him, too!"

Richard said indifferently, "Yell at him? Why talk when we can take action? Wouldn't it be better to beat him up?"

Tiffany nodded firmly. "Alright!"

And so, Kenneth's fate was sealed.

The next day at school, Tiffany saw Kenneth, his face bruised. She gasped, surprised Richard had actually beaten him. She decided Richard was just, prioritizing right and wrong over family loyalty. He was excellent.

Overjoyed, she messaged Richard: "[I love you today too.]" 😊😊

Before Tiffany's message arrived, Richard was in a meeting. His subordinates were reporting Royal Group's losses, exacerbated by failed experiments in Tower Nine. Fear hung heavy in the air; no one dared breathe loudly, fearing Richard's wrath.

After the audit, everyone watched Richard's expression. Then, the usually imposing and ruthless CEO smiled after glancing at his phone. He looked noble, elegant, and charming; his smile like a spring breeze, unbelievably gentle, his usual aloofness gone.

The board members were stunned, exchanging glances. Company rumors of a sweetheart seemed confirmed.

Tyrone, at the side, straightened, a mixture of pride and wistful resignation on his face. He'd witnessed his boss's transformation from detached to deeply in love. He'd been incredulous at first, but now accepted it calmly.

In short, cozying up to the powerful eliminates worry.

The meeting continued.

Meanwhile, at Lovell School, Kenneth's bruised face immediately drew attention. Students flocked to him, asking, "Mr. Harper, what happened?"

Concerned questions were quickly replaced by laughter. Kenneth looked pathetic; a rare sight that overcame their usual fear.

Kenneth's face darkened. After dropping Melody off last night, he'd been ambushed and beaten. His assailant was skilled, escaping without a trace at the mouth of an alley, leaving no evidence.

He'd been punched in the eye and around his mouth and cheeks; the worst beating of his life.

Furious, Kenneth saw Tiffany lazily eating an orange, Zoe beside her, both watching him with mocking smiles.

He placed his hands on Tiffany's table, leaning in. "Did you get someone to do this to me?"

Expecting denial, he was surprised by her question: "Do you want an orange? If so, stay; I'll buy you some."

He was confused. Why would she buy me oranges? She couldn't be that kind, he thought.

He realized his mistake when he saw the growing ridicule in her eyes.

Kenneth stormed off, furious. How could a girl have such a sharp tongue? Buy oranges for me? Act like my parents? How dare she!

Zoe, ready to taunt him, was surprised Tiffany had dismissed him so easily. "Holy shit, that was great," she exclaimed. Only Tiffany could suppress Kenneth.

Some laughed, others gossiped. Only Melody felt sorry for Kenneth. During a break, she carefully applied medicine to his injuries.

"Who is so heartless to ambush you?" she grumbled. "Kenneth, you'd better not send me home anymore. It's all my fault. I live in such a messy neighborhood."

Everyone knew Melody's family was poor; her acceptance into the elite school was due to her exceptional grades. Her home was in the most remote, and dangerous, part of Lovell City.

Embarrassed, Melody blamed herself.

Kenneth's heart ached. He held her hand. "I'm sorry. I'll help you move this weekend. Don't go home for now; stay in the school apartment. I won't rest easy if you run into trouble."

Melody tried to refuse, but Kenneth interrupted. "Now that you're my girlfriend, how can I let you suffer?"

Melody nodded shyly. "Alright, I'll listen to you."